Just Rambling

Monday morning I left early for Marble Falls to pick up our mail, run some errands, return library books, and check on things at home. I had envisioned getting all this done and headed back to Fredericksburg in early afternoon. Ha!! First mistake was going IN the library instead of just dropping off my books. I spent an hour or more selecting a bag full of new books to take back with me. I LOVE THE LIBRARY!! To me it is just one of those places I can look and look and get lost in. I mean where else can you go and load up on a bag full of treasures and have it cost you nothing. The library has always been my place to go when I just need to go somewhere and indulge myself but have no money to spend. I even get nostalgic over the kids book section remembering the many days of bringing home huge bags of preschool books for the nightly bedtime stories. I got the new Nicholas Sparks book THE CHOICE which I have just begun and looks to be a good read.

Ran some more quick errands then on a whim decided I had better get my oil changed (I was overdue about 2000 miles…..), not something I wanted to do but I noticed there was no line so I pulled in and it took all of 8 minutes. But during that time I received a phone call from Red Cross asking me to go see about a house fire in Kingsland. UGH! I was not excited about adding this to my list of things to do. How awful and selfish is that--here someone loses their home and I am griping about losing some time. After I gave myself a talking to, changed my attitude, and repented, I called up the lady who had the fire. She was so very nice and eager to see me so I headed right over there. She had left food on the stove cooking while she went next door to talk to her neighbor. Thankfully, the kitchen was the only part destroyed but black smoke and soot was all over the house. She was able to stay with her neighbor for now but the only other openings the housing authority had were in Marble Falls or Fredericksburg. She was not happy at the thought of leaving her close friends and neighbors where she lived to move to another town. I felt so sorry for her. I was able to give her some funds for food and bedding and some referrals for more help from other agencies.

After that, I decided I was just going to spend the night at home and go back to the ranch the next day. Was so glad I did that as it gave me chance to clean the house a bit, go through all the mail there, and just not feel so rushed. Thought I would even try to have lunch the next day with Amber so left her a voice mail inviting her.

Next morning went to Walmart to get stuff for Don--never heard from Amber so was headed back to the house to gather my stuff and the big dogs and head for the ranch. As I pulled out of Walmart I spied a VW Beetle with a sign on the back that said: Learning how to drive standard. For your own safety don't stop too close to me." I thought to myself that that was something Amber would do--when out popped a head from the driver’s side, hollering “Gema” with a big wave. I followed her back to her apartment and we did go to lunch together. We had a good laugh about her sign and the struggles with learning to drive a standard shift car. I learned to drive in my daddy’s ’52 hunting jeep. I remember sitting in it for hours just practicing shifting the gears. Amber and I both agreed that hills were the tough part--especially when you were stopped at a stop sign or red light on one . You either stall the engine trying to get going or peel out too fast. Ah, the joys and fun of standard…….We had a nice long lunch and visit. It was so good to catch up with her.

Then I loaded up the big dogs and left for the ranch again. We have not often taken Hudson, our lab, or Roxie, our mixed basenji to the ranch. They were very hesitant about getting in the car--I am sure they associated it with vet visits. But they are doing very well here on the ranch. Hudson barked lots the first night but was great last night--we left the porch light on for him. Roxie wants to be with Don every second and just lays by the gate until he returns from fence building. The cats are not too crazy about having these dogs invade their domain but have accepted them for the most part. Lily is still staying on the stairs or in the cabin most days--someplace that she can make a quick getaway (Hudson has been known to chase cats) but Lucy just does not let them bother her and lays on the porch beside them.

Thus is the synopsis of my last few days. Not too exciting, huh?

Lets Go, Yankees!

Ok--Just wanted to say I am going to sit down and cheer the Yankees and help them beat those Indians. And in order to do this properly I will indulge in one of my most favorite treats; fritos with bean dip and a cold Lonestar beer. Life is good. Go Yankees!!

Sweetcakes, Sugar, and a Miracle

Woke up this morning to a strange bellowing coming from outside the back window. Looked out to find a big Longhorn cow looking in at me. She let out another bellow and then I heard an answer from a big steer just up the hill. Talk about big long horns--I knew I was going no where near him. Then noticed the cow had a calf with her also--the whole family had come to visit. We called our neighbors who said they belonged to other neighbors another ranch away so we called them. Learned they were very tame and their names were Sweetcakes, Sugar, and something else sweet sounding. They could not come retrieve them until this evening, but explained that they were very gentle and tame and told us their names. Don and I thought we would go down the fence line and try to figure how they were getting in.

Don wanted to walk but I refused to get out in the open with those big horns no matter how gentle they were supposed to be, so we took the truck. Drove up the fence line and found where the fence was pushed down where they had gotten over it. Decided to continue checking out the fence all the way to the back fence. That is where the miracle occurred. Way down at the bottom, right near the back fence was one of our goats with her head stuck in the fence. Don grabbed his wire cutters and was able to quickly cut her out of the fence.

IF those cows had not come on our land this morning we would have never walked that fence line and found our goat and she would have died a terrible death. So THANK YOU, LORD, for sending a few stray cows to lead us to rescue our goat in trouble. After setting the goat free, we saw the cows coming up the fence line so Don pushed down the fence where they had entered and they just jumped right over it easy as can be and headed back home.

The Lord does work in mysterious ways. I think He also might be hinting that along with the new fence we are adding at the front of the ranch, our side fence is in a sad state of disrepair and needs replacing, also. Poor Don………

Fencing

Don is busy preparing to build new fence so that the other half of the ranch is fenced in and will be usable by the sheep and goats. Right now, there are only two cattle guards to contain livestock which the goats think nothing of leaping across. It is about 1500’ of fencing that will need to be built and he intends to do it himself. Quite a huge undertaking, especially when he has no experience and just has a couple of library books and a good online sight for help.

And then he has me. Poor guy. He has asked me to help him measure and stake flags where the posts will go. I can’t even sight a straight line. I am just so incompetent and confused and inept. He wants me to know stuff I just don’t know. I want to help, I really do, but sometimes I just don’t get it. I feel so bad for him. He needs another guy really bad--one who talks his lingo and can intelligently discuss all this with him. He is so very good and doing big projects and nothing scares him or seems too big or complicated to tackle. So just pray for me that I could be a more beneficial helper…..He even wants me to learn how to drive Bob! YIKES!

Wolfie

Just wanted to tell you I have a new friend whom I named Wolfie. She is a Wolf spider who has spun a huge web across my kitchen window. Each day it covers more and more of the window--quite a masterpiece, really. I enjoy watching her progress each day. Such is my quiet, peaceful life on the ranch.

Sunday afternoon

• Don is snoozing as the Cowboys play
• I am sitting on the porch blogging
• Cows are grazing nearby along the creek
• Goats and sheep are napping on the road just outside the yard fence
• Cats are stretched out on the picnic tables
• Alice is snoring on the couch beside Don
• Birdie is swinging and singing in the breeze from his bungie on the porch
• The wild birds are checking out the feeders I just filled while a squirrel chatters from the tree wondering if I will see him raid the feeders.
• The creek is trickling and gurgling over the rocks making such soothing sounds.
• Ever so often acorns or pecans bomb the tin roof with quite a loud thump
• The wash hanging on the line is flapping in the breeze.
• A strong gust of wind sends a flurry of oak leaves on the tin roof which sounds much like a rain shower.
• The windchimes are playing a sweet melody in this nice breeze.
• How grateful I am, God, for precious, refreshing times such as this. Who could ask for more?
  
  
  

The Creek

Even as a child I was enthralled with creeks. I loved wading and playing in the cold rushing creeks of Colorado when we vacationed there. I used to beg my parents to take me to “The Scenic Loop” in San Antonio. Honestly, I am not sure where that was or what--but in my memory it was a rugged, hilly, rocky area with a nice creek flowing through it--a park of some sort for hiking and picnicking. But for me, it was the most exciting place they could take me. I could just explore it for hours daydreaming of Indians hiding behind trees, to buried treasure hiding in undiscovered caves.

I used to daydream about having a creek like that running through my backyard. I would even go home and try to make one by digging a little ditch and laying the water hose in it. I could just picture what fun it would be to watch frogs, tadpoles and minnows go by and just how wonderful it would be to have a creek of my very own.

Then God led us to this ranch and there was my creek--just like the one in my mind. My dream come true. On one side of the road coming into our ranch is the bigger, wider part of the creek but it is the other side, where it is only a couple of feet wide that is the answer to my heart’s desire. It is just what I wanted as a child and each time I see it I am so overcome with gratitude and thankfulness to God for loving me so much as to bless me with such an insignificant desire of my heart. It is a constant reminder to me of how much God loves us and yearns to bless us and bestow gifts to us--that he does care about all the little things that are meaningful to us. I love you, Lord, and I thank you again.

Desires of my heart

God is just so very awesome in how he blesses us over and over. Just like Tammie said in her blog, he grants us the desires of our heart even when we are not cognizant that we have those desires. In looking back over my life I have seen how he has given me the things that delighted my soul and spirit even as a child.

Growing up in San Antonio, I spent much time with my parents visiting their friends. Some of the friends we visited with often were those that my mama grew up with in the Rio Grande valley who had also migrated to the San Antonio area. As a child I was taught to refer to older close family friends as “aunt ___, uncle___”. One of my favorite places to visit was Aunt Rossie’s and Uncle Frank’s farm in the hills outside San Antonio. It was an old rock house way out in the country and they had goats and chickens which I thought were just wonderful. I just remember the smell of the old house, the jingle of the bells around the goats necks, the dusty roads, the creaky windmill, and Aunt Rossie’s teapot collection. It was just one of those places that stayed on in my memory. It delighted me to go there.

There was another place we visited only a couple of times--somewhere near Blanco, I think. I just remember the rough, rugged hills, a big flagstone patio that overlooked the countryside, goats and goat bells, just the peace and beauty of the place. I guess in my heart I stored that memory of that beautiful rugged scene and the sounds of it.

All this to say I believe God blessed me with this ranch which fulfills all those childhood delights stored in my heart. HE knew my love for the country, animals and nature, the rugged beauty of the hill country. Thank you, thank you, God, for giving me the desires of my heart and leading me this wonderful, serene ranch.

Missin' those Wilde boys

It has been a long time since I last blogged. Lots has happened. There is a new boy in my life--a perfect, sweet, beautiful baby boy named Grant. He completely stole my heart (as each of my grandkids did when they entered this world). It was so wonderful getting to spend a week holding that sweet baby and hunting for doodle bugs, butterflies, and acorns with Mason--I sure do miss them now that I am back at the ranch. I have not yet posted any pictures of Grant as knew Jenny would take care of that but I am sure I might find one or two to include later..... But did want to post the one of Mason who succeeded in catching a butterfly with his hands.

My heart is proud, yet aching over Adam's decision to join the Army. Proud that he has the courage to make his own decisions and follow his dream. But in my selfishness I just don't want him putting himself in danger and in the midst of a nasty war. But I trust God is directing his steps and will be right there with him each and every moment and that is what will carry us through the years ahead. I will support Adam's decision in every way I can and hopefully find ways to be an encouragement to him while he is away from home. Let's all just be faithful to cover him and all our U.S. soldiers over there in prayer.

On the coast with Red Cross

We are back at the ranch again after a 5 day Red Cross assignment. We were sent to feed folks who had damage and power outage from Hurricane Umberto. Left the ranch early Friday morning, went home and dropped off pets and picked up our Red Cross gear and headed to Austin to pick up the ERV(Emergency Response Vehicle) then by noon we were on the road to Beaumont. Discovered our front tire had a bubble in it as we were driving through rush hour traffic in Houston. Took 5 stops to finally find a tire but PepBoys was terrific and got us up and going again quickly.

Upon calling staffing to explain our lateness I was told plans had changed and to go to Amerisuites near Houston airport for that night and go to Beaumont the next day. Room was super nice and we got a great nights sleep and headed out early the next morning. Things were a bit chaotic at HQ in Beaumont--Don was asked to go to Port Arthur and pick up a box truck and I was told to go get our ERV inspected. See, the ERV's--there are hundreds of them--belong to National and are just stationed at various chapters across the country so on each job they carefully inspect them and maintain them.

During the time Don was away I was given 4 different assignments for our ERV by 4 different people which each involved getting the ERV loaded with different items or keeping it empty. I was so frustrated I just drove the ERV to the end of the parking lot and sat in it until Don returned and then we went inside and insisted on knowing who our direct supervisor was--who we were to REALLY take orders from--that we were really frustrated. We were finally informed who our "boss" was and he asked us to go to Houston chapter as their ERV that was serving the Bolivar penninsula had broken down. I was NOT happy about going back to Houston but managed to keep my mouth shut.While I went to staffing to get our hotel assignment in Orange switched to Galveston, Don was waiting in the ERV out front. During that time, yet another person came up to him and told him he was to take the ERV someplace else. This was crazy! Don explained we had our assignment and were on our way. Houston was struggling as well--unsure as to who was in charge of this operation--them or national? No one was communicating well with each other and too many people were taking charge and making decisions without talking it over with others. We sat in on several conference calls and finally it seemed we had a service delivery plan so Don and I were assigned to the kitchen at Crystal Beach on the Bolivar penninsula and would serve the High Island area so we headed to Galveston. I was much happier about this--just wanted out of Houston! Had a nice dinner on the strand, then crashed at our motel. We had done lots of driving in the last two days!

We took the ferry across the bay to Bolivar pennisula--that was a beautiful way to start each day--I loved it! There were several other ERV crews staying at our motel that we enjoyed working with. Kitchen was manned by Baptist Disaster Relief and they were so much fun and just so nice to work with and put out some great food. The people we served on High Island were very gracious and friendly and so glad to see us. We served lunch and supper each day. Power was still out on most of the island and there must have been about 50 utility trucks and crews working all along the highway stringing new wire and replacing poles. It was slow travel time as only one lane was open at a time. I expected High Island to be ritzy and expensive homes but it was not at all--just lots of simple beach type homes--a pretty tight community that really looked out for each other. It was great to have so many people get extra meals to carry to shut-ins and the elderly. We enjoyed our work. Days were long--left at 7:30 and home between 9 and 10.( On Sunday night the line for the ferry was really long--we thought we had an hour wait or so and then the sherriff came roaring up with his lights flashing and told us to follow him and he led us to the head of the line--Wow! was that so great--we felt really special...) Had no time to see much of Galveston. On Monday the power was all restored and we ran out of food so it was good time to shut down after our supper meal. We got home last night.

I am so happy to be back at the ranch. Don is ready to work on Bob and get him up and running again. Animals are glad to be back out here too. Now, we are just waiting for Jenny to call us she is on the way to deliver.

Alisa

I just have to tell you about my very good friend, Alisa. We became acquainted many years ago in a church Sunday school class and continued building our friendship in a Women’s Bible study. She was my neighbor, too, living just a few blocks from me. We discovered we had many things in common--loved garage sales, had both been foster parents, both made lots of stupid mistakes in our lives that God helped us through, both loved the Lord and studying the Bible, both love the outdoors and animals, and we both love to read and own tons of books.
Alisa has been such a blessing to Don and I as she house sits for us when we are away from home. We never have to worry about a thing with her there. Our animals are loved (spoiled, is more like it) and well taken care of, the plants are watered and talked to, the mail is gone through and we are alerted to anything out of the ordinary and she even takes care of paying bills for us when we are gone for a long time. It just gives us such a sense of peace having her there which frees us to concentrate on whatever Red Cross assignment we are on. She has gone the extra mile for us so many times--I mean, one time she was caught in the barn between the mean attacking rooster on one side and a huge snake on the other exit. She did ask for combat pay on that one…….She was the one who discovered most of the murdered bodies of our poultry last winter when we were under attack by skunks, possums, and coons and had to dispose of their bodies. She suffered through Cracker’s last year of life when she was incontinent and there were many puddles to clean up. She put up with two dogs that could not hear or see very well and were pretty neurotic and needy---and a cat that was always up to mischief. She was there for us on the ranch through Sadie’s(our horse) last hours. What can I say but that she is a blessing to us(and our critters) and we are so deeply grateful.
Alisa is always looking for ways to help others either with free labor to aid them in doing a task or finding items at garage sales that would bless someone else. She is always thinking of someone else to include in a lunch or a garage sale outing. When someone is in need she doesn’t think twice about gathering together what funds or items she has to meet that need. She loves to share her books with others and encouraged some women to get together and form a book club. Her heart is always open to responding to someone in need of encouragement or help. She is truly an inspiration to me--a Godly woman whose desire it is that others know the love and freedom that can come from knowing Jesus. Jesus’ love just shines from her. I think of the hymn WHAT A FRIEND I HAVE IN JESUS and know that yes, I do have Jesus as my friend and because of our shared love for Him, I have a dear friend in Alisa.

Such a pretty day

It is so great to have the sun back and cool weather, too. A beautiful day at the ranch. We were headed out to look at some hay to buy when Don decided to try to start his Bobcat and it would not start. Bob needs a new part (something simple, but I can't remember what). Don is very gloomy without Bob. So he mowed the backyard--(a nice way to work off frustration) and I sure appreciated him doing it as I did it last time and it is a tough job. I tackled my hated job of defrosting the 60 year old refrigerator in the shed. What a gem she is, still doing a great job of cooling my Lone Star beer!

Oops! Had an interuption there--call from Red Cross putting us on standby to go to Texas/LA for flooding from Tropical Storm Humberto. That just means we might be called out but not yet. He must have strenghthened quickly as last night it was just a small depression they were watching and now seems like it could be a pretty big flood event as it is slow moving. This has sure been a summer for Texas flood disasters.

Praise God, Bob is healed! Don just came in to tell me the Bobcat mechanic called him back and told him a trick or two to try and it worked--there was water in something or other and Don poured it out and Bob started right up. I have a very happy man, now. He is already off on Bob to clear some roads for the hunters. The grass is so darn high (what a wonderful problem to have) we can't find our roads.
We walked our three miles yesterday to mailboxes (well, almost....there were a few bulls roaming loose between the last cattle guard and mailboxes so we decided to turn around there as we really had no desire to deal with strange bulls. Was a good walk and nice to be doing it in cooler weather for a change.
That sums up my day so far--gotta go get clothes off the line--then think I will go admire the creek and count the sheep and goats. I just love fall weather and being at the ranch.

What can I say........

Just to forewarn you---I am at the ranch and it is a rainy, misty, day--the kind of day you sit inside and reflect on things and have time to write. So the following blogs might not be too entertaining or funny but are just some more ramblings from my mind. What can I say, you hafta write when the thoughts are flowing….

Cards and Notes

Let me begin with a disclaimer here---this posting is NOT meant to produce guilt or to chastise anyone, it is truly just me writing out my feelings and thoughts. I think it is important to do this because, well, we just can’t know how someone feels about things if they don’t voice it.


The older I get the more important cards and notes are to me. I can remember when I was younger (and broke) how silly I thought it was to spend so much on greeting cards. I mean, they ARE so ridiculously expensive, and I would think how the person would read it and toss it in the trash can--what a waste! I mean, a phone call would do just as good, right? But now that I am older and the kids are grown and away from home, all those thoughts have changed. And I can remember my mother exclaiming in a hurtful tone one time how I didn’t even send her a card on her birthday. I felt so awful…..I just didn’t think it was all that meaningful to her---until she said that and then later after her death when I discovered she had saved every single card I ever sent her as well as all the notes and cards from her grandkids.

I cherish every card and note I get--especially the home-made, hand written ones. I guess, I just need that concrete item to look at over and over again to remind me that I am loved and still important in other’s lives. My Bible is overflowing with notes and cards I have stuck in there to keep safe and with something that is always with me--I have notes scribbled on church bulletins from the kids when they were little, all sorts of messages. They are just all so precious to me. I want the phone calls on the special days but I need cards and notes, too. I love going to that mailbox around my birthday and Mother’s Day with gleeful anticipation of what awaits me there. A note of remembrance and love is the best gift ever!

Because of how strongly I feel about written correspondence I have tried to get in the habit of sending notes to friends and loved ones for no special reason but to let them know I care and they are important to me or they blessed me in some way or another--just words of encouragement. It is just such a special way to lift others up. We all need that---and it lifts up the sender as well. And don’t get me started on thank you notes. I used to put up such a fuss as a child when my mother would sit me down and force me to write thank yous for all my gifts. I hated it as a kid, dreaded it, thought it was so stupid. And I forced the same regimen on my children who had the same reactions. But now, I am ever so grateful for this training and have reaped the results of my training tactics when I now receive beautiful, tear-inducing thank you notes from my children. Those are the best! It is important to take time to thank people--in writing--for not only gifts they have sent you, but for anything special they have done for you or helped you with. Everyone needs to feel appreciated. No one likes to be ignored or taken for granted. It only takes such a few minutes of our time to lift someone up and make them feel worthwhile and good. So that is it.

All this to say that I LOVE getting cards and notes--they REALLY matter to me, therefore they probably do for everyone else reading this. I mean, if we all look so forward to reading blogs, how can we not look more forward to receiving a hand-written personal message from someone dear to us. No email or e-card can take the place of one that arrives to your real live home mailbox!

Flowers and Autumn colors

I love flowers! They just bring a smile to my face and delight to my soul. I love gorgeous fields of flowers and just single flowers. They are all just so unique and pretty--each with personalities of their own. Pansies are my very favorites, I think. But I really like sunflowers, morning glories, marigolds, roses, and on and on. When I see pretty flowers I just have to stop and take a picture of them. I keep a file of just flower pictures on my computer that I can go to when I just need cheering up.

My daughter, Beki, really surprised me on my birthday by having a cute square vase of all kinds of flowers delivered to me. She had called to see if I was going to be home on my birthday as something was coming for me----what fear that sent to my heart--as this is the daughter who once gave me a baby pig for Mother’s Day and on another birthday along with Amber gave me Birdie, my parakeet. So I had no idea what would greet me at the door and was very pleasantly relieved and delighted to find a bouquet of flowers--just the perfect size.
My grandson, Blaine, also presented me with flowers from his family--really pretty, tall ones, that I don’t know the name of but they last and last. And Jenny gave me a pen bouquet of pretty flowers--sunflowers and others--silk flowers attached to a pen so they look so pretty sitting by my phone. Now I will know who took the pen from the phone desk………

My favorite colors are the oranges, browns, yellows and reds of autumn. I just love them all mixed together. It was so wonderful to get married in the fall and be able to easily use those colors for our wedding and then to honey moon in New England with the lavish colorful landscapes all around us. I am already itching to go on a fall road trip to states that really have the autumn colors glowing everywhere. After reading my Country magazine I think I would love to go through Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania in the fall. Never been to those states much and the pictures in Country were glorious.

My sweet mother in law sent me a beautiful table runner, placemats, and towels all in fall colors and décor. I just love it and it looks so great on our long pine table--and Beki’s flowers and the Lichtenstein’s flowers just really top it off. So the picture above is showing off some of my delights.

Another Rainy Day

We are at the ranch and it is dark and rainy--not exactly a good day to bring in hay. But I do appreciate the cooler weather and can spend the day doing all sorts of indoor tasks. When I arrived yesterday the rain gauge was overflowing which means we had over 6 inches of rain since we left here less than a month ago. Never have I seen the grass so tall and green--it is just so beautiful. What a different summer this has been for us Texans who are used to August and September being blistering hot and dry. I sure do wonder what winter will be like.
My oldest grandson, Adam, is contemplating joining the Army reserves. That sure brings fear to a grandmother's heart. My first reaction was to tell him NO, NO, NO. I just do not want him in harm's way. But then I think how self-centered of me to want other people to send their loved ones to fight for our freedoms while mine are safe and protected at home. So I just pray for God to direct his steps and lead him down the path He wants him to go down. Another declaration of Thy will, not my will. But sometimes that is so hard to pray.....

Bummed

Ok--so I am really bummed here that no one has commented on my blog's new look. I mean, little ole computer illiterate me finally figured out how to do all this fancy stuff and was so proud of myself and nobody even noticed or commented. Woe is me. I worked so hard to get the picture shows right and I was so thrilled with the results so does nobody like it??? Has anyone even noticed??? I had already enlisted Amber's help with all this then the night before I was going to try to get together with her I sat down and just decided I could learn to do this and I stayed up late and did it and even if nobody else cares, I am very pleased with the results. So there. Now, I will go find a worm..........
I really am ok........just had to get all that off my chest. I think I am just missing having blogs to read. Tania, are you ever coming back??????/ And Gina, are you still alive? And Kara, has your new vacuum sucked you up along with the cat hair??? And Tammie, did you go after Jess' crush and now you are incarcerated? I got to see Amber (alias, Rainbow girl) and her hair looks great--no visible rainbows that I saw. She looked really pretty and showed me the awesome gift she made herself for her mom's and Jess's 10th anniversary. So many talented people in our family!!
We were at church from 9 til 6 today. Big changes goin on that I am real excited about. Our church life has been rather stagnant--no growth or outreach. We had a guest speaker train us in care ministries--ways to really reach out to those around us. About 70 people stayed for this training in team ministries. I am so excited to see how it will go.
We are headed to ranch tomorrow for a week or so to tend to projects down there. I will write more then--my head hurts now and words just won't come. So blog some, people, I miss you.

Jenny, how were the brownies????

Family

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