Making it across the ocean....

Kate's parents brought gifts, Tim and Kate sent African baby gifts for a special Faucette baby on the way. Brandon wanted to smell Africa... And the proud parents to be say hi!

From the other side

It looks like it's catch-up time since it's been a while. Some birthday fun getting dad ready for boating ...or bowl games???? Maybe both...

Tim wanted to send Dad some real sausages from the trip to Vienna, but we settled for an American version, special delivery on this side of the ocean! And Dana left her gift here at Christmas ready for the birthday... and hoping State is ready for the season next year! And we did birthday in person with Leah, hanging out at her place!

Happy Valentine's Day...or did you think these were just Christmas pictures???

Happy Valentine's Day on both sides of the ocean, on the coasts, and from Carolina to Cactus Country... With wishes for happy hearts and homes and sending hugs that stretch far and wide!

Sponteneity...."nay"...ity....Or just say no!

Well, for one who usually takes no risks, plans for every contingency, and must be prepared...things have changed. Finding ourselves in Raleigh with an hour to spare before meeting Leah, we happened upon Lake Johnson and in little more than a heartbeat started walking... a trail around the lake. Of course, we talked with Leah, got her take on the length of it, heard her say do it and then took off. At first, it was let's walk ten or 15 minutes and then backtrack. Or, we'll see! Well, walk we did, and no turning back... that is until we had walked the first mile and a half( Wallace said we walk two miles in 30 minutes at home!) taking sunset pictures and greeting other hikers. When the trail seemed to split and we were out of view of the water, we questioned backtracking or going on... Considering we had supposedly trekked most of the trail, turning back seemed the wrong choice, and proceeding didn't look promising. However, insticnt said that we should proceed and take the trail to the right, which should be following the shore. Darker and darker, our cell phones provided light to read some of the few markers we spied. Uphill and down, trekkin on hearing cars, we spied I 40, not Avent Ferry where we had parked. OH well, on we go and and one hour after we started, in the darkness the bridge appeared and we crossed and made it back to the parking lot. Off to Leah's, realizing her hour in Raleigh traffic was probably wilder than our hour, with just a bit more certainty and confidence in the route! A great adventure and memory made. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! And next time I may just watch the water flow from the bridge and take in the view! Nah, I can go for sponte... nay...ity !

Christmas on the HomeFront

It's been good, all around the place! And WE had the African Christmas, sort of! Hats, mats, music and stories, cards and ornaments!

Merry Christmas!

Your gifts at Christmas... a collage of the fall!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Praise God from whom all Blessings flow, and if you are reading this, then you are one of my mine. You are one of my dearest blessings and for you I am grateful. My cup is full, no, it runneth over, and in this season of thanks I am thinking of you and thankful for you and your special place in my life. Consider yourself hugged as you read and loved as you live. May goodness and mercy be all over you today as blessings spill over and cover you!

The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all His works, Psalm 145:9 says, but as one of my Bible drillers once stated that verse, "The Lord is good to all His tender mercies are all over His works!" Just a slight variation on a theme, but it spoke to me. The blessings over all, we may sometimes fail to see if we don't look up and focus on Him, but His mercies all over us get our attention and our gratitude. May we not miss any of what He pours all over us today.

"This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23 ....I like that, 3...2...1, or 1...2...3, so counting forward or backward, they are there!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am counting you and you and you...........!