Grateful Beyond Thanks

Memorial Day. A day to remember those who have fought and died so that we can live free. A day to reflect on the values that our country stands for. A day to appreciate and honor the men and women and their families who have sacrificed on our behalf.

My family attended a service this morning at the Houston Veterans Memorial Cemetery (where my grandparents are buried). It was long and hot, but it was also beautiful, honoring all the soldiers who have served in every branch of the military, in every war that America has fought. They had bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace", they had a cannon salute and a rifle salute, a dove release while we sang "America the Beautiful", a riderless horse, a flyover by the US Coast Guard, and a poignant song called "Here in America, In God We Still Trust". It was very moving. I teared up several times during the ceremony.

Afterward, we went to visit Ma and Pa's grave. "Perfect Partners" to the very end. I can imagine them in heaven, still in love. I miss them and love them. Today, Memorial Day, I remember the greatness of their sacrifice for our country, but I also remember the greatness of their every day. They were part of the Greatest Generation, but to me, they were just Ma and Pa, two of the greatest people I will ever know.

My grandmother's grave

My grandfather's grave

They are buried together. On Pa's headstone is engraved "perfect partners". That says it all.

Sweet Sisters

This last week, Drummer Boy was out of town for several nights. I thought it would be difficult, but it wasn't really. Well, except for the one day that Princess got her cavity filled and was given Versed for anesthesia. She was kind of "out-of-it" and absolutely pitiful for about 2 hours. Remind me never to do that again while my husband is out of town on work, my mother-in-law is visiting family in Dallas, and my mother is in England for 2 weeks!

Anyway, it wasn't really that difficult. And the girls had some really sweet moments together, which made it so wonderful. A couple of nights I put them in the bathtub and they just played together in there for a long time. Princess washed Pumpkin and Pumpkin washed Princess and I didn't have to do anything besides help them dry off when they got out. Another night, I was cleaning up the kitchen and the girls were off playing in their rooms. When I finished and went to check on them, I found this:

Princess reading to Pumpkin and Pumpkin loving it!

You know, they are the best of friends one minute and the worst of enemies the next, but I hope eventually they'll have more and more "best friends" moments and less "worst enemies" moments. For now, I'll take the "best friends" moments whenever I can get 'em!

Princess also learned to blow a bubble this week! Quite a feat!

Happy Mother's Day

My favorite day of the year used to be my birthday. It was the day I looked forward to most, because it's all about me, right? Right. No, no, no.

Growing up, my parents always made our birthdays really special. I never shared birthday parties with my sister, even though her birthday was only 4 days before mine. It was always my day, my very own special day. So even as an adult, I have enjoyed celebrating my special day, my birthday. But over the last few years, things have changed. My birthday is still a special day, but another day has taken the top spot for me. Mother's Day.

My birthday simply celebrates the day I was born (a day I am very thankful for, indeed) and the blessing of another year of life. But Mother's Day celebrates the special privilege that I have to be a mother. It celebrates the specific calling that God has given me to love and nurture my daughters. It celebrates something that gives my life meaning and a purpose. It celebrates the hard work that I put in, and the blessings that come out. And unlike my birthday, this day is NOT all about me. It is a day of celebration that I share with my daugthers and husband, for I would not be a mother without them, and also with my own mother, realizing more and more what a wonderful mother she is and how I long to be like her in so many ways. I feel very blessed on this Mothers Day. Thank you, thank you, thank you, God, for my many blessings.

Cute pictures

Here are some pretty darn cute pictures of my two adorable children over the last month or so:

Princess's western day, dancing with her partner.

Pumpkin's Western day. Check out the grin! (Also notice Princess peeking through the door)

The girls riding the roller coaster at the Rodeo Carnival

Easter Egg Hunt

Do you think she had fun??

Pumpkin enjoying her ice cream at the Blue Bell Factory!

A Healthy Dose of Testosterone

About 1 week ago, my dear friend Kerri asked me if she and her 3 boys (ages 5, 6, and 8) could come visit us for a few days over their Spring Break. Of course my response was, "yeah, we'd love to have you! It'll be fun!" but inside I was thinking "oh my! it's going to get a little crazy around here." And I was right on both accounts. It was a lot of fun and a little crazy. I am SO GLAD they came to visit. It was really great to see Kerri. She is such an easy friend, one of the most laid-back people I know. And her boys were great, a lot of energy, very physical, but great.I have always heard about how boys have so much energy and I have wondered how Princess's high-energy would compare. After a few days with "the boys", she definitely kept up with their energy level, but she wasn't nearly as physical as they were. Boys and girls are just different. The defining moment was at the zoo, in the middle of the lions, tigers, and bears exhibit when the boys were running from animal to animal and Princess said to one of them, "do you like my outfit?" Kerri and I both had a good laugh at that one!

We spent the first full day together at the zoo with all the kiddos. It was a perfect day and the zoo wasn't too crowded. We all had a good time. We also rode the Herman Park train before heading home for the afternoon/evening. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing around in the backyard and trying to relax a little. Kerri and I both fell asleep early that night, exhausted.

The next day Princess went to school and we took Pumpkin and the boys to Brenham to visit the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory and the Miniature Horse Farm. That was a really fun day. We saw a miniature horse that was only 2 days old! It was so cute! All the kids loved the horses and the ice cream!

We got back home just in time to get Princess off the bus, and then we headed to Chuck E. Cheese for the evening. Honestly, I loved Chuck E Cheese. The kids love it so much and I just enjoy watching them run around with their cup full of tokens and getting so excited about earning a few tickets. I really enjoyed watching the girls and boys play together. They got along so well. And no one was left out. Even Pumpkin, who is several years younger than Kerri's youngest, was always right there in the mix. She never could get their names though... She always referred to them as "that little man..." Quite adorable!

See-Through Lives

I have so much in my head, I think I might just ramble for the next few minutes...

I am doing a bible study by Beth Moore entitled "When Godly People do Ungodly Things". In this week's homework, we discussed having see-through lives. This really struck a chord with me because this has been my mantra lately. Be Transparent. Beth talks about having a group of close friends/family who know everything about you, and they still love you!! Amazingly enough, right?

In Beth's words, "Whether we realize it or not, you and I are desperate for people who can see through our lives... I finally allowed a group of people to see right through me... They know my past. They know my faults. They know my fears. They know my insecurities... And they love me anyway. Oh, what joy! A joy I will no longer allow the enemy to steal. [I have] broken free. She may not be pretty. But she's real."

That's it for me. I don't care if I'm pretty as long as I'm real. I don't want people who call me a friend to think I'm a nice girl who has a great house and beautiful kids and doesn't ever struggle or deal with hardships. Who would want to be friends with that girl? I want them to know me. I want my friends to know my faults, my fears, my daily struggles, and my joys and blessings as well. In the past, I have said that I want to be transparent so that my friends and I can be a support and encouragement to each other, and also so that Christ's work would shine in my life. But Beth has another reason for being transparent...so that we may know the unspeakable joy of being known and yet being loved despite it all. Oh, what joy! Thanks to those of you who know me and love me still...

Red Raider Weekend

Every year, Drummer Boy and I take a weekend trip (or longer) away, just the two of us. This year, our weekend doubled as his Christmas present. We went to Lubbock for a Red Raider sports weekend. (Woo-hoo! No really, I really enjoyed it!) The weekend activities included the Texas Tech v. UT mens basketball game (a great game, although Tech lost), three Texas Tech baseball games (Tech won all 3), visits to see Grandad and Mema in Levelland and Granny and Tom in Shallowater, some really great Mexican food (it's always about the food for me, isn't it?) and lots of good alone time for me and my hubby. The weather was quite chilly, but Drummer Boy reminded me more than once that it could have been much, much worse. I think the highlight of the weekend for me was just watching Drummer Boy revel in some of the memories of his college days, and sharing those memories with him.

Grandad and Mema

United Spirit Arena

Granny and Tom