Possum Kingdom Lake

Saturday afternoon we drove all the way up 281 to the lake. Who knew that 281 went all the way up there? Boomer's father's family was gathering to celebrate the life of Mickey Parkinson. Mickey passed away Saturday week ago in a Fort Worth hospital after a long illness. He was 59 yo. That's so young by today's standards. He didn't want a funeral, he just wanted everyone to gather at the lake and grill out and visit. I can't begin to tell you how many people we there, but we filled four houses/trailers and an RV. The boys had an absolute blast running around with all their cousins. Someone around the bend of the lake was setting off fireworks and there was a turtle, cranes and all kinds of stuff to keep the boys busy. I got to visit with some of his girl cousins that I haven't seen in a while, which was so nice. They're a real nice group of people. We had a short service for him with a couple of prayers, a few scriptures and a couple of stories. Then the kids set some balloons off in the air and Boomer's aunt started us in Jesus Loves Me. It was real nice. We just stayed the one night since we still have so much to do here at the cabin. I had to go inside early to put Zane in bed so I didn't get to visit as much as I would have liked. I understand Grant and Asa played Wii and some of the adults got a good game of Poker going. (I'll share pictures soon.) When we were driving home yesterday, Boomer and I were laughing about how we used to talk about other friends "always being out of town". I guess we're those people now. Oh, and before I forget to share the best laugh of the weekend. Boomer and I shared a twin size bed there! Can you picture that! We think we probably slept in 30 minute intervals waking each other every time either of us turned over. What a hoot!
Yes, the cabin is coming along, most of the curtains and shades are hung, most of the boxes are unpacked ... please note the word "most". Hopefully, we can get the inside settled enough to get started on the front porch this weekend or next.

3rd Saturday in the Cabin

No one ever told me I needed to know code to work this Blogger site! Well, I've had some coffee and some of my husband's excellent cooking so I'm going to try to figure this out. Hopefully my brain will be better equiped to learn this site. I asked Boomer for a little "me time" this weekend. I just need some time by myself. You know, ladies?!?!? I don't need to waste gas and go shopping I just want to spend some time with my computer. Yes, let's all hug our computer together now. :)



So, I've been looking around at some sites and found a couple of things I'd like to share with you for now. I hope you enjoy them, too.



This is from "home simple home" and I can completly relate, believe it or not ....

You know you're a homemaking dork when:

1. You think to yourself, ” I wonder if there is a printable spreadsheet of laundry stains and how to remove them that I could print and laminate to put by the washing machine.”And then your next thought is…” I should totally make one, I’ll put it on my to-do list.”
2. Your husband says to you “Well no one actually reads those books, there just to have as a reference, You look something up in the index when you need it”, and you think “I really enjoyed that book.”
3. Your two favorite books are: “Home Comforts, The Art & Science of Keeping House” by Cheryl Mendelson, and “Homemaking” by J.R. Miller.
4. You lay awake at night and think of ways to rearrange your pantry for optimal storage capacity and usability.
5. You use words like “optimal storage capacity”.
6. You keep a spreadsheet of grocery prices.
7. You carry a three-ring binder with you when you grocery shop that contains the above spreadsheet.
8. You actually have a software program on your computer with all of the grocery items listed with their prices that generates a shopping list that tells you exactly what you will spend at the store.
9. Life without schedules, spreadsheets, notebooks, and charts sounds utterly terrifying.
10. There’s no place you’d rather be than in your home, caring for your husband and children!


May God Bless all the homemakers out there, and may their work be a blessing to their families as we all strive to honor God in our daily lives!



And this from "a Holy experience"



Praying His Prayer
I lay in the dark fading away and, before feet find floor, pray first because there is no other way to really begin. An ancient prayer, the one He told us to pray: .


'Our Father who is in heaven,


Ours... You are all of ours (whether we acknowledge our lineage or not.) You are who we all have in common.


Our Father... we come to You, Abba Daddy, not to an unfeeling Master, but to You with a tender, Father's heart.Our Father who is... Someone sits upon the throne, directs this cosmic play. The universe does not haplessly careen. You are.


Our Father who is in heaven... And the heavens are not a far-flung corner of the extreme atmosphere where time clips eternity. The heavens are the sky that falls around, the air that touches our skin, the medium in which we breathe, fill our lungs with. That is where Our Father is... You are close.


Hallowed be Your name. Hallowed is Your name, holy. Keep me from profaning, belittling, treating as common, all that is holy, because of Your name. May I live without shoes, for all this -- everywhere You are-- is holy.


Your kingdom come ... not mine, not our plans, only Your kingdom come.


Your will be done... not my will, not our plans, only Your will be done. For this is the crux of living at Your feast table, of taking the cup, of following Christ.


On earth as it is in heaven... and in heaven the whole host of angels bow down and worship, give praise and thanks, crying Holy, Holy, Holy. Do I do that which is done in heaven?


Give us this day our daily bread... I trust that in this day, You'll give me what is nourishing, what I need. Keep me from chewing at tomorrow's worry, gnawing at yesterday's regrets. Today, I will simply collect the manna You've given for this day, and know that what You rain down in this day is what is best. My daily bread. Cause me to give thanks and eat what You give.


And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors... We are indebted to You beyond accounting. For arteries that faithfully pump, blood that endlessly courses, neurons and synapses that perfectly fire. For sun orb that rises and warms, for a Cross beam that supports the universe, for this waterfall of mercy that washes away our stubborn pride stains. There is no end to our debts. And yet You, with a Father's heart, graciously forgive the incomprehensible. How could we not forgive today?


And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil... When we follow Your leading, we are delivered from the clutches of the dark and into the wide open spaces of light.


For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.' ... always, only, utterly Yours.


Amen. So be it.


And before I've begun, I've stopped. Fot stop signs are but havens of soul rest.So now, having prayed the way He told us to, I begin.


Dear and Gracious Heavenly Father,
We bow before you humbled by your mighty power. Help us, oh Lord, to live rememering that everything we do should bring glory to you. We will fail and we thank you for your forgiveness in our weakness. Please keep us from judging others in their weakness, too. As this too brings you glory. Give us the strength to be good parents. Be patient with these beautiful children you have loaned to us. Help us remember that they belong to you first. We are so thankful for all our blessings Lord, help us remember to count them daily. We pray healing for Amy Martin, Hope Williams, Hilari, Uncle Mike, PaPa and the Parkinson Family in their loss.
It's in Christ's holy name I pray, Amen

Boys in the loft looking down. Please note the wrap on Grant's arms and legs from falling into the septic tank hole.

Newbie

Well here we go ... I've been thinking about starting a blog since we moved out of the metroplex. We'll see how this goes. Be patient with me as I'm on a learning curve with this site. Actually our entire family is on a major learning curve since we've moved out here. After spending all my life in the burbs with every shop known to mankind within a 10 minute drive, I have to plan, plan, plan!

You know you're out in the country when ...
... your son goes out to check the mail and cuts his finger on a piece of glass. Then in his cute little voice he says, "Now I know what glass does."
... you have scorpions in your house the pest company says everyone in your city just leaves their house unlocked for them to spray.
... you have to watch out for chickens in the road.
... you have to watch for turkeys in the road!

... people know the owner of the land you purchased, not the address.
... you can call city hall and they know you by first name, no account numbers necessary.

I already love it here.