My Father

This is my Father looking at his sheep on his ranch in Texas........he is very funny........and crazy too.... he told me that there was a new neighborhood near him where "women walk dogs on leashes and men play golf...........what a waste of people's lives". He wanted to drive me through it because he felt I wouldn't believe how weird it is...........I told him I didn't need to drive through it, I live in it!!!!!!! It's called middle class America!!!

Reality

Here is the reality... at heart, I am not an East Coast girl. San Antonio fed my soul. The spanish style buildings, the food, the live oak trees, the 75 degree weather......all very unVirginia....and very me. We did not have one bad meal while we visited the River Walk........I am going to learn how to do a Texas Land and Cattle restaurant smoked sirloin if it kills me. Chris texted me to enjoy it while it lasted because reality was awaiting me in Charlottesville...........well, reality is a bit over rated!!!!! Still begging him to move to paradise...haven't convinced him yet!!

San Antonio

Am in S.A. for a conference for work.............flew in yesterday with my big coat and sweater....rented a car to drive to Austin to see family for dinner and a quick overnight before I had to get back to the conference..........had to shed the coat and sweater and turn on the A.C. in the car...........stopped at Target to buy sunglasses.............and then a place for BBQ..........today had AMAZING Mexican food and decided that the reason God has me living in Virginia is so I don't get too fat..........or too suntanned.............the food is SOOOOOOOOO much better here and the sun really is brighter year round....I could sure get used to that!!

Hook Em Horns

Jake had a stressful week. The Longhorns lost to Alabama and Colt McCoy was out with an injury in the first quarter. Jake cried and cried............all during the game. We had let him stay up and then just put him to bed third quarter. He was up at 6 am watching ESPN..........catching the highlights, the news on Colt...........with tears streaming down his face.........telling him "it's just a game" was unhelpful.....he was in pain over this thing.............what is it with boys and football??

Peace

I had a really restful break.........and entered the New Year feeling restful and centered. Then the ice picks of life and reality starting chipping away..........I have held strong.....and still feel good, but the truth is the feelings shouldn't count as much as my faith and what I know to be true. If I really believe God is in charge, I will trust him. I will trust him with my children who seem to be in 5000 different directions depending on the day......and 5000 moods too. I will trust him when I get on that plane next Sunday to go to San Antonio for a week........alone! I will trust him that Tucker will be ok going back to VMI and "resurrection week" and all the trauma that brings........I will trust him when Chris and I disagree........or my boss and I disagree..........or a kid at school is failing after so many interventions........I just read "The Prodigal God" by Tim Keller..........very good. We are attending a different church today..........new year new church??? We will see and will trust Him with that too......

10 years old.....

This child will be 10 on the 14th............I can hardly believe it. I remember this cute little baby who was so active.......he still is!

Happy New Year!!! 2010!!!!

I think this is the best New Year's start I have ever had.....
All my family is gone places and I have been completely alone!!!! It is heaven. My house is clean, no laundry, no dirty dishes, no TV blaring......nobody screaming for me to do something for them.......a peaceful house...........just me, the dog and the cat and the fireplace. It will all end this evening, but having this VERY special alone time has taught me that I need more peace in my life.....so my goal in this New Year is to try and figure out how to get more of it.... It will be a busy winter........I leave for San Antonio for a whole week on the 17th.........and then we have a work cruise for Chris the end of Feb., first of March............and then we have VMI lacrosse season. Summer needs to be planned. I will not have Jake home all summer again with nothing to do..........ugh....still suffering from that one. Of course, we need to spend spring break doing a few college visits for Emily...........that process will be nuts. I need to exercise, lose weight, eat healthier, stress less, be kinder, yadda yadda yadda.................you know, the same thing I need to do every year. I do have a passport for the first time ever. Maybe I will go to Italy or France.............probably I'll go to Oklahoma........Happy New Year to all of you!!!