Ten on the Tenth--from Glorieta!

This month I'm joining Meredith's Ten on the Tenth from Collegiate Week at Glorieta, so here are 10 observations from our trip so far:
1. Driving down a state highway in Texas, we ran into a rodeo parade!


2. Turning into a chicken place for supper, a guy on a bike ran into ME! Scratched my van, but he seemed to be okay. As okay as a guy who rides into vans can be...

3. The sky seems bigger and bluer out here.

4. We passed dozens of abandoned houses that just intrigued me. And once, an entire town!

5. A roadrunner crossed the road in front of us.

6. I love watching the landscape change--especially the mountains and rocks and gullies.

7. It’s always fun seeing “family” you haven’t seen in years, even if they’re not blood related. We saw Matt Munger, former student/associate as soon as we got here! I miss his wife, Jackie, but I’m excited she’s having a baby. And I’ve seen other friends from the Northwest, as well as some from college and my single years at Wedgwood.

8. Buying groceries in Santa Fe reminded me of the benefits of living in a small town.

9. The air may be thinner, but it feels great and smells wonderful.

10. God is amazing. I haven’t slept well the past 3 nights. I drove my van the whole way here. I’m the cook this week, and still a mom to our 3 girls. I’m exhausted. Exhausted to the point of irrational emotional outbursts and tears. So I got a few moments to myself this morning, found a place to sit and pray where I could see the mountains and feel the cool breeze, using the book Face to Face by Kenneth Boa, as I usually do. My praise verses for the day? “Behold, You who form the mountains and create the wind, and reveal Your thoughts to people; You turn dawn into darkness, and tread the high places of the earth—the Lord God of hosts is Your name.” (Amos 4:13)… my confession verses? “Therefore, let us strengthen our hands that are weary and our feeble knees, and make straight paths for our feet, so that what is lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” (Hebrews 12:13)…my closing prayer? “I remember You on my bed, O Lord, and I meditate on You through the watches of the night. Because You have been my help, I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:6-8) God talks to me, and meets me at my point of need. How cool is that?? He never stops amazing me.

*Note: I actually wrote this yesterday. I slept much better last night, and feel like a totally different person today. Phew!

I got nothing

I can't think of anything to write about. It's too hot to think. My days are spent cleaning house and getting ready for school to start (I am preparing a history notebook to try to have a little more accountability for what my 2 older girls read this year--it's a big job. But I'm enjoying it! I even wonder if I'll be able to sell it after I get the kinks out on my own daughters...) and swimming in our sweet across-the-street-neighbors' pool. But we are leaving for Collegiate Week at Glorieta, New Mexico, on Saturday, so I hope to have more to say when we get back!

Coupon Gripe

I clip coupons on Sunday, but don't usually print them off the computer or drive all around town following sale fliers. But today when I got a coupon in the mail that said, "$5 off a $20 purchase," I got excited -- that's like, spend $15 get $5 free! I thought that was worth a trip to Dollar Gen'ral. So I took my weekly WM list there, and carefully walked up and down the aisles looking for things on my list that wouldn't cost more than at Wally World, adding in my head until I got to at least $20, and got in line. Imagine my surprise when my sweet cashier Patience scanned my coupon and nothing happened. So she scanned it again. And again. And one more time. Then she told me it expired today. *Note: re-read sentence #2!* I got it today!!! Patience must have read the distress in my eyes, because she hollered out, "Nancy! I got a question!" She excused herself and went to ask Nancy for mercy for me, and came back. At which point she informed me that the coupon is only good at the Waldo store. Waldo, for those who don't know, is a "town" 7 miles from here that makes Magnolia look like a metropolis. I was NOT driving to Waldo. I just took my stuff and went home. I tried to be careful, so I guess I didn't waste any money, but I did waste a lot of time and peace of mind. Next week I'm sticking to Mr. Sam.

Good News, Bad News

The good news is, the weather cooled off quite a bit for the mother/daughter date Jessica and I had today at the Arboretum in El Dorado!

I wish this was clearer--I loved the way the pine needles hung from the branches of this small tree underneath.

I also loved these ferns growing all over the forest floor.

But they made Jessica think of "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and get all creeped out.

The ivy was pretty, too.

The prettiest sight of all

This is the only "wildlife" we saw--a teeny, tiny frog!

The bad news is, we had walked about half the circular trail when... the sky opened up! It POURED on us! We ran (until I tuckered out) to the pavilion by the entrance gate, laughing so hard. We were soaked!

But it was definitely a bonding experience! Followed up with ice cream sundaes at Baskin Robbins. :)

Fun Summer Fotos (title block?)

Swimming lessons! She can go in the deep end now.

 Rainy day!

Playing in the sprinkler...

Some things never change...:)

New haircut!

Mom helped me make blackberry jelly. mmm

Painting the living room--no more battleship gray!!

That's all for now--4 weeks left!

We survived...

...but I deceived you about the temperature.
It was actually 102.
My mom got to experience a truly Texan weekend with me. The reception was at an event center that was surrounded by ranches in the hill country--I kept expecting to see cowboys riding up in ten-gallon hats. And we got to eat Tex-Mex fajitas the first night, then BBQ brisket with pickles, Mrs. Baird's white bread, and sweet tea at the reception, and chicken strips with white gravy at Whataburger on the way home! But best of all: kolaches from the Czech Stop in West! I love those things! I still remember the first one I tasted at the teacher inservice at my school in Fort Worth. Aaaah, sweet memories! In case you don't know, these

 are kolaches. (What is left of our dozen and a half!)
They don't have meat in them. If they do, they're pigs-in-a-blanket falsely labeled.

So here are some pictures from the reception, and it really wasn't that bad--there was a breeze blowing, and shade under the live oaks, and of course, good company.

Praying before the meal

The caterers shirts said, "Horrifying vegetarians since 1978!"

Mom and Sylvia

Dan and Valerie watching the bride and groom dance

Rachel was about 7 when Dan and Valerie got married. Dan and Rachel danced "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" then, and again at Rachel's wedding. Sweet!

Then Sylvia got to dance with her new daddy.

I didn't dance, but I did feel cute in the new red sundress my Mama bought me that morning :) And we had a really good time.

Wedding Fun!

Mom and I are in Austin for my cousin Valerie's daughter's wedding. I only have 2 first cousins, Valerie and Buddy, and Valerie is just 6 months older than me. When we were little she came to visit and my Mom had made us matching outfits--oh, I loved it! Here are some pictures:

Rachel, the beautiful bride

Isn't Carl handsome!

The adorable one in the middle is Sylvia, Rachel's daughter.

The whole family! Can you see me hiding behind my mom? I just wish Valerie's mom and my dad had been there. But I know they're rejoicing in heaven! And maybe even filling it with laughter--

Mom and her baby brother, my Uncle Billy (Valerie's dad)

Valerie's son Jordan

Now Mom and I are leaving for the reception...at a ranch...outside. It's 100 degrees. If you don't hear from me soon, you'll know we melted.