Baylor Girls Reunion ~ Part I
We do this every year. Every spring our group of Baylor friends gathers at someone\'s home or ranch or even a hotel just to enjoy the goodness of being together. I had high expectations of Baylor as a freshman in the fall of 1991, but I had absolutely no idea that I...
Angel Fire Christmas… Right After Christmas
After celebrating with James side of the family, we loaded up the car and happily headed north for Angel Fire to see the Wilson crew. Who doesn\'t love Christmas in the mountains? The snow, the scenery, the slower pace and the crisp air ~ Papa\'s \"happy place\" is a...
James Christmas Gathering ~ 2015
Oh my WORD - what an amazing Christmas!And never mind that I\'m more than two months late on posting this... still something I want memorialized in the blog archives. I always feel like it\'s Christmas when my brothers bring their families home to Texas, and this...
Practicing Gratitude 1.5.16
-Time in Amarillo with the Keisters on our way home from Angel Fire ~ always a joy to be with them! Business / Medical / Nonprofit consulting ~ both waysMexican Train!Happy New Year!Ringing in the New Year ~ NYC timeVicky and I just love this picEmma and BasdenEssie...
Practicing Gratitude 12.20.15
- Esther\'s 4th grade field day ~ in December! Beautiful weather, one of the kids\' favorites.- Getting to spend our year with Connor and Chase in the pool house. A total WIN for our family. They are incredible. - Basden\'s 1st gymnastics competition in Plano - pretty...
Practicing Gratitude 12.13.15
- A quiet day at home. - Tanglewood trees in the fall. Breathtaking. - Taking an hour or so for a walk on a gorgeous day. Sad to think of her outgrowing this- Hud’s basketball team\'s narrow WIN against YMLA - such a fun game to watch!- Watching all the 6th grade...
The Best Gift
"I'm not afraid." It\'s what my friend's father told his children and his grandchildren when they gathered a couple of weeks ago for Thanksgiving. This man has been battling cancer, and while his health appears clear at this point, he knows the possibility of the...
It’s Not Easy Being Green in Fort Worth
"Essie, what's going on? Why the sad eyes?" "I'll tell you when we get in the car." Once secure inside, doors firmly shut, she let the tears flow. "Mom, can we please move away from Fort Worth? They are just so mean, and they hate me." "Whoa, slow down a minute, Es....
Practicing Gratitude 9. 5. 15
- Family dinner. With our new family.Our home is way more fun with Connor and Chase. Our first meal together ~ and actually the first day we met them! - Back to school parties. - Hudson and Basden doing their own school supply shopping at Staples. They took their...
Fatigued Muscles
I am so sore.I\'m walking ok, and actually, walking feels good. But if you see me going up or down stairs, or bending my legs to sit in a chair, I look a little odd. Like a little old lady pausing mid-step, reminding her brain to strain those muscles even though...
Practicing Gratitude 6.22.15
- A good, safe weekend in Roundrock / Georgetown this weekend with Hud’s tournament, traveling home in the storm with girls and Daboo- Elizabeth Elliot’s life ~ arrival in Heaven yesterday ~ her profound affect on me and so many - A rainy morning ~ sitting on back...
Practicing Gratitude 6.15.15
- A few days away with Corbin. On the heels of school ending, just good to get away - That I’m not comfortable in Vegas- Starbucks at the bottom of our hotel elevator- Mom’s help with the kids - tremendous- Rooneys having girls for a sleepover the last day of school,...
Practicing Gratitude 6.8.15
- Mom and Dad’s 45th anniversary. Getting to celebrate on the same BEACH where Trey and Amy got married; Dad baptizing both Ashlyn and Joy Taylor; getting to spend the week with both Trey and Chris’ families. Of course I wish we and Luke’s family were there, but...
Practicing Gratitude 5.15.15
These gratitude posts ~ better late than never!- Reed moving in last Friday night, getting to meet his friend Lucas from South Korea in the process.- Watching Big Hero 6 with the kids on a rainy Sunday night.- Worth this tub of uniforms sitting in our garage for...
Speeding Tickets and Fender Benders
I got a speeding ticket this morning. 54 in a 40. Hudson and Essie were with me, on Vickery, headed back to school from Dr. Kelley's office. Essie was basking in the smooth, unfamiliar sensation of her brand-new-just-got-braces-off teeth, and Hud was asking if his...
Practicing Gratitude 5.1.15
(These gratitude posts - better late than never!) - Celebrating Hud’s spiritual birthday ~ hearing how his brother and sisters see the Holy Spirit in him. A theme of kindness. - Es and her fantastic 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Clynch LeBron and Ms. Clynch after a gym...
Practicing Gratitude 4.26.15
- \"Young Life leaders believe that every kid, in every home, deserves to have someone who\'s crazy about them.\" - John Trent, speaking at our Fort Worth Young Life luncheon this week. - 3rd grade Mom/child Tanglewood kickball party - While Hud made his lunch, he...
Echoes of Sacrifice and Blessing
Like many families, we're big fans of HGTV's Fixer Upper. We love Chip and Joanna, we've got a soft spot for Waco (sic 'em, Bears!), and it's so fun to have a guilt-free show our whole family can watch. I've never met the Gaines, but Joanna recently shared some of her...
Practicing Gratitude 4.11.15
- Hud\'s turn ~ WYLDLIFE paint wars These two AMAZING men. Kevin Libick - our church middle school youth leader, and Brad Deal - middle school teacher AND Wyldlife leader. So grateful for their investments in our kids - our own and in our community. (Incidentally,...
Practicing Gratitude 3.23.15
- The first \"Gathering\" here last weekend. An hour or so of worship for high school students, organized by these talented kiddos. Really special. Essie got to sing a couple of \"Ellie Holcomb\" solos Basden, Kelcy, Essie and Hannah- Lisa\'s gentle reminder, just a...