Welcome to My World

Wa La! We Have a Storage Building

2011-06-14T14:58:00.005-05:00

I Miss My Grandbabies!

2011-06-11T08:26:00.002-05:00

Corbin & Jada are in Colorado this week. They've been gone since last Sunday and I'm really missing them. Here they are at an Aquarium in Colorado:

Blue Birds

2011-06-04T20:19:00.003-05:00

Four days ago I found this little bird in our backyard. It had fallen out of it's nest, I suppose. This big bird is watching over it and feeding it. So cute! I hope a cat doesn't get it before it learns to fly.

Just For You, Mary Helen

2011-02-17T20:33:00.004-06:00

It was such a nice day today. Jada & I sat in the swing for a while. She's such a little punkin.

I am such a lazy blogger these days. I spend too much of my computer time on FaceBook, I guess.

It's nice to be missed though!

2010 Crismus

2010-12-26T15:50:00.008-06:00

We had a great time this holiday. Here are pictures of our kids and grandkids, with one missing.... Jocelyne. She didn't make it this year.

Me & Jada

2010-12-18T15:28:00.003-06:00

Jenny (daughter-in-law) had to go back to work this past week after being off to have Jada (sweet granddaughter). Jenny's mom kept Jada for 2 days, and I kept her for 2.5 days. I loved it. Jada is so precious, and I am really going to enjoy keeping her full time in January when Jenny goes back to work after the Holidays. One thing I will say though. I was tired each day after Jada left. I've been sitting at a desk all day for a long time. There's not a lot of sitting while taking care of a 3 month old though. I was busy, busy, busy. I did find one thing that helped though. ...and she loves it.

Bike Rides

2010-11-20T16:54:00.003-06:00

Mason rode over to visit us today. Clear across town, I might add. Seeing him on his bicycle reminded me of the days when he was younger and we used to go for bike rides. I always enjoyed that. Riding with my boy....

New Orleans Fruit Cake

2010-11-19T15:40:00.003-06:00

I made a recipe of New Orleans Fruit Cake yesterday, my first attempt at fruitcake. I made it into small six loaves. I got the recipe from my friend, Sheila. She says it is really good.

Now it has to sit for at least two weeks in an air tight container. There's a jigger of bourbon in the container with it, so it can soak it up. The fruit and nuts were soaked in bourbon before baking also.

We'll see how it turns out in a couple of weeks!

My Sweet Grandbabies

2010-11-17T00:02:00.000-06:00

My Weekend

2010-11-14T12:51:00.008-06:00

Bo & I drove to Lubbock Friday night for an awards dinner. I really didn't want to go to the dinner, but I didn't want Bo to drive to Lubbock and back all by himself, so I went to Lubbock with him, dropped him off at the dinner, went shopping at the mall, then came back to pick him up later. I didn't buy a thing, just walked around and watched people. I enjoy doing that sometimes.

Yesterday we went to a Western Trade Show here in town. There were so many people there and lots of stuff to look at. These BIG Clydesdale horses were there.

Very pretty horses!

After the Trade Show we went to watch Corbin play basketball, and then took some of Bo's customers to dinner at the Country Barn, a steak house here in town. That was really good. After eating we headed to the Ranch Rodeo. It was pretty fun.

When we got home from the rodeo, Jenny brought Jada over and she spent the night with us. And of course, that was great! She is just so precious. So I'll end this post with a picture her

Hope you had a good weekend!

We've Got Snow in The Panhandle of Texas This Morning!

2010-11-12T08:40:00.000-06:00

My New Bed

2010-11-08T19:14:00.000-06:00

Woo Hoo! Can't wait to sleep in it tonight.

Busy Weekend

2010-11-07T17:38:00.002-06:00

It's been a busy weekend, and I'm tired. Whew.

Friday night, Bo & I went to the movies and saw Secretariat. It was a good movie. A real feel good movie! I like those. Then Saturday morning we got up at 5:00 am, left for Wichita Falls by 6:00 in order to get to our friends Caleb & Anna's house by 10:00 to hear our friend, Darvin preach a sermon to us, and then have lunch afterward. It was good and we enjoyed it! We left Wichita Falls by 1:00 and headed back to Amarillo, got home about 4:30. Then at 6:30 or so, Jada came over to spend the night, and I'm so glad she did. I enjoyed her so much. She is starting to interact with me, smile and coo. So precious! But.... I didn't get much sleep. That's OK though. I loved it. This morning after Jada went home, Bo & I went for a 3 mile walk around the neighborhood. This afternoon we went to Corbin's basketball game, which they lost. Boo. Mason is coming over for supper in about an hour. I've been cooking a roast all day and hopefully it will be good. I'm hungry..... and tired. Zzzzzzzz.

Safari

2010-11-04T17:08:00.005-05:00

Bo & I decided it is time for a king size bed. We've had a queen size bed for 15 years now, but I think we will sleep better in a king size, so yesterday I found one I wanted and we bought it. It will be delivered on Monday. Today I went looking for bedding. Here's what I came up with. It's called Safari. I will show you the whole setup next week. I'm excited!

Our New Fence

2010-11-02T20:46:00.020-05:00

In the Spring of 2009, Bo put this swing up for me in our backyard. I really like swings because they remind of my Mother. She had one on her front porch for many years and I have lots of good memories sitting in it visiting with my family. But there was just one problem with this swing. When I sat in it, this is what I had to look at:

Now back when I was an East Texas girl, I MIGHT have been satified with that view since they have so many big, pretty trees and you can't see very far, but now that I've been a West Texas girl for 25 years, I like the wide, open spaces. So we ripped out the old fence and put up an ornamental iron fence. I like ornamental iron fences. They remind me of my Daddy. He used to build them. --So here's what it looks like now.

Here's a before of the outside of the fence.

And an after. (See my swing back there in the distance)

I'm really happy with it! Now I can watch the cars go by and the kids play. Yea!

Hi There

2010-10-31T11:58:00.003-05:00

Hey, hey! It's been awhile!

I took a sabbatical from blogging. Just got tired of it, I guess. But today I clicked on my blog and started reading. It was kind of nice looking back and reading about the different things going on in my life, so I decided to start again. Now, mind you, I might just get tired again tomorrow and quit. That's my perogative, right? But for today, I'm gonna blog.

Since I last wrote, I have a new beautiful & sweet little granddaughter added to my life, and I am so blessed to have her. She is such a joy.

Jada Marie at 5 weeks old:

Bo & I kept her yesterday for a while and it was so fun. We did get in trouble by her mother for getting her feeding schedule off a little. LOL. But no biggie. She didn't reprimand us too harshly. She's pretty understanding of us grandparent types, really.

Bo & I went for a walk this morning, listened to a good sermon and are about ready to have lunch. Nothing much exciting going on today.

Hope you have a good one!

2010-03-28T19:44:00.003-05:00

Mason's birthday is tomorrow. He will be 19 years old. Wow. Hard to believe. Doesn't seem that long ago that he was just a sweet little curly-haired 5 year old. I miss that little boy sometimes, but am glad for the young man he is now too.

We went to the bowling alley this afternoon to celebrate his birthday. It was fun. Bo was the winner! Yea Bo!

Happy Birthday Mason!

*

God is so Good

2010-03-13T08:28:00.006-06:00

I have heard this several times this week from several different people in several different situations. And I agree, God is certainly good.

Every time I have heard it, it is because something good is happening to that person. I just want to ask... Is God still good when something "bad" happens? It seems most people attribute the good that's happening to them to God, and the bad that happens to them to Satan. And of course 'good' is always relative. It is what WE perceive as good.

I believe the bible says that God is directing and has predestined EVERYTHING that happens. the good and the so-called bad. (How do we really know what is good or bad for us anyway?)

According to Romans 8:28, all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose, ALL THINGS!

If you are one of the called, one of the ones that love God (only because he causes you to love him), then every single thing that happens to you is good for you.

What a good and comforting thought!

Lilly Got a Haircut

2010-03-07T16:01:00.001-06:00

Rambling

2010-03-05T18:39:00.004-06:00

I have had a busy week and am glad it's Friday! My friend at work, Toni was in Las Vegas all week for a conference. She is the manager and handles all the customers, phone calls, and such, while I just sit in the back and do bookkeeping (which is how I like it). I have had to do her job and mine this week. I usually only work 5-6 hrs a day, but have worked 8 everyday this week. Toni came back to work today, and I am so glad! And I appreciate her a little bit more than I did last week.

I am usually off on Fridays, but went in this morning for a little while, then came home and worked on books for another guy all afternoon. --I am ready for the weekend!

Yesterday I went to the hospital to visit Bo's great nephew, Justin. He had a shunt replaced in his head and was in Pediatric ICU there for a couple of days. He is doing good and went home today.

You know, my boy Adam was in the same hospital in Pediatric ICU off and on for 5 months when he was here on earth 17 years ago. I saw a nurse there who worked there 17 years ago. She remembered Adam. She said she still had a magnet on her refrigerator that Adam made for her. I was just so touched when I heard that and just talking to her really took me back to that time in my life. The time when Adam was still here on earth, and Cody was just a child, still at home. My goodness, what a wonderful time in my life. I wish I had appreciated it more when I had it. It was such a wonderful, special time, and I didn't even know it......

Lillie Video and a Pie

2010-02-27T13:10:00.007-06:00

Lillie & the paper towel roll

Look at that tail move.

Bo & I usually eat out somewhere for lunch on Saturdays. Last Saturday after eating, the waitress came by and offered us come coconut pie. Bo was really tempted. I told him I would make him one when we got home. When we got home, I looked and didn't have the ingredients. Well, yesterday I went and got the ingredients, but I really didn't want to make a big pie because I don't want to be eating 2 or 3 pieces myself. So... I made a miniature pie. A big serving for one. Hope he likes it!

*

2010-02-21T12:07:00.003-06:00

My husband bought me something, but it's all in pieces. Can you guess what it is....

He worked on putting it together for an hour or so.

It's coming together.

Here it is!

Better get busy using it now!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T08:27:00.003-06:00

Bo & I went to see a Ballet last night here in town, for Valentine's Day. Wow, it was really good. Bo got tickets last week and told me about it. I thought it would be fun, but having never been to a ballet before, I wondered if it might be a bit stuffy. Boy, was I wrong. It was great! It was called MoMix.

I was talking to Corbin yesterday on Skype. I snapped his picture as we were talking, then sent it to him. He doctored it up and sent it back to me.

Have A Great Valentine's Day!

OK. I'm Sitting. Where's My Treat??

2010-02-13T12:49:00.002-06:00

A Very Quiet Weekend

2010-02-07T20:14:00.002-06:00

I'm actually ready to go to work tomorrow. This weekend has been so quiet. Bo went to Austin to see Jocelyne off to Africa, and is staying for a Cattle Feeders Meeting tomorrow and Tuesday. Jocelyne will be in Africa for three weeks with a heart surgical team doing surgeries on people that couldn't afford it without the surgery team donating their time and expenses. She was really excited and a little apprehensive. Can't wait to hear from her and hear all her experiences while there.

I am pretty much stuck at home with my broken ankle, not supposed to drive (although I have cheated a little). I can't take any walks because of my ankle and there's snow on most of the sidewalks anyway, so..... I've been mostly sitting in a chair all weekend reading, surfing the internet, watching movies and EATING. That's not good! No exercise and eating alot.

Hopefully all this snow will be gone soon, my ankle will be healed, Bo will be home and I can get back to normal.

Spring, Come Swiftly!

2010-02-03T18:18:00.004-06:00

I just took this out my kitchen window. See all that snow piled up in the middle of the road? Ugh, and now it just started snowing again. We are expecting 3-5 inches tonight. They just got the roads drivable again, and...... here comes MORE snow.

I'm so ready for spring.

*

Wally World Cart Lady

2010-01-31T17:58:00.002-06:00

My Backyard

2010-01-29T09:13:00.002-06:00

Snow & Other Things

2010-01-28T12:16:00.005-06:00

We are getting a major snowfall right now. It started this morning about 8:00 and there is already 5-6 inches and it is supposed to snow into the night tonight. Ugh. I didn't have to work today because of the snow and as I was sitting around looking at my swollen, purple and hurting foot, I decided to call the Dr and see if I could get in before the snow got too bad. They said come right now,...so I did. The Dr's office was at the top of a hill, and my little car had a hard time making it up the hill. I kept having to back up until I was at the bottom, got a running start and finally made it into the drive. I limped in to the office. There was hardly anybody there. Smart people! I got my ankle x-rayed and lo, and behold, my lateral maleolus is fractured. Great. I have to wear a boot for 3 weeks and am not supposed to drive. Since I drove myself to the Dr., and had to drive home, they just showed me how to put it on when I got home. I don't think I CAN drive with this boot on, and I'm only supposed to take it off when I shower. Oh. my. goodness.

How do I do these things to myself?

*

For Amy

2010-01-26T18:16:00.007-06:00

I'm blogging for my dear sweet friend, Amy. I talk to her maybe once a year or so. She doesnt live in Amarillo, and she is very busy with kids, job & husband, as am I, so we just don't get to talk to each other much. But she does read my blog, ......and she called me today to see if I was still alive, since I haven't blogged since November. November?! Wow, it has been awhile. ---Anyway, it was soooo good to hear from you, Amy. You are one of my favorite people in the whole world, and I miss seeing and talking to you.

It's funny, just before Amy hung up the phone today, she asked me if I have had any accidents lately, such as the head injury I got in 2008 when I fell in my living room. I laughed and said I haven't. Then...... when I got home from work today, I decided to go out and rake some leaves in the backyard before the big snowfall we are expecting. As I was walking out with the rake in my hand, I stepped on the edge of the sidewalk and my ankle quickly turned inward, and I heard a pop. Ouch! I fell down. Immediately my ankle began to swell up right where the knobby bone on the outside of the ankle is. I limped inside and took my sock and shoe off. It doesnt look good. It is really swelled and it hurts! I wondered if it was broken. Now, after a couple of hours, I don't think it is broken, just sprained, but it is a bad sprain, I think. I cannot put my weight on it to walk, so I'm limping around. Great! Just great! ....Oh, well.

Bo & I were planning to leave for San Antonio tomorrow for a Cattle meeting. He called me earlier today to say maybe we shouldn't go because the forecast is calling for a foot of snow on Thursday, and that's not a good time to leave the feedyard. We were going to wait and decide for sure in the morning when maybe we could get a little bit better forecast. ....Now I don't think we have to wait until tomorrow to decide. Boo.

Here's a picture of my family we had made at Christmas:

Aren't they a goodlooking bunch?

Love ya, Amy!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T10:24:00.002-06:00

Bo & I are getting ready to drive to Tyler tomorrow to have lots of good food and fellowship with my family. We will have the meal on Friday instead of Thursday so we will be driving tomorrow. At least there won't be much traffic on the highways. Yea! After eating and visiting all day on Friday, we will head out Saturday morning to Austin to visit Jocelyne for a couple of days. Really looking forward to seeing her, too.

Cody, Jenny & Corbin are going to Dalhart for Thanksgiving with her folks, and Mason, Jocelyne & Whitney are going to Stanton to be with their maternal grandparents. Jocelyne is going home on Friday to be there on Saturday when we get to Austin.

Well, that's it for us. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

THE STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW

2009-11-19T21:32:00.002-06:00

1 Cor. 15:56, 57
Robert Hawker
(1753-1827)

"The strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ."1 Cor. xv. 56, 57.

Pause, my soul, over this solemn, but yet sweet verse. "The strength of sin is the law." Doth sin derive strength from the law? Yes, for the motions of sin, which is in our members, gather strength from the precepts in God's holy law, just as pent-up waters, that are increasing from various sources, will swell and rage the more because they are restrained. And this is what the apostle means, when he saith, "Sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence." For the mass of indwelling corruption is stirred up, and excited into action by the law. The Lord, in rich mercy, teaching us by this very process; that so totally corrupt is our nature, that we do not know the whole workings of sin, until, by the holiness of his commandment, we are led to see, and feel a disposition to break it; like the first transgressors in the garden of Eden, who lusted to eat of the forbidden fruit, because it was forbidden, so that the very precepts of God, by the sin of our nature, become the means of giving strength to that sin of our nature. The law of God, in this instance, acts upon the heart, as when the gardener's spade uncovers the surface of the earth, and the worms, which before lay concealed, appear. The worms were there before; but. they did not appear before. In like manner, the law turns up the heart, and then appears the sin which, though there before, lay undiscovered. Is this thy case, my soul? And dost thou still carry, about with thee such a body of sin and death-! Well might Paul call it the mystery of iniquity; and well might Paul, from his deeper knowledge in the anatomy of the heart, cry out so greatly under the burden of it. Oh precious, precious, precious Lamb of God! how little understood, and less regarded, even by those that know somewhat of thee in the riches and greatness of thy salvation, is it considered, in ten thousand instances which pass away in the gulph of forgetfulness over our unthinking minds. Lord, give me to see and feel, yet more and more, that in myself I am virtually all sin. And, Oh Lord, give me to see and feel, yet more and more, that thou, and thou alone, art my righteousness. And let the apostle's hymn of praise be henceforth daily and hourly mine" Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ"

From THE POOR MAN'S MORNING AND EVENING PORTIONS

THAT WILL BY NO MEANS CLEAR THE GUILTY

2009-11-14T16:16:00.002-06:00

Exodus 34:7
Robert Hawker
(1753-1827)

"That will by no means clear the guilty,"Exod. 34:7.

Pause, my soul, over these solemn words! Will not Jehovah clear the guilty? And art thou not guilty? How then wilt thou come before God, either now or hereafter? Hearken, my soul, to what thy God hath also said; "deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom." Oh! soul-reviving, soulcomforting words! yes, Jesus became my surety, took my guilt, and bought me out of the hands of law and justice. God hath not therefore cleared the guilty, without taking ample satisfaction on the person of the sinner's surety. Hence now the double claim of justice and grace demands the sinner's pardon. Here then, my soul, rest thy present and thine everlasting plea. Keep up a daily and hourly remembrance of it at the mercy seat. While Jesus lives, and lives there as thine advocate, never doubt thy acceptance in the beloved: guilty as thou art in thyself, yet spotless in him. The same God which made thy Jesus to be sin for thee, who knew no sin, makes thee the righteousness of God in him.

I Believe This:

2009-11-13T18:50:00.001-06:00

I defy anyone to find a solitary text of Scripture in the New Testament that uses the law to motivate, inspire, regulate, and even guide the believer. Believers are motivated by love, inspired by gratitude, regulated by grace, and guided by the Holy Spirit. The whole Word of God, the complete revelation of His will, is our law. Our lives are governed by love, not by fear. We walk by faith, not by legislation. We walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh (Romans 8:9-14; Galatians 3:3).

- Scott Richardson

AMEN.

Happy Birthday Cody!

2009-10-22T21:19:00.013-05:00

Today was Cody's 30th birthday. THIRTY!? Really?? ---So hard to believe.

We made our annual trip to the Big Texan and it was lots of fun.

Cody & Mason had their annual pepper stand-off. Those were some HOT peppers and I think it was a tie this year.

We all had our picture taken with Corbin in the big chair.

Here's Corbin sitting down to eat the 72 oz steak.

*

2009-09-22T21:50:00.010-05:00

Bo & I had a couple of visitors this past weekend. Mary Helen and John were here, and we were so glad they came to visit. We had Cody, Jenny & Corbin over on Friday night for a cookout. Saturday morning we went to watch Corbin play football. Saturday afternoon we walked 6 miles to the Lighthouse and back in Palo Duro Canyon. We had a great time there even though I fell down and got a big scrape down my arm. Ouch! Then Saturday night we went out to eat and Mary Ellen and I got a haircut at the mall. After that we went home and went to bed. We were so tired from the walking 6 miles. Sunday morning they loaded up and headed back to Tyler.

Here are pictures:

*

2009-09-10T09:29:00.001-05:00

In the Knoxville airport

Sent by my iPhone

2009-09-09T19:35:00.002-05:00

Bo & I are eating at Lineberger's Seafood in Gatlinburg tonight.

(I'm trying out sending this by my iphone.)

Sent from my iphone

2009-09-09T08:52:00.001-05:00

We are in Gatlinburg, TN just outside of the Smoky Mountains

2009-09-07T17:08:00.002-05:00

We are in Tennessee! It's so pretty and has so many trees.

This is our friends, Donnie & Mary. We spent the night with them last night and had a great visit.

Hey Corbin look:

Happy Birthday to Jocelyne!

2009-09-02T19:53:00.001-05:00

2009-08-22T21:36:00.005-05:00

Bo & I slipped off to Colorado Springs today for a little weekend getaway. Tonight we went down to Old Colorado City and walked around for a while. Bo sat on a bench and I set up the camera to take our picture using the time delay, then made a beeline for the bench myself. Can you tell I just sat down a second before this picture snapped?

Tomorrow we plan to go to Manitou Springs and to Pikes Peak.

We're having a good time!

Farther Along We'll Understand Why

2009-07-27T22:11:00.000-05:00

Family Reunion

2009-07-26T09:02:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we went to Bo's 3rd annual paternal family reunion. There were lots of folks there and we enjoyed visiting with everyone and eating lots of food. Good food.

I took this picture of these two cute little boys having a hot dog in a swing.

Bo's cousin's son had a BIG cooker and did all the cooking.

Here are pictures of Bo & three important women in his life:

His sister:

His daughter:

And his mother:

Bo's dad is in the hospital so he didn't get to be there. He has had pneumonia, but hopefully he is getting better.

It was a nice day.

A Cowboy and His Water Hose

2009-07-14T20:35:00.002-05:00

Not a Whole Lot Going On Around Our House

2009-07-12T16:23:00.004-05:00

Bo & I planted some small shrubs in our backyard next to the garage today while Lilly treed a cat that jumped our fence.

I have been sick since Tuesday with a sore throat, cough, fever and runny nose. Ugh. I must have picked up something in California.

Oh, and I got my hair cut very short. I mean really really short. I can't believe I did it, but I like it pretty well, I think. It will surely be easy. There's not much there to fix.

Oh, and one more thing..... Mason got a job!! Yea! He finishes up his clinicals July 24th and will take the Surgical Tech exam the same day. He hasn't been working anywhere for a couple of months now. He decided to just do school, but since he is living on his own now, his finances were getting rather tight, with no job. (He had been very diligent to save a good bit when he was working, and that's what he's been living on). Anyway, on Friday he got a call from a surgery center here in town offering him a job. He had interviewed with them about a week ago, and they were checking out references and such. I guess everything checked out good. I would think they must be very good for them to hire an 18 year old boy. ---I'm so proud of him.

[Correction: Mason told me today he is taking his exam on the 15th, this Wednesday, not the 24th]

Oh. My. Goodness II

2009-07-04T09:31:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we went to Lake Tahoe for the day. So beautiful, I could hardly take it in. Bo & I hiked a mile out to Eagle Lake up rocks and hills. I am pretty sore today, but must say it was so worth the walk.

Last night we went to the Bible Conference that we came out here to attend. We have gotten to hear some great sermons so far and will go back today and tonight. We heard about the great love God has for his sheep last night, by Don Fortner and were amazed yet again. Our God's love for his children is so absolutely amazing. He loves us because of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and only because of him. What a wonderful, wonderful thing! Praise the name of the Lord.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

Oh. My. Goodness!

2009-07-02T11:29:00.003-05:00

Yosemite National Park is so so beautiful. Majestic, Awesome, Incredible, Georgeous.

These pictures don't do justice. Bo & I had such a great time there yesterday.

Silly Lilly

2009-06-24T19:25:00.002-05:00

Lilly carried this plastic Pepsi bottle in her mouth around the house for quite a while. It is almost as big as she is. She's a goofy little dog.

Then she and Bo found a turtle in the back yard.

Where's the Beef?

2009-06-20T12:16:00.005-05:00

My man sure can bring home the bacon, er....... the beef!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CORBIN!

2009-06-16T22:17:00.001-05:00

My favorite grandson in the whole world.

Grana loves you so!

Albuquerque Pictures

2009-06-16T18:46:00.002-05:00

From the top of Sandia Peak. (I rode a cable car up to the top)

At the bottom of Sandia Peak

Out our hotel window on the 8th floor

2009-06-15T20:41:00.003-05:00

Last weekend we went to Albuquerque and had a great time. Bo attended meetings all day one day and played golf another day & I just piddled around town. Our lovely hotel supplied internet, ....but for a price, which I didn't want to pay, so I went to a little cafe, drank coffee and surfed for a little while on Saturday. While I was there, this very odd looking contraction came riding up to the front window. A little old man got off it and came in to eat breakfast. I went out and got my camera to take a picture.

Have you ever seen such? That thing has four birds and a little dog on it. The birds and the dog (a very dirty little yorkie) just waited outside while the man was inside.

I thought it was pretty funny.

A Quick Trip

2009-06-07T08:51:00.007-05:00

Bo & I made a quick trip to Wichita Falls this weekend. We went down on Friday and came back on Saturday. We went to meet with some fellow believers there and we just had a great time. A pastor that we listen to in Kentucky told us about this group and Bo had stopped in to meet them several months ago as he was traveling thru. I just met them this weekend. They were such gracious and friendly folks. They meet each week in one of the family's homes. There was a visiting pastor there this weekend from Arkansas. We heard a wonderful message about the sovereignty of God, had two great meals, and lots of fellowship.

We don't go to a "church," so it is nice to get to fellowship with other believers when we can.

We went by the falls and took a picture:

Then, on the way home we picked up a couple of hitchhikers

---Not really hitchhikers. It's Ashlee & Taelor, Bo's great-nieces. We gave them a ride up to the Panhandle. They are staying with their Aunt Carla for a couple of weeks.

Various & Sundry Blogging

2009-05-31T10:08:00.005-05:00

I wanted to sit down and write a post this morning, but I really can't think of anything to write about. My mind is just blank, when it comes to blogging. Mmmmm.

Well, here's somethings:

I bought a bookcase from the unfinished furniture store last week. I was going to stain it, but I really didn't like the way it looked, so instead of brushing the stain on, then wiping it off like you're supposed to do when staining something, I just put on two coats of stain and didn't wipe off. Here's the finished product

I like it pretty good. It's a little dark, but it'll do.

On another note, the neighbor dog Daisy, got into our backyard yesterday, and she and Lilly played some for a while. Daisy is very old and gentle, and Lilly is wild and crazy. Daisy finally got bored with the little tart and headed home.

This morning we listened to a good sermon in our family study time. Mason came and we enjoyed having him. It was just like old times ....a month ago when he still lived at home.

And last, but not least, here's a man and his dog out on the back porch just taking it easy.

That's it for me. Adios!

2009-05-27T19:57:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to one of the two people in this world that I have known longer than anybody else. My sister, Mary Helen. Really it's Mary Ellen, but I call her Mary Helen. She has always been there for me and I've always looked up to her and think the world of her. She is a great person to have in your corner, and I've always known that she is ....(in my corner, that is).

I love you and appreciate you Mary Helen!

Before & After

2009-05-24T07:11:00.002-05:00

A couple of months ago I posted a 'before' picture of where I work. They were doing a big remodel. Well, it is pretty much finished so here is another 'before' picture (just to refresh your memory) and an 'after' picture (with terrible lighting) It's hard to get a picture without a bunch of cars outfront, so I took it early morning when the sun was behind the building. But you can get a good idea of what it looks like.

Doesn't it look nice? Much better, I think.

Congratulations to Mason!

2009-05-16T12:04:00.002-05:00

He graduated from Jr. College last night with his Associates Degree in Applied Science. He will be a Surgical Technologist. And he just turned 18 years old a couple of months ago. Wow!! We are VERY proud of you Reid!

Our Weekend

2009-05-12T21:13:00.011-05:00

Bo & I went to South Texas this past weekend & had a great time. We went to Fredericksburg on Friday and walked up and down the street visiting all the many shops until they closed. Then we went to eat and to the hotel. Fredericksburg is a nice little town.

Saturday morning we loaded up and headed for Austin to visit Jocelyne. On the way we stopped off at LBJ National Park and saw where LBJ grew up and then saw the LBJ Ranch. That was pretty interesting. Here's a picture of his house. He called it the Texas Whitehouse.

We got to Austin around noon, picked up Jocelyne and did a little more shopping and eating, of course. Jocelyne took us to see her new apartment which she is moving into in a few weeks. It's really cute and ....so is she. Here they are:

That night we went to eat again and saw Rudy Rodriguez at the restaurant. What were you doing in Austin, Rudy? And hey, that doesn't look like Glender there with you.

On the way home Sunday, we decided to drive to Izoro and try to find the house where my Daddy grew up. I went there a few times when I was very young and visited it once when my kids were little, so I sorta knew what I was looking for. We found the old Izoro store & post office. I remember visiting it with old Paw when I was
little. It looks just like I remembered.

I knew we were close to the house, but I just wasn't sure where it was. We drove around for a while and finally happened upon this:

It was about the right distance from the road as I remembered it, and there was a man there working, so we decided to stop and ask him if this was the old Jones place. We did, and he wasn't sure, but the more I looked around I knew it was the right place, even though the house was gone. All that was there was the foundation.

The man told me there was a stone that had some initials on it if I wanted to see it. I went over to it and it said Oct 14, 1939 and the initials F.E.J. Hey, that's my grandpa's initials! Cool. The man gave me the stone and I brought it home. It broke in two as we were getting it out of the car. Boo. Anyway, here it is:

After leaving there, we stopped off in Abilene and Bo picked up his custom made cowboy hat, and guess what, .....he liked it. He is hard to please when it comes to hats, so that's good!

We got home about 9:30 Sunday night and it was good to be home. We enjoyed the trip and enjoyed getting back home.

My Grandboy Broke His Wrist

2009-05-02T08:08:00.003-05:00

He had an accident on his bicycle. But then, he had his cast made in black & green, the color of his bicycle. Funny. You'd think he would be mad at his bicycle.

Our Visit To Tyler

2009-04-25T20:54:00.007-05:00

Last weekend Bo & I went to Tyler to visit my family and for Bo to help John put new windows in his & Mary Helen's house. We had a nice trip down (all 8 hrs). We stopped along to way to let Lilly go potty and took her picture in the Bluebonnets.

The morning after we got there, Bo & John got started on the windows and then it began to rain, and rain, and rain. So....... here's what they did.

That worked out pretty good, albeit it a little sloshy, and they got several windows installed. After working hard all day, John took us to eat at a good barbeque place in town, and of course, we ate way too much.

The next day Bo & John worked on windows again in between showers. PAJ and Dorothy came out and we had a nice visit with them. Later that night Glender and Rudy came over and we had lasagna and strawberry shortcake, then played dominos.

Bo & I headed back home on Sunday morning, and made it back in time to get rested for work on Monday morning. We enjoyed the visit.

My Swing

2009-04-13T19:40:00.001-05:00

Thank you Bunny!

Our Weekend Project

2009-04-04T18:15:00.004-05:00

Here's what Bo & I did today out in the 45 mph winds, no less.

I really did help, even though I'm not in any pictures. --I was taking the pictures! I even carried one 80 lb bag of concrete. Ugh. Bo carried about 8 bags (not all at one time though). He's strong, but not quite that strong.

Are you wondering just what that thing in our backyard is? Well, in the next picture you will see what I ordered to go with it and then you will know. It hasn't arrived yet, but should be here in the next few days, and besides we have to wait a few days for the concrete to dry before we can use it. I'm really excited about it because it's something I enjoy very much.

It reminds me of my mother. Now can you guess? Dont peak! I bet Mary Ellen & Gendy can guess.

A swing, yep, you got it!

The one I ordered is not white though, it's wood colored, but it's not real wood. It's made of polywood, so it can withstand the weather.

I'll post another picture when it's all together. Now you just need to come visit me so we can sit out there and enjoy it.

Remodeling and My Birthday Weekend

2009-03-30T18:43:00.017-05:00

We are remodeling at my office. And boy does it need it. But it's gonna look great when it's finished. I thought I'd share the progress with my vast readership. Ha. NOT!

Here's a before:

And some durings:

This is my office with a door before:

And now a window (which I am very excited about):

We still have a ways to go, but it's making progress. I'll keep you posted as we go along.

I had a great birthday this past weekend. I got to spend it with most of my kids and my hubby and it was fun. Bo had tickets to a fund raiser dinner here in town, so we went, and invited Cody & Jenny, Whitney & Mason to come along.

(The guy to the left of us sure is having a good time).

Then last night 3 of my good friends took me to eat, and I sure enjoyed that:

Today my boss & his wife (who are such great people) took me to lunch. Wow. What a great birthday. I also heard from all my siblings and my PAJ & Dorothy (who are also all such great people). It was great! What a blessed weekend. (Do you think I could have fit another 'great' in that paragraph)??

Oh, and one more thing. Here's my birthday present from Cody & Jenny & Corbin:

Aren't they cute?

We're Digging Out this Morning

2009-03-28T08:48:00.002-05:00

Nothing like a spring storm!

Our Weather Forecast for tonight

2009-03-26T18:58:00.001-05:00

AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE PANHANDLES REGION BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT. COLD TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN TO THE PANHANDLES TONIGHT... WITH PRECIPITATION BEGINNING AS LIGHT RAIN BEFORE SWITCHING TO SNOW OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. BY EARLY FRIDAY MORNING HEAVY SNOW AND VERY STRONG WINDS WILL BE AFFECTING A LARGE PORTION OF THE AREA. NORTHERLY WINDS OF 35 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 50 MPH WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. HEAVY SNOWFALL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE WARNING AREA WITH AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF 12 INCHES COMMON. SNOW DRIFTS OF 10 TO 20 FEET WILL BE POSSIBLE BEFORE THE SNOW FINALLY ENDS SATURDAY MORNING.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM. ANYONE CAUGHT OUTSIDE DURING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS COULD BECOME DISORIENTED AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND SHELTER. TRAVEL WILL BE DANGEROUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE ON FRIDAY... WITH POWER OUTAGES POSSIBLY LASTING INTO THE WEEKEND.

Oh boy, better batton down the hatches!

Happy Birthday to My PAJ

2009-03-15T07:45:00.004-05:00

My daddy is 83 years young today.

Our New Lawn

2009-03-14T09:41:00.002-05:00

Working on the lawn:

The finished product:

Looks good!

Now it just needs lots of water. The snow we got yesterday did help, along with the water sprinklers.

A New Lawn

2009-03-09T17:58:00.002-05:00

This is our lawn yesterday:

This is our lawn today:

We are getting a new front lawn. The old one was sparce in many areas, had weeds, and different kinds of grass, so we are taking out the old and resodding with a new fescue lawn. Hopefully it will be much better.

I'll keep you updated!

I Have Great News!!

2009-02-28T17:59:00.004-06:00

I am so excited & happy about my news. Can you guess what it might be???

I AM GOING TO BE A GRANA AGAIN!!

Yes, you read me right. Cody, Jenny & Corbin are having a baby.

Corbin called me a few days ago and told me, 'I'm going to be a big brother, Grana.' All I could think of was the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization. I thought, 'is Corbin old enough to be a big brother in that organization?' Then it dawned on me what he was talking about. Oh my gosh! I was so surprised and I am so happy about it.

A new baby in our family. Such great news.

Corbin's Bike Show

2009-02-15T16:13:00.007-06:00

Yesterday Corbin told me he and his friends were having a bike show on his street today from 3:00 to 4:05. He and his friends had put flyers on doors of several of the neighbors. He asked Pa & I to come and then asked if we could bring some brownies to sell. Sure, we could! So this morning I baked some brownies and we drove over there to watch the show. They set up a table to sell brownies and lemonade that Jenny made.

They plan to donote the money they made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.

We were quite surprised that several neighbors came out to watch the show and buy refreshments.

The boys did great!

There was only one little mishap:

Here are the stars of the show:

Good Advice From PAJ

2009-02-03T21:25:00.004-06:00

Always keep yourself in a position financially to where, if you lost your job tomorrow, you would still be OK.

PAJ, (my Daddy) told me this many times and I think it is such good advice. I keep hearing all the stories in the news about people loosing their jobs and are now in such financial trouble. I just have to wonder if maybe they didn't create some of this trouble themselves. If, when they had good jobs, they had lived as if they might loose their job tomorrow, surely they wouldn't be in such financial trouble now. I know there are exceptions to this. Some people have a bad illness, or some other hardship, and I'm not talking about those cases. I know that happens, but I do believe it is the exception and not the rule.

If, when someone is making good money, they spend wisely and live below their means, saving money, doubling up on house or car pmts and such, and they loose their job, they can go get a job at McDonalds if need be, and still be OK for a while.

Don't buy houses with house payments you can barely afford, the best vehicles with big car payments, and run up lots of credit card debt. Then of course, if you loose your job, you will be in big trouble fast.

I just believe this must be what has happened with so many people that are in such financial trouble now because they have lost their jobs. (Certainly not all). And we are asked to bale them out. We, who have tried hard to live within our means. ---I just don't get it.

What happened to suffering the consequences of our actions? We are never promised a life without hardships. Loosing a job is always a possibility. No one is immune to it. Why not think ahead when we HAVE the job and make wise decisions?

Just doesn't make sense to me.

2009-01-31T20:32:00.003-06:00

Today was my day off and a good day. I have been working hard all week. My boss bought out a gas pipeline construction service company with over 100 employees. I have been getting all the employees set up in our system along with getting health insurance put in place and lots of other stuff. It has been alot of work, and will most likely continue to be for a while here, but I am enjoying it. I'm learning new things and meeting new people. It's been great and I'm excited about a new adventure. ....But I was glad to have a day off today.

I went to watch Corbin's basketball game this morning and saw Cody & Jenny, then I went to eat lunch and shopping with my good friend, Rhonda.

After that I went to the airport to pick up Bo, who has been in Phoenix all week, and we went to eat Mexican Food. Now I am enjoying a small glass of wine and just relaxing.

It was a good day. Hope yours was too!

If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36).

2009-01-17T23:19:00.001-06:00

Enjoy The Righteousness Of Christ.

Our standing as Christians is founded upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone. We say it, we hear it, and nodding affirmatively we agree that it is true. Yet, all too often we fail to grasp the implications of this fact.

All too often our actions and our attitudes, our feelings, our hopes and fears are motivated by something quite different. Instead of looking to Christ we look to ourselves. We imagine that if we could better overcome temptation we would be happier, if we could subdue our sin we would find more peace. We suspect that our interest in God’s love is hindered by our lack of faith and wonder if our conviction for sin has been deeply enough felt.

So we become pre-occupied with ourselves and measuring the successes and failures of what we do as Christians, instead of being pre-occupied with Christ, the foundation that never fails. We build our hope upon our reputations, until our reputations take a dive. We draw comfort from our Christian service then stumble upon the suspicion that much of it is self-promoting. We are encouraged by numbers and size until we glimpse how fickle are the little kingdoms we have built.

It is Christ that justifies, it is Jesus who makes peace in our soul. Our happiness and our assurance will never be complete if we base it upon anything we do in this world. When we look to ourselves to any degree we are looking away from the Lord. Our failures cannot breach our union with Christ any more than our successes can improve it. What I do, what I feel and what I say does not alter the Father’s free grace to me, the Son’s finished work for me, or the Spirit’s providential care of me.

Too many Christians are joyful or depressed in measure to how well or poorly they feel they have performed their Christian duties. Too many preachers use these feelings to badger and manipulate their flock. Christians who are required to scale the bar of sanctified behaviour are always watching the bar. They never lift their eyes from their own works, never enjoy the liberating peace of looking away to Christ.

Christ is the peace-maker of our souls; our happiness in this world, and in the next, depends upon Christ alone. Robert Hawker puts it nicely, "Beloved, if you will fetch your peace from anything in the world but Christ, you will fetch it from where it is not. None but Christ! none but Christ! While your own acts proclaim nothing but war, Christ alone and His blood proclaim nothing but peace."

God grant us freedom to enjoy the righteousness of Christ.

by Peter L Meney

Vehicles

2009-01-11T16:10:00.003-06:00

Mason got a new "used" car. Yeah, it's my old Honda Accord. But it's a good one!

So you might ask, what am I driving now.

Ta Da!!

My New Honda CR-V!

Isn't it pretty??

Bo & I went to Lubbock yesterday and picked it up --off the showroom floor. It is loaded, with a voice command GPS, dual air, heated leather seats, XM radio, a backup camera, and much more! I plan to keep it for a long time, so I might as well get all the bells and whistles that were offered. It's really not a very expensive car like some, but it's is just perfect for me.

On another note, we listened to a great sermon this morning and I thought I would share it with ya'll. It's called 'The Angel Sent Before Us --Christ, Our Protector." You can find it here. I think it explains very well how I'm always saying we don't HAVE to work. We are not under the law. Christ kept the law for us!! Praise his wonderful Holy Name!

That's all for now.

Max

2009-01-10T07:41:00.003-06:00

Corbin's cousin Max who is just 9 years old was just recently diagnosed with Leukemia. Oh, my heart goes out to him and his family. His mom, Christian, Jenny's sister has started a blog. It's called "It's A Good Life..of Course it is...I'm A Pirate!" and you can visit it here.

2009-01-04T21:50:00.004-06:00

Not too long ago I posted pictures of Lilly before and after bathtime. Mary Ellen, in the comments, asked me if Lilly liked getting a bath.

Here's a short video of Lilly when we told her it was time for a bath. She knows what the word 'bath' means, mind you. ---Now you decide if she likes taking a bath.

2008-12-29T18:51:00.003-06:00

Here's Mason standing out by his Tahoe a few weeks ago

Here's Mason standing out by his Tahoe today

Yes, last Friday afternoon, I got a frantic call from Mason. 'I've had a wreck!' Oh dear, oh dear. He ran into the back of a city garbage truck as the truck was turning into an alley. He wasn't hurt at all, and that's good! The garbage truck wasn't hurt either. But I can't say the same for the Tahoe. I'm afraid it's headed to the salvage yard.

2008-12-26T17:05:00.003-06:00

We just had a great Christmas this year. We decided to have a very nice, pretty formal Christmas dinner with our kids. So that's what we did.

This was our menu:

Gingered Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
Beef Tenderloin with Cranberry Dijon Mustard Sauce
Roasted Red Potato and Onion Wedges
Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots and Sweet Corn
Glazed Carrots and Sugar Snap Peas
and Creme Brulee for dessert

Bo & I worked hard all morning getting everything ready, and it all turned out really good. The Beef Tenderloin and the Creme Brulee were excellent, if I do say so myself!

Bo put together a Scavenger Hunt for the kids before we ate and that was lots of fun too. They had five places around town to go. Bo had written all the clues which were really pretty witty. (He's good at that sort of thing). About an hour before the kids got here, Bo went to all the places and taped envelopes with the next clue. I wondered if they would all figure it out, but they all did, and Mason & Whitney were the first to get back. It was really fun and we were thinking "maybe" we should make the scavenger hunt a new family tradition. We'll see.

You know, we always take our family kid picture at Christmas, and here's this years:

A pretty good looking bunch, I'd say!

I hope you all had a good Christmas too. And Happy New Year!!

My Weekend

2008-12-21T21:08:00.003-06:00

All of our kids are coming for Christmas on Christmas Day and I'm looking so forward to it. Bo & I have been working on a little surprise for them. (Nothing much, but hopefully fun). I will let you all in on it with pictures after Christmas.

Jocelyne should be here tomorrow, and we will be so glad to see her. I just love the family time at Holidays.

Bo & I drove to Clovis, NM on Saturday. He is looking for some new boots & a hat. We needed something to do that day, so on the spur of the moment, we jumped in the truck and went there to a big Western Store. He didn't find any boots OR a hat, so we just decided to wait until after Christmas to look again. Maybe they will be on sale then. We stopped and ate at a Mexican Food Restaurant on the way home and that was good.

I went and did a little late Christmas shopping today and WOW was there a ton of traffic and people out. Hopefully I won't have to do that again this year.

Tomorrow it's back to work, and that's OK too.

Have a great week!

2008-12-07T11:31:00.004-06:00

Dirty Lilly

Bathtime

Clean Lilly

2008-11-27T18:46:00.002-06:00

We had a nice Thanksgiving today at Bo's sister's little restaurant. The restaurant was closed, of course.

Watching the game after the big meal.

2008-11-16T08:28:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we went to Corbin's basketball game. His team lost the game, but they played hard and had fun.

Here are a couple of spectators:

Then after the game, at home with Lilly

2008-11-05T17:36:00.004-06:00

Well, Bo & I finally made it home. We went to visit my family after we left the convention and had a very nice visit.

First we went by to visit my PAJ and Dorothy and enjoyed seeing them. Here's me & PAJ:

Then we went to eat Mexican food with Mary Helen, Gendy, John & Rudy:

It's always so good to see my family!

Here's How they Got up & Down

2008-11-03T16:10:00.004-06:00

2008-11-03T07:42:00.007-06:00

Bo & I are at a cattle feeders convention in Grapevine, TX at a BEAUTIFUL hotel and having a great time. We are on the ninth floor and here's the atrium view from our balcony:

Pretty impressive, I think!

This morning I went out on the balcony and saw this. (Yes, they are putting up Christmas decorations already).

If you click on the picture and make it bigger, you will see little men sitting on those steel beams. Over nine stories up! Wow.

Here's one up close:

Those are some brave guys!

Well, I'm heading out for a walk around the lake outside. It's supposed to be around 80 degrees today and beautiful. I am loving this!!

Maybe I'll post some more pictures later. I sure am lucky to have such a sweet husband to take me to such cool places as this.

2008-10-31T21:01:00.002-05:00

I got to go trick or treating with these guys tonight. They were Greasers. You know, like from the movie, Grease.

It was fun and there were LOTS of trick or treaters out.

Happy Birthday to my Boy

2008-10-24T10:21:00.003-05:00

The Amazing Mason

2008-09-20T10:28:00.005-05:00

One more

2008-08-27T19:34:00.004-05:00

Mason started back to college on Monday taking Surgical Technology this time. Today we went and bought him some scrubbs to wear. Here he is:

*

It's Been Raining!

2008-08-18T19:52:00.001-05:00

2008-08-16T11:20:00.007-05:00

Yesterday morning Corbin, Lam & Quan came over. I was so glad to see them all. They were hungry guys so I made them some bacon & eggs for breakfast. Afterwards, we decided we would head out to Palo Duro Canyon. It was a nice cool day and that's what you need when going to the Canyon. Hiking around in the hot sun can be exhausting.

We stopped off at Subway and got some sandwiches to take with us. When we got there and starting to take off on a trail, we noticed it was pretty muddy because of the rain the night before. Ugh, that's was no good. So we got back in the car and drove around.

We pulled into the outdoor theater where they do the world famous play "Texas." Well, maybe not world famous, but famous in these parts anyway. We walked back stage and looked at all the staging equipment. It was pretty cool. I kept thinking, we probably shouldn't be back here, but we didn't see any signs that said 'keep out' or anything, so we kept wandering around and even took some pictures.

And then we looked up and there was a man with a mean look on his face. Uh-oh.

"You folks need to get out of here!" He said.

"Yes, sir! We are sorry, and we will leave right away."

He seemed very agitated at us and just stood there staring.

"You're not supposed to be in here." He said.

"So sorry Sir. We didn't take anything."

And we hooked 'em to the car. Whew! That was scarey. LOL.

We went across the street and got out of the car to try another trail. Corbin couldn't find his water bottle. He had given it to me to hold while I was taking their picture when we were backstage. I sat it down to take the picture. Oh dear, ----we left it there.

"We don't really need the water bottle," Corbin said, not wanting to go back over there.

I would have just said to forget it, but this water bottle was Cody's water bottle that he had while on the football team in high school. It says "Roye #32" on the side of it. I've had it for 10 years, and I wanted to keep it. O Brother.

So we got back in the car and headed across the street to find the boss of the outdoor theater. We waited outside for a few minutes because we sure weren't going back in there without permission. He finally came out.

"Sir, We left our water bottle in there. Could we go back inside and get it?"

"You left your water bottle?" He said.

"Y-Y-Y-Yes Sir. Could we please go get it?"

"Sure, you can." He said as he cracked a big smile.

"Whew! Thank you!"

And one of the twins (don't know which one, I still can't tell them apart) ran inside and got it.

We finally did find a trail to hike, so we did that and then went to the gift shop and looked around for a while.

It was a fun day.

We took this picture as we were leaving the park.

*

2008-07-25T21:24:00.002-05:00

Today was a busy day, but a very nice one. Friday is my day off, but there were a couple of things that really needed to be done, so I went to work for a couple of hours after going for a nice early morning walk. At noon, I left work and went to have lunch with Cody Lynn and Corbin at Chili's, and of course I loved that. After lunch, Corbin, Lam, Quan & I went swimming. I actually got in the water and swam. It was so hot just sitting on the side in the sun, and it was really fun.

After swimming, I met my friend at an Al-Anon meeting, which I enjoy attending, and it was a good meeting. I saw an old friend and his wife there, and they told me that her son had died just two weeks ago of a drug overdose, so she wasn't doing very well. Oh my, so sad. After the meeting, Rhonda & I went to eat Mexican Food and had a nice visit.

I got home and Haley, Mason's new friend is over visiting. Here's a picture I took of them.

It was a great day off!

I Love The Gospel

2008-07-20T15:05:00.003-05:00

We have been visiting a ‘Calvinistic’ church the last few weeks, the only Calvinistic church I know of in our area. It’s the same church I wrote about a few months ago here. We decided then that we would not attend because of what we perceive as ‘works’ preaching.

I believe in gospel preaching. Preaching Christ and him crucified, and there is some of that going on at this church.

I decided to try the church again mainly because I wanted Mason to be around other young people, young people that have morals and values. And Mason likes the young people he has met there. I do too. In fact, Mason met a young girl there that he really likes. Her name is Haley and he has been hanging out with her quite a bit. A very sweet young girl. All the people at the church have been so nice and friendly. I genuinely like them. I went to a ladies gathering with them last Wednesday night, and talked at length with several of the ladies. Such nice people.

I’ve had a nagging feeling though about going to the church because of the ’works’ preaching and teaching. I’ve been praying that the Lord would show me if I should be attending or not. When I talk about my concerns with people, I am told, you will never find a perfect church. ----OK. I’ll keep going, I think, knowing all along in my heart that I am not looking for the perfect church. I know what dreadful sinners all people are, me included, and of course there is no perfect church. I can live with an unperfect church.

But, I just think there are some core things that I must have in a church that I am going to attend. One of those things is no works preaching. I believe the bible emphasizes repeatedly how it is all of grace and none of works. And not just in salvation. Look at Galatians 3.

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if [it be] yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

I don’t want someone telling me what I need to DO for Christ. I want to hear Christ preached. I want to hear about what Christ has DONE, not I what I should DO.

When I hear about Christ and him crucified, it wells up within me such love for him. That makes me want to do the right things. (Not that I always do, in fact I fail miserably).

This morning in Sunday School, the lesson was on evangelizing. Teaching us a method to use to talk to people about Christ, about how even though we don’t want to talk to others about Christ and it sure is hard to do, we are commanded to, so we must work hard on doing this.

And yes, we ARE commanded to go out into all the world and preach the gospel. I know this. But give me a lesson on what Christ has done for me and I WANT to go evangelize. Give me a lesson about how I NEED to evangelize and I feel guilty because I don’t evangelize enough, or I feel pumped up to get busy and go evangelize to make some points with God. ---And what good is that?

There is lots of talk at this church about repentance and sanctification. Do I believe in repentance and sanctification? You bet I do. But probably not in the same way it’s being teached there. I believe repentance means a change of mind, a change in our thinking, and of course, as that happens, there will be a change in the way we do things, but the main focus is on the change in our minds in the way we see the gospel. The main point being that Christ does it ALL. We no longer work to gain acceptance with God. We rest in Christ alone.

And I believe sanctification means: being set apart and holy, which we are if Christ died for us. We are set apart and holy, as holy as we will ever be. We do not become more and more holy as we go along. When we are in Christ, we are as holy as we can get. God sees us as completely holy and perfect because that’s what Christ is. We don’t work to become more holy. Although we do grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord as believers.

There are so many pictures or allegories in the bible about works vs. grace. I know it must be so important to God. He will have us relying only on Christ. Christ gets all the glory. We get none. I believe that’s what it’s all about. Resting in Christ alone. And that takes all the pressure off of me. I don’t have to do a thing. What a wonderful gospel. I love that gospel and that’s what I love to hear preached.

What am I going to do about attending the church? I don’t know for sure, but I’m leaning towards not going there, and that makes me somewhat sad because I sure like the people there. I’m still praying about it, but I feel in a way that my prayer has been answered already.

Mason & I left after Sunday School and listened to a sermon when we got home on the computer. It was called “Christ, our Hope,” and it sure was good.

I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

2008-07-17T07:25:00.002-05:00

Pride is concerned with WHO is right. Humility is concerned with WHAT is right.

I found this quote today and I like it. Not sure about who said it, (I didn't), but it's a good one, I think.

A Good Sermon

2008-06-29T19:12:00.002-05:00

Today we listened to THIS sermon and I thought it was so good. If you've got 45 minutes to spare and would like to, take a listen.

A Wonderful Summer Day

2008-06-28T19:21:00.003-05:00

Two Different Jesus’s

2008-06-22T19:06:00.002-05:00

It seems that in religion today, as long as you believe in Jesus, well everything is just fine and we can all get along and worship together, no problem. I just have one question about that. Which Jesus?

There’s the Jesus who loves everybody & died for everybody (even though not everybody will be saved). The one who desperately hopes all will accept him and be saved. The one who failed to accomplish what he really wanted to accomplish.

Then there’s the Lord Jesus who loves his people and died to save them (and everyone of them WILL be saved). His death was completely effectual. In fact, his death is the only reason they will be saved. He is the victorious king!

These really are two different Jesus’s, I believe. In the first one, what makes the difference in a person’s salvation is the person themselves, their decision to accept him, their work. In the second, what makes the difference is the Lord Jesus alone.

I do not believe God will accept a salvation in which a person makes the difference. Just as he would not accept Cain's sacrifice because it involved a work of his own. --But God most definitely WILL accept a salvation in which Christ makes the difference. Just as he accepted Abel's sacrifice because it was a blood sacrifice and picture of Christ. Christ will always get all the glory in the salvation of his people. Always.

Which Jesus do you believe in?

My Friday

2008-06-06T16:10:00.008-05:00

It has been so windy here lately, but this morning for a few hours it was pretty calm. Yea! So I got out my bicycle and went for a ride. I only went five miles though. For some reason lately, I just don't feel like riding my bicycle. I get on it and go a few blocks and am ready to come back home. I don't want to get too far from home because I'm afraid I will get tired and then I can't stop until I get all the way back, so if I stay close, I can quit just about any time I want. --And it seems I WANT very shortly after starting. I don't know what's up with that.

Anyway, Corbin & his cousin, Max came over for a few hours this morning after my short ride.

They played outside with Lilly and took turns on the swing.

Mason worked from 6:30 until 1:30, then went and got a haircut, and has been on the computer all afternoon.

Doesn't his haircut look nice?? I think so.

*

How Very Strange

2008-05-22T19:19:00.005-05:00

Something very odd (to me) happened last week. My mother died. You might say, “Odd, how? People die all the time.” And yes, I know they do, but I’ve never had my mother die before. I stood by her bed with my siblings and watched her take her last breath. It felt so odd to be doing such. It happened exactly as the nurses said it would, those last couple of hours. Her breath got shallower and shallower until it finally just stopped. Several times she would stop breathing completely for a few seconds, then start again. Each time I would think, “….this is it. She is gone.” But then, she would start up again. A couple of times she made a loud gasping noise. But her breaths just got shorter and shorter and shorter. When they couldn’t get any shorter, they stopped. The nurse listened to her heart and said, “Her heart has stopped now. She is gone.” How very strange it all felt.

I kept talking to her as she was dying because people say the hearing is the last thing to go, and that she could hear me. I really don’t know if I believe that. In fact, I think I lean towards not believing it, or that if she could hear me, she probably couldn't make sense of what I are saying. My mother was on lots of pain medication and was talking out of her head some before she went unconscious, for one thing, and I guess I think that with all that was going on in her body, she probably couldn’t process very clear thoughts at that time anyway. But, I don’t know. I could be wrong. She may have known exactly what was going on around her. I just don’t think so, ....but that’s just my opinion.

I dreamed the other night that my mother was alive again, and was in the same miserable state she was in before she died. “Oh no,” I thought, “I don’t want this. I would rather her be gone and out of her misery." --I’m glad she is pain free now.

But I will miss her. Heck, I've only known her for 52 years! And she was a lovely, sweet lady. She loved me very much, I know she did. And I loved her too.