Happy Birthday Beto!

It doesn't seem long ago you were playing all over the neighborhood in Rankin with your little buddies.

Those days were filled with Cub Scouts, 4H, football, basketball, and homework.  You were a joy to raise and I miss it!  I hope you have a blessed day, and the most spectacular year ever.  Happy birthday from your Mom and Dad.

BURNED UP AND BLOWN AWAY

This weather isn't so bad if the air conditioner is working, and you don't think about what is happening outside your four walls.  Temperatures have been over a 100 for quite some time, and we have wind nearly every day.  I took a few pictures hoping to show some of the damage this drouth, heat, fire and wind has done.   This pasture is between Midland and Andrews County.  The mesquites are burned and the charred vegetation on the ground has been blown out.  I saw a roustabout crew working on a cattle guard while it was about 105, and those boys sure looked hot!

Since all the grass and brush are gone, the pastures are blowing.

In some pastures the mesquites are coming up from the roots--fire doesn't kill them.

We had a promising looking cloud the other evening, and I was so hoping and praying for rain.  There were a few drops of rain, and a whole lot of sand.  This is a picture of the water tower during that sandstorm.  If you look closely you can see the mustang on the tower!

I took this picture of the street just a few minutes before taking the shot of the water tower.

As a result of all this dirt and smoke we do have spectacular sunsets out here in this burned off desert.  I tried to capture some of the color, but my camera just doesn't do the job.  The sun was going down like a huge red-orange ball, and the sky was red-orange and violet--absolutely beautiful.

When we get rain I will be sure to send pictures!  

 

One week later--look at all this green!  Fooled Ya!  This isn't West Texas.  I took this through the window of the pickup as Bob and I were whizzing through the southern part of Nebraska heading for home.  He had a bid meeting in Beatrice, Nebraska and I tagged along.    

I just want to do a contrast here for you--Andrews County and Beatrice, Nebraska.  So, when you say your prayers don't forget to ask for rain for us, because we are burned up and blowing away (it will be 105+ today, again). 

A Grandparent's Dream

I have had the most exciting four days you can imagine--well, all grandparents will know exactly what I am talking about.  I am taking care of our grandson  while Mom and Dad are gone to a conference.  He is so much fun, and inspires me to act so silly.  We play ball, slide on the slide, play in the water, and read books.  Rhys is almost 19 months old, and doesn't walk; he runs.

When we were on our morning walk, I caught a baby horned toad for him to inspect.

He loved watering the plants in the backyard.  His Papaw let him work on his laptop, and saved Rhys' first document.  As you can see, Rhys loves to push buttons.

Papaw had to inspect the automatic watering system, and Rhys checked out the water output.

Alas, his parents will be back today, and they will take over the raising of Rhys.  It has been so much fun, and I hope I get another chance to babysit very soon.

STUCO PREZ

This year I was the advisor to Student Council, which gave me access to all the previous records that are stored in a file cabinet in my office.  At the beginning of the year I casually browsed through a binder that looked old and interesting.  Now, I finally have time to write about the minutes I found.
"The first meeting of the 1972-1973 Student Council was called to order by Max Lucado, the president.  After introducing the officers, the minutes were read and approved, and the roll was called."  Imagine that--Max Lucado's name on those pages just as "matter-of-factly" as Victoria Chavez!  I was amazed.
Bobby and I went to one of his church services with Robert and Marina when they were living in San Antonio.  I still have the bulletin from Oak Hills Church, with the notes I took about "Facing Giants."  We all have to face giants from time to; some have bigger ones to face than others.  The lesson was about David and Goliath and the five stones David chose to defeat the monster.  Lucado said that "giants" dominate the landscape, intimidate, and contaminate our hope, and when this happens we need to choose the five stones for strength (use your hand to remember them).  The thumb is our past--remember all your prayers that God has answered, and the victories you have had that seemed impossible at the time.  The index finger reminds us to pray, even when the situation looks hopeless.  The middle finger is tallest and stands for our highest priority--God.  Look at the situation as a chance for God to show you His strength.  The ring finger is for the right passion--we should run toward the problem just as David ran toward the giant--"I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back until they were destroyed (2 Samuel 22:38).  Most of the time we try to run away from our problem, while telling ourselves we are a victim.  The little finger is for persistence--keep praying, pray long and hard.
The bulletin from March 26, 2005 is still in my Bible, and from time to time I pull it out to read again, and remember all the giants that God has defeated for me, and to remind myself He is in charge.  All is well.  I hope you have a blessed day.