Swimming at the Devil's Waterhole...

The weather has been really hot here this summer. We have had more than our fair share of 100+ temperatures.

Of course, endless sunshine and high temperatures are perfect ingredients for an afternoon at the lake.


The kids wanted to go to a local favorite swimming hole today called the Devil's Waterhole.



A lot of the local kids go there to swim during the summer. Of course, there are quite a few visiting campers there as well, but I would venture to say that most of the "jumpers" live around here. (Do you see the guy on the very top of the huge boulder?)

Devils' Waterhole is located at Inks Lake State Park. I had taken a few photographs from our previous visit.

The first time I had taken Carrie and Parker to the swimming hole they were quite intimidated by the "recreational activity" of jumping off of a cliff into the lake.

I have no idea how high that cliff is. I would have to estimate that it is probably close to 20 to 25 feet?? When you add the boulder to your jump you could be adding another 15 feet to that. This is strictly a guess on my part. Parker is about 6' tall and I'm using him for measurement. Also, it is "SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK" because there aren't any lifeguards to be found anywhere on the lake.


Carrie and Parker spent quite a bit of time sitting and watching the jumpers. Of particular interest are the jumpers who climb the big boulder and jump off the top of it.






I didn't know if Carrie and Parker were going to muster up the courage to take the plunge or not. I think they sat up there on that huge rock for about 45 minutes before they even ventured to the edge of the cliff.

Once they were there, they spent quite a bit of time "looking" at the water.




hmmm...

It's pretty scary looking. Even from my vantage point from the opposite shore. Thank goodness I was able to zoom in with my camera so that I could get a good look at Carrie and Parker's expressions. (You can click on the pictures to make them bigger.)


Carrie was the first one to jump.

This is her as she is hitting the water.



Upon seeing that his sister survived the ordeal, Parker then unfolded his arms and took the plunge as well.





After the kids made their first successful jump they then proceeded to climb back up the rock to do it all over again.

Today, the kids acted like they were "old pros" and made quite a few jumps off of the cliff.

Me...

I'm an old pro at watching the scenery from a shady point of view.



later...

Happy Mother's Day 2008...

It's the little things...
Of every day life.

Happy times...
A few with strife



The proud moments...
Accomplishments, Achievements.

Disappointments are there..
Try not to despair.



Watch them grow...
And guide and admonish.

Life is layer upon layer...
A foundation is made.

Brick upon brick...
Apply the mortar of love.



Wonder at their uniqueness...
A person is in the making.

God has a purpose...
For your child in this world.

Let them grow, explore...
Fulfill their calling.

Marvel at their beauty...
God gave you a precious little pearl.

The best Mother's Days are the regular "ho hum" days. The "every days", when you realize that your child was thinking of you. Carrie and Parker took a walk to the lake a couple of weeks ago. On their way back home they picked these wildflowers. Parker braved the prickly pear cactus and picked the beautiful rose-like blooms for me. Yes... he did get a few stickers!

Silly boy.

I was quite impressed by the beautiful bouquet that they had collected for me. And it touched my heart. Imagine, a 15 and 17 year old picking wildflowers for their mother.

Carrie proceeded to make some arrangements out of the flowers. She then got the camera and took some pictures of them.

This day, a cloudy cool day in April, was a Mother's Day to celebrate.

I'm so blessed to have Mother's Days throughout the year.

Because having Mother's Day, once a year, is just not enough.

later...

Carrie's Prom Pictures 2008...

As I had mentioned earlier, Carrie's prom was last Saturday evening.

She was really excited and said that she had a wonderful time.

Carrie 03May2008
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

Before the prom I took her to the park and took these photographs of her.

Carrie 03May2008
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

She looks all grown up.

Carrie 03May2008
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

It was quite a scramble to get her outfitted for this event.

Carrie had originally said that she wasn't going to go.

Carrie 03May2008
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

Nobody had asked her to be their date...

And she said that she didn't want to go with a group of girls.

Carrie 03May2008
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

But... about ten days before the prom, wouldn't you know it.

A boy asked her to be his date.

Carrie 03May2008
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

I had to work on the last week-end before the event.

Which meant that we didn't have ANY time for shopping, and we most definitely didn't have time to go and get lost in Austin looking for prom dresses. You need quite a bit of time to look for a prom dress, too. Especially if you are on a budget.

Carrie 03May2008
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

What were we going to do? Well, the Lord certainly does work in mysterious ways sometimes.

The only idea that I could come up with was to go to a resale shop to look for a dress. There just happened to be such a shop across the street from where I work.

I had made Carrie get up with me on Saturday morning so that we could start looking for an outfit as soon as I got off of work.

Carrie wasn't too excited about that idea...

Mostly because I have to be at work at 7:30 in the morning.

After work, we went across the street and...

Guess what...

A beautiful prom dress had just been brought in that morning.

And it was the ONLY prom dress in the shop.

And...

It was just Carrie's size!

Hallelujah!

So the rest of the afternoon was spent looking for jewelry and shoes.

Not an easy task in and of itself I might add.


All of that stuff cost a WHOLE LOT more than her dress.


Oh yeah... I forgot to mention that we got the dress for $26!!

Carrie 03May2008
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

later...

Goodbye, Daddy...

Engrossed with the task at hand, I was subtly aware of the soft silence that had creeped over the noisy chatter of the college classroom. Subconsciously aware that the atmosphere had changed I looked up to survey my surroundings. A student next to me asked, "Who's that man?" I looked in the direction that she referred to and saw a very tall and strong man in blue jeans and a buttoned shirt sporting boots and a cowboy hat. His hands were large and strong looking. His face and arms revealed that he was a person who had spent a lot of time in the strong Texas sun. The stranger's gaze was direct, almost piercing, definitely subjugating all who had turned to look his way. However it was obvious that he was there without malicious intent and held no ill will towards anyone. This tall Texan had a very self-assured stance, and it was clear that he was accustomed to having a commanding presence over all that he surveyed. In fact, one had a sense that this man was God's representative of honor, a person who had surpassed the simplicity of drawing a line in the sand between right and wrong. He was a virtual wall between good and evil, principles and deceit, justice and inequity. I felt a sense of pride and an indescribable sense of safety and warmth wash over me and simply stated, "That's my Dad."

Dad loved the land and appreciated the bounty that it brought forth. He was a dutiful steward of the earth and was a nurturer of the grasses, fields, and animals that were put in his care. A rugged individualist, Dad was an example of self-sufficiency and strength, drawing all that he needed in this life from God and what God had provided. Dad taught his children independence and gave us a sense of individuality, duty, and a strong knowledge of right and wrong.

My father, the protector and spiritual guide of my family, a tireless caregiver, a man of sacrificial love for his wife and children, and a true patriarch passed away Thursday, April 17, 2008, little more than a month before his 72nd birthday.

The heavenly hosts cried out in simultaneous sorrow and joy as they received God's faithful servant into Abraham's bosom. That night the heavens opened up and the welcoming tears of God watered the Texas Hill Country that Dad loved so much. Dad is now in a mansion on the most beautiful ranch that anyone could imagine. Fields full of grain and pastures of tall grasses. Fat livestock graze in meadows watered by gentle rains and they drink deeply from cool clear waters.

I would not want to take your reward away from you, but Daddy, I miss you terribly.

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

Genesis 1:27-30 (NIV)

Nana is Out of Town...

Things have been busy around here.






Carrie's choir had their Christmas Concert.

And was I relieved when I learned that they actually DID call it a CHRISTMAS CONCERT.

They even performed REAL Christmas songs that had the word Christ in it.




It was really nice. The choir and band concert were both combined along with the sixth grade and middle school choirs.



Mom has flown the coop, so to speak, and is in Denver right now.

brrrrr...

My sister is due to have her second child by c-section tomorrow morning.

Yes... my sister started late in life to get married and have kids. (She's 44 years old.)


Dad and I took Mom to the airport in Austin. While we were gone Carrie and Parker were left at home to take care of the morning chores.

Yesterday, we had gone into town to pick up some feed for the livestock. It wasn't too much. Less than 1000 pounds that was still in the back of the pick-up.


While we were driving to Austin, Parker called and asked if Carrie could drive the truck to the barn so they could go ahead and unload the feed.

I thought, "What sweet kids thinking of something that needed to be done without being told."


Dad said that would be okay but not to back the truck up to the barn because they might get stuck in the mud there.


(We have had a little bit of rain here.)


Dad and I got home right about noon.


Carrie runs up to me and tells me that she has to tell me something.


From past experience, the use of this phraseology by my teenagers has never been the forbearer of good news.


So Carrie spills her guts...


While she was backing the truck out she caught the post by the cattle guard with the front bumper of the truck.


Oh my.


Dad was upset.


Mom called to let us know that she had made it to Denver okay.


I asked Dad if he had told Mom about the fence.

"No, I didn't", he says.


That means that Mom is going to be even more upset.



We're "Home Alone" for the next two weeks now.


I hope that the place is still in one piece when "The Boss" gets back in town.


later...

Hometown News...

Spider
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

I haven't been spending much time on the computer lately. Part of the reason is because there are so many people sharing internet access on one computer.

It has been too long since my last post so I thought that I would give you guys a bit of an update. I wanted to share some photographs as well. When I sat down at "my" computer to gather some photographs together it wasn't long before I had a "visitor" appear.

Yes... the spider came upon my keyboard with me sitting there.

I thought to myself, "Self, it has been a long time since you've sat down at your computer."


So, of course, I had to document the indisputable proof that had so generously landed, nearly, in my lap.

Then I disposed of the eye witness so that there would be only one story to tell...

Told by one storyteller...

Me.

BTW... there wasn't any torture involved. It was quite painless I'm sure, as he didn't even see it coming because I wanted to avoid any messy cleanups on my keyboard.

Parade Fire Truck
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

I know that you folks may find it hard to believe but this post has been in the making for almost four days now. It has taken three of those days (you know I am at work during the day, so when I say "day" it really means evening, at home, after work) just to get my photographs uploaded.

I had to resort to posting my photos on Flickr and then posting them from there to Blogger.

I just can't seem to get my pictures to hardly upload to Blogger on this low-speed internet connection.

As you know, I am partially relocated to Texas. My kids are attending the same school that I did.

The same school that my Dad attended as well.

Noooo... not in the same building, just the school in the same town of Burnet.

The kids nowadays have a big fancy campus that is absolutely huge and is laid out much like a junior college.

The town still isn't much bigger than it was when I went to school there, but it seems that it has become a sought after public school and there are many parents who pay out of district fees for the privilege of transferring their children into it.

A couple of weeks ago was homecoming and there were a lot of special events to mark the occasion. The pictures are from the Homecoming parade which is always led by a firetruck.

Parade Marchers
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

It is a casual affair and the parade consists of students from the high school all the way down to the kindergartners.

You could say that it's a parade for the students.

Carrie
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

Carrie is in the high school choir. Of course, every organization in the school had to have its own flatbed trailer for them to ride upon. The choir wasn't any different. I was able to catch a quick picture of Carrie on her "float".

Doesn't she have a nice parade wave and smile?

All of the students are known as "Burnet Bulldogs", however the little tykes are known as "Bullpups".

These kids have everything these days. They even have air conditioning in the school buses and paved roads!

Have you ever ridden in the back of a school bus with the windows open on a dry dusty Texas road?


I'm sure you've figured out by now that the school colors are green and white.





I laughed out loud when the little wagon train came along near the end of the parade. It looked so fun.

I wish I had a little wagon train like that when I was a kid.

Heck...

I wish they had had kindergarten when I was a kid.

later...

Imperial Moth Caterpillar...

Imperial Moth Caterpillar...
Originally uploaded by itsmetj

I received a friendly e-mail telling me that "the bug needs to go".

So...

I have replaced it with an "autumnal" creature. The Imperial Moth caterpillar.


Here is a great picture of the moth on Wikipedia.

The moth, Eaclis imperialis, is not very widespread and according to some reports that I have read it may be in decline in a few areas.

We found two of these caterpillars here at my parents' home in Burnet County, Texas.

These caterpillars burrow into the ground or crawl under leaves. I have some dirt and leaves in a mayonnaise jar and I am keeping the caterpillars in there. Early this evening, the first caterpillar shed its skin revealing an auburn colored pupa. I will try to get pictures of the pupa soon, but I want to be careful to not injure it. So I will leave it alone for a few days to allow the shell sufficient time to harden.

It is my hope that we will see adult Imperial Moths this spring. Which is a creature that I have never seen before.

While I was trying to identify our caterpillars I ran across a very interesting and interactive website that I wanted to share with you guys.

It's called What's That Bug?. If you find a bug, or a caterpillar, and you don't know what it is you can search their website for its identity.

But the best thing about this website is that you can send them an e-mail with a photo of your "magnificent finding", and they will post it on their website along with its name.

It's a really cool website and some of the photos that people have taken of insects from all over the world are really, really good.


I suppose I should also include an update about what's going on with me and my family.

For those of you who don't already know, the kids and I have partially relocated to the Texas Hill Country.

The kids are attending public school. Something that they have never done before.

I have started a new job at a veterinary clinic down here as well.

My home in Oklahoma is up for sale and all of our stuff is still up there too. We are currently living with my parents.

So...

Having lived in Oklahoma for almost 30 years (my entire adult life) I now find myself back home in Texas.


Dad is doing some better. At least he can see to walk around the house and the ranch. He still can't read, see the TV, or drive.

The kids and I have been helping around here. The kids do most of the chores after school.

The kids seem to have adjusted really well to a completely different type of school environment. I have been blessed to have found employment that is only 23 miles away. I was afraid that I would have to go to work in Austin and commute 65 miles one way.

But as always...

God has been good to us and He has been faithful.

I'm waiting for that perfect family to come and buy my house so that Sue will have a great neighbor. At least neighbors that won't cause her as much aggravation as I have.

;+ )


I also want to thank all the people who are currently helping me through this transition... Taking care of the house while I am gone, those who have helped do some much needed repairs and painting on the house, yard work, cleaning, and so much more.

What would I do without all of those wonderful Oklahomans?


God Bless You All...


later...

One Day at a Time...

I thought that I would give you guys an update on Dad.

Mom brought him home from the hospital yesterday. His eye is swollen beyond belief and the conjunctiva has prolapsed and is exposed to the air.

We're putting ointment on the eye to prevent it from drying out.


He is also essentially blind right now.

As far as his psyche goes...

Dad isn't doing too well.


He also seems to be having difficulties with his mental acuity.


So...

I'm still in Texas...

Helping out as best I can.


Thanks for all of your prayers and well wishes.


later...

Today Needs Some Humor...

I thought that I would give you guys an update from Texas...

We will be leaving here in a little bit for Austin. Dad has his surgery today. It is the second one on this eye. The surgeon says that he won't repeat this surgery again because each time he goes in behind the eye the chances that Dad will be blind from the surgery goes up. So the surgeon says that he will remove a piece of bone from the orbit of the eye so that the melanoma will have a place to expand and not put so much pressure on the eye. It's important that the sight in this eye is preserved since Dad has already lost his left eye to retinal melanoma.

BTW...

Thank you for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated.

Now for something funny and cute...



God Bless.

later...

A Short, Dramatic Story...

Daughter with Algebra homework:

Mom, I need help with my math.(imagine a female whining)

Me:

Okay. Bring it here.

Background: Mother graduated from high school in 1976.

(Mother looks at the problem, refreshes memory from ~several~ examples, tries a few and checks her work for accuracy (*cough*), and begins to explain how to solve it.)


Daughter:

Mom... What are you doing? That's not how Ms. ____ did it. I don't understand this. I can't do it. I guess I'll just get a zero (Add *pitiful* whine and tearing eyes.)

Me:

You can do it. You just have to take it step by step.

Mother starts back at the beginning and continues to explain the processes wondering how in the world these teachers explain something by using their "modern" shortcuts.

Daughter is now in full-blown "feeling sorry for herself" mode.

A reference is made by the daughter that the mother doesn't know what she is doing. Mother assures daughter that she does know what she is doing. *cough*


Daughter:

I can't do it. I don't know why I need to know this stuff anyway. I'll never use Algebra.

Me:

You need Algebra to get into college.

Daughter:

Then I guess I won't be going to college then.(add "teenage tone" here>

Me:

You'll be surprised at all the things you'll use from school when you get older.

Daughter:

Well I won't be using Algebra.

Me:

Yes you will.

Daughter:

No I won't, 'cause I'm not going to college.

Me:

You'll still need Algebra, because some day you'll be trying to help one of your kids with their math homework.

Daughter:

Then I'm not having any kids.

Me, pondering:

hmmm... algebra=birth control?, birth control=algebra?... Go figure.

End Note:

The daughter ended up understanding the algebraic equations. And yes, the little family duo was able to complete the homework assignment ~without tears~.

Home Alone... And Unsupervised...

The kids are pursuing separate interests this week. They're on a ten day break.

Carrie is at the International Conference.

Parker is at his best friend's house. He didn't want to go on the trip (even though he qualified) because he thought that the trip cost too much money. I tried as hard as I could to convince him to go, but he had made up his mind. He didn't want to go.

He's always watching out for our family budget.

Parker is turning into quite the young man these days.


With these gasoline prices lately, I know that most everyone is feeling the squeeze.

I'm sure a lot of folks are tightening their gas budget belt.

Me? Well, my entire budget's belt has been tightened so much that I've about cut myself in two with it.


My assignments in my classes are quite unbelievable. I have been inundated with large projects.

As a consequence, I spend all my spare time reading chapters, writing papers, and taking tests.

One of my classes has a test on every Monday!

Can you believe that?


This same class has us doing research and an analysis every week as well!


Thank goodness that I have a special neighbor who is willing to help me out with my homework too.


This particular class is about human lifespan development.


{huh?}


Well, let's just say that we're covering human development from conception to the end of life.


Every week, the professor gives us an assignment.

And we have to have a partner to do it with.


Someone who is in a generation before ours.


Let me tell you.


At my age, this is getting to be a hard thing to do.


And no, I'm not giving Sue's age away, or anything like that.


*wink*


I have pretty much completed this week's paper tonight.

Of course, I will let it *sit* for a couple of days. Reread it, edit it, and then turn it in.


I'm funny that way about my papers.


I have to let it get ~cold~ before I check it over for errors or do any major editing to it.


Here on my blog, you guys don't get such special considerations.


What you see is what you get.


One of the advantages of not having any kids in the house is that you don't hear distracting noises all the time.

Noises like the refrigerator door shutting every 30 minutes or so.


Without any kids to feed...

And left to my own devices...

You will find that my diet really goes downhill.


In fact, it starts to resemble a teenager's diet.


Especially if I have a project that I'm working on. I get so involved that I tend to forget to eat.

Plus, I just don't have the desire to take the time to fix anything either.


Dietary habits like that does have its benefits.

I mean...

You can eat whatever hits your fancy at that very moment.


And the kids aren't home...

So you don't have to set a good example either.


By the way...

How many of you guys can live on guacamole and tortilla chips?


I most certainly can.


And huge pieces of German Chocolate cake with very large glasses of ice cold milk as well.





later...

Gone Huntin'...

For the last two summers I have had the opportunity to see a passing hummingbird or two zoom through my yard.

I kept telling myself that I would get a feeder so that I could attract the little speedsters to my back yard.

Well, I finally broke down and picked up a hummingbird feeder at the Dollar General Store over the week-end. It was $2.50 and hopefully it will last the entire summer season.

It's been out now for almost a week. And I keep waiting and watching for a hummingbird.

But I haven't seen one yet.


It's getting a little frustrating.


Maybe I am expecting to have the following of hummers that my Mom has. She has so many hummingbirds in her yard that they consume almost 1/2 gallon of sugar water every two or three days.

Can you believe that?


Mom must have hundreds of hummingbirds come to her yard.


Or maybe I'm remembering the days when I was a kid and used to play in the water. I remember my clothes being wet and the colors turning real dark from the water. Hummingbirds would "buzz" me thinking that I was a flower or something. I remember one day when I was wearing red shorts. A hummingbird came up to me and I sat really still. He actually stuck his tongue on my water soaked shorts and then...

I "nabbed" him.

Yes. I have captured a hummingbird with my bare hands before.

The little birds are aggressive too and have turf wars over the feeders.

They fight and dive bomb each other all the time. Sometimes one of the birds will get knocked out of the air from the force of the attack. If a little hummingbird falls to the ground and lands in the grass they'll die. Because their legs are short and they can't get enough lift to take off from the ground.


I remember my grandmother, Mamma, having a hummingbird feeder on her front porch. It was great to be so close to the action.

One summer there was a hummingbird that was very aggressive. He would sit in the vine on the side of the porch and guard the feeder. He wouldn't let any other hummingbirds drink any of the sugar water.

I can't remember how long this went on for, but one day my grandfather, Pappa, had had enough of it. He had swung his hat at that bird, yelled at it, and who knows what else. But nothing he did had any effect on it. That bird was not giving up his territory. Pappa had labeled it "mean".

Then one day we heard this huge "BOOM". I thought...

"That sounds like a shotgun."


We all ran to the front porch and there was Pappa with the shotgun.

Lord, what dangerous creature had come so close to the house?


Not being able to immediately visualize a ~carcass~...

We asked Pappa what it was that he had shot. He said that he had shot "That Mean Hummingbird".


Us kids looked for the remains of the hummingbird, but there wasn't much left to be found.


We learned that day what was meant by the saying...

"Blown to Smithereens".


later...

Just Saying "Hey"...

I thought that I would stick my head out of my self-imposed solitude and say "hey" to everyone.

Just to let you guys know that I'm doing okay.

I have just completed all of my assignments from this past week.

I have completed reading all of my assigned chapters (8 of them).

And I have typed up all of my assignments as well.

I have almost completed my "at home" work assignments as well which was writing some journalistic updates for our hospital website, including some of the doctor's biographies.


I received an e-mail from one of our doctors who was asking ~me~ about my "hobbies". It made me laugh, since currently, my only hobby is homework.


However, it really makes me feel good that I can start the week without anything left "undone".


I was truly exhausted from working this past Friday. What began as a solitary echocardiogram at 7pm, ended up being eight exams which involved both echocardiograms and abdominal studies.

So I didn't make it back home until after 2am on Saturday morning.


I did get some sleep in on Saturday morning and didn't wake up until Mom called. She always calls on Saturday mornings. She tries to make it later in the mornings since she never knows at what time I have made it to bed the night before.

Dad is doing okay, but his WBC's (white blood cell count) have crashed. So the doctors have DC'd (discontinued) his chemo treatments for the time being. They're currently watching his blood counts very closely and are doing CBC's (complete blood counts) about every three days now.


Saturday was a beautiful day, although I wasn't able to enjoy it much.

We received some much needed rain today. It has been cloudy and cool all day and that certainly helped to keep me inside of the house and focused on my tasks.

I will be in class tomorrow night so I don't know if I will make it back here or not.

Maybe I'll be able to visit all of you guys instead.


I pray that all of you had a wonderful week-end and that your upcoming week is blessed.

later...

Today...

Today was a nice day. Warmer than yesterday, and with quieter winds.

The kids and I got the front yard raked.

Stephanie came over to help us as well. She's my neighbor Sue's granddaughter, and her help was very much appreciated!

No, we didn't get the backyard leaves and winter debris up, but we did fill 25 lawn and leaf bags from the front.

We have a nice big yard. Our house sits on a 1/4 acre lot.


A lot of my crocus are behind schedule, but the ones that have bloomed are beautiful. More of my daffodils and jonquils are blooming as well. By the time they're almost finished the hyacinth blooms will open. And then the tulips will show off their color.

It feels good. Spring is well on its way.


We worked hard this afternoon.

The kids wanted to roast some weiners outside. And they wanted all of the fixin's too.

So we roasted weiners, decorated them with mustard, relish, onions, cheese, and chili.

And we had some S'Mores as well.

:+ )


It's also that time of year when the kids start getting things pulled together for convention. The black and white photographs were taken by Carrie this afternoon.

I don't know why, but the kids are fascinated by black and white photographs.

I remember being fascinated with color photographs when I was a kid.

Especially Polaroid cameras!

That was probably because we were surrounded by black and white television and photographs all of the time.

Today, you just don't hardly see black and white images.



Parker is fascinated with capturing the movement of the stars with the digital camera. He likes to see the streaks that they form on a 60 second shutter delay.

We need to go out to the country to get some really cool pictures like that.

When you see how much those stars move in 60 seconds, you have to admit...

It really puts a perspective on how fast the earth is actually moving.


I had a video link e-mailed to me.

And this afternoon reminded me of it.

It's about a man who is doing a wonderful thing for our returning soldiers.

ABC did a little piece on him. His name is Bert Brady and he wants to make sure that our soldiers come home to a hero's welcome.

I'm ashamed at how the Korean and Vietnam veterans were treated.

There weren't any ticker tape parades, no cheering, no pats on the back.


I'm also ashamed at how our elected officials are acting in Washington right now.

Don't they understand what they're doing?

Don't they remember the "Killing Fields" in Cambodia?

Don't they remember the slaughter after we left?

Don't they remember that we didn't want to win the war in Vietnam?

And look what happened.


We let the mainstream media dictate to us how to fight the war. We let someone else's agenda tell us what we should do.

War's aren't for the media to decide and direct how they are fought.

I'm really sick and tired of the puppet strings that they pull on our politician's. And I'm tired of our politicians not standing up to the media.

We have to support our troops 100% with our money, our thoughts, and our words.

We also can't afford to leave Iraq in the state that it currently is in.

We have to want to win this war, and we need to get busy doing it too.


Today, I was very thankful.

I felt blessed beyond measure.

I am so happy that my children live in such a country as the United States.

But in all of these blessings, I am well aware that it can be taken away in an instant.

I am not blind to the fact that there are people out there who want us dead and totally destroyed.

I pray to God that more of our country's leaders wake up and realize that.

And I thank God for those who have given me and my children the opportunity to live life as we know it...

Blessed...

Happy...

And carefree...

later...

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Since I have completed my schoolwork, it seems that I would have been able to spend more time here.

Here on my blog, and with you guys on yours.

But it appears that I never am without something to do.


I'm sure that all of you can relate.


I start two new classes next week. I will be attending class on both Monday and Friday nights at the university.


Mom called this evening to let me know that they have gotten back home safe, again. Dad started chemo this week in Denver. They'll be flying from Texas once a week to the University of Colorado's cancer research center for a couple of months. They've already made three trips there in the last three weeks.

It's a good thing that my sister and her husband live there in Denver. Mom and Dad can stay at her house, play with their grandson, and get chauffered around town and back and forth to the airport.

The Lord has answered my prayers and so far Dad hasn't gotten ill from this first treatment. Yesterday he had a touch of nausea, and a little trouble with his equilibrium, but he says that he feels fine today. Of course, I am praying that he is healed from this terrible cancer too.


The weather was really nice for a couple of days after our horrible wind storm, and now it has cooled off again.

I have several crocus that are blooming and a couple of daffodils. They don't seem to be so sure about whether or not they want to stick their tender little heads out of the ground or not.

I can't say that I blame them. The weather has been full of drastic swings lately.

The tulips are putting out their leaves and so are my hyacinths. My poor flowers could really use some rain.

I pray for those families in Alabama. Especially those who lost loved ones in the tornadoes.

I hope that all of you are doing well this week.

Have a blessed Friday.

later...