Remembering Brett
A cascade of red roses flowed across his casket, deer antlers and pheasant feathers framing the bouquet. As the octogenarian Baptist minister described Brett, “He was all man. He was 12 inches of a foot, 36 inches of a yard, and 16 ounces of a pound.” Mom, dad and I...
Wednesday Wonder ~ Katherine Sasser and Hurley House
It started with the Tanglewood Carnival cakewalk. Esther assured me she would win. Only one winner, with about twenty-five kids marching in a circle to the music. And she won. "I told you so," she smirked at me, exiting the room with a white, scalloped-edged,...
Wednesday Wonders ~ Coach McCutchen and Coach Bostick
Coach Tim Bostick and Coach Marty McCutchen The 6th grade Panther football team concluded our four-year run last Tuesday night. The team celebrated Sunday evening with the Paschal High School alumni field presentation, then moved the party to Pop's Garage for...
Practicing Gratitude 10.25.13
- That our pastor teaches this - firmly - from the pulpit.- Taking (making) the time to write. And how it feeds my soul. - Praying each week alongside school moms. - The pool house - clean and cozy - such a gift.- Her new habit. How do kids intuitively know how to do...
Wednesday Wonder ~ Brave Mama
Mama - You are Brave. It's a little unsettling when the one who takes care of everyone becomes the one who needs to be cared for. For the past two decades, my mother-in-love has helped us move homes, clean out garages, paint rooms, and play-play-PLAY with our kiddos....
Wednesday Wonders ~ Jenna and Yvette
On what turned out to be a windy, chilly, rainy, and evidently very busy evening, we celebrated Fort Worth Young Life with our Fund Raising Banquet last night. I've had the privilege of working alongside the Young Life committee with banquets off and on over the...
The Swan House by Elizabeth Musser ~ a Review
During my senior year at Baylor, I found myself at a crossroads of what to pursue after college graduation: searching for a job in marketing and writing, or pursuing a Masters (and potentially a Doctorate) in English literature. I loved to write, and I could happily...
Focus on the Family Couples Retreat ~ a Magical Weekend
Our friends Steve and Lisa asked us last Spring if we’d consider attending a Focus on the Family Couples Retreat in Colorado Springs. Knowing that it would 1) take place in the fall, during both boys’ football seasons, and 2) be fairly expensive for just a...
Practicing Gratitude 9.14.13
- Catching Corbin playing pool games with his girls. - And on another day. My dad used to do this with us. - That he does a good job of this. And that I never have to. I didn\'t believe it on the front end, that the boys (including Corbin, of course) could / would...
Practicing Gratitude 8.29.13
- Celebrating 17 yearsAug 11, 1995- A screenshot of Hud\'s post on Instagram ~ sweet boy (feel free to roll eyes at this one... but I\'m not missing a chance to memorialize this!)- A full pool after a football meeting - makes my heart happy - Football season- Dropping...
KIVU ~ Man Camp 2013
I was practically giddy on the drive to Durango last month.I’d been telling Branson all summer that he had no idea what an incredible week lay ahead of him at KIVU.Mom, Corbin and I drove the gorgeous route from Angel Fire to Durango, and the four hours each way kept...
Practicing Gratitude 7.28.13
- Essie turns 7. Love this spunky girl. Celebrating with Daboo and CappyFavorite flowers from Daddy- Watching Bran and Corbin read my post about Yukon. They both needed Kleenex. - Swimming in the rain with the Schaefers- SWEET Daboo taking the boys fishing at the...
Crossroads by William Paul Young ~ a Review
A sweet friend gave me a copy of Cross Roads last winter for my birthday. She and I shared an affection for The Shack, and she put Paul Young's new book in my hand hot off the press. It took me several months to read it, primarily because I didn't want to rush through...
Practicing Gratitude 7.23.13
- Lots to be grateful for from July. The first and foremost, is that we still have another month of summer!- My patriotic son.Marc and Bran. I found these pics on my phone a day later. - 4th of July at the Shopes - such a fun tradition. I admire Rachel as the hostess...
Yukon – End of an Era, Part 2
As I mentioned in Part 1 of this post, Yukon has grown old with our little family. Yukon began our training for parenthood Both have a few more gray hairs Yukon turned 14 this past spring, and in the past couple of years maintained a lot of necessary spunk to put up...
Yukon – End of an Era, Part 1
We named him Yukon. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later, receiving his Husky certification in the mail, that we realized we’d given him his grandfather’s name. Skipping a generation, the name was surely meant for our little Yukon. He’s been with us for fourteen...
Practicing Gratitude 7.10.13
- Hitting a point of \"boredom\" this summer ~ means I haven\'t over-scheduled kids- Taking one day at a time. Summer is passing quickly, and it makes my heart ache a little. I so long for this relaxed schedule with margin- Silly boys- Hud\'s team not winning District...
Practicing Gratitude 7.02.13
- This summer especially, I\'m aware of our kids getting older, as they are entertaining themselves with creative outlets (which I do have to push, but not very hard): a treasure box of extra materials like empty oatmeal canisters, cardboard paper towel rolls, etc -...
Basden’s Beauty
I had just sat down in the living room last Saturday afternoon, feet up on the ottoman, laptop in hand. I glanced out to where Corbin rested on the pool float, reading the newspaper in the sun, and thought, “Here summer begins.” After an amazing, full week of CCBC...
Framing Hudson’s Elementary Years
Dear Hudson, Sitting in the folding auditorium chairs at Tanglewood last Friday morning, I got a little choked up watching the 5th grade parents file into the room. We gathered for the awards ceremony, one of the “lasts” of your elementary school events. And now...