Noah's 4th birthday

Took a little trip on I-35 South to see these handsome boys.

Special birthday for Noah - the BIG 4!!

Mexican Food at La Marguerita.

Fun at the Jumping Bean.

Watched movies.

Played at home with some really cool guns
that glowed in the dark.

Pei Wei for dinner.

Lots of hugs and smiles.

Jet skiing on Saturday morning.
Brady and Noah rode the tube.
We all rode the jet skiis.
(I spent a LOT of time treading water in the lake
to make sure
NO UNWELCOME CREATURES came near me
and that my feet did not touch bottom.
So creepy!)

Brady and Noah put together a puzzle of Noah's Ark

(Noah thinks it's HIS ark)

Rudy's BBQ for lunch.

And said good-bye. :-(

Till next time,

we love these guys!!

Oh yeah, their parents aren't half bad either!!! ;-)

The Rest of the Story

Our Great Smoky Mountains Vacation turned out to be the beginning of a continuing saga.
Lots of things have happened - no time to keep track of everything about it.
Many events. Many blessings. But counting it all joy!

Arrived at Gatlinburg after a beautiful day in the Smoky Mountains.

Upon arrival at our hotel, Jay wanted to nap and I went downstairs to iPad! ;-)

A few minutes later, a gnawing feeling of uneasiness came over me,
and I decided to go back upstairs to our room.
So glad for that little intuition (which I know was the Lord)
because after a couple of exchanges between Jay and I about the beautiful scenery
and where to have dinner, I noticed his face had drooped considerably
and his speech was slurred. Called 911 and everything went into action.
They whisked him away by helicopter to UT Medical Center in Knoxville
and left me all alone! :-(

No, I wasn't alone.

Almost immediately, I had assurance of His presence

and off I went to spend the next three days with my Dear Heart in the hospital.

So many kind people surrounded me in my aloneness

and the prayers of family and friends kept us encouraged.

Thanks to God for the timing in everything ... location, quick paramedics, great hospital.

Three days later, we flew home not knowing all that lay ahead.

But thank God, He does. He goes before us and makes a way.

Fun in Fredericksburg

Over the freeway and through the wooded hill country.
Good times with good friends.

Started out early Saturday morning.

Lunch at Applebee's. :-O

Shopping in Fredericksburg.

Dinner at the Auslander.

Entertainment at The Rockbox! Lots of good old rock 'n roll music.

After a search for place to eat on Sunday morning.
(Not many establishments serving breakfast in a town filled with b&b's!)
Ha! Finally found one!
Only had to wait about 45 minutes for a nice, cold breakfast!

The guys went off to the Nimitz Pacific WW2 Museum.

Alice, Esther and I had a lively conversation about the way

we would handle our government if we were in charge.

Problems not solved. LOL

Lunch at Wheeler's.

And on to Luckenbach, Texas.

Us!

Dear Fred and Alice

Everybody's somebody in Luckenbach, Texas

The long drive home was tiring,
but the weekend spent with friends was most enjoyable.
At home ... or away from home,
our friends are somebody in our book.

"No lapse of time or distance of place can lessen
the friendship of those who are truly persuaded of each other's worth."
- Unknown

Captain Steindorf

Retired at the end of July, 2011.

We had a little party for him at home.

37 years with the Dallas Fire Department. So proud of him.

Some of his visitors at the Love Field Station have included:

Son Jason

Grandson Brady

Granddaughter Kate (posing just like Daddy)

Baby Noah

And Captain Jason continues the tradition.

Memories

Firefighters save hearts and homes. 
~Author Unknown

I Went to Your Wedding

My Granny had the sweetest music box that played this song.
I played it every chance I had when we went to her house in NW Arkansas.
 

This weekend, we traveled to see a sweet, sweet couple exchange vows in a garden setting in NW Arkansas. So beautiful. Billy Lewis, our nephew, and Crystal Brown.

First night Rehearsal dinner and celebrating nephew Chase's birthday. We have spent several birthdays with him.

Saturday, before the wedding, we trekked down to Crystal Bridges. Nice of Mrs. Walton to name her bridges after the bride!! ;-)

The wedding On our way early to the wedding to get a good seat. Oops! Groom forgot to bring the dancing music. Last minute turnaround for us to help him out. Beautiful wedding. Beautiful couple. As Phil said, if ever a wedding was made in heaven, this was it.

The proud family of the groom.

Us Family

Will they be next?

Pastor Talley, Chaplain at OSU, officiated. he asked, "Why were they doing this?" response: "we can live without each other, but we can live better with each other. Through good times and bad times, we always turn to each other. We laugh together. Christ is center." What better start for a marriage???

Haha! Right in the middle of the wedding, a flock of geese flew over honking their hearts out!! It seems the leader of the pack said to all, "honk if you love Billy and Crystal!"

Radiant smiles the morning after.

New Floors

It all started with a couple of leaks under the foundation. :-(

Very inconvenient timing. Dear Heart facing open heart surgery.

However, as Romans 8:28 says:

"And we know that God causes everything to work together

for the good of those who love God and are called

according to His purpose for them."

Now ... after a few months of healing, waiting,

moving stuff here, moving stuff there ... voila - new floors!! :-)

 

Get out the dust mop!