Tubing the Comal

One summer activity our family enjoys is tubing along the Comal. It's usually very crowded but we enjoy it anyway. We always go with friends and we all float along together and chat as we let the water move us downriver. The water is pretty slow moving most of the way and it's very relaxing.

We decided weeks ago to take the day off work on Heather's birthday and go tubing. We thought it was likely not to be crowded and it's an activity we can all enjoy and is very inexpensive. As the day approached some things changed and Heather was scheduled to work late in the afternoon so we decided we'd still float and we'd make it an early float trip.

This early in Heather's pregnancy meant Heather woke feeling horrible, sick, and pretty irritable. We decided to go anyway in hopes her mood and morning sickness would improve.


Our wonderful friend Kendra was able to join us as well. She hesitated to join us, not wanting to intrude on family time. I told her she was silly, that she IS family. :)




Heather's boyfriend Phillip was able to join us as well. Although he's been tubing before this was his first trip on the Comal:


Kendra heading toward the first tube chute:



And away she goes!


My turn:




Heather was right behind me!



Marty chillin' on the river:




Heather and Kendra enjoying our relaxing morning:



Might have to replace my hat soon. It's getting pretty battered!



There were so few tubers on the river even the ducks were enjoying the water:

Happy 18th Punky!

18 years ago today God gave us an incredible gift. He gave to us a precious bundle of life to raise and take care of and teach until He is ready to call her home again. I have never felt more blessed in my life than that day as I gazed at Heather for the very first time. As soon as she was born my doctor placed her in my arms and I've never seen anything more beautiful, more perfect. Then she was wisked away to weigh and test. The nurses brought her back to me all wrapped in a blanket with a bow in her hair like in the picture below.





So many times that seems like just yesterday. We wouldn't know for 3 years just what a miracle she was and what a gift God truly had given us. It was never our plan to raise only one child, but of course our plans aren't always what God has in store. There is no explanation for how we were able to have Heather but we are so very thankful to God that He gave her to us.





Heather proved early on to be eager to be independent and that never changed. Even now when she says, "Mom, I can do it!" I still hear that small voice when she was learning to dress herself, "Mommy I do it myself!"







I am not ready to let her go just yet, but I know that in just under a year I have to do just that. I will just have to hope and pray that we have prepared her for anything that lies ahead and will leave her in God's hands.






When Heather was 3 weeks old I laid her on one of my drawing pads and traced around her head, hand and foot and folded the paper up and stuck it in a book. I didn't realize until now when I dug it out that Marty didn't even know I'd done that. I had Heather put her hands on the page so I could capture a sort of then and now photo:





Heather may you have a blessed and fabulous 18th year! We love you so very much and are so proud of the young woman you've become.

Happy Birthday, Heather!!!

My baby turns 17 years old today. My how fast the time has gone! Seems just a few years ago that I held her as she was looking up at me with those huge beautiful eyes for the first time. And wow how we've filled the time since then!



We celebrated her birthday last night with dinner in San Antonio at the Magic Time Machine. It was a fun place for her! Movie characters were the wait staff. The hostess was dressed as some sort of animal and everyone was in character.

We didn't tell Heather her cousin Chris was home this week so she could be surprised when she saw him. He will be transferred to Arizona (Air Force) soon. This is Heather with Chris' wife Cil and Chris:

Heather with her buddy Ryan. They have been friends since 7th grade and we were so glad he was able to come with us to help celebrate her birthday. What a couple of cut-ups they were the whole evening!

The salad bar in the restaurant is a car:

Ryan's and Heather's talents extend even beyond their musical abilities in the high school band! It would appear Ryan is more talented than Heather in spoon balancing!

Napolean Dynamite was our waiter and here he fits Heather with a special birthday girl hat!

Another waiter Shaggy from Scooby Doo dropped by our table from time to time as well. Here he's just jumped through a window to come after my niece Cheyenne who's just shouted across the restaurant that something he said was lame.

Heather was brought a plate of cookies that made a lot of smoke. She was trying to figure out how they made it smoke so much.

Shaggy, Napolean Dynamite and Jack Sparrow all sat her in a chair and sang "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" to her. It was so funny!

Jack Sparrow singing to Heather.

Shaggy's dance was a little disturbing....

Our friends Reva and Mitch (also our pastor) joined us to celebrate as well.

Heather and her grandparents: Freddie, Heather, Granny (Billie) and Freddie's Mom, Jean.

Mitch began spitting lemon seeds through a straw at Heather.

Heather retaliated by spitting ice chips back at him!

Heather and Aunt Debbie.

As we were leaving Shaggy tried to steal Heather's gift.

On the way out the door Heather and Ryan found a booth with a peace sign window in it and wanted their picture taken peeking through the peace sign.

Happy Birthday Punkin'! What a fun way to celebrate!

Happy Sweet 16 Heather

I can't believe I've been blogging long enough to have actually written 100 posts, but here it is....post 100! I thought it would be fun to post Heather's sweet 16 as post 100:

I think it's safe to say a good time was had by all at Heather's birthday party. Her teenage friends were invited to join us early in the day to enjoy swimming, playing pool, etc. Some adult friends were invited to come over later in the evening to roast hotdogs, marshmallows and be here for cake and ice cream.

I am not good at decorating cakes. Never have been and haven't decorated very many. But I have a new toy from Pampered Chef and since I didn't want to spend a lot of money on the cake, decided to try out my new toy. Here's Heather's birthday cake:

Heather's friend Shelby dropped by for a little while. Her family had plans for the evening, but brought her by to give Heather a birthday gift and let her hang out for a bit. We're so glad you were able to come by Shelby!

Michael and Travis chillin' in the game room.

Heather getting splashed in the pool.

All the teenagers lined up ready to jump in the pool together.

From the left, Heather C., David, Michael, Heather, Travis, Mathew, and Michele.

Just enjoying the water.

Heather and Riley. They fight like sisters, but once in a while we see a sweet moment like this.

Marty mid-flight in his "attack" on Erica.

And he gets her good!

Most of the teenagers roasting hot dogs with Freddie for dinner.

From the left, my mother in law Billie, me, Erica and Cameron roasting our dinner.

Erica's working on dessert while Rodney and Richard start their dinner.

Erica really enjoys her marshmallows!

Beverly blackening her marshmallows.

It seems both Nancy and Beverly prefer their marshmallows black.

Some of the kids enjoying the hot tub.

My father in law Freddie and my mother in law Billie. Thanks so much guys for letting us invade your house, pool, and game room yesterday!!!

Just hanging out with friends.

Time for cake!!! Happy Birthday to you, Heather!

It was getting dark so "Pappy" Freddie held the flashlight so Heather could read her cards as she opened her gifts.

Heather choked up when she opened a very touching gift from Granny. She gave Heather a locket that had belonged to her Granny and inside she'd placed a picture of both of Heather's late Papas (my dad and Billie's late husband). It was a very sweet, tender moment.

Before everyone left Heather, Cameron and Riley sang us all a silly song!