18 Years

18 years ago on a hot summer day Marty and I got married. The years have been filled with good times and bad, but like I tell my daughter, it's been an adventure! I realized this weekend that I have now lived with Marty longer than I lived at home with my parents. Now THAT realization made me feel old!!!




We sent Heather off to youth camp with a church group yesterday so we have an empty nest this week. Last night we drove to San Marcos for dinner and to wonder around along the river.

We dined outside the restaurant on the patio overlooking the river and this was our view during dinner:

After dinner we walked around the park and enjoyed a very pretty sunset. More of the photos of the sunset will be posted in the days ahead.

Happy Anniversary Babe!

To see my fireworks photos visit my Seguin blog.

2009 Biggest Small Town 4th of July Parade

To see my favorite patriotic photos of this 4th of July Parade, visit my Seguin blog here.

Our town claims to have the "Biggest Small Town 4th of July Parade." Each year we've lived in Texas we have participated in the parade, usually with our church. This year, Heather was the only participant and Marty and I were able to just relax and be spectators....only I didn't let us relax so much. Heather had to be dropped off early to line up with the high school band so we took her to her designated spot and found a parking place on a nearby street. We then got our chairs and my camera and headed to our favorite spot downtown to watch. When we arrived I asked Marty if he minded terribly if we didn't sit in our chairs and if we could take them back to our car (parked several blocks from where we now were) and if he'd mind if we just wondered around so I could take pictures. Being the great sport he usually is, he simply said "lead the way." So back to the car we went, then all the way back to the streets where floats were lining up, and we made our way through several and back to where the band waited all the while snapping photos as we walked and looked. We stopped to chat several times with people we know. We eventually wound our way BACK downtown where we originally planned to watch the parade and arrived just before the parade began, right about the time my inlaws also arrived and we watched the parade together. They left shortly after Heather and the band went through, saying they'd seen what they came to see: Heather's final 4th of July parade with her high school band.

I had to laugh at all the floats with girls with long dresses. Most of the girls on all those floats had their dresses hiked up trying to keep cool while waiting for the parade to start.

Waiting for the parade to begin

I just wanted to take this one home!!!!!

Jamie (a buddy of Heather's) and Heather, waiting for the parade to start.

Our County's Junior Miss! Congrats Brooklyn!!! (Brookly and Heather have danced together in the past and both girls are debutantes this year.)

Love these old roadsters

Heather usually opts to march in parades with the band, even though the dance team usually has a float or walks in the parade. This year's dance team float was cute.

After Heather marched to the end of the route with the band she joined us to watch the rest of the parade.

It never fails that whatever side we are on to watch the parade...Heather marches on the other side! I did manage to snap a few photos as she went by.

Our church's music minister Rodney is a part of the Sheriff's Posse

An entertaining pooper scooper

The tanning salon had a cute float too.

This little cutie was next to us watching the parade. I could not resist snapping her photo as she walked up to her family members saying "say cheese." Notice her camera is backward. Too cute!

Wordless Wednesday...{Mostly}

Wordless except for....

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS IS MY 600th POST????? WHO ELSE IS AMAZED THERE HAVE BEEN THAT MANY ALREADY???

Ok, back to the wordlessness...

For more Wordless Wednesday check here.

I ♥ Faces: Wedding Bells

I am entering the following photo in the I ♥ Faces Wedding Bells contest.

To participate or to see all the entries, click on the button above.

I took this photo, along with many others, when photographing the wedding of a friend of a friend. Tracey's wedding was held after Thanksgiving along the beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk.

It is HOT!

It is already very hot in South Texas! Thankfully, we have a pool in the backyard and a/c in the house. Lately it has been so hot that the pool isn't very refreshing mid-day. It feels like bath water. Sunday afternoons usually find me napping on a lounger in the pool. Last Sunday I didn't get much of a nap....I kept getting off the lounger to get back in the water! It was too hot to stay on the floatie.


Evenings are an entirely different story. It's still hot out, but not unbearably so. Evenings usually find us enjoying the pool much more! The water feels much more refreshing...and I never FREEZE as has been the case in the past when I'd go swimming in the evening.

Wordless Wednesday

Is there anything sweeter than a little girl kissing her unborn baby brother???

Check out more wordlessness here.

Final Tube Trip with Kendra

My friend Kendra's husband John is being transferred to Maryland and they are moving this week. :0( Yesterday we took one final lazy trip down the Comal River together. We'll see them one more time before they leave. I will be sad to see them go, but wish them well and know that we will continue to stay in touch via facebook and phone! Isn't technology wonderful!

Heather sailing down the first tube chute. What fun!

Myself and Kendra

Kendra's daughter Erica and my daughter Heather

Kendra and John

Marty, Erica and Heather

John, Marty, me, Kendra and Ashton

After the 2nd tube chute the teenagers decided it was not cool to float with their parents and floated ahead of us. We didn't catch up to them again until the end.

John and Marty

What a great and inexpensive way to spend a weekend afternoon! We're going to miss you and your family Kendra, especially our float trips together!

PhotoStory Friday--Mason

It has been VBS all. week. long. As tiring as VBS can be, it is also very rewarding. It is very rewarding due to stories like that of my pal Mason.




If you've been reading here long, or know me personally, you know I worked in the church nursery for several years. Mason was one of the kids I kept in the nursery. I've known Mason for 8 years now. I have also taught his brothers in Sunday School, went to camp with one of his brothers last year, consider his grandparents to be good friends of mine, and love him and his family dearly. Mason and his brothers have always held a special place in my heart. Those boys have had a rough time with their parents, have been abandoned by their mother and are being raised by grandparents who love them very much. While their story could certainly be a tragic one, it is not. Yes, it's a sad one at times, but they are overcoming the things that sadden them thanks to a loving family.


Mason brought me to tears today. His grandma, my friend Linda, asked Mason to let me take his photo with a sign he had. I approached Mason and watched as he unfolded a piece of paper in his pocket. I snapped his photo and read the paper. What I read brought instant tears. This my friends is why I, and everyone else who works in VBS, do what we do: so kids like Mason can learn about Jesus and learn what it means to accept Jesus as their Savior. When I turned around after reading Mason's sign and giving him a big hug, I saw that my friend Angela (my pastor's daughter) also had tear-filled eyes. THIS is why people continue year after year to volunteer to work in VBS.















Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Boomerang Express VBS

All Aboard!!! It has been a busy busy week here! We are in the midst of Vacation Bible School every morning. I am exhausted every year after working in VBS, but can't imagine NOT taking part. It is such a blessing watching so many children so excited about coming to church and learning about Jesus. For some children, VBS is the only time they come to church.


I am so thankful to be part of a church where so many people get involved and volunteer to work during VBS. We attend a small country church, yet there have been as many as 41 adults and youth working in VBS this week!!!!

Gotta love to see the VBS teachers laughing and having a great time! I think Reva has on Mason's hat!

Yesterday our pastor presented the ABC's of becoming a Christian to the 1st-6th graders.

Mr. Richard's class in their goofy pose!

The director's (or engineers?) of this year's "Boomerang Express"

myself and Bill

Just a few of our volunteers:

Mr. Rodney, Mr. Jess, and Mr. Morris

Thanks guys!!!

Even the littlest ones love learning the motions to the VBS songs!

Worship Rally

Worship Rally

My daughter Heather and my nephew Logan

The crafts crew: Mari, Shannon and Jim

Janice does an awesome job leading the music every year!

The Pre-K class in the Worship Rally

Leading the Worship Rally, Bill and Janice

Our awesome Kitchen Crew! Mr. Morris, Mrs. Lorelei, Mrs. Edith, Mrs. Wanda and Mrs. Doris

To see all the VBS photos as they are uploaded check here.