The Blessings of July

Well, the Blessing of this July certainly wasn't the weather!

That's 110 degrees in the shade.  We fairly roasted alive in these here parts... little pond shrinking before our eyes... it's a sad, sad state of affairs, this Texas July!

Even the bees are struggling to find nectar in this world of brittle and brown...

(One small, purple blessing... so grateful for the stubborn,
flowering tenacity of the Texas Chaste Tree!)

But then to add misery upon misery,

the Sahara Desert blew in

... all the way to Texas!!

Struggling to find Blessing in the hot, dry, arid wind and brown haze hanging. The sand sifted in relentlessly and the infernal sun baked us!

No, no, the Blessing of this July arrived late one evening, all wrapped in pink and sweet...

Baby Ellie is here!

Treasured Bundle in our arms...

This Memaw and Pepaw are smitten!

If ever there was a Blessing this July,

Baby Ellie is it...

God is good like that.

Just when the heat and the hard, dry season has seared a soul,

along comes this breath of precious life

to show us what Love is all about!

Forever and Always

you will be loved Sweet Ellie,

Blessed to hold you in our arms and hearts this day!

I can see the Finish Line from here...

Several weeks ago I saw an interview with Jane Pauley and John Mellencamp.

I chanced upon it half way through, just in time to hear his take on how to live life well.  Well, actually I'm not sure he was expounding on the living well part as much as he was the living part...

But it struck a chord all the same and maybe you feel it too... the rushing of the days, speeding into years, until time turns around and the finish line nears...

How is it possible the Farmer is talking retirement??   65 this fall.  The Medicare solicitations filling our mailbox and Social Security deadlines looming...

65?

And still my heart skips a beat... he is the handsomest retiree-to-be I know ;-)

And the years, they keep rolling together, gaining speed with each passing day.

Perhaps Mr. Mellencamp was feeling it too:

"I can see the finish line from here.  I only have so many summers left. 

And I intend not to waste them being old."

I think we'd have to agree.  There's much more living ahead, and it's true, by God's grace, we only have so many summers left... So how to spend them?  This would be the question we face as we head for a new season in our life!

Retirement.

We're keeping an ongoing tally on our To-Do List...

There is much to do.  That log house won't build itself!  Lol!  And in 100 days, the Farmer will be punching out from the daily grind and punching in to life at the lake... {smile}

We intend not to waste a minute of the time we're given!

In our walk together these last many years, we've seen the tragedies...

the devastating losses of the too young,

the too innocent,

the too loved.

We may never understand, this side of Heaven,

nor have answers to ease our griefs.

We may never be able to fathom the depths

of God's grace and mercy for the sorrowing soul.

And we question the journey.

The longer we live, the more we realize how fragile our hold.

And yet, one thing I know... He has set the finish line before each one of us,

and we are called to run the race He's given us with excellence.

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

                                                            ~ Hebrews 12:1-2

By God's Grace, the gift of today is ours.

Let us make much of each moment,

for His Kingdom's sake...

My Love, Always,

            Jane

The Dog Days of Summer

This is how to deal with a Texas Heat Wave...

That's one smart puppy ;-)

The rest of us are melting!

Stay cool and check on your friends and loved ones

during this extended heat wave,

We all need each other more than we know!

The Best Days of Summer!

It's been summer camp at the lake these past few weekends!  Time for the grandbabies to join Memaw and Pepaw for some summer fun... and oh how much we have enjoyed the time... exhausted like never before, but so much laughing and loving... worth every tired muscle from keeping up with these busy babies!

First up was Presleigh.  Her first sleep over... ever!

 We started the weekend with a trip to the local U-Pick Berry Farm.  There were games...

and feeding the catfish (not too sure about that... lol)

And then getting down to business...

time to pick those blackberries!

There were gator rides around the lake...

And picking some flowers for mom!

It was a sleep over success!  She's ready to do it again!

Next up were Autumn and Aubree...

their turn for some Berry picking fun!

And then back to the cabin to cool off on the slip and slide...

Craft up some colorful rubber band bracelets...

And, of course, enjoy a sweet treat, complete with

some freshly-picked blackberries! Yum!

These are the memories precious that will

hold us through the long cold days of winter...

This Memaw and Pepaw have absolutely treasured the time together!

May these babies always know how very loved they are!

It's official... Summer Camp at the Lake

with the Grandgirls has been the Best!

P.S.  Next year, it's time for the Grandboys to join the fun!!

Happy 4th!