Jazzed

I got some good news today. We are planning - Lord willing and the creek don't rise - to make a trip to WV after co-op ends here in May. It was looking a little disappointing because if we leave after all the stuff that we're involved with here in the Lone Star state - the Country Roads won't be able to take us home where we belong for some very important events, such as the graduation of some of my most favorite people in the world, the formal, and "The Night", a youth gathering. It looks like we'll be able to get there for the graduation and "The Night", but we probably won't make it there for the formal since it is early in May. We are bummed about the formal, but two out of three ain't bad. Not bad at all.
We can't wait to see you guys!!!!!!!! Can you believe it will have been a WHOLE YEAR? Somebody has to come home with me! Any takers?

That Says it All

Well it is starting to feel like winter in east Texas! Just to be sure you don't think I've suddenly stopped complaining, let me clarify that it went straight from sticky, humid 80 degree weather to damp and freezing, skipping every single phase of potentially enjoyable weather in between. Ick. I had to run an errand this afternoon. Since I never know how to dress, I went out wearing capri pants, and froze my little (work with me here it is one of my smaller features) hiney off. I looked down at the cart - the contents of which were frozen pizzas, ice cream (with plenty of chocolate of course!) and Kotex. Does this not say it all???

Just Around the Corner

Today is the one year anniversary of the day that we bought our house in small town, Texas. Pretty hard to believe in some ways, and in others it seems as if we've been here forever. Tonight we are having an impromptu gathering of friends to celebrate anniversary with us. It will also help us not be sad that we are missing the BIG Night where all our WV friends will be worshiping together tomorrow night and one of our favorite bands Sunday Obsession will be playing! (Go ahead and click over and give them a listen! I've known these guys since they were pretty small - and I am so proud of the awesome young men they are becoming!)
Speaking of our small town - I wanted to share two interesting things I have noticed about it with you. As you would expect, there are a lot of cattle and ranches here in this part of Texas. I have been noticing an interesting phenomenon lately about the grazing cattle - often times, now becoming more of a rule than an exception, you will see a duck sitting at the feet. I took these pictures yesterday at several different ranches so you could see what I mean:



Okay the last one I just threw in cause I thought she was beautiful.

And another interesting thing to share was this sign from a local cemetery. I have wondered what this could mean that burial is prohibited without permission? Freaky.
Life in a small town is interesting indeed. There are things I really love about it and some things that take some getting used to. This past year has been a year of very high highs and extremely low lows. Bracing myself for year two!

Dog Days of Summer Over? I Think NOT!

Perhaps the lazy days of summer are over, as I feel the electricity of activity cranking up all around me - both in the real world with co-op and sports and the 8,924,375 symptoms that we are just around the corner from most kids going "back-to-school", and in the cyber world as homeschooling friends are blogging about their activities, curriuculum, lesson plans, etc. (None of which btw will you find here other than maybe the mention of a good book.......) However, my friend Joanne posted on her blog this morning that she heard on the news that the "dog days" of summer were over. I can tell you that summer weather is still in full swing in SE Texas. We have had 108+ heat index over the last week, which is causing tropical storms and potential hurricanes to swirl off our coast. It is hot outside like parking your car in 100 degree temps with the windows up out in the full sunlight hot. When you step outside you are immediately damp and it takes your breath away. We are thankful for AC on a whole new level, both in the car and the house. Hot, hot, hot!

Electricity - EEEE lec-tricity

There is a lot of hoopla here in Texas about de-regulating energy bills, and what I understand that to mean is basically giving consumers a choice, although I found out they do not do that in the area I live yet. The "light bills" (as they call them around here) are ridiculous. We are paying almost $300 a month for our electric bill on a budget plan. My mother in law who lives alone and runs her AC only modestly - and other than her television, computer and a few lamps - runs hardly anything at all and pays almost as much as we do - more sometimes. Our house is quite a bit bigger than our house in WV was - but this doesn't account for an almost double electric bill. Fortunately we're in the shade in the summer - mostly surrounded by big beautiful trees that create a canopy over our house - and in the winter we have a fireplace to help with heating costs, but I have heard more than once others say their bills run as much as $600!!!! Where I come from that is a house payment (or used to be when we bought our house in '98) but not an electric bill. How do people afford this??
So I am curious - where do you live and how much is your electric bill? Please don't give me your address, just a general location. I am doing research! Lurkers come out - I need to hear from you!

A Better Day

There was a line in a Point of Grace song a few years back that said, "but the world keeps turning, bringing us better days" and today was a better day. I am thankful that the waves of homesickness and grief seem to be smaller and short-lived. It is just a part of the territory.
Today we went to see the High School Musical performed by the KIDmunity of Beaumont Community Players. It was better by far to see this live than in the movies. It was such catchy, upbeat music. Afterwards we went to this awesome Mexican restaurant called Rio Rita's and the whole cast came in behind us for dinner. Kullen got one autograph, but the girls were too chicken!
I think today gave us hope that we can make a life here. Theater was a very special and important part of our lives in West Virginia. I just haven't made the effort to get them involved because it is a 40 minute drive. But at least it is straight, flat road that I will traverse to take my little thespians to the theater!

TX Man Battling Flesh Eating Bacteria

My mother-in-law told me about this story earlier today. A SE Texas man from a neighboring town is fighting for his life after going in the ocean in Galveston just about a week and a half ago. It is crazy. Evidently there is a certain type of bacteria that thrives in warm salt-water. Poor guy. All the articles that I've read say that it isn't dangerous for normally healthy people, but the man was diabetic with an ulcer on his leg. The infection has reached his bloodstream and does endanger his life. Please pray for Mr. Gilpatrick.

Grab an Oar!

East Texas has this funny way of thinking that God is reconsidering that whole colorful bow thing He put in the sky to dazzle the Mr. and Mrs. Noah clan. It is 6:30 am and I just woke to the most horrific thunder clap. It is dramatized by the rattly windows in this 100 year old house. We haven't been anywhere near the recent flooding in Texas, but we may be floating that way soon if this heavy rain keeps up. Man, it can come down here.

Heartburn

The Lord has overwhelmed me. Within the last two weeks so much has transpired on the homefront that I can hardly imagine how it happened - even though I saw it all come together with my own two eyes.
First, I have made a friend that I have been walking with every morning. It his HOT HOT HOT outside - in the mid-90s even at 9 am - but every day this past week we walked around our block 3-4 times. This has been a tremendous blessing. While we have different spiritual backgrounds, God has used these morning walks to bring up conversations that are sharpening me.
Second, Kendra met her friend Allen, and because of that I met his mom, Sherri. She came over the other night and we had coffee and talked until midnight - never realizing the passing of time. She loves the Lord so much and it shows in every aspect of her life. Kendra and I went to a small group Bible study with them, and it was awesome. When we got home, Kendra made a list of prayers that were answered in the coming together of our newfound friendships - my prayers for a friend, Sherri's prayers for a friend that loves the Lord, Kendra's prayers for me to make a friend, Kendra's prayers to make a godly friend, the prayers of a lady we met named Joyce who had been praying for God to send a friend to Sherri, and I added that it was likely Allen's prayers to meet a girl who loved the Lord. It has all culminated in this amazing way that only God could do. You meet people and generally it takes time to get to know them, but it has felt all along the way like we've always known each other.
Then, the Bible study last night was like a big, deep drink of water for a thirsty person. I was starting to wonder if there were people here who would set aside their televisions for a night that they weren't "supposed" to have church, to have fellowship and communion with one another. It was pretty wonderful. Cleve Sharp was the man who led the group. There was no doubt the Lord's Spirit was on him. He shared a vision God gave him of some things that He was going to do this year among his people. So much of what he said were things that we have been sensing as well, and watching come to pass. One thing in particular was that we were moving from the church as it is structured now, into homes - for more koinonia - true fellowship among the body of believers. A mutual sharing of faith life, versus a political system where there is a power structure, and monologue where there should be dialogue.
Here are some of the other things he said that touched me so - that I was in tears even before he could finish a sentence - because I knew where he was going:

• I sense there will be a death of some things that have been dear. These have been places of great expectation. These were seeds that have been nurtured and at one time brought much hope. Many of these things were God’s will for the season but now it is the end of it. For a time it is ok to mourn. Then put it away from you …. Don’t allow the trauma of the transition to hold sway over you.
• There are some things that seemed lost to us … that will absolutely be recovered. The joy of these things will be as an old and dear friend. Some of these recovered things will be sweeter than we ever remembered.
• Some of the clearest words of life and direction will come from the smallest mouths. So, listen up.

If you read my blog regularly - or even semi-regularly - you will know the significance of some of these statements. I left last night with some new friends, spiritually refreshed, encouraged, excited at the prospect of what God is doing in the midst of people who love Him, and a sense of awe that He did it again when I least expected it. There is a fire in my heart again. I am so thankful.

Deep Green Southern Roots

I am going to give away the one part of me that is definitely, without a doubt, and unashamedly southern to the core! I LOVE southern cooking - sweet tea, cornbread, fried chicken! I think I am packing on the calories just thinking about it. One of the first things that I was loving when we first got to TX last May (yep our one year anniversary on the 29th - but that is another post!) was the abundance of fresh produce available at the local farmer's market - as well as in the gardens of all of Travis' family - everytime you visited somebody you were taking home an armful of something - even if you had never seen it before and didn't know how to cook it! One of my favorites things to make was Fried Green Tomatoes! They are sooo soo good! (I have also always loved the movie by the same name!)
Anyhoo - I thought I would share my favorite recipe for them which is from the Fanny Flagg's Whistle Stop Cafe Cookbook. Be careful though - if you get too addicted, you may never let any tomatoes get red - and they are so good too!

¾ c self-rising flour

¼ c cornmeal

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

¾ c milk

3 – 4 green tomatoes, cut into ¼ inch slices

Vegetable oil

Combine first 5 ingredients; mix until smooth. Add additional milk to thin if necessary (I say - don’t do this! Keep the batter thick!) Batter should resemble pancake batter. Working in batches, dip tomato slices into batter, allowing excess batter to drip back into bowl. Fry in 2 inches hot oil. (375⁰F) in a large, heavy skillet until browned, turning once carefully with tongs. Transfer to a colander to drain.

I used a fork, and I laid mine on a paper towel as with most fried foods. They are tangy – and not everybody likes them. If you try them and enjoy them let me know! Oh yeah, and they are super dipped in Ranch dressing!

The Beginning of the End

Tomorrow it starts - the goodbyes. Actually we said a few tonight. I think it will be easier this time. We have done it a few times already. Also, it helps to know that we can always come back and visit. There are things we learn every time that we come. Several friends have told me that the kids say they miss it here and want to come back, and while I don't deny that this is true - I have also heard them say they like Texas. I am thinking that a year between visits, at least, may be the best medicine for that. Coming back twice this first year was one thing, but it also interrupts our opportunities to make lives for ourselves in Texas.
I am meeting one friend for breakfast in the morning - just the two of us - and that sounds like fun - uninterrupted conversation over coffee - how good does it get!? Then another friend and I are going to Rita's for ice cream with all of our bunches. That will be nice too. Then in the afternoon and evening, we need to get busy about cleaning and organizing the house as well as packing the car. Ugh. I hate this part. But if everybody pitches in it won't be so hard. I have to say - I dread the 3 day drive. We will stop in Alabama again and see Karen's family. What a blessing they are. We will stay for a day and visit this time. I already know I need the break.
Have I ever mentioned that I hate driving?

Hodge Podge Happenings

I don't even know what to title this hodge-podge post. There is so much that has happened. The three days of driving wiped me out - and we have been on the go ever since we arrived. On our way we were blessed to stop in Alabama and meet up with the Woodwards. Karen and I have been blogging buddies for going on two years now and I have felt very connected to her family- even when they were far away in Romania. Our visit with them was way too brief, but it was awesome to stop and have a nice meal, stimulating conversation, and share some laughs. They are a precious family.
The night before the formal, my children talked their half-crazy mother into attending the first viewing of Spiderman 3 - which was at midnight! Ugh. And it seems that no matter what time I go to bed, I wake routinely around 7:30-8:00. The formal was wonderful. Here is a picture of my beautiful girls. It has all been great fun, but the lack of rest is catching up with me.
We were very blessed to be able to stay in a house - and have the whole thing to ourselves. Our friends have a home next door to theirs that they bought to host missionary families in transit. It is awesome. Fortunately for us it was currently empty. That has been a tremendous blessing - being able to use a kitchen and do laundry. Awesome. More about this later!
I went tonight to have dinner and play cards with some girlfriends. We met at Helen's house because her husband is out of town. She grilled steaks and made baked potatoes, salad, and had fresh strawberries to serve over pound-cake with whipped cream. Afterwards she made everyone cappuccino that we drank while we played cards. Our favorite game is Golf - nine cards for nine rounds. It is really fun. I always do so-so. We laughed so much and I realize how much this is missing from my life. The friendship, the being yourself and still being loved, the not always having to be "on" so that you can get acquainted with new people.
On my way home I had a good cry. I was thankful for the time in the car by myself. I am SO homesick - this place is my home. Travis and I were talking on the phone yesterday morning, and he was expressing some distress that I might speak badly of Texas. I am not sure when I became the P.R. rep for the "Lone Star" state. I don't have any animosity towards the state of Texas, but it.is.not.my.home. This beautiful place with the river that runs through it, the craggy hills, where I know every back road - this place is my home. I may come to love things about Texas, but for me these "country roads" will always lead the way home.
I may come to feel differently in time - but right now I am so homesick I can hardly enjoy being here.

The Very Good, Wonderful, Not too Hot, Terrific Day

Before the girls friends got here from WV, I made plans to visit the NASA Space Center in Houston. We have wanted to do that since we first moved here. It was a very fun day. We packed a lunch and headed out. For me the traffic wasn't so fun. I am not a city driver, and as we got nearer to Houston, we started having two lanes with no shoulders surrounded by cement barriers on either side. We took a tram tour of Johnson Space Center and saw a mock-up Mission Control room that was used for the Apollo era rockets. There were exhibits of all kinds. The kids had a few hands-0n opportunities such as operating a MMU - which is basically like operating a jet pack that moves you around outside of the spacecraft in a weightless environment, and practice at landing a space shuttle. (BTW - I was the worst at this!) We watched a lot of shows about different aspects of being an astronaut, what life is like in space, and learned about all the technology we've gained by missions to space - such as cell phones.
We met a real life hero - a man who served in and was awarded a Purple Heart for being shot down in WWII. His name was Frank. He also served in Korea and Vietnam. The kids stood and talked to him for a long time as he was sitting inside a mock-up of the space shuttle. He was very friendly - he liked the kids a lot. He kept calling the girls "beautiful". I asked him if we could take a picture of everybody with him, and he was happy to comply. He had more decorations on his hat than I think I've ever seen.
After visiting NASA and learning more about space than you could ever want to know - we ate Chinese and I got to have my fill of sushi! (yum yum) I had promised Jessie a trip to Sonic which I will make good later this week! She was gracious and allowed me to take a rain check!
I had decided the day before to take the kids to Galveston Island - which is only 30 minutes south of where we were in Houston - and make the NASA trip and the beach all in one day. The only trouble is that it was a very overcast, extremely windy day. That did not stop the six of them from jumping right into the ocean. I sat to watch them on the sand, and was freezing! (I was also covered with a fine grit of sand and salt!) The ocean was beautiful though - the powerful wind and waves causing me to worship the Creator.
There was so much salt and moisture in the air that few of my pictures out there appear to be very focused. I took them with the panoramic format in order to get the ocean splashing up on the rocks behind them.
Another fun thing that happened was in part due to my navigation of our route home. We left the beach around 8 pm - and found that you can take a ferry across so that you can make just a short 2 hour trip to our house. I knew that we didn't live far from the coast - but I didn't realize it was just that short of a trip. I was also surprised to find that the ferry is free - provided by the TX highway department. The kids were thrilled to get to ride the ferry. Jessie had never been on one before.
It was a very long day. We packed so much into that 24 hour period. We didn't get home until around 11:30 - held up half an hour by the near-miss accident. But it was a super day none of us will ever forget.
BTW - Kullen was there - and wondered why I never took any pictures of him - I explained that it was like trying to hit a moving target. Here is one of him in the ocean. Trying to get him to be still is like trying to nail jell-o to a tree!

No Time to Blog

Wow - I can hardly think of a day in recent history when I haven't blogged! Weird. Today I was so busy - I never even had time to touch the computer until after dinner - and then it was only to make a quick run through emails. Having a house full makes for busy times - everytime I turn around somebody is hungry, or thirsty or needs something or wants to do something - and I have to figure out how it all fits together! Whew! I am gaining a newfound respect for friends with larger numbers of children than I have. Teenagers are demanding people - but at the same time, their energy is contagious. I found myself sitting at the park today playing some sort of snapping, clapping game.
This afternoon we went to a Homeschool Co-op group family picnic. It was rather low key - but pretty fun regardless. We played some volleyball, ate a picnic lunch and had some enjoyable conversations. It was fun.
I am learning that the sun in Texas has a higher degree of intensity than what I am used to. I was not in the direct sunlight for most of the afternoon - and managed to get sunburned. My face, arms and chest are pretty pink. It could have been much worse, but I honestly didn't think I was getting that burned - however, you do feel somewhat like you are being radiated in the sunlight.
Recently, I have been noticing more and more women exiting public restrooms without washing their hands. This has little to do with the rest of the post, but I was making a disgusting observation. These same women touch the knobs on the doors and the handles on the carts that I have to touch. Gross!
Okay - so I blogged today - it is more like an uninteresting list of events of the day and one random thought. I know you missed me though - and I couldn't leave you hanging any longer.

The View From My Front Porch

I am sitting in my wicker rocker on my front porch. My mother-in-law gave it to me when we moved into our new house and I promptly painted it black to match my porch swing. The weather is just about perfect – light but not overly sunny. There is a gentle breeze with a mild temperature in the high 60s. I can hear birds singing, and the occasional passing car. My dog Jett has been laying here beside me chewing on a stick for the last half hour, and life is just about perfect for him. At the end of the street where the highway overpass is, I can hear an occasional truck. The house across the street is abandoned. The people put a mobile home on the back of their property and left the house which was in too much disrepair for the elderly people to keep up with. Every once in a while I hear a gull sounding bird, and smell beach air. I know it isn't my imagination because we don't live that far from the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes I wonder how I got here – and other times I am deliriously happy. I think about the years we will live on and off of this porch. Maybe one of my daughters will be asked for their hand in marriage here. (I will probably sweep before then.) Family reunions, grandbabies learning to walk, small children climbing the rails. I can imagine Travis and I sitting on the swing in our golden years, saying nothing but knowing everything about the lives we've shared together. While sometimes this porch seems very empty, and I wish I could fill it rail to wall with all of my friends, today I am contented to have it to myself. I think my children are making something for my birthday. Sheets have been hung at both entrances to the kitchen and I have been given the "do not enter" speech, but through the storm door that leads to the front porch, I saw flames a moment ago. (YIKES – for real!) I have my feet up and a sweet, hot cup of coffee, and the leisure to blog my little heart out. Life is good here on my front porch!

I Just Can't Help It!

I am sorry - I just can't help myself. This was the thermometer on my front porch - in a corner - in the shade this afternoon! It was almost summer weather here today and I'm loving it! I thought I would post this picture to prove how lovely it is here in Texas. (Although this is likely an indication of how terribly hot it is going to get in a month or two! YIKES) Thermometer courtesy of Andrew Seredinsky and family! (Thanks y'all!)

Shout out to Snow Dwellers – Come See Me Soon!

I had to evaluate my motives for wanting to publish this post. I woke to temps this morning in the 60s. The sun was out earlier and birds are chirping, but even while it threatens rain, I have windows open and am enjoying the scent of spring. Some of my friends live in the breath-taking mountains of West Virginia – it is a gorgeous place that I will forever call "home" – but this time of the year, it seems cold, and slushy, and any snow that has fallen is dirty, icky; your house begins to have a mud trail up the front porch from where snow has slogged down to the dirt and created a muddy mess. It is sometimes hard to see through that to the beauty that will eventually be springtime in the mountains. But spring will come. For me, in TX, this nice weather has come a bit earlier – and it is a blessed reprieve. I have been soooo cold here – way colder than I ever expected. Everyone says it is the coldest TX winter they can remember. (That figures!) But did I want to post about the lovely weather to make my friends jealous? Maybe just a little bit – but not for ugliness sake, but so they will want to come see me! Come see me soon! Love ya ~ Jewls