Today is my birthday. I celebrate life a little everyday, so anniversaries of my birth come and go without much fanfare. I'm pretty much loving life at this point. The aches and pains, and physical limitations, are a bummer... but everything else is good. I am blessed.

I have been at SCM for a little over a year. Gosh is nice. There are just a hand full of us, but we all get along, have fun, and enjoy where we work. Even when the busy time comes, and we are all working long hours and things get stressful.. it is still fun. Nobody complains or blames. Boss is working right there alongside you, and wouldn't ask you to do anything he isn't already doing. It doesn't hurt that he knows the "I need a beer" look.

My first phone call this morning was from Brooke. I can't even tell you how much that meant to me. I spend a lot of time feeling guilty about not being more available, for her. She has everything covered, but I wish I was around that grandboy more. He phone call, made me feel less guilty, and that's a good thing on your birthday.

Lacey has finally gotten her new husband back. They married in a civil ceremony a while back so that he could get orders to Ft. Hood. Now they are together, and get to start playing house. Whew!
They are strong. Army Strong.

Logan and Philip are back on the campaign trail. He is running for the house again. I hope this young man achieves all his dreams. He is a good man. A hard working man. An honest man, and he knows what he wants to acheive in the political ring, and the is amaizing for a child of this generation. Logan is blessed, and a blessing.

Bo is attending MCC. He is living at home, and his band of merrymen that trapse in and out are so much fun.

Another year older

Turned 55 without any major catastrophic events.

A couple of weeks ago, Paul and I attended the ENMU game at the Cowboy Stadium. We were invited to tailgate with some guys that played football at Eastern while I was there. I have to say, I was thrilled to be included. During the course of the day, I had a conversation with Brian B. He mentioned that he was writing short stories. His father is suffering with alsheimers and he sees the handwriting on the wall. He wanted to make sure some of the thing he remembers now, will not be lost. Wow. Wow.. I think about my poor memory a lot... but his fear of loosing it is real. So, I write. Inspired by folks around me.

This summer the grand kids came to stay with us while their momma was attending some training in San Antonio. It was work as usual for me, when I got a message from Michelle Berry Sweat. She had found a little baby duckling in the parking lot of First Baptist Waco. Paul loaded up the kiddos and they went and picked up the itty bitty fluff ball. They stopped and bought food and brought the infamous SWEETIE home.

Sweetie was a black-bellied whistling duck. She spent the first couple of weeks in a cardboard box in the living room. She loved to snuggle up and watch tv with Paul in his big recliner. Daxton proved to be a gentle loving care giver. He is only three, but was so sweet and loving. The two of them swam together in the wading pool and made great friends. She didn't like the water much at first. In fact, if Paul didn't put his feet in the pool. She wouldn't stay in it. But she gradually learned to enjoy it. Even if it was just to cool off.

She lived on the partio, in a wire cage at first... but then when we decided she was able to take care of herself she just slept by the back door. If you went outside she would follow you where ever you went. When she started to experiment with those wings... we would set her on the table, so she would have to fly down. Then she would fly to catch you, if you walked off. Then she would make laps around the house. Paul would be washing dishes, and see her fly past the kitchen window.

I always felt a little guilty that she had imprinted on humans... but I guess we can't pick our family. One  morning, after getting angry with Paul, Sweetie flew around the corner. When we went to look for her, she was standing outside Papa Marvin's door. Knocking.

Sweetie eventually flew off. We saw her once more, she stopped by on a saturday morning, and pecked to get in the back door. But flew off before we could get outside. We wonder if we will see her next spring. Wouldn't that be fun.

Phoenix the blog rises

I had a perfectly lovely vacation this summer. I went with my two older sisters to Ohio. Jany and I were tag-a-longs as Judy traveled to visit her school-days chums.  Those gracious women made us feel like part of the group. I restart this blog as a result of that vacation, and the encouraging words shared with me by our Hostess. When I confided, I thought I had a book in me... She said, "just start putting it down". Just start writing down your ideas, thoughts, memories and then someday, they might actually thread together... but at least I would have them written down.

Our hostess, Gay, is a talented, successful, perfectly lovely lady. I must say,  I was a little intimidated, by her success, but kept telling myself, she came from Portales. She has the same red dirt between her toes as I do. So no matter the differences, we will have that in common. She inspires me. Not because of all the external things you may think. But because she shared with me that, she didn't get here, via a perfect life.

It may sound ridiculous to my friends. but I have always had an issue with feeling like I fit in. I have extensive experience in bull-shitting my way through a situation. To this day, I feel like I B.S.ed by way threw high school and college. Never bothering to do the work, or learn the information. I'm not proud of it. I just think it snow balls. You don't grasp something, and then you get behind... and no one realizes it. Perhaps the talents you develop to continue the charade are valuable.

I spent every summer from age 11 till I was grown, in Denver, Colorado. My older sister and her husband lived there, and took me off the parents hands. I don't know if it was or their benefit or mine. (Remind me to ask her how that came to be someday). Judy was SMART. She read books! But she wasn't just book smart, she was savy! I remember deciding at about 14, that I could just ACT like her, and maybe people would think I had what she had. And so began my acting career.

EASTER 2013

Easter Weekend. I wanted to be in a dozen different places this weekend. Topping the list, was my brief plan to meet my daughter halfway, in Oklahoma City, for a quick glimpse of my grand children. Then watch the Lady Bears play on Sunday night before heading home early Monday. The other option was the 100 miles of garage sales near Warrenton, TX. I come by my gypsy gene honestly. And my sisters carry it too. I might not be the best housekeeper, or be concerned with important dates, but honey, if you wanna GO, give me 10 minutes to find my camera, and pack some drawers, and I'm ready. It is harder, as I get older, and that pesky job gets in the way occasionally. Paul doesn't mind going... but then again I have learned that I need to have everything ready, planned and packed...and just tell him, make a right. My Paul is an ideal traveling companion. He is so enthusiastic about seeing things he has never seen. He isn't shy about meeting people he has never met, and as long as he can have his head on a pillow/rock at 9:00, we are good. We both love most sporting events, I have learned to endure racing and baseball. We have driven all over this country to watch soccer games. Met lots of good friends. So... why are we not galavanting around this weekend? My husband is on call. He doesn't want any of his employees/friends to have to work on Easter weekend. I love that about him. We did get to see Brookie's Jarrod race last night here is Waco. I was so glad I went. He did so good. And next week it is back to business as usual. There will be NASCAR races in Fort Worth, Final Four games in N'awlins. (hoping). And the partio is just inches away from being open for business. Y'all come on down.

I find myself in a curious position, loving the Hate Monger. I love him because he is my flesh and blood. I love him because he is an individual. I love him because my Bible commands me to. The things that come out of his mouth, are his truth, his opinion and his right. While I may not agree with his words, views or choice of forum, I will defend his right to do so. I can choose to agree, disagree, disregard, walk away. . . I’m free to do so. I’ve personally never had the confidence , or perhaps ego, to believe that my view is the only/correct view. I must admit though, that I sometimes I feel superior to folks that are constantly spouting doomsday, and narrow-minded, unyielding opinion. Perhaps superior isn’t the correct word, but pity isn’t it either. I think their reactions come from fear. Fear is a powerful motivator. My precious mother taught me (and she got her lessons straight from God/Bible) God is not the author of chaos. It is very very hard to make the choice to operate from a place of hope. Fear is constantly trying to steal, undermine, question... I personally have to make the choice daily.. sometimes 14x a day. My politics do not define me. Do judge me by my political views and I won’t judge you by yours. My concern is, and yes this is coming from ME, and all of you know ME .... that we are not placing our Father first. We have a tendency to condemn, stomp and shout. When we should be falling on our knees. Praying for the change. If we believe God can move mountains... well, perhaps his glory will be amplified by a bigger mountain. David Hopkins perhaps said it best.... “...We must take joy in the mystery of God’s nature. Isaiah 55:8 should comfort us when God says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." Stand in awe of your encounter with God. Though these experiences defy empirical observation and blow our reasoning out of the water, stand in awe of the mystery of God. This mystery is Christ who contains the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2-4, my favorite verse!) Only Christ contains these treasures. Do not put your faith in order or in chaos, but in the God who is Lord over both.”

Well, I sure have enjoyed my new flowerbeds. This summer wasn't as brutal as last. I managed to keep everything watered and it is looking good. Ofcourse the days are getting shorter, and cooler, and I'm in a panic. What am I gonna do when all the green and flowers freeze. I better get online and figure out what a winter garden in this part of the world has in it. I know pansies will work.. but they sure aren't big and showy like my sweet potato vines and esparanzas.

My cool mom

I love this photo of my mom. I had some fun adding color to it.