It's a Bit of a Sweet Little Dream Come True

My grandboy is all boy.  He's a little bit shaky when it comes to bugs, however, anything else he's all boy.  If a sport's got a ball, he can name it and he can play it.  If a sport's got a helmet, he wants to wear it.  He is a puzzle master and a Lego king.  He's not afraid of the dark and doesn't need a night light.  He's not all lovey dovey.  Although this is a very frequent conversation between us.
Him..."Annie?"  Me..."yes sir".  Him..."I love you!"  Me..."I love you to!"

Seldom to never has he wanted to sit in my lap and watch a show.  Occasionally he will sit beside me to read a book.  However, he is NOT a lap sitter....until last Monday.

His parents had been gone for several days and he had been staying with his other grandmother and I.  Monday morning was a Pajama Christmas birthday party for Jesus at his school, so he wore his pjs to HH.  I picked him up and when he got home to my house that afternoon he just left them on.  Usually on the days I pick him up from school I do not have him take a nap.  This day was no different.  We were busy watching all his Christmas DVDs (you know the ones, Charlie Brown, Frosty the Snow Man, etc., Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer).  At some point he crawled up in my lap and laid in a reclining position to watch.  We initially did this.

Then he curled up sideways and watched...in my lap while I wrapped my arms around him.

He was still and quiet.  He stayed there a long time.  I was not sure that he was not falling asleep.  In fact, I think he would have had his parents not shone up when they did.

It was just so sweet.  I've always wanted to just sit and hold him and snuggle.  It was a special treat for me to cuddle up with my all boy grandboy!  It will be a Christmas memory I will not forget (especially since we did watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer three times).

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Prov 22:6.

Love the Lord our god and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul...fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.   Deut 11:13-19

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xoxoxo and Merry Christmas.

True Love

I don't remember a lot about Robert Carter in high school.  Since high school I know he career served in the armed forces, married Kay and had children.  He has been the center of organizing our reunions for as long as I can remember.  He has a sweet and kind heart and appears to be a great man, husband, father and friend.  He asks for prayer when his family is in need.  His mother has been very ill lately.  His wife passed away earlier this year.  Today I read his post, which I've included below, and was just speechless.  To me it just showed his vulnerability and his true love for his wife.  One of the comments below his post was from his son.  It said "we love you dad!"
I just wanted to share one of the sweetest thing I've read in a long time.  Wouldn't we all love to be loved like this....

Robert Carter

De ja vu
Well over the years November has been a bad month for me. Me being activated, Kay getting sick every November. But last night was a good memory, I could not sleep and Kay had been on my mind a lot. So I got up as usual and sat in my chair the dogs came also. As I sat there I saw the cassette player was on and had been since Kay passed away. She would sit and listen to old country music and relax. So I got up and turned it on and started listening to a instrumental country band that played for Roy Rogers .
As I sat back and started listening it was waltzes and slow two step music. I soon fell asleep and de ja vu. I dosed off and there she was, we danced for hours then she looked up smiled and I kissed her good night. Then I got up and went back to bed. I love and miss you

Genesis 2:23-25

New International Version (NIV)

²³ The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man.”

²⁴ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you, xoxo.

Roadside Photo Op...Black Colt

I always like to travel with my camera close by.  I never know when there might be a photo opportunity I can't pass up.  Last week I had one.

There's a place up by Luling that raises Friesian horses.  If you've never seen these horses, they are huge and incredibly beautiful with long flowing manes and tails.  I've contacted them and they have told me I can come to take some photos but I've not had a chance to do it.  I'm always turning my head their way in case the horses are close to the road.  I've driven by there a hundred times and never seen them up close.  Until today.  This is what I saw.

I did a great big u-turn.  It's a bit of an off season for colts to be born.  Most of them are born after January 1st.  Regardless, I could not pass up this chance to photograph this guy.  The two of them were not really close to the road but using my telephoto I was able to get some pretty good shots.

This boy loves his mama.  It's amazing how that instinct is so strong from the very beginning.

 "Wanna dance?"

Perfect.  Adorable.  Beautiful right?

Here he is rubbing on her and pushing her with his rear end saying "move over mama"!

Leaning in.

"Mom, mama, mommie, mom, mom, mommie, MOM!"

I love this photo.  I love photos from behind.  

Then something spooked them from the highway.

Here he is with all four feet off the ground...flying!

U

Then they just got quiet again.  No harm done.  He never gets more than about 10 feet from her.

I love it when God surprises me with gifts like this one.  He knows how much I love horses and how much I love photographing them.  This was truly a devine moment created by him just for me.  

Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you, xoxo.

It's Just Time to Tell You About Gus

My blog/inspiring story....... The "Hoose"                                                                      Mosey For the longest time, when you showed a photo of a horse to my grandson and asked him what it was, he would reply with it's sound...a "neigh".  He did not give the word for it.  After that he began calling it by it's name....a "hoose", (like loose, only with an "H").  That worked for me!  When referring to my horse who he met early on, whose name is "Mosey", he called him "Moomies" with along O.  Since then his pronunciation is pretty accurate.  He in fact has become somewhat of a cowboy...on occasion. However, this is a story about another gray horse of mine that I owned some years ago, Gus.  An author friend of mind suggested that I write a memorable horse story, one that I had a special connection to.  She was planning to write a book which included stories about women and their horses.  While I have many, this is the one that came to mind. The county in south central Texas where I have spent most of my life is prone to flooding.  There are two major rivers that converge, just above the actual town of Gonzales, the Guadalupe and the Comal.  At that point, in a little town called Ottine, it just becomes the Guadalupe River.  The Guadalupe runs just to the west of downtown Gonzales and through our big park just to the south of the city. In 1998, the Guadalupe River flooded.  It was called the 100 year flood.  It started raining on Thursday, October 17 and rained through the Sunday the 19th.  It rained for four days straight, hard!  Approximately 22" of rain fell around and north of Gonzales in Austin, San Antonio, and the Hill Country.  This rain created flooding of all the rivers, streams and creeks throughout all south central Texas.  Some counties had warnings that the flooding was coming.  Some did not or it arrived before prediction.  Some 31 lives and countless wild animals and livestock were lost.  Roads were blocked with roadblocks and water for days.  It was truly frightening.  You could not drive down to our park much less drive through it.  You could, unfortunately from the road in town above it, view the rapid rushing river water that was way out of it's banks.  It flowed across the highway, the baseball fields, the play ground, and the golf course.  The highway was not visible.  You could see cows floating down the river, their heads barely bobbing above the water.  Or you could see them stuck on some small island where you could hear them calling out, frantic.  You knew they would eventually be swept away, and they were.  It was such a hopeless sight. I was stuck in town as all the roads out of town in every direction were blocked.  My horses were at our ranch in the country, some 17 miles out of town.  I could not get to the ranch to see if they were ok.  I prayed many prayers that week that my family, my friends, and my animals would all be protected.  For many animals, that flood water just swept everything away.  There just was no escape for them, even if they got to higher ground.  That water took everything in it's path. There is a huge creek in the pasture where the horses were kept. When it rains a great deal, the creek gets way out of it's banks in that pasture.  It is not surpassable during those times by anything or anybody.  I only hoped my horses were on the "barn side" of that creek where they would be on high ground.  Every day I prayed.  I knew God knew how much I loved my horses.  I believed he would keep them safe...but I kept praying.                                                              Gus Finally, on Tuesday, one of the roads, the "long" way around, could get us to the ranch.  Driving there we could see land that was just ravaged by the flood water...truly devastating.  My heart raced the closer we got to the ranch.  Much of the water had run off by this time but so many of the roads and pavement were damaged and "gone" that traveling was still dangerous. We arrived at the ranch and I immediately went to the barn to count and check on the horses.  Five where there.  One was missing.  One of mine!  Prayers commenced along with hollering as loud as I could "Gus.....Gus".  It brings tears to my eyes at this very moment remembering how afraid I was, how fearful I was that I had lost him.  This gray horse had had a long history of an injury that I had nursed him through time and time again.  That had made us especially close.  Plus, he was just one of those horses that just loved people and loved me, gentle and kind eyed.  The creek in the horse trap was still full, all the way to the top of it's banks.  It was very deep, probably 10' - 12' in places.  The rushing water made it almost impossible to hear anything I was sure except that surging water.  "God", I prayed, "if he is in there, please let him hear me, please let me just see him to know that he is alive...please God".  I walked as far as I could on the barn side of the creek, literally screaming his name. All of the sudden I heard some crashing of brush and trees.  Then I saw him.   "Thank you God" as tears of joy filled my eyes.  I gently said his name, "Gus", and told him he would be ok.  He kept coming closer and I could see that he was ok and did not appear injured.  "Thank you God".  I could also tell he was anxious and that I was the only friend he had seen in days as he had been separated from his buddies.  They had been on the safe side of the water and he was on the other side, alone.  He ran all the way up to the bank on the other side of the creek.  The water was running swiftly in front of and between us.  I could see sticks and stumps and who knew what all rushing swiftly down the creek.  If you've never seen rushing, flooding water, it is powerful and frightening.  Gus stopped for just a second on the other side of the creek. He nickered loud and then he just KEPT coming.  My mouth was open as I watched him.  He jumped off into that violent running water and swam to me, literally swam in that rushing water. The creek at that point was about 12-15' wide and about 10' deep.  All I could see was his head.  He some how, miraculously and by the power of God was not swept down the creek but popped up on the other side with me, shook the water off, stopped and lowered his head, exhausted and weary.  Tears of sheer joy streamed down my face as I hugged him and petted him and calmed him and thanked God with all my heart.  He followed me back to the barn to be reunited with his buddies.  They too rejoiced to see him.  I believe I had witnessed a miracle.  Yes, he probably would have been fine until the waters receded and the creek went down and he could have crossed the creek walking instead of swimming.  But it would have been days.  I also witnessed the love between a woman and her horse, between a woman and her friend.  It was a blessing and a moment I will never forget.   God taught me that prayer works and miracles happen.  He taught me that I was valuable enough to him to work a miracle in my life, with something that was so important to me. God knew that riding my horses was a great relief to me after working 40 hours a week in Child Protective Services.  It was my way to gain my perspective back that to know that not all of life is tragic.  It allowed me to rest my mind in the quietness of the country and refill my mind with beauty.  God showed me that if I trusted him, he would bless me. A miraculous day in October 1998, gave me many more great rides through the pasture and the woods on that ranch in Gonzales county.  There were many great trail rides with beautiful weather and views of incredible wildlife.  There were days of fun working cattle on Gus that always brought joy to my life.                                                            Gus and I Gus lives today, retired in green pastures, getting fat and loving life!  And so do I.   "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend." John 15:13 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”   Matthew 17:20 ****Flood stage for the Guadalupe River in Gonzales is 31 feet.  The river crested at over 51 feet. Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths. Blessings and love to you, xoxo.

Puppy Love

Have you ever loved a dog?  It's pretty crazy love.  Has a dog ever loved you?  That's pretty crazy love too.

On a recent Sunday Ikey was sick.  The kind of sick he was moving VERY slow, creeping around, wouldn't jump up in my lap, wouldn't even walk down the stairs.  Even though it was a Sunday I called the vet. He was in a lot of pain.  On examination he determined it to be his back.  He gave him some medication and in a couple of days he was 'good as new'.  I don't really think that was it, his back.  However, it has not reoccurred and for that I am extremely grateful.

 A recent road trip took us by a fantastic field of bluebonnets.  Fortunately for me I had my camera.  Ikey did not think he was so fortunate.

 It doesn't take much for me to acknowledge and thank God daily for this little guy.  Talk about unconditional love...it goes both ways.  He wakes me with a snuggle every morning.  He greets me with a smile and a wiggle of his body every time I come home.  He would love to go load up and every where with me any day of the week.  He interjects without saying excuse me every time I have company or get on the phone.  "Hello mom...mom...I'm here mom...can't you see me mom...mom (bark...bark)!"

Puppy love, it was great when I was a girl and it is great years later in my life.

I know that God loves me even more than this.  His love too is unconditional.  His love is ever lasting.  His love is the same every day.  And for that too I thank God every day.
Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xoox.

On another recent Sunday we watched "Eight Below".  It is the story of a man who has to leave his sled dogs behind in the freezing weather and his return to see what happened.  I cried all the way through.  Check it out if you love dogs.

A Visit From My Sister

How exciting when my sister called and said "hey, can I come visit?  Are you busy?"  I said "heck no, when you comin'?"  So we made a plan!

She arrived Wednesday evening.

I had cooked smothered dove, Texamati Rice, Vegas garlic toast and a green salad with Romaine, cucumbers, olives, avocado and Olive Garden Dressing!  I greeted her with a glass of champagne (one of our adult beverages of choice) and a sit on the porch.  It was a perfect evening for sitting out.  We enjoyed our dinner about an hour later.

After dinner we had a nice quiet visit and headed to bed about 11.  I gave her my room and Ikey and I slept on the sofa.  It was actually pretty comfortable.  I've slept on it before but didn't remember it being comfortable.  Everybody slept well.

We woke up to a beautiful day.  I heated up some of my homemade cinnamon rolls that I had frozen since last October.

I wasn't sure that they would still be good so I also baked some yummy little pigs in the blanket.  Turns out the cinnamon rolls were DELICIOUS.  So we had some of both along with coffee for her and tea for me out on the front porch.  We sat outside for a couple of hours.  It was almost hot, close to 80, and all the sudden a front blew in and lowered the temperature about 10 degrees and windy.  We headed inside to take on the first project.

I'd been in the process of making a "list" of little projects for her to help me with for the last couple of days.  Just things that I'd been needing to do for a while and needed a second opinion or second set of hands.

We consulted and moved furniture on paper in the second bedroom until we had several options and determined that a 48" shelving unit would fit after all, not just the 36".  That had been my next biggest question about that room.  We also moved things around to determine the art work table could go in front of the west facing window, not just the south window where the sun comes in ALL day.  Check!

Next I got out the fabric samples and the final decision there was that there is yet to be a final decision after all.  That project still has a way to go.  Boo on that!  Check.

We looked at the 2 different valances I have up on the windows in my bedroom.  We determined the off white ones looked the best.  We hung those.  Check!

Those two painted horse canvas photos I bought at Home Goods several months ago had been waiting to be hung.  She helped me position, measure and hang those.  Check!

A few weeks ago I purchased 4 canvas wrapped prints, 16 x 20, to go over the fireplace.  Since I took them I have been wanting to make canvas wrapped prints of some of the wild horses I photographed in September 2011 in New Mexico.  She helped me determine how many, which direction they should go, and which prints to to select to go on the canvas'.  The result, 3 horizontal.  Check!
Here are the ones we decided on.

We did all that yesterday. We rewarded ourselves with a few glasses of champagne on the front porch!  It was a fabulous evening outside and we sat out there until after dark.  Porching remains one of the greatest things out here at the little house.

For dinner I cooked her tomato and Panko topped baked Tilapia, steamed cauliflower and broccoli, and that same great salad with Olive Garden dressing.  Seriously yum!

Wow.  She needs to come more often so I can get more things done.  This morning that cold front made it too cold and windy to sit outside so we had our blueberry muffins inside at the bar.  After that she stripped the bed, stuck the sheets in the washer, helped me re-make up the bed and we just sat and visited until she had to leave.

What a fabulous day and a half.  I miss her so much, my sister.  In Midland we use to see each other weekly for sure and often more often.  It has been a bit of a withdrawal not seeing her all the time.  However, we are close and distance is just a blip in the microsphere.  Is that a word?  I am so so blessed to have a sister who loves me not matter what.  Seriously, no matter what, she loves me and I love her.  Do you have that with someone?  With our parents being gone, who both loved both of us no matter what, they passed it on to us, love for each other and that same unconditional love for our children.  Unconditional love!  A blessing.

So here's to sisters, and love, and family and blessings.  I hope you have even a little bit of all!

Psalm 100:5

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you, xoxo

Thanksgiving Photo Op

Blessing abounded the last few days as we gathered for Thanksgiving.  Friends and family alike came together for a good time.  I love my family so much and I love it when we are all together.  I am so thankful for my parents and how they taught us to love God, our family and our country.  There are no holidays when we do not think of them.  Love you mom and dad!!

I took a few photos while all together for TG.
These are the people I love most in my life!

So cute!

"I wanna run!"

This makes my heart happy!

Thank you Jesus for  another perfect day filled with love, family and thanksgiving!

Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey with fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you.

Afternoon at the Ranch

Baby Gray has been asking since he met Mosey to go back and see him at the ranch.  Today was the day!  He donned the new cap he picked out and off we went.

Once we got to the ranch, he, T-Paw and I headed off for the barn.

He helped feed the horses and enjoyed watching them eat.  When we went inside the stall to give Mosey a pat, T-Paw caught these photos.  Mosey was a trooper and liked having his photo taken.

He met the other horses too, including "Marnie" (formally called Marty), Smokey and Solo.

He also took his balls along to the ranch for a bit of football.  As usual, he was very good at creating something that actually was created for something else, into something he likes...he made the gates into the barn into goalposts and spent a lot of time throwing his footballs over that.

Here just a few other photos of us having fun hanging out at one of my favorite places.

What a good day!  Fabulous weather, just cool enough for a light jacket!

More creativity, Koozie's into "mi'ins".

Steaks and baked potatoes were "what's for supper"?

The end of a perfect day.  My favorite photo!!

Psalm 36:7
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Encourage one another, continuing the journey on fresh paths!

Blessings and love to you.

The Shadow Over Moving Day

9:00am.  Moving day. The movers are late. Any other day it would not matter. But today I'm in a hurry.  Today, moving day, is overshadowed, as today is also the day of the memorial of my beloved son in law's brother who died Thursday ,a sad, tragic death. Ross' soul and his spirit and his heart were so sad. Sometimes people are just born that way or sometimes they develop that way. I don't think anyone is really sure why. But it is so hard for them to live life in this world. They search and seek happiness and relief from that pain the feel emotionally, and find it impossible to live life on this earth. Few people know this feeling. Few people understand it.  Most often they are unable to find it, that peace. Finally they give up, they surrender, they make a choice to not do it anymore, and they leave this world. Ross chose this last Tuesday.  Ross, may you be at peace now and rest in the arms of Jesus.   Today, and this week, my heart breaks for those hearts already broken, those that loved him for years and lost him this week. And Lord I pray you hold them close, comfort them as only you can. Only you Lord! May they reach for you, feel you, and accept you reaching back.  

                                       

John 14:26-27

New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Encourage One Another

Continuing the journey, on fresh paths.

What Ever Happens Tomorrow...We've Had Today

Ok, so I've been watching movies this weekend.  The second one was called "One Day".  It's about a guy and a girl who meet very early in their lives.  For whatever reason, they stay only friends for years, literally.  However, there are some obvious, to us, feelings they don't really share with each other.  Finally the get together and are very much in love.  I won't ruin the ending, but one of the messages of the movie is, at the end of the movie, which is actually a flash back to the front of the movie, she says "whatever happens tomorrow, we've had today".  The message to me was don't live for tomorrow.  Make the best of EACH and every day, as if there is or will be no tomorrow.  Life is short.  Life flashes by so fast we don't even realize it.  Before you know it, days, weeks, months and years have flown by. So live each day to the fullest.  Wear yourself out.  Do everything you want to do when you get the chance.  Don't wait; don't put things off; don't wait for a better time and place.  Just love life.  Love people.  Live life.  Just love and live!

Deuteronomy 4:40
Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.

Encourage One Another

Continuing the journey on fresh paths.

"Courageous" The Movie

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”


Courageous!


This is a very powerful and touching movie about the Godly, Christian role of a father.  If you have not seen it, I recommend that you do.  It has a very strong message.  The message is below.


To Fathers...
Leave a Godly legacy.
Love God with all that you are.
Love and mentor others who need help and direction.
Be a man whose Heart is willing and courageous.
By God's grace you can do this.
You have responsibility for you family.
Raising children, mothers are not intended to carry this weight alone; a child desperately needs a daddy.
None of us recognize the priceless time we have with our children.
We must courageously step up to be and do whatever it takes to be involved in the lives of our children.
It means more than just being there, it means to walk with them and be a visual characterization of their Father in heaven.
Protect, discipline and  teach them about God.
Teach them to have integrity and respect.
To be responsible men and women.
Who will be accountable to God to the position of influence he has given you?
You will realize that your job and your hobbies have no eternal value, but your children do.
If you just live for yourself you will waste a valuable opportunity.
Regardless of your mistakes, pray for forgiveness and love God with all that you are and teach your children to do the same.
A Godly father will guide his family and love them.
He will teach them to follow Christ.
He provide and protect for them.
He will break the chain of destructive patterns of his family and 
teach his children to do what ever God calls them to do.
We all want God's favor and blessing on our home.
Pray for and bless your children for whatever they chose to do.
Be men of courage and fathers who fear the lord.


                                   


Joshua 24;15  "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"


I was blessed to have this father, a man who followed God and lead his family to the Kingdom!

                                        
                                            In Loving Memory
                                  November 2,1924--July 26, 2010
Encourage One Another


Continuing the journey on fresh paths.