Two Handsome Men

Having lunch the day before Christmas with Will and Jonathan and Bill.

Can it get much better than this?

Conversations with a squirrel

Heard chattering between animals outside  - went out and this is what I found.  Kayla and a squirrel were having a conversation.  Who knows what they were talking about....probably a little bit of teasing, some "I dare you" maybe.

Love Bugs

Last night Bill called me to hear the "tree frog" that was somewhere on our porch.  It sounded just like my sound machine I listen to.  I tried to find it - putting my ear wherever I heard the "chirping".  But it sounded like it was right next to my ear on the brick wall.  So we turned on the light and below is what we saw.

It was one of those little green bugs - and we could see it rubbing it's tiny thin wings together making a chirping sound.  Lo and behold - all of a sudden another green bug of the opposite sex (we couldn't tell which was  male and which was female - although we thought the one rubbing his wings was the male) came crawling up to him and they began their little dance.

So amazing to see it all take place.......  well....maybe not "Amazing" - just interesting.  Hmmm...

Thanksgiving 08

What fun we had - eating, visiting, sleeping, eating, vegging, laughing, teasing, enjoying the blessings of Thanksgiving!

As with any visit - the day must be started with a wrestling match!

Jonathan and Colby (dear friend of the family)

Pop and Jim (Bill's brother)

Grammy, Will and Joel

Then, the inevitable - Leaving - Whaaaaaaaa!

Journey`

My sweet husband took me out to eat for my birthday - afterwards he drove me to Dallas to buy me this painting as a surprise gift. I had seen this painting on Craig's list and fell in love with it. To me, this painting represents a journey towards hope, faith, love - to God himself. I can just feel His warmth reaching out to all areas.....to lighten our path and guide our way. Do you see Him? Do you see the hope in this? It clenches my heart every time I look at it.

Windy Day

It was VERY windy this early evening. I loved the clouds and just had to capture them.

BACK UP....BACK UP....BACK UP.....

This is exactly what I felt like and said when I DROPPED OUR PORTABLE HARDDRIVE!!!!!
After plugging it back in and NOT seeing it appear on our computer - $$$$$$$$ starting dancing in my head.
Now - it is off to the Data Recovery Specialists!
Moral of story:
BACK UP......BACK UP......BACK UP!

San Angelo Surprise

My dear husband told me he had a business trip in San Angelo this past Saturday. So, I thought it would be fun to go with him. When we got there - I had the biggest surprise - our dear friends (Cheri and Grady) showed up! Cheri was my college roommate and Bill's best friend in highschool (that's how I met Bill). Bill and Grady have been planning this trip for the past 3 weeks! It was the most wonderful surprise - and for no reason at all - just to meet up with dear friends from El Paso!

This is me being surprised when I saw Grady and Cheri.

This is my dear friend Cheri when she first saw me.

This si the bed and breakfast we stayed at. It was a "blues" place - known as "Blues Inn"

Bill and Grady on the front porch congratulating themselves on surprising the girls.

The next three slides are Bill's and my bedroom.

Across the street was a wall of door murals. Bill found one intriguing.

This is a well known bootfactory. These boots are being made for the woman that owns the land the Astrodome sits on!!

These boots are being resoled for Esther Williams (now 90 yrs old).

(for those of you who are too young - she was an actress that was known for swimming in her movies - the long and short of it)

On the San Angelo Riverwalk.

(I love this picture)

Cheri and Grady infront of a mermaid at the winery.

My other most favorite picture - college roommates umpteen years later and still best friends.

Do You Recognize the Guy In the Middle?

Click on this link - "Sexy Hair" .com........in their news section......Who Do You See?
Boy - he sure is handsome!!!!!

http://www.sexyhair.com/index/In_the_News.html

Odds and Ends

Just a few things to add:

1. I had our first dinner guests over. I made lamb chops (which was a first!) with a lemon/raisin couscous, salad and peach cobbler and ice cream for dessert. The lamb chops turned out great! I had never had them or made them before.

2. Hayley and Cody stopped by for brunch on their way home. Had a wonderful visit!!!

HARDwood floors

Let me just say - hardwood floors are beautiful - I now have a hate/love relationship.
My whole house is hardwoods.....
1. How do I clean them?
2. They are killing my back and legs!
3.Kayla has such a drippy nose - I have dog nose juice all over!

All I am doing is unpacking - why did I used to think this was so fun! Maybe because I can remember the day when we would move into a new place, unpack, hang pictures and be done - all in ONE day!!! I am just hoping I have everything unpacked by Thanksgiving!

I figured out that since I have been married - we've lived in 11 houses!!!!

Bill's Devotional to our Church

Today's Blog is by Captain Morgan

I had to give a devotional at church Sunday - something from the heart about what the church means to me. So I wrote a poem:

‘Twas The Night Before Sunday
(With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)

‘Twas the night before Sunday, and all through the casa
all the creatures were stirring, “Caramba Que’ Pasa?”
A friend he had asked me to speak at my church
And now I stand here – deep in a lurch.
The music was playing some chill rocking blues,
And Molly was on-line reading the news.
I tried to imagine what I would say
And dreading the sunshine of that new day.
When out of my bible there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my couch to see what was the matter.
I opened the good book and what did I see?
But God’s Holy word speaking to me.
I gazed at the words with such awe and such wonder
I heard what they meant with a loud clap of thunder
The angelic glow of the heavenly host
Gave new meaning to HIM, the ONE with the most.
“Oh Lord” I did pray,
“How can I celebrate with you today?”
“How can I share with the ones that I love?”
“the ones you have brought me here from above”?
When what to my questioning heart should appear
But a wonderful service full of good cheer
With music so vibrant, so current and cool
I knew in a minute it must be Re-Fuel
Insightful and hopeful, John’s sermons ring true
and Katie’s child lessons explain them for you.
With wonderful learning’ from the Pit Crew
And lots of good food shared by those new.
And then, in a vision, I felt in my heart,
The love and the caring of each person’s part.
As I prayed to the Lord of all that is real
(With the help of our reverend, Pastor John Peel)
I heard Our God say so loud and so clear
“this is the reason I brought you both here -
now finish the service and get on with your mission –
Spread all of my word to those that are missing”
My Trinity Friends, as we leave here today,
“Know that HE loves us, and let us all pray”

The Stress of a Move

I started packing the apartment yesterday to get ready for our move - Yeah!

I didn't realize what packing away the pictures would do to me -

Reduce me to tears!!!!!

So - I am posting two of my favorite pictures of the boys

so I can come to my blog anytime and look at them!

Guess I am needing a Will and Jonathan fix.

(btw - these were taken at Hayley's wedding)

I Just Love My Dog!

Yes, I just love my dog. Kayla is the cutest thing.

She has become so playful (for short bursts) and loving. Not the same dog when we got her in Feb.

She won't let me take pictures of her - but this one looks just like her. Same soulful, loving eyes. Like black marbles.

:)

This has been a busy week!

This past Saturday (Sept 13) Bill and I rode in the Patriot Rally in Southlake, TX. This was to support disabled vets. It was my first bike rally with my new roadbike! I just love her. We rode 22 miles and it rained for about 15 minutes of those 22 miles. An Apache helicopter took off from the parking lot and led the bikers at the start. It was so awesome.....(in my third life I would love to be a helicopter pilot - I even dream of flying helicopters! - so I was drooling the whole time that copter was flying overhead).

This is my new little road bike. I just love her - she is white with a white seat and white handlebars. She fits me just perfectly and together we will have many a beautiful ride into the sunset.

This is a picture of our new house that we are buying in Denton. Bill started his job with "Shiver & Associates" in Denton. As hard as we tried to relocate to Dallas or Ft Worth - God had other and better plans for us. To remain here in Denton and become involved in our church and community. So, after Bill started his new job this past week - our next step was to find a house, which God graciously led us to.

It also backs up to a golfcourse.


Has an open kitchen and den area.

A living room (please note - this is not our furniture)

A nice little back and side yard for Kayla

To see the rest of this story - you will just have to come visit us!

Click Click Click

I love the sound of my new fake fingernails clicking on the computer keys! Makes me feel girly.
Waiting to go to Jay and Viv's for burgs.
Condo vs house - which to buy!!!! THAT is the question.
Ft Worth or Dallas - THAT is another question. God is keeping a secret! :)

Okay Okay Okay!

Well - I haven't blogged because: A. my computer was messed up B. I didn't have any pictures and still don't C. Not much to say & D. my computer was messed up. Now that the computer is working - I have no excuse. Okay - here is the update:
1. Jonathan came down to visit for a few days - we met Grammy and Pop in Weatherford for lunch and then on to Six Flags. He and I rode every (EVERY) rollercoaster and in the front car! Now, riding a roller coaster when you are in your 20's is a lot more fun than in your 50's! But I did it!!!! I literally thought I would pass out at first - but by the end of the 8th rollercoaster - I was starting to open my eyes.
2. Went to El Paso to see my nephew's wedding. I went a week early - let's just say: "Shopping!" We had dresses, jewelry, and shoes to buy for all the parties! Boy - that was hard to stop once I got back home!!!!
3. Bill is looking for a new job...in the waiting mode.....always a hard period of job searching. We are truly waiting on the Lord and know he will lead us someplace awesome! What an adventure!!!! I am just setting my sail and riding the wind.
4. I cut my hair short and hate it - I feel like such a dork. Bill told me I say this everytime I cut my hair - so why do I do this???? Dork!
5. I got fake fingernails. MaryPat (Bill's sis) and I got them for the wedding and parties. I just love them - they make my jewelry look so much better! Ha! Today they are bright pink. Just wish I could get fake hair (wait - I guess I could).
6. Funny discussion between Bill and Jay: Jay: "Hows the job hunting going Bill?" Bill: "Fine, I've set my traps and now I am just checking them." Jay: "Bill, don't you know you need to put stinky bait in those traps?" Bill: "I know that - I already put stinky bait in my traps - it's called my resume!" LOL LOL LOL That just cracked me up.
7. Kayla is doing so good. Really bonded with Bill while I was in El Paso. Infact, he called me the day before he was to leave and right before he took her to the kennel. He was crying like a little bitty girly girl saying that he didn't want to leave her but wanted to bring her with him... Whaaaaa.... Whaaaa..... Whaaaaaa! (LOL - not really - I just like to tease him).
8. I found out that my ex-neighbor in Columbia googled me (trying to contact me) and found my blogsite! I didn't know you could do that! Hi Dax!
That's about it for now.
I need to do pictures.........

Off the top of my head

Bill keeps telling me I need to update my blog. Since moving all our stuff (what was left of it) down to Denton from Columbia - I just haven't had any thoughts to jot. BUT - I CAN give a little update:

1. The Move - quick synopsis -
- movers didn't show - had to get friends to help
- not enough room on the truck - had to get another one (thank goodness we flew in)
- had two HUGE loads of trash and Salvation Army donations (had to pay someone $200 to haul everything away!!!!!! - took them 3 trips)
- had to go out of our way to retrieve our treadmill and Bill's bike that had been taken and hauled off to another town - ok - just call it stolen.
- No room in the UHaul going to Denton to bring treadmill - gave it to a family friend in Springfield.
- saw a sting operation on the highway (6 cars infront of us) police with rifles and guns drawn on this one car!!!!
-Made a total of 5 stops on the trip back home dropping off stuff to family.
- We did all this in 2 days!!!!! Ugghhh!!!!

2. There is a roach in my microwave that walks around the digital clock. I bang on it to make it fall so I don't have to be grossed out about it. How did it get in there?

3. Kayla's white cell count is now normal. Yeah! She is feeling and looking so much better.

4. I just read The Shack. It goes right in line with my bible study - Experiencing God. One thing that stuck out from the book (and there were A LOT of things) is how God is in the present. We can look at the past and learn from it, and look at the future and plan for it....but God is not there. When we look at the future...we are not seeing God. God is in the Present. Walking, living, loving us NOW - HERE! Wow! I love that!!!!!!

5. Bill has another sortof interview/lunch with another architectural firm in Dallas this Friday. This was a total surprise. I am going with him down to Dallas and will hang out at Northpark. Yeah! The company is just off Central (I-75) right by there.

6. I cut my hair short....maybe too short. Hmmm! Am not getting any comments from anybody. Hmmmm.

Patton Reunion

Bill and I went to his family's "mini" reunion. This was the family on his mother's side - the "Pattons". Everyone in the picture are cousins.....with Aunt Betty sitting down. It was great being with them and getting caught up on everyone. I think the last time we saw them was 15 years ago!!!! Too long! The guy on the far left - David Patton - was Jay's English teacher in highschool at Lake Highlands!!!!! What a co-winkie dink!

Singing with Vibrato

My husband is sooo funny! We were driving along (I was driving) with the radio on....Bill was singing singing singing. I turned to look at him and he said, "Boy I am singing good....I have great vibrato!" I said, "Honey, you don't have vibrato, I am driving over a bumpy road with ruts." He very calmly replied, "Well, every singer has their 'zone' that they sing well in, I guess mine is the 'construction zone'! LOL

Best of Fort Worth - City Magazine

Bill and I picked up the June 2008 Forth Worth City Magazine

- it was featuring the 8th Annual Best of Fort Worth.

On the "Best Off the Wall" section......

look who they listed as "Best Homegrown Band"!!!!

Green River Ordinance

The magazine is now on the news stand!