Turning 50

Well turning 50 is definitely a turning point in my life. I am not uncomfortable with the number but I have to admit that's it's feeling rather surreal. The party was great and I am so blessed to have had my family and friends be with me to share in the sunset over the lake.

Unforgettable Day

15 years ago today I was teaching at Jefferson Elementary where Audrey was a 3rd grader. I had bought tickets to see Disney on Ice in Austin and we had gotten permission to leave school a little early to get down there ahead of traffic. Before we left school Audrey was honored for receiving 1st place in the Fire Prevention Poster contest for the city of Temple. The award also came with a gift card to Wal-Mart. So much excitement for a 3rd grader! Finally in Austin at the Disney show we watched with excitement as the characters and music came to life before us in full dazzling colors and lights. As soon as we got in the car, I put Audrey in her pj's and had a blanket handy for the ride home. Before we ever got out of Austin she was fast asleep in the back seat. At that point I turned on the radio.

In this pre-9/11 era, the first news that trickled out about something happening in Oklahoma City was minimal at school that morning. The excitement of our day far overshadowed a possible explosion at an office building. However by nightfall the news was far worse than anyone could have ever imagined. Life in the United States had now been forever scarred.

As I begin to hear the horrific stories on the radio of the number of children killed and wounded I couldn't help but look in the back seat and see my precious child safe and sound through the tears streaming down my face.

So April 19 will always be an unforgettable day of joy and heartache.

May God comfort all of the grieving hearts this day.

Overload

I am recovering from information outlet overload. I don't really know what else to call it, but I guess I just got to a point where Facebook, emails, blogs, school emails plus required weekly school webpage updates and school blogs were just too, too much.

So for now here's an update of my little world.

• I have celebrated with 2 of my friends their 5oth birthday. Mine will be here before I know it.
• Tim and I went to New York in January to see Audrey perform in her own play "Stranger than Alice". She was fabulous! We hadn't seen her perform since high school due to the distance and monetary factors. We had a great time and got to meet many of Audrey's friends.
• I have gone through menopause!!! Gained weight but didn't have hotflashes. I think hotflashes would have been better
• I somehow managed to get 150 4th and 5th graders onstage in 80's costumes in the midst of sleet and bitter cold temperatures.
• I enjoyed the first snow experience with the Sashadog. She was so excited and even though she didn't realize it, her breeding kicked in. We went for a walk and I thought at one point I was going to be mushing rather than walking!
• I have been so blessed this past year...this past decade. I am very grateful for the lessons I've learned; for the new friends I've made; for the dear old friends that still put up with me; for the love of my husband and the neverending inspiration from my daughter; for the godly examples of my mom and father-in-law; and above all for the continued unbounded Grace that surrounds my spirit.

Tribute to a Beautiful Live

On November 2 Maxine Faulkner passed away from complications after falling in her church parking lot. I first met Maxine many years ago when Audrey was just a baby and we lived in Miami, Texas. The picture is from August of 2008 when she turned 100.

I was very upset that I couldn't go to her funeral.

You can read her obituary at http://www.amarillo.com/obits/

Maxine lived a beautiful life that honored God. Her cup was full and spilling over with love. I will miss her dearly.

One Little Song

A week ago I asked my kids at school to come with ways that use music in our lives. Besides their wonderful answers I also had pictures that they looked at to also help them discover more answers. We all agreed that "Happy Birthday to You" was probably one of the most frequently sung tunes of all time.



Last weekend when we celebrated my sister's birthday her grandson...my adorable little great-nephew (who isn't even 3 yet) could all ready sing this song. Hmmm....I wonder was this the 1 billionth time it was sung?

The Sign of the Cross

The other night I went over to a neighbor's house for the first time. Their home was so beautifully decorated I found myself being somewhat envious. After a few seconds of that I quickly got over myself and I noticed that they had one wall covered entirely in crosses. These were not just cheap, generic crosses but unique examples of craftmanship and artistry. As I stood looking at the crosses the words to the old hymn came to my mind:

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 0n which the Prince of Glory died;

My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.

See from His head, His hands, his feet...sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e're such love and sorrow meet? Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

I'm just curious....when did this start? Perhaps the first decorative crosses came from the Catholic church then the Protestants took Jesus off of the cross and continued the tradition. I'll have to research this.

Another thought.....By using crosses as decorations or for jewelry...do we water down the significance of the cross? Obviously anyone who died by being crucified spent their last hours in agonizing pain and humiliation.
Of course Jesus not only died in this horrible way but also took on deep spiritual pain as well as he suffered for the sins of mankind.

What are your thoughts? I'm still thinking about this. I'm sure each person would see this differently. May the sign of the cross increase your faith today.

Summertime

Summer is quickly passing but with 100+ temps everyday I have to admit that Sasha and I are thinking about winter.

So far this summer I've gotten to spend time with my Audrey when she came to TX; I've been to Arizona to see Dad's relatives in Phoenix; then a quick trip to East Texas to see my best friend, Karla after her back surgery.

Tonight it was great to finally get to see mom hold all 3 of her Great Grandbabies! She was so excited. With Beau and Erica moving to Waco hopefully there will be more times ahead.

I love all of my nieces and nephews but I have also really enjoyed being a great-aunt as well.

Tim and I have been teaching a lot of private lessons. Tim is feeling much better these days - So thankful! He's decided to go back to school and finally finish his degree. So funny that this Longhorn die hard fan will be going to the new Texas AM in Killeen!

I don't know if anyone ever reads my blog or not but I always feel like I have to write something philosophical. So....here are a few deeper thoughts....

As a Christian I really have been struggling with trying to understand how so many people in the world are believers in God but not necessarily in the same way that I understand Him. So many people are full of love and good deeds, but may not call themselves Christians. So many people call themselves Christians and are not reflective of Christ at all.....

Also as a Christian, I feel like that we must be respectful of our leaders whether we agree with them or not. When Bush was president, many of my liberal friends would send me Bush-bashing emails. Now I get 'Bama-bashing emails instead from my conservative friends. So if you send me a presidential bashing email to forward on...I won't.