Rabbit Trails

  Very sad call on Thanksgiving morning. Brother Dave went home to be with the Lord.   We've known the Christenson family for years. Can't for sure remember what year we all met, but we all had lots of little kids. They influenced the home school books we used, and Pat gave us ALL of the books they used when they were done with them.   Dave and Pat let us use their camping trailer to live in for a short while.... and one of our children proceeded to put snake like bites in the  brand new upholstery with a meat fork.    Brother Dave came from Mexico to Dallas to be present when my husband got ordained.   After we left PVBC, we still got to see the family, once in church camp in Arkansas, mission conferences, OUR church here in Freeport, and in our home, because missionaries stayed with us.  It is always great to have *friend* missionaries stay, people we actually knew.... and this was of ...

  Rain and storms were predicted all day in the area. It was cloudy, and sorta rainy. It was not very nice, actually.   We went the big highway, instead of 36. Always take 36 in the Spring..... that way you can see the wildflowers. The area is lovely in Spring. The highway is pretty in Autumn.      As we speak, I have some Blue Bell in our freezer. It's the best ice cream in the country, because it comes from happy cows.      OK This was FUNNY. JUNO That would be ancient e-mail. Ancient.      Sometimes, the trees just don't have the gumption to totally turn colors.      We got to the meeting place a little early, so I walked down the sidewalk and saw this sign. Hee-Haw   You know who gets their clothes cleaned here.... or maybe who owns the place.      In case you've never seen it before, these are rose hips. ...

Lydia has Fast Braces appointments in Sugarland, Texas 7-9 weeks apart.  I missed the last one, but took full advantage of this one!  We met with friends and the girls got to go skating....we ate pizza....then had the appointment. It felt SO good to be in the *rink* area, it was pleasantly COLD.  Did you skate as a child?  On the sidewalk? At a rink? In your frozen back yard?  I never learned how to skate....I'm amazed at anybunny that can......

Button! Button! Who has the Button? This was an early birthday present  f rom my Bosom Buddy. My friend of over 30 years. She saw these at a sale.... and KNEW I would love them. She was right.  Somebunny collected these beautiful old buttons, then sewed them on a piece of cardboard. I am not going to leave them this way. I will have to get some  *button display* ideas. Every time I look at them, I choose a new favorite!

I've been a pastor's wife for 22 years.  There are lots of things that come with being a pastor's wife.  Mostly good things.  There have been troubles and pain, but I've not starved or been shipwrecked.   If there have been sad times, good things were just around the corner.  There are always those that brighten the corner where they are and it spreads to others. Anything is what you make it.  You can be a happy camper or a grouchy one. Being the pastor's family means that we are the ones that feed and sometimes house missionaries and visiting preacher/pastors.  I can't say I was always as hospitable as I should have been every single time someone came through town to eat or stay with us.  Sometimes it was a week with 7 children, sometimes it was one simple meal on a Wednesday night.    I wish I had kept a book and had everybody that came through, sign it and date it.  It would be wonderful to have a record of everybunny that ha...

So, it worked out.  We got to go skating.  And watching.  For $10 you can skate and watch for two full hours.  But first, you need donuts. The rink is kept at freezing...........I'd love to go sometime in July.......it doesn't feel so great when it's cold outside, too.  At home, you're all warm and you don't really bring the things you should.  Live and Learn. The kids have a great time.  The rink is never full.......so they're not a real threat to many people. This is the thrift store I bought a par of leather duck shoes for almost $8......and a couple weeks later they fall to pieces.  Live and Learn.  I will be more careful about used shoes in the future. This was pretty funny.  A SOLID camo car.  I figure if we hit it, all we would have to say is:  WE DID NOT SEE IT. Toys R Us.........NOT.  Not one single Frisbee in this store.  What kind of a toy store is this anyway? We always end the day at ...

We were so glad and blessed to have Brother Dave and Sister Pat with us last week-end. We haven't seen them for years. We've been friends with them since our Pleasant Valley Baptist Church days. Nothing like seeing old friends walk up the sidewalk to your front door. Brother Dave is a true missionary, he loves what he does. Sister Pat is right there beside him. She is a cancer survivor. She is a REAL letter writer. She gave me all of her used school books. I loved getting them from her. Not because they were free, but because  she wanted ME to have them. She plays the trumpet and always does a special. Brother Dave is a fixer-upper. He builds things and tinkers. They love the Lord and want to see lost souls in Mexico come to the Truth. Brother Dave was part of my husband's ordination at Pleasant Valley. May the Lord continue to bless their ministry..... and keep them safe.

This is James and Daniel in deep thought about taking the legs off of the *big brown eating table* We've had it for almost 18 years. It was old when we got it.......and if IT could talk, I would finish the sentences.  I DO know the stores it would tell!  Six kids, holidays, friends, missionaries, visiting preachers, Sunday afternoon dinner, pizza, *the works*, cars, ponies, school books, birthdays........ The top of it hung onto the furry stuff on the backside of plastic table-cloths.  Nice?  Not. Well, the new one is all slick and that won't happen again. This is the new one......... We will make good memories on it, too. Days where my husband gives BOTH of my Snoopy coffee cups to somebody else. birthdays, holidays, pizza games, coloring, toys family friends

We had an Autumn Party today...........the weather turned just a little cooler and dryer this morning so the day was beautiful. Kimberly, Lydia, Klarisa.....on our way.... Beautiful Decorations..... Yummy meal.....food is much better when shared with friends.... .....and family.....of which I have lots of both! Heather made an announcement...........another girl is on the way! The official Party-Givers.... Hannah is ALWAYS a blur. We played a very nice game.....there were little slips of paper in a bowl.......pick one out, read it and answer it.  *the most exciting place I have ever visited*    *my favorite food*   *a famous person I'd like to have for supper in my home*    The bowl went around the table three times.  Each of us know each other just a little better now! Don't you just love Autumn?

  We've been friends with the McBrooms for around 31 years. I met them when their oldest daughter was learning to walk.   I got ready at their house the night James and I got married.  Kim was with me when our first baby was born.  I have learned more from her than any other person.  I watched her with her kids and learned.  She named a daughter after me, I named a daughter after her.  Now we share grand-daughters.  She is my bosom buddy.  She's one in a million.   We've done lots of things with them.  Ate with them, cried with them, laughed with them, played games, shared holidays, were members of the same church...........most of all we have loved them.  They have been there for us, just a phone call away.    We have gone through many seasons with each other.  Little bitty kids, middle kids, big kids, no kids.  I've never had another friendship such as Kim and I have. She is the most special fri...