Flashback Friday

I'm copying my friend Cari's Flashback Friday idea for today. This picture was taken in either 1977 or 1978. Today "Gabriel" (aka Jennifer) is celebrating a birthday. She was picked to be Gabriel and wear the gold wings and halo because she was the tallest. Erin, to her left, myself and Kelly to her right wore the silver wings and halo.

Thoughts for Thursday

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

(photo taken at our church)

Make a Joyful Noise

Our kind neighbors, Ms. Nora and Mr. Tom, came to watch Sean sing tonight in the children's choir at church. They adopted us from the first day we moved in next door, and we have been blessed by knowing them. There was a lot of joyful singing tonight.

The Weekend

I finally spent the weekend at the deer lease with my two guys. I was assured that we would be the only people out there at the bunkhouse. Lee and I watched a serial killer movie on t.v. until midnight on Friday. Around 1:00 am I tried waking Lee and I whispered "I think I hear something!" He said that it was just a mouse. I replied that it just turned the light on...and that is how you get a husband to move quickly :) Turns out one of the other guys on the lease came in for an early morning hunt. When Lee came back, I told him that I would be awake FOREVER. We got up very early Saturday morning for a duck hunt - it was extremely windy and cold. All three of us sat on a big rock and waited for the sun to rise. As soon as it did, the sky filled with ducks coming off the pond. Lee spent quite a bit of time in search of a duck that got away. Sean and Gracie enjoyed exploring. The remainder of the day was spent hiking and napping. That evening we climbed a hill to wait for the ducks to come in to the pond for the evening - one of my favorite sounds is to hear ducks fly close overhead as they are getting ready to land. I told Lee that I felt like I was watching an omni movie choreographed by God. The sunset was off to our left, the ducks and pond were out in front of us, and the red winged black birds were all flying together in the midair dance that they do. We just watched it all play out. It was beautiful.

On our way down the hill after sunset, we met some skunks on the trail....5 in all. One of Sean's greatest fears has been skunks - ever since he was three. That's when Gracie was sprayed repeatedly by a skunk at Grandma's house - what a mess! When my sister asked if he was afraid of Flower on Bambi, he said "No, only the ones that are real and don't talk." Well, Sean faced his fears and I think he may be over it now. Luckily, we were not sprayed!

We spent this morning shooting skeet and learning to use the BB gun.

Life lesson - never kick a cactus!

Thoughts for Thursday

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in Him and He will do this:

He will make your righteousness

shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like

the noonday sun. Psalm 37:7

(Fall 2008, Vivian's house)

Tagged

I've been meaning to respond to my friend Cari's blog for a week. I usually do not like doing these and still have one to do from Christina on e-mail, but I do like reading others.

• Two Names You Go By: Mom(my) and Dear - I usually like it better when it is said sweetly rather than with a "yes" in front of it :)


• Things You Are Wearing Right Now: black sweats, purple shirt - it has been REALLY cold today.


• Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment: my bedroom to be organized and Christmas shopping to be done
  
• Two people who you look up to: Jennifer Rothschild and Lisa Smartt


• Two things you did last night: worked on a Christmas present, watched “Eli Stone”


• Two things you ate yesterday: grilled cheese and tomato soup


• Two people you last talked to: Sean and Lee
  
• Two Things you're doing tomorrow: volunteering to serve food and home school


• Two longest car rides: Texas to Nevada and Texas to North Carolina


• Favorite Holidays : Christmas and Easter


• Favorite Vacations : Wyoming/Montana, Disney World


• Last trip: Dickinson - one day there and one day back - a little too fast a trip, but I'm glad we did it; the one before was a few fun days in San Antonio


• Two favorite beverages: chi tea latte with vanilla or caramel, chocolate malt

I'm tagging:

Christina
Marcia
Jessica
Megan

You're it!

Christmas Art

The Reason for the Season

Thought I'd share Sean's letter to Santa.

He was beaming when I read the letter that we received from Santa in the mail. Santa, the reindeer, and elves

Snowman

The Deer Hunter

Taking a break from sitting in the stand with dad.

We sent the video version of what is about to happen next to TV. The wind is blowing very hard, Sean crosses the sticks, does a little showing off shake half way across, loses his balance and hits the water/thick mud. He walks slowly caked in mud to Lee . Lee says "Were you showin' off?" and Sean replied "It was the wind".

For the first time, "the deer hunter" watched someone

clean their first deer. We need someone else in charge of putting on the hat :)
Calling in the deer

He saw his first deer from the stand - a 6 point He would be just fine in camouflage everyday.

Thoughts for Thursday

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

Psalm 23: 1-3
(Oregon waterfalls, 2007)

What's For Dinner

Last night we had tacos. After we all ate, Sean walked in the kitchen and looked in the pan of leftovers.

Sean: "Mom, I'm not saying your food is disgusting but these little green beans look like deer poop and I know, because I've seen it."

Mom: "Um, those are black beans...and I guess you're right. (Thanks!)"

Time with Cousins

We were able to spend quality time with family yesterday - something we are thankful for! Sean played non-stop with cousins for a couple of days.

Hot Dog

Gracie and Sean have learned to race.

Lee would throw a plastic hot dog toy and once it landed he'd say "go" and the race was on. The first one to it would grab it and race back to the starting point. I think Sean only won once - Gracie loved it.

Five Bucks

While I was on the phone, Lee walked in the house tonight with a large drink in one hand and whispered "5 bucks." I thought he was talking about the drink :) He quickly got the camera and we drove through the neighborhood taking pictures of bucks. Luke and Landen - this ones for you. We still have yet to get a picture of the "gray ghost" which haunts Lee as he's driving to work and beckons him to skip work and head to the lease. On another note...

Sean and I met my folks today and while we were driving he says out of the blue "Mom, say I'm in the ocean and say that I'm a pizza, where would I be?" I just started laughing because I couldn't imagine where that came from - turns out he was doing a hidden pictures page.

Thoughts for Thursday

"...they were at their wits' end.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;

the waves of the sea were hushed."
Psalm 107: 27-29

(Oregon Coast, Fall 2007)

Thoughts for Thursday

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42:1-2

(Novemeber 2008, deer lease)

The Trip Home

On our way home from San Antonio, we stopped at Inks Lake State Park for an hour hike. It was a glorious day. I'm including pictures that Sean took since Lee and I rarely are seen in a photo at the same time.

The River Walk

I just thought this was a funny picture.

While we were in San Antonio on a business trip with Lee, Sean and I took a river boat cruise and walked along the river. We also went to the top of our hotel and talked about how a city works - since we could see most of it. We even were able to watch a helicopter land on top of an adjacent building - very cool. When Lee was done for the day, we toured the Alamo and ate Mexican food on the River Walk. We all really enjoyed the mariachi music!

Childrens Mueseum

We spent several hours at the San Antonio Children's Museum. It is such a fun place! Sean was a bank teller, pilot, farmer, dentist, construction worker, musician, dam engineer, shopper

all in one day.

Bubble Boy
There was a jet plane (minus the wings) to play in. We had a great time pretending. However, he put the hat on before I could stop him. The first thing Lee said when looking at our pictures - "You let him wear the hat!?!"

Two sides of the room were fish tanks, one was a mirror, and the other the door...

Thoughts for Thursday

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

(Northeast Texas, September 2008)

Hands-On Dad

Happy Birthday to Lee!

Thoughts for Thursday

In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them. Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22: 5-6

(Spring 2008)

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Sean bought a couple of fish with birthday money.

He's been taking care of red and blue tetras named Tina and Tommy since September. Yesterday, he bid farewell to one.
And, he buried him in the backyard.

No tears but he did spend a lot of time getting the grave ready.

The State Fair

We met Mimi at the State Fair yesterday.

The day was filled with watching dog tricks and pig races, midway rides, looking at (and smelling) livestock, petting Elsie the cow, a BMX show, lots of walking, riding the Texas Star ferris wheel, drinking lemonade, watching the patient Dominoe Man (Sean's favorite), and eating corn dogs, cotton candy, and a popsicle. I was really tempted to try the fried grilled cheese and a funnel cake...but I passed.

Big Tex

A bit of state fair trivia: Did you know his voice is not a recording?

Someone is there the entire show to talk. The new "Bo"
Mimi and Sean with their State Fair corn dogs - and we're not talking the frozen kind.
Send in the clowns...
Our first ride on the ferris wheel - do you realize how tall it is?

SEVERAL stories...have I ever mentioned that I don't like heights?

More From the Fair

Red lips from a popsicle...our last 4 tickets.

The black speck on the second pole are two people who were contemplating why they actually spent money for this "thrill". We watched and laughed as they screamed all the way down and then way over our heads...and then back again. Crazy!

One of a handful of rides that Sean rode on the Midway. I actually rode a big caterpillar roller coaster ride with him that he said wasn't quite fast enough.
Sean wanted to ride this again so it was the last thing we did. The car started rocking while we were at the top and Sean whispered "Mom, it's moving." I just smiled and reassuringly said that it was going to be just fine. All the while reminding myself, that yes it was.
A view from above. I think we might have been able to see our house from the top :)