Dwelling in the Land, Hospitality

Last Week & A Winner

I was going to entitle this post May is cray-cray, but then I realized it’s not even May yet. Yikes.  May will indeed be crazy – baptisms, a wedding, graduations, Kayla’s thesis presentation day, a family reunion in Texas – but it will be also be wonderfully filled with celebration. I can’t wait. Maybe one… Read More Last Week & A Winner

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Maine-ly About Turning 17

Summer birthdays can be really awesome or really weird. Parties can be big, all-out shindigs, or altogether nonexistent, because all of your besties are camping or traveling or working odd hours in summer jobs. Fortunately, Kayla is happy to celebrate anywhere we happen to be at the time. Due to its July 28th date, we’ve… Read More Maine-ly About Turning 17

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When Every T-Shirt Holds A Memory

“Mom and Dad, can you guys just take these two bags to Goodwill?” he said while we packed up his house in Waco just before graduation. We agreed, loaded them in the moving truck, and hauled everything to a storage facility in San Marcos. I kept the two white trash bags, though, a bit skeptical… Read More When Every T-Shirt Holds A Memory

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Birthday Gifts: Part 2

Here’s a better view of those Topo Chico bottles-turned-drinking-glasses. Aren’t they great? What a cool gift. I just love seeing them in my cabinet. I love that the “cut” is just above the textured part of the bottle giving them a bit of a decorative flair. And that green tint? Perfect. While I was uploading… Read More Birthday Gifts: Part 2

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Birthday Gifts: Part 1

“What do you want to do for your birthday, Mom?”  With Robert typically gone to Texas and Oklahoma for the first two weeks of January, my kids are usually left with the burden responsibility of “making mom’s birthday special” on their own. I kind of hate that. I love special days and gifts, but I… Read More Birthday Gifts: Part 1

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Wild Summer. Good Father.

Just returned from this gorgeous scene on Friday night. I don’t know if any U.S. coastline compares to this particular stretch. Maine is just beautiful, and I have to pinch myself when I’m there. Truly the stuff of dreams, I can’t believe this is how we’ve spent about one week of every year for the… Read More Wild Summer. Good Father.

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1 Birthday, 1 Bedridden & 5 Beach Bound

Her complimentary Birthday Chocolate Dome at her favorite place to eat: PF Chang’s.  This pretty girl turned 14 yesterday!  She started the day with a trip to the gym at 7am.  This was not her preferred wake up time, of course, but turning 14 means that you are now old enough to go to Planet… Read More 1 Birthday, 1 Bedridden & 5 Beach Bound

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Twas The Night Before My Birthday…

Twas the night before my birthday, and all through my abode Lots of teenagers stirred, friends new and old The dishes were washed, dried, returned to their places In hopes that tomorrow would be easy, slow-paced The electric blanket turned on, the bathwater running A magazine and epsom salts awaited for soaking Kayla in her… Read More Twas The Night Before My Birthday…

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Completing Her Quest

It’s mid-September, the leaves are beginning to change, the apple orchards are all open for picking, the farm stands are selling corn AND cornstalks for seasonal decor, and I am not so happy about all of this.  It’s too soon! I do love the fall (really nothing like fall in New England), but I love… Read More Completing Her Quest

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Growing Girl{s}

There were many signs of aging around here last week.  Here are a few examples:  1. I received a prescription for bifocals. {Sigh…} 2. Robert and I paid our first of many Baylor tuition bills. {Only by God’s provision.} 3. I bought a MacBook {Another amazing provision.}, and registered for a class at the Apple… Read More Growing Girl{s}