Gas Prices

I know everyone has the same problem...and I'm not telling you anything you don't already know...

But!...

Just 3 weeks ago, when I was driving to Texas and back to get my daughter, gas was about $3.85 a gallon. Give or take a few pennies depending on what state we were in.

Today, had to drive about 25 minutes to sing at a funeral and needed a "little splash of gas", as my husband says.

$4.41 for the cheap stuff!

My goodness. There really will come a time when it's actually too much. We are going to have to consider some changes...

Anybody else feeling the crunch yet?

Blessings.

christmas?!?

Started listening to Christmas music/musicals today for December...

Wow...It's not even June!

My prayer, as it is every year, is that someone will come and hear something that touches them and brings them closer in relationship with Jesus Christ.

Maybe someone will hear for the first time. What an exciting thought!

I'm always thinking about who the music might touch...I wonder if folks are renewed and encouraged through the message of song. But, maybe, just maybe, God will be talking to me! That would be cool. I'll be listening.

Blessings!

Mother's Day...

Coming home from a yummy lunch after church on Sunday, my daughter said,
"We can't go in the house yet."

"Why not?"

"Because the boys aren't home yet." (Husband and son had taken a different truck to church)

"So, why can't we go in?"

"Just be patient. You don't need to know everything." sweet daughter replied.

So, we sat there, waiting until finally the boys arrived.

I went in the house to find some lumps on the dining room table covered with a sheet. It wasn't like that when I left for church at 6:30 this morning. We were all at church and lunch together...when did someone do this?

After we all got in they reminded me that we were traveling on Mother's Day and hadn't celebrated. I lifted the sheet to find lots of sweet gifts from my family. Very fun!

So, the bottom line is it doesn't have to be printed on the calendar to celebrate, right? You love someone? Celebrate them. Honor them. Just because...

Blessings!

Was It Enough?

Such a disturbing conversation with my husband last night.

Kids had retreated to their rooms for the night. We were all tired. Maybe even a little grumpy?

I was talking about the things I want and how I want them and who I want to do what. I know. Probably doesn't make any sense to you, but to me, it was perfectly clear!

My sweet husband is the one who, when faced with conflict, will usually decide that fighting, or yelling, or disagreeing is unnecessary. He will let you say whatever you want, then will walk away. Sweetly. I hate that! I want to duke it out. "C'mon...give me your best shot" is what I think in my head because I'm a fixer of all situations. Not tomorrow, not next week, not even an hour from now. Right now!

So, when I was saying how things needed to go with these adult children in our home and how I wanted everybody to do exactly what I wanted them to do and act exactly like I thought they should act, he said this:

"We're done, honey. We've done it all for them. We've raised them and loved them and given them the tools to be who they are going to be. But, they are adults. Now, we step back and watch them and love them from a distance. We can't nag them or tell them what to do. If they don't know by now, we failed."

"WHAT!?!" "Obviously your medication is making you a crazy man", is what I wanted to say to him.

But in the early morning light, as I wrestled with his words all night long, I realize he is right. What a hard moment for a Mom. Such intense love and planning and wisdom and work has gone towards these two beautiful children for 20 years...and now, I'm done? Did I forget anything? What else do I need to tell them? Was it enough?

I know any mother would tell you you're never really "done", but it's time to let go. Boy that's hard. I really want to make sure they don't make a bad decision. I want to protect them from what I know will come if they take a certain road. I want to shield them from pain and hurt. I want to make them do what I think they should do. Isn't that silly?

I will always see them as my sweet babies. I will never really "get it" that they are grown adults.

But, I will try...

Blessings

To Texas and Back Again!

So, it went like this:

Day One: Leave Fresno at 7:30 a.m. driving with a sectional couch in the bed of the pick-up.
Drive to Gallup, New Mexico. Can't...go...another...mile! Sleep in hotel.
Day Two: Drive the rest of the way to Abilene to see daughter! Happy moments! Unload sectional
couch to find it fits beautifully in new house! Very tired.
Day Three: Check daughter out of dorm and move her into house she will be renting, most likely, for
the next two years. Enjoy famous Cajun Cone! (the best snow cones EVER!)

~ By the way, it's not only hot...it's that beautiful humid icky stuff. ~

Day Four: Pick up bedroom furniture handed down from graduating Senior to daughter...for free!
Assemble, straighten, and view the beautiful new little bedroom for daughter. Take off for home!
(but not before stopping for one last Cajun Cone for the road!)
Drive to Santa Ana, New Mexico. sleep.
Day Five: Drive, and drive, and drive some more. We had intended to stop again and rest, but once you
are in California, you can't stop. Even 6 more hours looks good when you've already come 18!
We kept driving until we hit home.

It's good to be home. My favorite part? Waking up and finding both children in their beds sleeping...

Blessings!

Car Show 2008

This was one of the most successful events this church has ever sponsored!

The 10th annual Sunday Spring Classic...Car Show. We had over 170 entries of cars, motorcycles, 4x4's, Jeeps, P.T. Cruiser club, and motorcycles.

There was a whip cream eating contest. Chili and Rib cooking contests. There were bounce houses and a huge rock climbing tower. There was shaved ice and bottled water. There was sun and shade and heat and then a cool breeze. There were awards and "pats on the back". We had the colors presented and then a flag folding ceremony and, of course, the National Anthem by the Anthem queen herself, Clora Ann Crum. It was amazing! There was a fire truck with the tallest ladder I've ever seen! There were kids and old people and everything in between.

One of the most exciting things about this event is that you can look in any direction and see folks who aren't members of the church. Visitors, neighbors, who over the last 10 years have become friends.

There's no preaching, no cornering to shove Jesus down your throat. Just goodness, love, and lots of fun. Folks feel safe here. They don't know why we do it. They don't understand the "everything is free" policy. But after some suspicion, they relax and enjoy.

I'm so proud of this body of people I get to associate with. Oh sure, we've got our flaws. There are things I worry about. Not everything is perfect. But when push comes to shove, this group sets aside their differences and shows Jesus in genuine and practical form to the neighborhood.

It was a beautiful day!

Sweet Girl...

There are moments when you think parenting is absolutely the hardest most thankless job you will ever tackle! And then there are days when you think there is nothing more beautiful than being a momma or daddy. Yesterday, I received these flowers. Husband and son are in Pepperdine working for the ZOE Group at Lectureship, so, naturally, I thought as I received them that husband may be sending me the "I miss you" bouquet.

Then came the reading of the card:

"Momma, I just wanted you to know that I love you and I appreciate everything you do for me and everyone else too! I can't wait to see you soon. I love you so much - plus one! Love, Ashley Marie"

One of our sweet volunteers, whom I've known since about Kindergarten, came back to me with these flowers. She actually had the Youth Minister carry them because they were too heavy for her...but she wanted to be here with me when I read the card. You see, she and the secretary up front had already read it! (don't you love church family?) And, she thought that when I read it, I would need a hug. She thought I might cry or something silly like that.

She is a very wise woman...