Women's Retreat

We enjoyed our Women's Retreat in the country setting at Rock High Ranch.
It boasts, Rustic yet Refined. We had pool time, devotions at sunrise and crafts. We made new friends with the multitude of women who were joining us for the first year. Speakers, Pat and Christy brought lessons on Psalm 139 reminding us that God's thought toward us number more than the grains of sand. Do you know how much sand is in the Sahara? on the beach? It tells us that His thought are on us always, continually, endlessly and eternally. Nothing enters our life without being filtered through him, his right hand holds us. If I rise on the wings of morning, or plunge to the depths of the sea, he is with me.

Happy Fourth of July!

My post wouldn't post. So after two days of trying, I deleted the text...some of what I would've said....

Years ago we started a family tradition for just our family of five. We camped at Raymond Gary Lake for July 4th. We met a great family that first year and every year we met them at our spot for fun, food and fellowship of like-minded Believers. Mike and Cassie shared their pontoon boat and took us swimming in the hot of the day and for a toodle around the lake after supper. The annual fireworks show took place from the piers around the lake and from homeowners there. We would sit in the middle of the lake while fireworks burst overhead showering us with light. More than once we weathered lightning storms hoping not to get struck. It was so hard to freely enjoy the light show when you know you're in an aluminum boat on the lake. We loaded up on junk food 'cause Cassie is the ultimate fun camping mom.

It was always fun to arrive at the campgrounds and watch the kids run to climb on this one certain low hanging tree. With each passing year I noticed the tree seemed smaller than the year before. Hmmm. We each had an important job to perform to get camp set up. After the work the boys would hop on their bikes and fly down the winding hills. We always enjoyed Daddy cooking breakfast and Jansen's famous camp toast.

One year as we were on the lake waiting for fireworks we called Derek to let him know what he was missing by not coming. The next year we were calling Candace. As we heard her choke back the tears we knew we had succeeded in making those "family memories" that run deep. Regardless of how nice life is we think of those years camping.: The muddy water of the lake, the temperature changing with the depths, the year we had the johnny boat, waving at the passersby, meeting new folks, johnny coming by for coffee and a chat.

Thank goodness for a country where our lives are free because someone loved America enough to fight for her. Happy Fourth of July!

July 4th Memories

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I went to see my parents for the Father's Day week end. Went to church with them and out to Rosa's for lunch. Oh my goodness! I stretched that meal into three, it was so much food. The eatery brought out slices of chocolate cake for all the dads. It's so nice to see someone go the extra mile.

Daddy was born in the Depression Era. He was one of eleven children born to Gid and Ola Crutchfield. He's also a twin and for many years the brothers lived just down the road from eachother. Lester and Vester once ran over a flock of guinnies just to see if they could be run over. The saying was that they were too fast for a car...well, these weren't of the "swift " breed and evidently the Crutchfield boys were faster in the Model-T. Vicie Lee ran out to see what the commotion was and found those two dead birds that belonged to Mr. Cutler down the road from their farm. She dressed them quick as she could and made Guinnie stew.

The family also used to pick blackberries and sell them to the colored folk in a neighboring community. If they got 25 cents a gallon, they were doing good. Daddy can't remember very well but I wonder if it was less, 'cause 25 cents was hard to come by.

Last year I took Daddy to the doctor and as we rouned the corner at 1510 he burst out with a story. Randomly he said, " That's the old Smiley place. One time Snowbie Jo called me and said, Lester, go to the house and look behind the door and find my shoes. He went and sure enough, they were right where she said." She was in town, he was in the country. He delivered those shoes. I pictured some little old lady dressed the way my Granny used to dress in her polka dot dress. No, this lady wasn't old...maybe she was his age. I'll never know. The story came and was gone just as quickly. I fell in love with her name though. What a great story.

Dad also once took a bus cross country with his future sister-in-law so she wouldn't travel by herself to see her fiance'. He served his country in the Merchant Marines and U.S. Army. He knew to keep neccessaties with him when he was abroad, like his coat. He kept the issued cigarettes (which he never smoked) and sold them to men who wanted them to make a little money. He sent most all of his money back home to his parents to support them and he lived off what the U.S. gave him. Onboard ship he loaned his coat to other sailors who hadn't the forthought to bring one. Everyone on watch would take turns in the night wearing Dad's coat. He was once on a ship that was one of near a hundred out in the ocean and all the ones around him were torpedoed. His was safe. He's had a life of many stories.

He laso served as County Judge my first 16 years. He went from a country boy who educated himself to the Judge. To my knowledge he's the only one who did that. The others were lawyers first. Quite a man to live up to. Happy Birthday PePaw!!!

As a post script to the Spring on Margaret post...
The Mountain was levelled by the city who so kindly removed the tree that fell but it also removed the land of adventure for the children. How sad that it is gone...it really did mark a passing of time for their imaginations. Also gone is Sissy. As I went to work part-time we found it hard to leave her wandering about the house, alone. She went to a wonderful family who was about to lose their daucshund of many years. I am sure she will hold a special place in their heart and bring great joy.

Spring on Margaret

We sit outside now that the weather permits. In the evening if one family is outside the others will migrate over and visit for a while. The neighborhood rings with the laughter of children as they play with our new puppy, Sissy or as they run up the mountain. It's really a small pile of dirt waiting to be spread but "the mountain" is a wonderful land of adventure to the kids. We have watched as they play make believe and conquer new worlds that only their little minds can create. I hesitate to spread the dirt for it will mark a passing in their young life.

This family will soon move to a new house and we will miss them. I know they will miss life on Margaret; it's the way a neighborhood should be. We're kind of lost in the 40's or 50's. That time when people actually took time to get to know one another and nurture friendships. The ones you rely on when you need a friend, an egg or a cup of sugar. The ones you stop the day for to have a cup of tea.

This is Sissy cuddled up to Blue. He loves all small animals.....
Sissy is 9 weeks old. No, I'm not enjoying training her but Randy and the boys like her.

I found this old book as I dug through some boxes when we cleaned out our storage. Charles had a beautiful handwriting back in the day. I am sorry that we don't work as hard on our penmanship. It's another one of those things that make you pause and appreciate that someone worked so hard on something that today no one sees the value in. Back then, it would have been disgraceful to exhibit poor handwriting.

My flowers bloomed this year. I thought for sure they were dead from the harsh temps. last summer. What a surprise!

I miss my chickens terribly but my friend who now has them shares with me. I am ever so thankful for fresh eggs and marvel at the different colors.

Randy finished the flooring in the den. It's nice to have something that is similar to the original hardwoods instead of the 50's tiling. We painted over the robin-egg blue with a latte color and now we have the walls to decorate. I need to dig through my boxes and see what I have.

Wed. morning I woke to a tremendous storm. As I lay there I thought..."So this is what the tornado in the middle of the night sounds like..." The winds were ferocious and nearly sounded like a train. As the power went off and I lit candles, I peeked outside to find this in my front yard. As we live in an old neighborhood and all the homes are well over 100 years old, so are the trees quite old. This is just 1/4 of a tree. It missed all our houses and cars.

It became comical as we had 8 trucks out front and ten guys deciding how best to take care of the situation. They had their cell phones out taking pictures of the lines holding the branch. It was cable not electrical. PTL
Another spring event in Northeast Texas...Storms.
It just goes with the territory.

Easter

I haven't updated in ever so long....
February brought the long awaited trip to Ca. to see Candace, Andrew and Madison. I'll post those pics later.
March brought new challenges and a time to re-group. Mom, Dad, Leslie and Austin came for their Spring Break. It was wonderful having them in town again even if it was short lived. Our 22nd anniversary was celebrated quietly. My birthday followed just days later. Randy was at a men's retreat so I painted my kitchen and had pizza with my boys. It was a great day. Had a surprise visit from Becky and Teddy.
As time flew by, we found Easter upon us. It was my great pleasure to sing with the worship team on Palm Sunday. And the next couple of days I began to reflect on the week and try to take in what would have happened as Jesus completed his last week on this earth. I retraced some of the places via the internet and searched for pictures I have not found yet. I love looking up photos of Israel and new finding websites to tell of The Land.
Tues. found me at the Bible Bus and while I went to attend only, I found myself laying down the emotional junk I have carried around. I left it at the feet of Jesus hoping I leave it there and not pick it back up. "..Cast all your cares on him for He cares for you..." He lightens the burdens we for some reason insist on carrying.
I almost feel like an alcoholic walking away from the bottle...I have gone 7 full days without retrieving my "junk". That makes me feel pretty good!
Easter was celebrated at PHS this year. I estimate near 1,000 in attendance. Our worship was wonderful and next followed a sermon by Pastor who was wound up and on a roll. Several came forward for salvation and the day ended too quickly. For the first time in my life, no Easter bunny found our home. It was kind of sad.