Open the Flood gates of Heaven!

Michael W. Smith has a song that my family loves to sing.... and this end of June it seems most appropriate to put it's lyrics to today's beautiful rainstorm and my precious ones rejoicing and dancing in the outpouring.... so here it is!

"Let it rain,

let it rain.

Open the floodgates of Heaven

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad

Let the distance shores rejoice

Clouds and thick darkness surround him

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne

A fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side

His lightning lights up the world

The earth sees and trembles

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord

Before the Lord of all the earth

The Heavens proclaim His righteousness

And all peoples will see His Glory

We want to see Your Glory, God!

Do you want to see His Glory?

Lift your voices, lift your hands!

Let it rain, let it rain.

Open the floodgates of Heaven!"

I can hear my precious little ones singing this as I write this blog and see their sweet images dancing in the rain in front of my house.... they sing it as we watch the storm clouds gather! Here in West Texas, we are so thankful for this gift from God, and this particular rain will fill the newly dug tank at the crossroads in front of our cross. SWEET!!!!

HOLY.... LORD YOU ARE HOLY!!!!

we thank You for the rain and we ask trusting for YOUR REIGN!

Cup and Saucer, Corn and Curls, Our Little one is a year old today!

The roasting ears are ready to pick in Mr. Cody's fields... wanna go little one?

Big brother will hold you tight so you don't fall out of the truck while the rest get our muck boots on...
... and Momma will show you what corn silk really looks like.... but don't eat that, there's much better parts when you get teeth to eat it. It is a little hard with the ONE tooth you have right now!
You can sit in the corn row while the rest make sure they get just the right ones for the party tonight. Do you think roasting ears goes with tacos and a tea party cake? No worry, you're a Texas girl, and they always do things their own way.... just ask KGC... she'll be quick to confirm the fact!
When I look at you today, I think back a year ago.... can't believe we were stuck in a California airport and hearing about your birth via the cell phone. Your Tahtee and Poppy were fit to be tied.... and those airport people had no doubt that we were MOST anxious about their predicament. We thought you were going to be our little July Ruby child.... and another 2 weeks away.... but no... you chose your own day, just like your momma did! What did we expect?
Poppy and I were so glad to finally get to the hospital.... we made it with about 13 minutes on the VERY day you were born, one year ago today. It seemed an eternity before we saw just how perfect you were.
Hoot and Moddie were in California with us, and they had to wait a little longer before seeing what a beauty God had given us. But, as it always is and will be with you, the wait is worth it! You don't disappoint!
You've captured us this year with your precious little girl ways.
Your precocious grins and your quiet simple charm!
You are loved incredibly little one, and we think you are the perfect ending to a perfectly wonderful family! We are glad you are here! You make us more than we could have imagined, but that's not surprising as we know from experience that His ways are beyond our imagination!

Happy First Birthday little one.... we are your captive audience for the rest of your life!

Occupational Evidences... are they only in the physical?

Sometimes it is just time to leave the ropin, ranchin, plowin and plantin.... but even when we leave the job, the evidence is clear the profession of the ones who've walked away.

(Notice the tan lines on these wonderful men)

... I'm thinking.... what evidences are there of the
"CALLING"

we each have on our lives...???

would the lines be as clearly drawn as these tan lines marking the occupations of these three?

.... and then..... there are the sons.... who wanna be "just like DAD".....

again, would we sit so close and try to be just like our DAD?

As my new California friend so aptly put it....

sometimes I'd like to just climb up into my Dad's lap and be as close as I could....

the safest place to be.... exactly the One to emulate!

and then..... even though to pool is warm.... how bout a summertime dip in the hot tub with dad.. or uncle as the case may be.... nice end to a nice Sunday afternoon in the summer!
Would that I would always ask....

"is this how you do it Dad?"

..... and then willingly shown by a Father Who loves me!

.... and just for fun..... into the house for sandwiches...

Ebear and Latte share part of EE's bits of bun......

ummmm ummmmm good! yes it is!

I like these spontaneous unplanned summer evenings.....

just wish EVERYONE would be here with us!

REALLY I DO!!! consider yourself invited!

Pink rock in the heart of a tree... Casa De La Wren

There are those times when God allows us to remember...

Like a heart shaped pink stone placed in the crook of a tree,

the tree envelops the stone, but the ones who placed it there know it is there,

sometimes memories are like that stone in the heart of a living tree....

truly embedded in the very being of ourselves......overcome with history,

yet unchanged from their entrance into our selves...

we remember and smile

... how many ladles have dipped in celebration?
The years of sojourners to the place have testimony on the beside table...

treasures of loved ones and good times

we thought it was an extravagant decadence... really it was the kid's favorite surprise for first time visitors.... along side the archaic giant of a jacuzzi!

Remember all the kids and the huge bubble baths in their swimsuits?

... the the strange kitty who chose us the first year we were there...

was it really over 30 years ago?

How many strategists have sat around this table playing Risk, Scrabble or Uno?

The map is outdated now...

but the little slide that was first our Em's

has now had many many little bodies slide down it's sturdy back.

They don't make them like this anymore do they?

and this table... has to be over 55 years old.... did I really learn to walk holding onto it's edges?

....the decor changes, but the feeling of the room is always the same....

inviting me to rest after a day of skiing, or pulling kids on their skis,

or now... chasing grand kids up and down the stairs.

Mornings always begin here. How many conversations?

How many life changing choices?

How many Spirit led discussions, what I'd call divine appointments?

oh so very many!!!

and then the climb!!!!

Who can forget the climb?
It used to be easier to make the 100s of steps... up and down the site that everyone said...

"you can never build on that steep a location!!!"

little did they know that this was just the catalyst to make it a done deal!

And finally you get to the last leg of the journey to the dock... yes, there really was a black panther that slept beneath that ledge before we were the first to build on the slough... even eagles nested there across the slough from us. The farmers and ranchers of the area were probably pleased when the golf course took its place...

no longer the eagles nest,

no longer the cougars haunt...

but still our special Spirit filled place!

Across the bridge to the dock, and off we go!!!

Some things never change.... even if the participants do

Here momma and aunt sat in just this spot while each cousin took a turn on the tube...

back then it was black, and it got inflated at the gas station before we left home.

I met this guy while he worked on boats...

if he'd been shorter he would have been on the race team for the shop where

he fixed, tried and tested

the over 100mph boats kept only in the water by the propellers they sported.

Thank You Lord for making him TALL!!!)

Funny to see a little boy in the place where my 2 girls sat watching each thrill seeker take a turn. Guess little boy's swim trunks don't have the same problem little girl's suits do.... right El?

Then the signals....

Fast,

Slow down,

around we go,

or

hands flapping up and down signalling BUMPY RIDE!!!

yes, it was this day!

I'm thinking this will be an all too familiar sight for the next years!

We will absolutely love it!!!

... and that table I learned to walk around???? well guess who is walking around it now?

54 years later!

Some things have changed...

we now have a beach where there were once only mesquites and cows!

Then the guy with the megaphone moved into the slough buoys,

and things have never been the same...

oh yes, there are also no buoys to rent either...

only REALLY expensive docks with trapeze swings, new boats, and matching Seadoos....

Yep, some things have surely changed!

But some things haven't...

Our steps on this journey are made matching strides of those that have walked it in front,

beside or behind us...

and then, even better,

WE get to hold their hands as THEY stand and learn to walk on their own!

God is so good!

I love the precious memories that flooded my heart as I drove to this familiar place,

and then......to get to make new memories!!!!

the circle is ever widening and yet,

it funnels back to the same exact place....

Love, Family, and my precious LORD!

***Addendum to JC's B'day***

Tomorrow will be my oldest God-joined son's birthday. As we had his oldest here for the night (aren't grandparent sleepovers fun??.... El asked "what are you gonna do when they are all old enough and want to stay"? SAY "Oh let's do!!!!")

Anyway.... as we were talking about her Daddy's b'day coming up and I said I was going to "blog" his day, she asked "Tahtee, can I do my Daddy?"

Well...... there are NONE of my words that could match those from the heart of a daughter's... so Jeff.... Happy Birthday, and I think you can be sure that you are loved in an incredible and unconditional way that a 7 year old daughter can convey much better than I!

(as you read... notice that there is a blank "pause"... she thought the pictures had disappeared, but lo and behold... there they are +1 after the pause as you scroll)...

May we all know this kind of devotion and love!

Jeff's Birthday (words and pics from his 7 year old daughter)

Happy Birthday Daddy,
He knews the way ask the way and hill take you there!
When work is here hes on his way dont worry he brings his family on his way!
When something or someone needs help hes on his way.

HE TOTT ME TO RIDE!!!
He is looking over the earth that his maker made for him to roam on
I LOVE MY WONDERFLO DAD!I WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Happy Birthday Will D....

I am hoping for you another year of joy!

Joy that comes from knowing and choosing what is most important!

You do this regularly Will!

You make my heart proud!

Joy that comes from teaching what's important by the way you live in front of your children...

They know that their Dad is consistent and that he listens to God first.

Joy that comes from having the time to play and even include your little ones in your day to day "work". Being able to move a herd of cows (or a herd of numbers when the accounting is being "moved") across the road... then stopping to pick up one who wants to "ride with my dad!". He wants to be just like you... he says it all the time.... "me and my dad!". What a tribute!
Joy that comes from knowing that your most valuable assets are not held in any bank, vault or stock market security, but in your very own hands. Your family knows that after God, they are first in your life and your choices! They know it not because you say it, but because you show it.
and Joy that comes from knowing that you've spent yourself on worthy pursuits chosen by the priorities of Heaven not of earth....
I'm glad God chose you for our Ellena.... you complete her, and you've made our lives so very much more by your presence. We love you Will.... and we are proud of you!

Happy birthday!!!!!! (cheesecake is in the frig!)