"To be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look at the stars, to be satisfied with your possessions, but not contented with yourself until you have made the best of them; to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice; to covet nothing that is your neighbor's except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners, and to spend as much time as you can, with body and with spirit, in God's out-of-doors. These are the little guideposts on the footpath of peace." - Henry Van Dyke -
Happy New Year to each of you, now well into 2007. We are later than we anticipated updating everyone! To those of you who are more faithful (and quick) at sharing with us your goings-on, we thank you.
Happy New Year to each of you, now well into 2007. We are later than we anticipated updating everyone! To those of you who are more faithful (and quick) at sharing with us your goings-on, we thank you.
Christmas with no extended family was quiet, but sweet and good. For the first time, we observed Advent as a family throughout the Christmas season. The children made an Advent wreath and each night their daddy would read a Bible story or Christmas related devotional. Gathered around the table with the candles glowing, we sang a different Christmas song each week and contemplated with joy the upcoming celebration of the birth of our Savior. If you don't do this as a family, we highly recommend it. Amidst the stress and activity of presents and shopping and parties and concerts, it kept our hearts anchored.
AB's arm surgery went beautifully, and he completes his last week of physical therapy next week. Last call for anybody to try to arm wrestle him and win! He will be back to normal very soon.
AB's arm surgery went beautifully, and he completes his last week of physical therapy next week. Last call for anybody to try to arm wrestle him and win! He will be back to normal very soon.
Dear friends left us for extended educational opportunities in Florida, and though our hearts are heavy, we count the days till they return in three years.
On New Year's Eve we welcomed our awesome nephew back to Texas (see photo above). What a delight! We are always so sad to send him home.... somehow hoping that his mom will decide that gee, she doesn't really need this tall, mathmatically minded, equestrian son of hers after all, and why not just leave him with us! Alas, as with all good things, his visit came to an end too soon, but we loved every minute!
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW... We became the proud owners of a sweet old horse over the holidays. Friends of friends needed to find a good home for their aging appaloosa, Theodore "Teddy Bear" Roughrider Roosevelt. He is wonderful, a steady, dependable trail horse who dances for his supper (really!) and loves to have us nearby. Early in his life, he worked at a riding stable, so he is very patient and slow with the children. We laugh because every afternoon around 4 he shows up at the gate to eat... "senior citizen early bird special".
Come and see us soon!
On New Year's Eve we welcomed our awesome nephew back to Texas (see photo above). What a delight! We are always so sad to send him home.... somehow hoping that his mom will decide that gee, she doesn't really need this tall, mathmatically minded, equestrian son of hers after all, and why not just leave him with us! Alas, as with all good things, his visit came to an end too soon, but we loved every minute!
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW... We became the proud owners of a sweet old horse over the holidays. Friends of friends needed to find a good home for their aging appaloosa, Theodore "Teddy Bear" Roughrider Roosevelt. He is wonderful, a steady, dependable trail horse who dances for his supper (really!) and loves to have us nearby. Early in his life, he worked at a riding stable, so he is very patient and slow with the children. We laugh because every afternoon around 4 he shows up at the gate to eat... "senior citizen early bird special".
Come and see us soon!
