Spring Break

For the past several weeks I have been diligently working in our back yard adding bulbs, moving plants, adding a small vegetable garden, just whatever I can do to stay outdoors. I love springtime. After the many weeks of being stuck indoors due to cold weather, I find myself energized when this time of year comes around.

This spring break, Don and I have the privilege to keep Brayden for a few days. As you can see our imagination took over today when he wanted to play in my sand. We improvised with the box. But Brayden didn't mind, he didn't care where the sand was just as long as he could play. And he did.... all day long.

As I sit here thinking about how fast time goes by, it is unreal that the holidays are behind and the month of January is now more than half over. Onward and upward they say, but I enjoy Valentines Day. There are a lot of opportunities to show love to my family during the year, but this day is always special. I remember when my children were young elementary students and I would go out and shop for valentine cards. It was a very important thing for them to always have the right set of cards. After all, they were giving them out to their friends at school and didn't want to be an embarrassment. It was always so much fun to sit down after school with them and go through the cards. My boys would roll their eyes or give discussed smirks at the ones the girls would give them. I can still see Matt's sweet little face all scrunched up at the thought of a girl giving him one of those "love" valentines.

Now I have two little grandsons to add to the giving. I don't fuss alot on the gift, but I try to do something special to let them know that Nana is thinking of them on this day.

It doesn't take a lot of money to let your loved one know how special they are.... but do it. Think about it. Start planning now. Make their day special!!

Galveston Mission Trip (Dec 14 - 20)

One of my personal highlights during the holiday season was to go to Galveston and assist in the cleanup and rebuilding efforts of Galveston following the devastation of Hurricane Ike in the summer. I had traveled to Galveston earlier during the first of October to assess what my church could do and was overwhelmed and shocked at the severity of damage and the disruption of daily life. Between October and December, my church was involved in collecting Christmas gifts for the children of Galveston and adopt twenty families by providing Christmas presents for the entire family. We collected over 300 ACTSBOXES (shoeboxes filled with school supplies, gift cards, hygiene items, etc.), many boxes of stuffed animals and gifts for each of our adopted families. With three other men from my church with all the gifts and ACTSBOXES and a van filled with all kinds of tools, I traveled to Galveston during the week of December 14. We assisted Pastor Billy Graff of the University Baptist Church Church in Galveston. During our week, we were able to assist in the restoration of Pastor Graff's home and another church member's home. On Thursday evening we invited the 20 adopted families to a special service at the church. At the end of the service we delivered the presents to them. The children were so happy to receive the presents and the parents were deeply appreciative. There was not many dry eyes in the church during this service. I think this was the highlight of the trip. We left the 300 ACTSBOXES with the pastor to deliver to other children. This trip was one of the most gratifying mission I had been on.

This is one of the 20 adopted families that received Christmas gifts during the Thursday evening worship service of my Galveston mission trip.

Christmas

Christmas to me is about family and fun. Our family can sometimes be down right crazy. Our new daughter-in-law, Callie, has made her own place in our family and she is now the, "Family Activities Director". She came into our family with lots of new ideas and has started new traditions. She came up with "The Reindeer Game" and insisted that everyone play. We had such a blast at the game that we initiated her to be the family activities director for years to come. The concept of the game was for each couple to blow up 6 balloons and stuff them in a pair of panty hose. (Easier said than done). When you get the balloons stuffed you have to sing Jingle Bells. It was a hoot! You have to view the small video clip to understand. We love you, Callie. We know without a doubt, God placed you in our family for a reason.

Post, TX

Post, Texas, is one of those quaint little towns that people love to visit but not necessarily want to live. The town has great antique shops and other miscellaneous shops so if you need a place to travel for a long weekend, try Post. Also, make reservations for the "Ragtown Gospel Theater", you won't be disappointed.

We took Karri and Russell with us this weekend and we had a great time. I must say, Brayden was on his very best behavior. A real trooper to be drug around the shops and theater. Karri took lots of pictures.

For some of you who have raised your children, they are out of the house and married, etc. Do you remember their voices? I have forgotten. But every time I am with Brayden, he reminds me of their sweet voices of years gone by. There is nothing as precious as a child singing and laughing. I wish that I would have caught my kids voices on video or preserved the tapes that we had of them. For those who still have small children at home, capture their voices and preserve it. You will be surprised at the joy it will bring when they have left the nest.

Thanksgiving

Don and I traveled down to the Houston area for Thanksgiving. It was our children's in-law time this year, so Don and I needed a place to hang out and not spend this holiday alone. We had a great time with our siblings and mothers. As I reflect back on that precious time, I can't help but feel blessed at what I have. A family that loves us and who worships and serves the Lord in some capacity of the church. It is amazing all the different personalities that God has blessed us with and yet we blend together perfectly to make up one big happy family. We are no different than other families, we do have our squabbles and falling outs, that is only human nature taking over. But as Christians we do forgive each other (eventually) and keep on going and that is what makes us a family.