Memorial Day

Usually Memorial Day weekend is when Jon and I celebrate our anniversary. We were married on May 25, 1990 and our anniversary generally falls on the Memorial Day weekend. When we were in Tulsa, we would generally head to Floral Haven Cemetery and honor the service men and women. The U.S. flag that draped the coffins of our military are an amazing site. My Grandfather's flag flies in honor of his service to the U.S. Navy and Jon's father's flag in honor of his service to the U.S. Army.

This year our anniversary fell earlier in the week. We stayed home for Memorial Day, late in the afternoon Michael and Misty came over for a swim and a cookout. Jon grilled burgers and veggies. When it got darker, Abigail had everything prepared for making s'mores!

to them I will give within my temple
and its walls a memorial
and a name better than
sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that will endure forever.
Isaiah 56:5

Indian Art at the DMA

With Caleb over at Blake’s house, and no softball games today we found ourselves with a free Saturday! We decided to visit the DMA, Dallas Museum of Art. The DMA has their first Native American exhibition in nearly twenty years, 111 works of art from the renowned Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art. Because the exhibit is on loan from another museum, no photography is allowed.

Following our walk thru the Thaw Collection we headed over to the DMA’s Kid’s Club. The have great interactive exhibits that the kids can touch, feel and re-create. We love the DMA, we’ve been members for years and if you’re not a member, I highly recommend becoming one! We always have such a great time!

with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze
Exodus 35:31-32

Boy's Night

The Three Amigo’s, Blake, Richard and Caleb! The boys are great buddies and can usually be found together! Tonight the boys were at Blake’s house playing Rock Band until 3am and did whatever teenage boys do!

God’s intimate friendship blessed my house
Job 29:4

Seek Shelter Immediately

Texas lies on the southern end of Tornado Alley, with an average of 153 tornadoes touching down in Texas each year. In the decade we have been here we have only had a handful of times when we needed to take shelter. It is enough of a rarity that the kids enjoy the process of camping out in the closet under the staircase. They drag down a mattress along with blankets, pillows, flashlights, a radio and books. Padme’ be a pack animal, usually takes cover with the rest of her ‘pack’. Given the recent devastation in Joplin it somehow seemed more of a priority to follow the precautions given by the National Weather Authority.

For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27:5

Girls of Summer

Spring ball is full bloom! Saturday brings out cleats and catchers gear. Jon and Abigail hit the field along with her Dirt Devils. The team is playing better each game! Today Abigail had two at bats with a single and a double. She had a couple of great plays at home.

Run in such a way as to get the prize.
I Corinthians 9:24

Casa Manana's Wizard of Oz

Today we took in a live-action stage version of the famed 1939 Baum classic with Casa Manana's production. This version comes complete with all the singing and dancing, little people talking about roads of yellow brick and Dorothy, of course. Casa Manana knows how to put on a show and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is still likely to make you cry. We'll all want to chime in with the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man and wishes to only have a... Venture off to see The Wizard.

The actor portraying the Lion absolutely nailed the mannerisms of his on-screen counterpart. The show had wonderful pyrotronics and visual effects. Casa Manana usually takes some odd twist on there stories, but on The Wizard of Oz the director stayed true to the traditional story and it was fabulous! I love the fun twists, but this is one of those stories that could not be improved on in any way!

My mouth is filled with your praise
Psalm 71:8

Harry Potter Visits the Land of Oz

Today I needed to go to the grocery store, we're out of milk! I needed to stop and pick up tissue paper for the fourteen graduation gifts for Seniors at church. I had a flower bed that needed weeded and laundry that needed folded, however . . .

The children are in the final days of school, so they are completing tests and reports, requiring me to hang out in the class room with them. None of the things on my 'To Do' list were completed but I had a great time painting. It started as a simplistic Wizard of Oz setting, but somewhere it took on a Harry Potter look! The kids were so enthusiastic about wanting to see it completed they put up the laundry and weeded the flower bed in the back, so I could finish!

God had given them great joy.
The women and children also rejoiced. Nehemiah 12:43

PEACH Picnic 2011

Our end of the school year picnic was today! Our home school group, PEACH has swelled to 270+ families and each year we finish off the school year with a great picnic.
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The older kids participate in Kid Biz. It is an opportunity for the kiddos to sell items, practice a little free enterprise. Last year when we were tree trimming, Caleb saved the longer straighter pieces. He took time sanding the sticks and making them into walking sticks.
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Abigail and many of the younger kids participated in the track and field events. They played games and then had races, standing broad jump and a running broad jump. Abigail placed 2nd in a couple of events.
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We had a great picnic lunch and the kids continued to play at the park for quite a while. Sissy brought Padme' and played with the other puppies!
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The weather was beautiful and it was just such a great group of families to hang out with!

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations,
“The LORD reigns!”
I Chronicles 16:31

Daystar Taping with Guy Penrod

Guy Penrod is a gospel music singer mostly known for his work as the lead singer of the Gaither Vocal Band, a position he held from 1994-2008.
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In the early 1980s, he worked as a studio singer, backing up voices such as Steve Green, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Garth Brooks, James Ingram, and others. He was also a member of the Christ Church Choir during his years in the studio, he met Bill Gaither for the first time. He also made regular appearances on Music City Tonight as a background singer.
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Since joining the Gaither Vocal Band in 1994, he became internationally known for his powerful vocals and broad singing range. He has performed in Gaither Homecoming concerts all over the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Europe, Australia, and Africa.
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Today he was set to appear on The Joni Show, many of his songs deal with relationships and choice so he requested an audience of homeschoolers.
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We joined the studio audience at the Daystar Television studios, outside of Fort Worth. Abigail sang along with every song. Frankie and Caleb enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the studio. Mr. Penrod performed five songs off of his latest CD, ‘Breathe Deep.’
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In one of the breaks Guy spoke from the stage and asked Abigail her name. He told her that she was his favorite audience member because she knew all the words! After the taping he autographed CDs and took photos with fans!

Breathe Deep,
Moments like these are treasures to keep,
Listen close, Look long
and Breathe Deep

The Sound of Music

The hills are alive, with the sound of music!! The Sound of Music remains one of my Mom’s favorite movies. When our family visited Austria and Switzerland, one of the souvenirs we came home with was a music box playing Austria’s national anthem ‘Edelweiss’.

Naturally, it is one of my favorites, and Frankie and I have watched it at least twice a year for the last two decades! As a Mother’s Day gift to Frankie, the little kids surprised her with tickets to Plano Children’s Theater production of the Sound of Music.

It was an all youth cast and a superb performance. Fortunately, it wasn’t as long as the movie! This performance did a better job of displaying the political unrest that was underway than the movie portrayed.

The play also had almost an oleo-type performance during the festival that included two pub goers in Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do! Let’s see . . .

Dough . . .the stuff I use to buy my Ale,
Ray . . .
the guy who serves me at the pub
Me . . . .the guy I buy the Ale for,
Fa’ . . .the distance to my car
So . . .I’ll have another Ale,
La . . .la, la, la, la, la . . .Ale
Tea . . .I’d rather have an Ale,
That will bring us back to. . . Ale!

This act took 2nd place in the festival contest! My kids have been laughing and singing it ever since!!!

They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
Psalm 107:27

Mother's Day

Aaahhh, Mother’s Day! If your kiddos are healthy and happy then every day is Mother’s Day! My kids are at that age where they still like to hang out with me and well, I enjoy them too!!

Mother’s Day is not a very friendly holiday to the lovely ladies who have lost their mommas or to the mommas who have lost their babies, or even the gentle spirits who for whatever reason have not been able to bear children. My heart goes out to those ladies. Funny thing is, I’ve learned more about how to be a great mom from those ladies.

To the Ms. Cindys, Ms. Krestas, Ms. Loris, and other like you who weren’t given the easiest roads and who have weathered storms that would have crushed me, thank you! For standing tall and showing me what kind of mom I want to be. My babies thank you!

My Mother’s Day began with breakfast in bed, a.k.a chocolate donuts and diet coke (thanks, Jon)! Then off to worship and lunch served on the ‘good china’. For lunch Jon grilled pork chops outside and left the kiddos to prepare side dishes. Each child prepared their favorite side dish. . . mac n’ cheese (Abigail), mashed potatoes (Caleb) and stuffing (Frankie). Perhaps a little more guidance on 'side dish' is needed.

Gifts ranged from a Jonas Brothers movie, to candles, finger nail polish and chocolate. Whew, what more could you ask for?!

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely
so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen
or let them fade from your heart as long as you live.
Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God
Deuteronomy 4:8-9

Good Game!

Friday night’s game was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts at the ball park. But it’s a beautiful Saturday morning and all games are on! Abigail and her Dirt Devils played in Highland Village today. Abigail played catcher the entire game and with temperatures at 95+ degrees plus all her catchers gear on, it was a hot game!!! No matter how hot she got, she was still up in the dugout cheering her team on! She scored twice and had three RBI’s! When the game was over the home plate umpire gave Abigail the game ball, even though her team lost, because she played with heart the entire game!!! The ump is her favorite, she’s had him twice and he’s a retired girl’s high school coach that always coaches the girls when he make a call! He’ll remind Abigail to call out to third if Abigail is going to throw to third to back off a runner from stealing. Just a really nice ‘grandpa’ that loves the game!

. . .exhort the older man as if he were your father. . . .
Treat the younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
I Timothy 5:1-2

A Rose by Any Other Name

For many of my Mother’s Days, Jon and the kids have given me lovely rose bushes. When we return to Oklahoma and drive past the properties we have owned the one thing that hasn’t changed is the rose bushes are still flourishing.

The kids tease me that we have run out of yard for rose bushes. With the recent rains and warm weather my roses are blooming and smell so pretty. I love the color they add to our garden!

Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:12

Biblical Arts Museum

Today we visited the Biblical Arts Museum. The museum displays Biblically themed artwork of paintings, sculptures, works on paper and other forms of visual fine art. They house a permanent collection of key and significant works of art from Old Masters to modern pieces currently on loan.

We visited the museum in 2004 with Uncle David, when they had a Gutenberg Press and Bibles spanning an 800 year period. In 2005, a devastating fire destroyed the museum and its contents including 2,500 works of art and all of the popular Judeo-Christian displays and galleries.

The piece behind the children is ‘The Resurrection’ by artist, Ron DiCianni, was commissioned by the Museum of Biblical Arts and completed in 2010. The dramatic 12’ x 40’ oil painting on canvas portrays Jesus rising from the tomb flanked by Moses, Abraham, Isaiah, Esther and other Biblical figures.

The Museum of Biblical Art has recently acquired a life-size replica of Michelangelo’s Pietá cast in bronze and authorized by the Vatican. It came directly from the Michelangelo Museum--Fondazione Casa Buonarroti in Florence, Italy.

The museum is so inspiring and well worth the visit if you are in the Dallas area!!

“Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver,
bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn,
and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem
with my skilled workers, whom my father David provided."
- 2 Chronicles 2:7