Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Trying to keep up with Barbara is a challenge

The Challenge:
Monday: Day 3 at Barb's

First Stop: Laura's to get her and the boys

Next stop. "Reflections a GREAT furniture store...
actually, its more than furniture.I purchased "Wall Words" ("Home..the place where your story begins." and "Real love stories never end.") I'm sure they will appear on my blog sometime in the future ..I also bought some Christmas tree ornaments that were 60% off..for next year.

Next stop: lunch in Huntsville
good Mexican food..don't remember the name. I'm sure we were there over an hour. No Margarito today. They bake their tortillas on a machine that goes around...it's out in the open and the boys like to watch. It reminded me of a place we frequented in Chicago called "The Magic Pan"...they baked their crepes on a similar looking device...upside-down skillets were quickly dipped into batter and set upon the machine that then turned around slowly...after one rotation the "skillets" were lifted off, turned over to drop the thin crepes that were lightly browned and ready to fill with all kinds of fruits, vetetables, etc.




It was now 2 pm. At this junction we seperated from Mamas, Laura Leigh and the boys...they were off to Koles and I went with Barb for a meeting with her accountant. I took a short nap in the car while she was inside.

we met back at Hobby Lobby...Oh Lord, my favorite place to be! I went a little crazy..more discounted Christmas ornaments...art supplies for Mamas's brother...Barbara purchased a wrought iron table to put behind her bathtub. By this time my legs wouldn't work properly so she pushed me around in a wheelchair
We then headed for home but stopped by a car wash...then went thru Krispy Kreams drive thru and ate doughnuts and coffee on the way home...it was 6:30. Around 7 pm everyone went out for supper...I went to bed !!!

Day one and two with Barb and her family

Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas is past...but now we can celebrate New Years :)

Well, I guess it's time to start moving on into 2009...so away go all the Christmas decor, songs, etc... We're enjoying our time here in Alabama with Barb and her family. Saturday Barb was off from work but we went to the shop and she gave me a perm and Laura Leigh gave Bob a haircut....made a trip to Starbucks...afterwards the weather was still nice enough to "play" outside on their new toy. Sunday we took the day off from the regular routine and slept late...had a nice breakfast...put away most of her Christmas decorations...snacked on homemade candies and cookies....enjoyed a visit from Ron and Becky...the Cowboy game was too tough to watch so we went out...Starbucks, Super Target and then to Chili's...ummmm..marguareti's and chili....came home and watched a movie.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

A day with the Shirey's

Congratulations Heather!!!

What a nice day we had Saturday!
In 2004 our granddaughter, Heather Axtens Shirey, graduated from Texas Tech, Manga Cum Laude in psychology. A wedding, a child and four and 1/2 years later she earned her masters degree in psychology from UT Tyler. Yesterday it was our pleasure to share this day with her.

Merry Christmas from Laura and Ben's lovely home

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Three of our nine great-grandchildren

I must share these pictures with everyone...
Thomas, Cooper and little David (in the hat)...with their Memaw, our dear Barbara...we refer to him as "little David" because his grandfather is also a David. Cooper and little David are one day apart in age...they are cousins...Thomas and Cooper are brothers...
David has his mother's beautiful large, dark eyes and complexion...Thomas and Cooper have their beautiful mother's blondness.
We'll be spending a week in Alabama with all of them soon...
God is good all the time!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

We refer to this as "Bobby's verse"

"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good;
and what doth the Lord require of thee,
but to do justly, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with thy God."
Micah 6:8

Some years ago, when he was around three or four years old, Bobby attended our summer "Vacation Bible School" at Plano Bible Chapel...he had some wonderful teachers at that church...ie: Susan McKenzie, Marcia McLaughlin...Anyway, this is the first bible verse that we remember him memorizing.......it is very special to us for that reason. We later learned, after 9/11, that it was also the favorite verse of the gentleman who spearheaded the attempted re-takeover of control of the plane that crashed in Pa on its way to DC. That made the verse even more special.
"Train up a child in the way he should go;
and when he is old.
he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

Thomas, Cooper and Jason

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Video: Richardson West Hi and Jr. High Band Concert

Brian is seated in the middle toward the back.... The Jr. Hi band members are wearing the blue shirts...the Sr. Hi. band is in black.
Doesn't look like it but there were around 250 band members on stage.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Video: "A Chord of Three"

Unfortunately I didn't get the complete song while filming this but I decided to put it on the blog anyway...

On a more somber note

While we go about living our "normal" life (so to speak) we sometimes forget what life is like eleswhere. In places where America's own sons, husbands, fathers and yes, even mothers, are "living" their everyday lives...we should remember them . I received the following in an email and felt it should be passed on

Look at the soldier standing upright and alert while everyone else runs. Adding to the chaos of the bombing was a shooter, targeting people in the crowd. Amid all the Iraqis who are running from the gunfire was a U.S. Soldier, standing tall and looking in the direction of the gunshots, not looking for cover. The first picture shows it all. The kid's face shows he is scared to death, and he's running to the safest spot he can find:


.......this soldier who stands between him and danger. It would be difficult to stage a picture that provides a more potent metaphor for the role played by the United States in this world. "Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you.....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
Eternity is forever, it just happens to begin on earth."

Saturday, December 6, 2008

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I made this "welcome" sign about 15 years ago...


















The wreath on the patio door was home-made and given to me by a friend I worked with back in 1978.... <


The red carolers is an Avon product given to us by someone who worked with Bob when we lived in Garland, back in the late 60's...it still has it's aroma!!!
The wooden Christmas tree on the bar was made by my brother Ed..also many years ago.

The gingerbread towel was given to me by Laura Beth when she was very little. The other Christmas items in the picture were given to me by Barbara this year.


The old-fashioned Santa above the cabinets was given to me by Laura..







The crochet items on the frig were made by Karen..
probably about 10-12 years ago.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Monday, December 1, 2008

Video: The National Anthem

sung by Thomas and Cooper...ages 4 and 2

Video: The Doxology by "A Chord of Three"

granddaughter, Laura Beth, on the left...

Our Fabulous Five


What a blessing to have them all together ...'first time in almost two years..