Spring, so welcome!

Everything is green, roses are all blooming, peonies are coming up like gangbusters, the lake is rising thanks to the rains, the dove family is back nesting under the deck, and I discovered another bird nest in the yaupon tree. Cool temperatures, lots of rainy days to prolong the "I get to stay inside and read a book in my cozy chair with a blanket over me."

Spring, I hope you stay for a while. Let summer wait just a bit.

All the wonderful rain we've had has raised the lake above what is normal!! Thank the Lord! We have been in drought for a long time and the lake has looked more like a puddle.

Today is sunny and the high is supposed to be 85! 

Perfect day for an outdoor birthday party with our grandson, Jack!

Resurrection Day 2015

Kate and Jack came over on Saturday to spend the night with us.

We had fun at the park, coloring eggs, and just playing in general.

Ninja Turtle man stands tall!

Kate's artwork.
Easter eggs are hidden on the page.
Even the sun's eyes are Easter eggs.

She likes to showcase!

All dressed up for Easter.

Jack refused to wear the cute shirt and pants his Mom packed for him to wear. It wasn't a battle to fight on Easter morning while getting ready for church, so he won and wore the airplane shirt. Kate informed me that Jack doesn't understand what is in season and what is not, but she does. Lol!!

Meanwhile, in South Texas ...

 Wish we could be in two places at once!

Would have loved to be with these two yesterday.

So thankful for God's protection. On Sunday morning we drove north on 75 which is always a nightmare because of the construction. It was raining on Sunday and a portion of the road between cement barriers was flooded. A truck passed us splashing water ALL OVER our car blinding us for a few seconds. Then, all of a sudden we were stopped because a woman had hit the side barrier leaving her car sideways across the road. We could see that she wasn't injured, but the gentleman just in front of us pulled aside to get out and assist her. He was a priest! God was watching out for her, too. So glad she wasn't hurt.

After church and lunch, it took one hour to go almost one mile because of the flooded area and the accidents on 75. Guess who was regretting greatly that she did not make a pit stop before leaving the restaurant.

It was a good day!

Spring Sprung

It doesn't seem to be my gift to record things as they happen. It also doesn't seem to be my gift to remember much about events after they've happened! That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

But, to keep on keepin' on with a record, here is a partial recollection of things to remember from the past few weeks.

A rainy day (raining cats and dogs) was spent at the George Bush Presidential Library. I highly recommend this if you are ever in the Dallas area. It is worth going more than once, so I believe we will go back again. No pics. Just enjoyed a super day and lunch at Laura Bush's Cafe 43. Very nice.

photo credit

After the visit to George Bush Library, I traveled to Oklahoma to help my sister get moving ... literally. Bless her heart. They bought a beautiful new house, but have been moving in a little bit at a time. It was obvious in talking with her on the phone that she was feeling somewhat overwhelmed by it all. Somewhat? No! Extreme overwhelming stress and so much that she had ended up in the hospital with chest pains. Thankfully, everything checked out for her physically, but after hearing that news, I felt compelled to go to her. And we worked hard all weekend. My brother and sister-in-love came to our aid with a truck and a lot was accomplished. What would we do without family?

Then the following weekend we went to Austin to watch Brady and Noah play sports - both play soccer and Brady is playing baseball. Somehow my "position" at the soccer field didn't allow for very good action shots, but I did get a few pics of Brady playing baseball. It was a beautiful sunny day, although the wind was "blow you over" wind.

Brady running to first base

Brady catching

Having an apple instead of donuts because he is going to be playing. 

Big sacrifice!

 Noah with his cards.

Mom lending a hand

Noah learned to ride his bike!

There were a few bluebonnets to be found!

And then yet another perfect day with friends at the Dallas Arboretum!

This little boy may be wondering why we got in his picture!

Nowhere but!

Life is moving by too quickly. Still enjoying Bible Study Fellowship and our Ladies of Grace. 

Saturday found us awaiting the arrival of Kate and Jack to decorate eggs for the big hunt!

Wow! Nonnie can do black and white with her phone.

Kate loves playing teacher.
I can tell she's planning what to teach us next.

I love these random moments.

Who Will Pay for You?

I had a debt I could not pay.

He paid the debt He did not owe,

I needed someone, 

To wash my sins away.

And now I sing a brand new song,

“Amazing grace” all day long,

Christ Jesus paid the debt,

That I could never pay.

Who will pay for you?

You?

Or Jesus?

I don't have enough of anything to pay the debt owed to God. 

Money ... possessions ... property. 

I don't have enough of anything to pay for my sin. 

But God ...

Who is rich in love

Rich in mercy

Rich in grace. 

He paid for me. 

I give You thanks, O God, that You paid my debt. 

How abundant is Your loving kindness. 

My soul HAS to sing to You. 

How great You are! How great You are!

How great is Your love. 

When I realize this, my soul HAS to sing. 

How great You are! 

My God, my Savior, my Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus. Paid. It. All.

Love is

Putting on your boots and heavy coat with hood over pjs,
standing outside in the freezing rain and howling north wind at your back,

while holding an umbrella over your very old, arthritic, senile dog,

waiting for her to take care of business before bedtime. 

The icy rain turned to snow and we woke up 

this morning to about three inches of snow.

The pics below show the difference between snow in 2010 and 2015.

Sunny pics are today.

So .... it could always be worse! 

The sun should melt everything by this afternoon.

Below are a couple of posts from our daughter-in-law on Facebook last night. Bless her heart!! Her husband was at the fire station last week when the ice storm came, too!

"School is closed (again) tomorrow. They're all like "driving on ice is dangerous", "stay off the roads", "be safe" blah blah blah, I get it, I really do. You know what else is dangerous??? Locking me up with these crazy kids again, THAT is dangerous. I think school should also occasionally close on a "beautiful day" so we can actually enjoy a random day off in the middle of the week and go do something fun!! Who's with me!?!"

#‪‎cabinfever‬ ‪#stircrazy‬ ‪‎#kidsarenuts‬

Ice Rant Part II:

"Why? Why does my husband always have to be out in this mess???? He is at work right now, parked on the top of a bridge, trying help keep the citizens of Dallas safe.

Ladies and Gents, Do me a favor. Pray for him and all the other firefighters, police officers, etc that have to be out braving this nasty weather in order to serve others. Pray for their safety, for warmth, for rest."

February Fun

Valentine wishes came from this sweet girl across the ocean blue!

Fun February visits with Kate and Jack

Well, it is a motorcycle, after all.

Even if it is pink.

A bull ride at Going Bonkers

 It doesn't take much silliness from Grandpa
for this girl to smile.

Woof!

Grandpa getting a thorough check from the 

resident doctors

Fuzzy photo credit - Grandpa

After playing Don't break the Ice,

Jack was ready to play the "bzzzzzzzzzzzz" game.

Took me a while to figure out he meant "Operation"

Waiting patiently for his turn at swimming class

This pic seems a little out of place for February,

but they are getting ready for summer!

Freezing February

 Snow angels

They don't get a taste of snow that often 

here in Texas!

February was fun and freezing ...

and now it's over. 

Time marches on.

and the pic below proves it!

Banias Falls in Israel
February/March 1996

Gotta keep on keeping on!

I know these lovelies are out there somewhere!!

And will be bursting out of the ground soon!!

(Already have an Arboretum date set for April 2!)