Texas Delights

Before we left for Dallas last weekend, I wrote a post for my personal blog and scheduled it to post on Friday while we were gone. The scheduling was intentional. The post, The Secret of Friendship, contains my thoughts on how this crazy, long-distance yet very close bond between our family and the Choates works. And work it does! Oh how we love that precious family! We literally soak up their presence.

We planned to meet at a local amusement park near their home in Cedar Hill. Thanks to cell phones and travel updates, we managed to pull into the parking lot at the exact same time!

We started with some go-cart fun.

We ate a quick supper and then moved on to miniature golf. After a little instruction, we were ready to go. We divided up into four teams, per the direction of the children: a girls team, a guys team, and a mommies & Katherine team. Quite the fun division! The girls led the way through the course, and we discovered later that they enjoyed making up their own rules along the way!

The guys team went next, with mommies and Katherine bringing up the rear.

Ready to cool down a bit, we headed in for birthday cake. These two gorgeous ladies share a birthday, and it was such a delight to celebrate together a couple of weeks early!

Sarah made a mouthwateringly delicious chocolate chip cheesecake for the celebration, and Benjamin made sure all of the candles were lit!

We finished up the evening with some arcade games. When a tired but happy crew made it back to the “Choate Bed & Breakfast,” we were greeted by this…and yes, we feel it!

The next day we enjoyed the gorgeous trails owned by Wycliffe. I was too busy enjoying the sights to get many pictures – it was breathtaking! But, this was my favorite glimpse.

Our picnic spot on the trails was the spot where Aaron and Joanna knew God was calling them to serve with Wycliffe. It was special to share that spot with them.

Of course, this sight was pretty special, too.

Silliness is to be expected when the Hibbards and Choates get together, including a game of sardines. (Sarah was hiding while the rest of the kids were counting in the bathroom.)

Look who was tucked in the shower behind the big kids?

Goofiness at the supper table.

And a few “sword” fights.

Of course, pure cuteness cannot be helped, either!

They even enjoy their down time and bedtime together.

And yes, this silly group can go to sleep together, believe it or not!

We say that this trip was just for the pure fun of it, but the truth is that the Choates fill our tanks in so many ways. We are so blessed to have their friendship and are so thankful for those face-to-face opportunities we get!

Not Quite Ordinary Observations

For Today...Monday, May 20, 2013

In the great outdoors...summer is here, at least if mosquitoes and humidity are any indication! Oh, and snakes. Two awaited us in the garage today, welcoming us home from our morning adventures (more to come on that in a minute).

Within our four walls...air conditioning.

A heart of thanksgiving...for so much!!!

- A great weekend visit with the Choates.

- The blessing of a loaned vehicle to make the trip (we didn’t realize how much of a blessing that was until today!).

- God’s nudges that led to a prayer warrior praying over our family while he worked this morning.

- More nudges that encouraged me to charge my phone earlier than I might have otherwise done so, leading to an almost fully charged phone when a charged phone was really needed.

- Physical protection for Doug when the van died on him on the road to a meeting in Little Rock this morning.

- Physical protection for the kids and me when the car tire separated but did not blow when we were on our way to pick Doug up.

- The provision of not one or two, but five church members in the right place at the right time to help all of us. We didn’t even need them all, but we realized after all was said and done that no matter what decisions we had made, someone was already in place to meet the needs we would have had.

- The provision of two new tires for the car to replace not only the one that separated but also the practically brand new spare in the trunk that something had apparently slashed, leaving us with no useful spare.

- The fact that the two snakes in the garage were not poisonous and were not in such a place that they bit any of us when we returned home and startled them.

- Peace through every step of the way this morning, including peace over all three kids. They weathered it all beautifully!

A heart of prayer...for wisdom as we wait to hear back from the mechanic about the van.

Random observations...I keep thinking of things that need to be added to the grand to-do list (my friend Julie calls it the Mother Load, and right now that’s about how mine looks!). One of the tasks is to create a good, workable summer schedule. In the meantime, may I please have a nap?

My silly children...were enjoying themselves while one of our rescuers put the tire back on the car this morning.

Thoughts from the kitchen...some days, there just are no thoughts from the kitchen. I will say, though, that yesterday’s no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies were a good idea. They sure did make us smile when we got home!

On my bookshelf...I’m really liking this week’s review book, The Gospel Centered Woman. The author has some really thought-provoking perspectives.

Projects...sewing like crazy for the birthday girl! I haven’t made much progress, but hopefully everything will be quick and easy. 

Sounds of the moment...just the air conditioner blowing. I think the kids are enjoying some down-time.

Last week we learned...that it doesn’t matter how badly you play miniature golf, as long as you do it with good friends!

A favorite thing from last week...

(more pictures to come)

The planner...up in the air. Lunch meeting with the Gleaners tomorrow and a twelfth birthday celebration on Sunday. Editing, sewing, etc. Beyond that, we’re trying to stay flexible as we await news on the van.

Because visuals are fun...this gorgeous, solid white moth was stuck to our windshield one day last week.

Baby Possum!

I forgot to post these pictures last week…I blame the head cold. I like having something to blame!

I got a phone call last Monday afternoon from a lady at church asking if my children had ever seen a baby possum. She had found one while working in her yard, so we loaded up and headed out to take a look.

When we got there, it was “playing possum.” Except for a couple of ear twitches, it truly did look dead. Mrs. Betty showed them its little human-like hands and long fingernails. Then she curled its tail around her finger. That baby might have looked dead, but the tail definitely still worked!

When Steven’s turn came to try to hold it by its tail, it “woke up” and started to wiggle and squirm.

The girls enjoyed holding it and feeling its soft fur as it crawled all over their hands. Olivia joked that it was like a kitten – adorable right now, making her want to keep it as a pet. But, she knew what would happen when it grew up!!

Steven didn’t want to have anything to do with the cuddling and petting. He just liked that tail!!

Phone calls like that are such a blessing!