31 Years Ago

Thirty-one years ago tomorrow will be our anniversary. Since we were married the Friday after Thanksgiving,our anniversary is an occasion to give thanks for 31 years of joy. I told my sweetie when we were dating that I wanted a husband who would be my spiritual leader. This was very important to me. I had been in Campus Crusade for Christ while in college and having a husband who would keep me focused on The One True God was of utmost importance. Well, let me tell you, God gave me a husband who is continually challenging me to live beyond the status quo as a Christian. He has taught me that no one really knows God. I know many Christians would immediately say, "Yes, I do know God." I said that too at one time but, when I read God's Word, I can now see that "His ways are not my ways..." I sometimes sing the song "You are the Potter, I am the clay" and by mistake will say, "I am the potter, you are the clay." We do want to be the potter oftentimes, but I would not like to see the shape of the vessel if I were. So at this season of thanksgiving, my prayer is one of gratitude for my supercallefradulisticexpealodous husband of 31 years!!

Counting Down Days

Today is November 19th which means in 10 days my daughter will be getting married. We hope to see the 10 day forecast tomorrow and our fingers are crossed for a beautiful warm and sunny day. Please Mr. Weatherman. (That's God I'm talking about). With an anticipated 100+ people in our home for the reception, we definitely need some outdoor space. My daughter reminded me of the Father of the Bride movie with Steve Martin as he envisioned a home reception of flipping burgers in the backyard. Although my husband won't be flipping burgers, it would be great to go out for some fresh air.
So far, the cake is ordered and will be picked up on Saturday and placed in the freezer 'til the big day. The flowers are to be picked up the day before the event. The caterer is busily cooking. She is such an outstanding caterer so I don't have any concerns there. The pretty fruit lady will sculpt some amazing designs and one-of-a-kind artwork into strawberries, melons and other scrumptious fruit. The programs will be copied tomorrow onto light green and lavender paper.
Today, I went to The Party Store to buy the plates,cups for the cold tea and hot cups for the hot cider, teas and coffee, forks and spoons. I think I bought enough. Decisions, decisions..... I have never liked buying in bulk just ask my husband.
Anyway,with the day quickly approaching,we are as prepared as can be for a blessed day for our daughter.Amen.

I Do and DO Not Like Leaves

Since autumn is my most favorite season, one would think that I would not have a title such as this. I was married in the fall,so my husband's and my wedding bands have a kind of leaf motif all around. I like material with leaves in the print. My dishes have leaves on them. I will doodle leaves on the margins of the church bulletins. Leaves are pressed in the pages of my Bible. I love to look at leaves and take pictures of the rich colors of red,yellow and gold suspended on the treetops and tumbling slowly to the ground. Just looking at the lacy edges,tiny veins and their delicacy help draw my attention to our Creator.

However, today, as I was using a leaf blower to rid the grass of the multitude of these fallen gems, I realized there is a downside to leaves...getting them off the grass before they sufficate the lawn. I have raked them in the past, a tediuos job. Today, using my mom's leaf blower,I felt the noise of the motor was not only annoying to me, but a disturbance to my neighbors.I could leave (no pun intended) them alone and hope that a couple of strong winds would neatly pile them up in the woods. Although this has never happened before, one can always hope. Tomorrow, I will mount one more attack on these guys, maybe with my trusty rake and blower too.To quote an autumn days kindergarten song from my teaching days, "Red, yellow brown,see them fall down." Now I know why I never liked that song.

Gum Chewing

Since I am a gum chewer, this article from The Fort Worth Daily Gazette from December 23, 1888, caught my attention. The article is on display at the Ft. Worth 150 Years of History Museum. Who knew that gum chewing was such a bad thing. I guess I will have to think twice before I chew another stick of gum. Even then, I don't think I'll be able to break the habit. Don't tell the Surgeon General, OK?

Lessons, Texas Style

Last week I accompanied my husband on a business trip to the state of his birth, Texas. While he was in meetings each day, I ventured out into the Ft. Worth downtown area, known as Sundance Square. I also went to Dublin (Texas that is) and got some Dr. Pepper at the world's oldest soda factory. They have been making this 10-2-4 drink since 1885! This is where Dr. Pepper is still made the right way, with sugar cane and not high fructose corn syrup. Since Dr. Pepper is my favorite drink and was my grandmother's favorite and my future son-in-law's, this was one place that was calling my name. Come to find out that they also sell Debbie's Dr. Pepper Cake and Frosting Mix. I made one of these for my mom's birthday today. Yes, it does taste like Dr. Pepper, with some chocolate of course.
These are some of the lessons I learned last week:
1. Cowboys drive big pick-up trucks with cattle bars around the front grill.
2. Cowboys starch their jeans for going out on the town.
3. The shoulder on the roads is used for getting over and continuing to drive so that the Texans can pass you. They tip their hats and wave, neighborly-like, when you move over to the right.
4. Heads of longhorns are mounted on the walls of a downtown Ft. Worth bank. I had to go in to see these huge horns with heads, as we don't have longhorns mounted on the walls of banks around these parts.
5. Ft. Worth is a friendly and easy to get around city.
6. I am now a member of the Ft. Worth library, even though I just needed a day pass.
7. The Bass Performance Hall has the bathroom stall doors painted so they each look like treble clefs and other musical notes.
8. Many of the towns in Texas are built around a town square. Lots of fun shopping to be had in them there squares.
9. You can get a rodeo scholarship at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.
10.Texas is a long drive from here.