{{ 113 }} Colors

The colors of summer. The temps have been over 100 for weeks.

Normally we see 108. The nights cool to 80 if we're lucky. 

{{ 112 }} Weddings & Anniversaries

We've seen our friends' wedding but this week brought the 2nd anniversary of Nate and Jennifer.

It was a sweet setting in West Tx. up on a hill over looking the Hill Country.

As we corporately sang worship songs Nathan turned his head to see his parents.

It was one of the sweetest moments I've been priveledged to witness. He wanted to see 

everyone. It was a moment shared with our family who is so close. I saw the man who had chosen his bride but I saw that little boy that I babysat, who my own daughter adored and he adored her. The one who always had time to play with my boys, his cousins.

I saw the years fly backwards and lurch forward in a brief glance.

Happy Anniversary as you serve our country in Germany. We miss you greatly.

    

{{ 111 }} Trio

Not the greatest picture of us but we are sweet friends celebrating C & A.

 It gives a nice shot of the reception. What about these fluffy little

dresses that make you look 20 lbs. heavier?  LOL 

{{ 110 }} Weddings

My dearest friends...how wonderful that Rick was Best Man. It gave Sherry and I time for breakfast and a good visit. So sad that they are moving yet further away. Weddings bring everyone together for fun. Thankful we are for weddings and friends.

{{ 109 }} Laughing Too Much

Fun friends....BJ (Grandma to the Groom) looks like she's had a few but she's really just posing after we've laughed so much. With these ladies I can litterally laugh til I cry. Now, why is Sherry loaded down holding all my stuff? Time to go home...

{{ 108 }} Light the Way

The walk to the ceremony was softly lit by rows of lanterns.
I love the softness they bring to any event.
"Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path..."

{{ 107 }} Reception

Colors for the wedding reception: Cobalt Blue, Tangerine & Lime...

Fun Fun Fun...inside the civic center was transformed into a garden theme complete with barn doors, a gazebo, Japanese lanterns, Gerber daisies and gardens spots. It was a festive affair, a celebration enjoyed by all.

{{ 106 }} Fooling Around

Don't let them fool you in this not so candid shot.
They're holding the cake just out of my camera's range. I kept hearing, "Don't show the cake."

{{ 105 }} Weddings

These dear ladies have been friends forever.

What a pleasure to catch this candid moment at the reception

of Mother of the Bride, my cousin and a friend.

And when life has serious changes what do you do?

Eat chocolate cake of course!

{{ 104 }} Leaving

The Happy Couple leaves.

Bubbles are so much fun.

{{ 103 }} S

The summer brought C&A's wedding.
Pictures are coming!

{{ 102 }} C&A

Friends fell in love....

Friends married.

{{ 101 }} Chosen

I think of...John 15:16
Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain,that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.

I love that I am Chosen...Hand picked...Called out...and I have a job to do.

{{ 100 }} Boys

He drives away in the Jeep that once was his dad's great love. While in Israel it somehow fell into his hands and Dad never took it back. So one child took the Suburban that Dad loved and one took his Jeep. He said it's a weird feeling watching both your vehicles drive off and they aren't yours anymore.

{{ 99 }} Mother's Day

Blessed to have two of my three children with me on Mother's Day 2011.  I never thought I would be the only female in the house...just never thought about it.
I'm convinced there are great rewards to a woman who lives in a house with only men. Proud of my kiddos.

{{ 98 }} Prom

They are so cute all dressed up. I have to laugh when I see hair bands on both their arms...

now isn't that a great addition to prom?

{{ 97 }} Prom

The lovely Daylon and my son, Jansen.

Prom 2011 NLHS

{{ 96 }} Teens

Have I mentioned lately how blessed I am?  One such night was this one....I quietly listened to the conversations of my son and two friends as they cooked steaks, listened to country music and just hung out. Once the food was done I heard them offer thanks to the Father for their meal. No adults to remind them to pray at dinner, they just did.  : )

{{ 95}} Travel

Part of me wants to go somewhere....I feel the itch to do something adventurous and fun. A year ago the boys and I should have been joining R. in Israel as missionaries. The door closed and here I sit. It's hard to just be......

{{ 94 }}

I marvel at the intricasies of nest building. When my daughter was doing a project in high school we found abandoned nests. Our collection was quite unique. No two are alike...just like us...carefully woven by our Maker. What appears to be junk on the outside is now part of the plan...it's used, not wasted.

{{ 93 }} Blooms

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

{{ 92 }} Chosen

I like the word "Chosen". 

It makes me feel safe, secure

sought after, protected.

 It makes me feel like it's not too late for dreams.

{{ 91 }} S

My friends recently married. I worked on 

a collage print for them.

Really, I just played. 

Sock Monkey

Sock Monkey fabric is so cute.

It's a high consideration for something.

{{89}} Chosing for Asher

{{ 88 }} Ilayna Joy

There's a new girl in town and "on Margaret". Witnessed my first home birth and I must say my friend did a great job.

{{ 87 }} Help

The helping hand...the one that picks you up...holds you strong...gently carries you...this family holds tight.

{{ 86 }} It Begins

Labor begins. A home birth surrounded by family.

How precious to pray with your mom.

We have the new neighbor on her way.

{{ 85 }} The End

The end brought a great time with my parents, sisters, neices and nephews.

{{ 84 }} The End

The End brings family together, lots of food and for us laughter. We know where our loved one is....and we didn't lose her. We eat, laugh, eat, talk and then take pictures of the cousins in attendance.

{{ 83 }} The End

Sometimes the end reunites old friends such as in the photo. The next week I got a call from one of our Congressmen. He had saved a letter I wrote years ago recalling a memory. Most of his friends are "gone" and he is 87. He was looking for Daddy and asking about how he was getting along.

{{ 82 }} The End

Sometimes the end sneaks up on you and other times you know

it's in the future. You dread the day when you want to pick up

the phone and talk to your Daddy or your Moma and they

aren't there. Thankfully mine are. My sweet husband now

has only my family. What's mine is his.

{{ 81 }} The End

Mom came with Dad to his brother's funeral. The next morning she was headed over to see her sister.
The end came at 5:00 am...totally unexpected. Sometimes it sneaks up on you and you don't get to say good-bye.

{{ 80 }} The End

One tradition is the pall bearers laying their boutonnieres on the casket. I wonder where it started and why.

{{ 79 }} The End

We have traditions in the South. I am grateful for that. As I have travelled to other 

parts of the U.S.  lately I find them lacking.

Difficult as it may be I'm glad the family rides together in a big shiny black car.

That we remain next to our cars while the casket is in place and wait

for the family to go next. We shake their hands, hug their necks and

let them know how much we also loved their "loved one". 

{{ 78 }} The End

We've had two funerals lately. It's the end of Aunt Gerri's earthly body and for that, we grieve. It was the instantaneous beginning of eternity with Jesus and for that we rejoice!

{{ 77 }} Blooms & Bark

The texture of bark, the graceful swooping of branches, the perfectly intricate details of each bloom, their fragrance...
God identifies Himself as Creator.
Can you quietly worship as you observe the beauty He placed all around us? Do you stop and enjoy? Think what a gift it is to us...to be surrounded with loveliness. Enjoy and thank HIM.

{{ 76 }} Butcher Block

When I was little I was drawn to this chunk of wood. It held a bit of mystery as it sat in the dingy dark corner behind the meat counter. It was the chopping block when my Grandad owned Hick's Grocery in the early 40's. He sold it to my mom who sold it to her sister. It was always a part of the store which made it a part of our daily lives. I learned to cut meat, weigh it and most of all...the funnest to me...wrap it in a white package from this block. It is buttery soft with age. So glad it was salvaged when the store burned.