Texas Tech Beauties

A few weekends ago Bob and I spent 3 days in Lubbock taking graduation pictures of Brady and some of her friends.  We really had a great time.  It's hard to believe that 4 years has gone by so quickly!!!

A-Phi Seniors

Guns Up

Ariel & Brady

Brady & Preston

Memories

I was browsing through a magazine today and ran across an article with about 10 recipes made with rhubarb.  Rhubarb ~ I love rhubarb! Not many people like it!   It triggers so many memories in me!  My Grandma Stolley ~ aka~ Lula Pearl, grew rhubarb in her back yard.  When all the cousins were together at Grandmas during the early summer months, we would pull a stock of rhubarb, rinse it off, dip it in sugar and eat it.  We thought it was so decadent.  Fast forward a few years to the year I found out my Aunt Barb (Panther) makes the best strawberry rhubarb pie.  Put a dab of vanilla ice cream on a warm piece and it is like a small piece of heaven.  I love food that reminds me of the past!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the gift of my Grandma Stolley.  She was a quiet woman but she shared so much with me!  I pray that the day that I make it to Heaven I get to see her and sooooo many more. 

Sunday in the park

     Bob and I went on an adventure today.  We decided to go for a bike ride along the Trinity Trail.  The ride turned into 20 miles!!  The first 10 were great because the wind was to our back.  The second 10 back were directly into a hard head wind!  We stopped half way back at a Food Truck park.  We shared a beer and an order of delicious nachos.  It was a beautiful day to spend with each other.  20 miles for a 56 and 51 year olds ~ not too shabby!

Thank you for this wonderful man in my life. 

 I am truly blessed to share my life with this man - my best friend!

 

I've created a Monster!

     I love my mom!  She's 80 years young and I just taught her how to use Pinterest on her Ipad we got her for Christmas.  She's gone crazy! In just a few weeks she has created 60 boards with appx. 2600 pins.  She's pinned everything from bracelets to purses, sewing to jewelry, Christmas to casseroles, Royals to cake plates.  By far the funniest/cutest/most weird board is entitled "Alright, Alright, Alright".  The pins on this board are of handsome male celebrities!!!

  It thrills me that she is having so much fun with it!!!

Ordinary Saturday

Bob and I started a new little tradition about a year ago.  We go to lunch together almost every Saturday.  This past Saturday I talked him into driving to Fort Worth to try a new restaurant called "Torchy's Tacos".  It was wonderful, but that's not the best part of the story.  The best part was later in the afternoon when Bob stooped down to give me a kiss and tell me how much fun he had at lunch.  The lunch was not extraordinary.  It wasn't a  five star restaurant with candles glowing.  Just two people who love each other very much enjoying tasty tacos and each other's company.  I am truly blessed to be married to my best friend. 

Thank you for the gift of Bob.  Thank you for helping us through the rough spots and for helping us to celebrate the good times.  Please help me to not take this special loving relationship for granted.

Home is where .....

      Brady is home with us this weekend.  Brooks was here for a visit last weekend.  It's always nice to have them around for a few days.  Brooks spent a lot of time with his friends but I did manage to get a few hugs!  Brady and I went shopping for her graduation dress.  It was a quick, quite successful shopping trip.  I love to shop and find bargains but my daughter hates to shop ~ go figure.  LOL

Here's the winner:

Thank you once again for the gift of my precious children!

Manzo

Our youth minister, Chris Manzo, lost his battle with colon cancer today.  He use to dress up as Superman for Halloween and was given the name "Supermanzo"!  His wife's post today was that "The love of her life traded in his cape for wings!"

I sent both the kids a text with the news.  Brooks' reply was "God must work in mysterious ways. I just don't get how something like this could happen to such a great and kindhearted person."  My reply was: "I have to believe that Heaven is a very special place that will answer all of our questions.  It will be a place to be reunited with loved ones and a place with no more suffering.  I have to believe that it remains a mystery to us because if we knew how great it is, we would all want to leave this earthly place right now."

 

Please help me to teach my children to know and accept your love and Grace.  Please welcome Chris Manzo into your kingdom and give comfort to those that he leaves behind.

Great Kids

 

Wow, this is so true.  At most moments, I know that I did and am doing the best I could/can do.  Still, there are times I think:  Could  I have done better?  Will I do better? 

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook the other day: 

I quit, I'm done with this parenting stuff. Apparently I suck at it anyways...The over-whelming response from other moms was -

Been there, thought that!  One mom wrote - "My daughter told me she was "running away" and her response was,  No, you can't because I am!" 

 

There is no manual.  There will be a lot of miss-steps along the way.  Know you're not alone.  Do your best and pray for a successful outcome!

 

Please Lord help me not "screw up"! 

Guide me, teach me and help me to not second guess myself.

Going "Through" Life

Sometimes it tough going "through" life!   You can't go over it, you can go under it and there is no way around it.  Everyone MUST go THROUGH it ~ the good/bad, the happy/sad,  the easy/hard, the joyous/heartbreaking. 

Right now my heart is breaking for our youth director and his family as he is in his final battle with cancer.  At 41 he has just found the love of his life and they just had a baby boy.  He is truly a man of God and has touch so many lives, in particular, the youth of our church.  Brooks once said that he was the "coolest God guy" that he knew.  Chris Manzo is one of the reasons that we joined SJA.  My daughter, Brady, began attending the youth group at SJA in the 7th grade.  She just loved it!  She encouraged us to attend a service and after 6 month, we joined.  We joined on Christmas Eve as part of the kids' Christmas presents.  If Manzo hadn't been so awesome, we might never have found what I consider "My Church Home"!

I hate what Chris and his family are going through but I am comforted by his faith and his trust in where he is going when this earthly life is over.

Faith is not know what the future holds

It's knowing Who holds your future!

Thank you for the gift of Chris Manzo.  Please cover him and his family in your amazing grace.

Riviera Maya Barcelo

        We rang in the New Year with a 7 day trip to Riviera Maya Barcelo in Mexico.  We also celebrated Bob's 56th birthday.  Our group consisted of 14 friends and family. This included Bob & I, Brooks, Brady and bf ~ Preston. Joining us from Iowa was my cousin Ann, her husband Eric, daughters, Olivia, Elizabeth, Olivia's friend Madison and Elizabeth's  bf ~Tom .   Along with them was their neighbor Diane and her girls Kate and Kristen.  (Another family of 4 missed out due to weather delays.)

     The weather was overcast for the first part of the week.  We still had a great time.  On one day that was a little cool and overcast, the kids spent the morning making sandcastles.  What a hoot!  Who knew that sand could turn 20 year olds into little kids again.  We ended up having a competition and got "Pauly D" & his new wife (they are a whole other story) to judge.  We proved that sunshine is not always needed.

     We adopted the pool bartender, Oscar, for the week.  Our favorite drinks were Tequila sunrises, mimosas, pina coladas, Popper shots and of course cervezas.  We had a choice of restaurants each night.  We drew for spots so that everyone really got to know each other.  The food was but Mexican sushi and steak were not very successful. 

The week was full of  family, friends, warm weather, a little sunshine, lots of fruity drinks and awesome bonding of 14 people!!  It was nice to get away but it is always nice to come home.  (Brooks survived 7 days without his phone!)

The Whole Gang

Sisters

"Happy Birthday"

Preston & Brady

Baby Girl

Cousins

The Howe Girls

Madison & Olivia

Elizabeth & Tom

The Dads and the boyfriends

My beautiful family

Goodbye 2013 ~ Hello 2014

 

2013 has come and gone.

  On to 2014!!! 

 Bob and I spent the evening with friends having dinner and listening to a really good band.  If I made resolutions, which I don't, I would resolve to eat better and just be an all-around better person! I am looking forward to what this year has in store for me.  Stay tuned!!