33 Years...

Today was our 33rd wedding anniversary and while most people go on cruises or trips to Europe, we went to the State Fair! Don't get me wrong...that's exactly what I wanted to do. I love exploring new places and since last year at this time we were recovering from our horrendous move, we've only recently been able to see some of Dallas' more interesting sites. The State Fair is held on the grounds surrounding the Cotton Bowl Stadium and was beautiful. We got there when it first opened and enjoyed being there before the crowds hit. The midway looked fun but we didn't do much because it was EXPENSIVE!

Food of course is a major part of the fun when you go to the fair and we both had to have a "Fletcher's Corn Dog"...the original corn dog!

Not much impresses Larry these days, but he seemed excited to be at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. When he figured out the Longhorns were there preparing for the Red River Rivalry tomorrow against the Oklahoma University Sooners, I saw his eyes light up! I just had to get a picture of him next to the Longhorn busses!

In some ways it's really hard to believe we've been married 33 years...the time has flown by. It sometime feels like I should still be coming home to three little girls wanting me to get their My Little Ponies out, but then I think of all God has done both in my life and theirs and I get a glimpse of the story God is writing in all of our lives!

Big Birthday Bash...and Other Things!

My long awaited spring trip to the midwest began with an opportunity to visit Lydia's ballet class. Living in Texas means I miss all those special grandparent moments like recitals and special programs, so this was very important to me. Even little things like watching Shannon interact with her kids is valuable!

But the main reason for this trip was to celebrate my mom's 90th birthday. In addition to that celebration, we also recently found out she's engaged to be married again! We like Jack very much and wish them both the best!

Joan and Jim, my sister and brother, didn't arrive until late Friday night so we all met for breakfast at the Machine Shed early on Saturday, which happened to also be Stacey's birthday. After seating us, and telling the waitress that we were celebrating two birthdays, the staff showed up at our table with a huge cinnamon roll complete with birthday candles! They took it right to my mom and the whole gang sang the birthday song...to my mother only! Stacey I think was feeling invisible...

We then began running errands all day in preparation for my mom's party, poor Stacey was feeling like her birthday was being completely neglected, but unbeknownst to her, I had been planning a surprise party of her own! While Jim and Joan went to see her apartment, I picked up the cake and decorations and met all her friends at a restaurant where we had reservations. When she walked in I could tell by her face that the surprise was successful!

Sunday was the BIG party for my mom's 90th birthday. We spent the morning decorating the room and the afternoon entertaining her guests. I was amazed at the friends she has...I can only hope I am as blessed at that age!

After all the excitement, we spent our last day with Joan and Jim celebrating my mom's real birthday by going to lunch at Culvers, compliments of Josh! Joan also got a chance to visit the Ryan Jury Center where Stacey works. That evening Jack took us all out to dinner where we took the opportunity to celebrate the last birthday of the week...Joan's (very low key compared to the rest)!

I had several visits with old friends while I was up there, including trips to Rockton Grade School where I read to first graders and then Prairie Hill School where I talked about the magic of reading to fourth graders. My favorite part of the trip, however, was when I got to go to Lydia's school on her "Superstar Day". I went in as the Reading Fairy with Rascal and we got to share our favorite story and do a fun art project. It loved getting to see Lydia in her own environment with all of her friends!

The only drawback to the whole trip was that Larry had to work and couldn't be there. Little Joshua called Grandpa to tell him that he missed him....what a cutie!

Just one week ago, I spent my last day with the kids doing some fun Easter activities...an egg hunt as well as some Easter crafts. A good way to end my visit.

But here it is one week later, Easter Sunday, and I'm already anxious for July to come so I can head back up north to see everyone!

Memories...

You know, in the last six months since we've moved to Dallas, I've been feeling kind of lost...like what am I supposed to be doing with my life. At times it's kind of depressing because I've always liked having lots to accomplish and moving quickly in whatever direction I'm going. It wasn't until Sunday morning that God spoke to me and calmed my heart. It was a simple reminder that I'm not the one in control!

Over 30 years ago, my life was much different. I had been showing hunters and jumpers on the west coast and loving it so much that I planned my entire life around the horseshow circuit, but one weekend, everything changed. I attended a conference where I heard a message unlike anything I had ever heard....that night I gave God COMPLETE control of my life! He lead me on an entirely different path than I had been following. I left my horseshow life and headed to northern California where I was in charge of a riding program at a Christian camp. I fell in love with the people (and horses) I worked with, in particular, the director of the camp and his wife. They became examples of what my goal in life should be...so much different than the path I had previously been on. I spent two summers at that camp as God began grooming me for the life HE had planned. I also met Larry there and we were married two years later.

God blessed us with three daughters through those years and my life was filled with joy in spite of many ups and downs. He took us all over the country in job moves for Larry and it wasn't until we settled in the midwest that He gave us what I believed was my permanant home. I now see that He had us there so that we would have some stability while the girls were growing up, but three years ago, He again changed the path in spite of our desires. We ended up in San Antonio, where He blessed me with a new fullfilling life but He wasn't finished yet. Again He uprooted us and took us north to the Dallas area where we are now, and it's here where I began to feel lost and abandoned. But then Sunday morning, as I was sitting in church, I realized something...I started my Christian life in a church where I heard people talk of Dallas Theological Seminary as the ultimate in Bible teaching and here I sat in a church that is pastored by Chuck Swindoll, the past president of DTS as well as many other scholars from that institution. God has given me this time in my life to glean from others with much more knowledge and experience than I could ever hope for!

So now I'm waiting, with an open mind and an open heart...God will speak to me in His time, as He has before.