The sun is setting on summer...

We are making some changes...

Trading late nights for scheduled bed times.

Giving up sleeping in for early morning alarms.

Exchanging bathing suits for school clothes.

Replacing free time with studying.

Swapping outings with friends for classes with teachers.

Docking the boat and riding the bus.

But, we're also looking forward to...

Seeing school friends we haven't seen all summer.

A regular routine.

Football games with fabulous halftime shows.

Cheerleading competitions in a new division.

Band and drumline competitions.

Dance recitals and drama events.

Visits from guests and family over the next few months.

And especially...

Cooler weather. Some rain. (Please, Lord... any day now. Please?!)

School starts tomorrow!!!

19 years and counting!

It's hard to believe that another year has passed since I wrote this post last year. A lot has happened in that one year...

We watched our favorite vacation spot be destroyed.

We survived wild pigs and skunks.

Kat became a teenager - she's been rehearsing this role for years, you know!

We entered the world of competitive cheer. Texas-style, no less!

We retained the title of "Parents of a member of the best drumline in Texas" - outdoors and indoors!

Mom retired, which allowed her and Dad to spend the holidays and beyond with us.

We lost Granny - grief and relief.

History was made with the inauguration of our 44th president - on my 44th birthday.

We created more family memories on the boat.

Kat went away for her first church camp.

We added another driver to the family.

Burrito experienced his first mission trip.

We experienced it all in this nineteenth year. Together. I wouldn't want to live this life we have or share these experiences with anyone else. I love you!

Happy 19th anniversary, Bud!

Confessions: I'm livin' it!

"You can't write about life if you aren't out there livin' it!"

Well, dear readers (all three of you)...

I can assure you I've been out there livin' it. One of these days soon, I'll start blogging about it again, too.

So, what have we been up to this summer?

So glad you asked!

• Band camps
• Cheer camps
• Church camp (This was the first year for Kat!)
• A newly licensed driver in the family (It's a strange feeling to see my car being driven away by my oldest with the youngest riding shotgun!)
• A girl friend (Burrito's, that is! Not Bud's, I don't let him have one anymore!)
• A family vacation at the coast (Galveston... *sigh*)
• A mission trip
• A trip to Ohio to visit my side of the family
• All day at an amusement park
• A quick visit with a best friend
• Swimming at the neighborhood pool
• Sonic runs for late night ice cream
• At-home movie nights
• Most recently, the ramp up for the impending school year (Sadly, two weeks from today!)

And guess what? I have pictures of most of the fun. Oh, yes... I have plans to share them.

Stick around... (please???)

Cleaning Day

I should be cleaning the house. But it's much more fun to be cleaning up the photos on my hard drive. I mean, who wouldn't rather look at this:

(Fall 2000)

Or this:

(Winter 2000)

Or this:

Or this:

Instead of this:

Or this:

So, what are you doing this fine Monday?

It rained today...

Thank you, Lord...

"I know the greatness of the Lord—
that our Lord is greater than any other god.

The Lord does whatever pleases him
throughout all heaven and earth,
and on the seas and in their depths.

He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth.
He sends the lightning with the rain
and releases the wind from his storehouses."

(Psalm 135:5-7 NLT)

Break Time!!!

They're Baaack!!!

Burrito and the team arrived back at our church at 6:15 this evening. Everyone is happy but tired. That hasn't slowed Burrito's mouth down any - he's been talking non-stop and we're enjoying hearing about his week in Alabama.

And, I'm thinking we're all going to sleep so well tonight!

Thank you, again, for praying for Burrito and the team. After he settles back into the real world, I'll have him share some of his week with you.

Good night!