Numbers 30 and 31

 I don't know why I get so excited about this, but I love adding to  my National Parks album. We visited #30 and 31 in October.

Wind Cave National Park            South Dakota

Badlands National Park                                     South Dakota

Doing Weatherford

Charlsie and I met in Weatherford for a long overdue girl's day out in September.

We  visited 2 gardens: Clark Gardens and Chandor Gardens. They are both beautiful and we enjoyed both of them but I can't remember which pictures go to which garden.

Clark Gardens has a large display of electric trains. I may have spent too much time there...love trains!

We also went to a movie, ate some delicious meals,

went to a play at Theater Off the Square,

soaked in the hot tub at the hotel

and solved some world problems, of course.

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a  tender hand."
Henri Nouwen

1964

2014

Arizona Panorama Pages

Enchantment Resort in Sedona

Grand Canyon

I am almost finished with my Arizona scrapbook. I had to order some more prints after my photographer found out I had left out some of his favorites.

Someone on my scrapbooking message board asked for ideas for panoramas so you all get to look, too.

I haven't posted many of our Arizona photos. I'm still a little neutral about all of those red rocks, but I have to admit, they do make nice photos.

El Malpais National Monument in New Mexico.

Remembering Brooke on Memorial Day

I am thinking about my cousin, (Derwin) Brooke Pitts today and want to honor him and his service to our country.
He died in Vietnam in August 22, 1969

We were friends as well as cousins when we were very young. We lived on the same street and spent a lot of time together. One memory I have is of us standing by my sister's crib when she was a newborn and watching her sleep through the bars. I was 9 and he was 7.

 He was awarded a Silver Star for heroism and gallantry in action, and two Bronze Stars for meritorious service and valor. He also had several other medals. One I really like is the sharpshooters rifle badge.

This account is from a newspaper:

As a small element of the company moved forward, the enemy opened fire from a concealed position. Sgt. Pitts ordered his men to withdraw and exposed himself in order to draw the fire away from his comrades. He maneuvered against a North Vietnamese bunker and succeeded in silencing the enemy position with hand grenades. He was wounded for the second time and fell to the ground but refused assistance. Instead, ordered his men to remain within the company perimeter. As the enemy closed in he rolled over, engaged them with a final burst of fire from his M-16 rifle. "His courageous and timely actions were instrumental in saving the lives of his fellow soldiers and in thwarting the enemy attack," the citation said.
 Praying for peace and blessings for you all who are remembering a loved one who gave his life or health for us.

 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. . John 15:11-14

Our Trip to Lubbock

Zane and Caedon went to Lubbock to visit their cousins and Aunt and Uncle. They need to tell their parents and little brothers what they did.

The first night, we went to Isaac's play, Twinderella. Isaac was a gerbil and a sportscaster. He was funny.

After that, was Malachi's play. He was Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. It was very long.  He had lots of lines and the words were weird, but he did a great job.

                                                     We went to Zion's Ballet Recital.

We are all having piano recitals this weekend and we played our pieces for each other.

Zion had to give her bed to Granny and sleep with the boys. She had them play the quiet game so she could go to sleep. She gave prizes to the winners.

                                                 We went to the park every day.
                   
                           

                                                            We flew kites.

                                                                We climbed trees.

We walked around the lake looking for treasures. Some of us picked up some treasures that we should have left alone.

We did not have to go to the mall with Zion and Granny to shop for her birthday present.

                                  We hardly played with electronics or watched TV at all.

Grand Prize

I am awarding myself grand prize for my photo of Lake Powell.

I didn't offer my husband a vote and he had the good sense not to offer a different opinion.

My scrapbook page. I tried some embellishments but not sure if I should just let it hang out there by itself. Any suggestions?

This, Maybe?

He got some very nice ones, too here  his favorite for Lake Powell.

 He has so many favorites it was hard for him to choose.

A Place for God to Live

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Welcome Sunshine

 

We were happy to get outside in  yesterday. The boys built a fort  and a bridge. You can only see Zane's feet behind the fort. I waited, but he never came out.

I think Ben is saying to Jack: "Get on the bridge and I will shove you off." Because that is what happened next.