Sunday "in the park"

Abby loves to climb in the van
Abby and Emma use the back of the van as a "clubhouse"
Silas - hanging around

There are two things my kids love to do when we head outside. They love to play in the "common area" - a grassy part of our neighborhood that is not used by any of our neighbors so it is just like a private park for the kids and they love to climb around in the vans. I don't let them crawl around in my van because they are constantly getting into my stuff (change, lipstick, papers) but Jeff lets them loose in his van to play. Truth be told it may be more about the cleanliness of each van ...

A beautiful Saturday

It was a beautiful day here in Tyler. The temperature never went over 90 degrees. We kept hte kids busy and spent lots of time outside. One problem we have on Saturdays is that Abby usually wakes up early from her first nap then needs a short second nap in the late afternoon. That would not be a problem except that she wakes up from the 2nd nap in the worst mood.

It takes her at least 20 minutes to "wake up" and get happy.

Holiness

Last night I attended a class taught by the Honorable Judge Parker who is a member at Glenwood. He is teaching a 3 week series on the holiness of God. These are a few of my thoughts after class. When we, as Christans, become mature enough in our faith to gain any kind of understanding about the holiness of God...what happens next? In light of God's complete "opositeness" from sin and evil, don't we then despise and detest our own sin more as we strive to be holy? In light of God's complete "separatness" from human nature, don't we then come to realize that God is in total control and we have no control over God? In light of God's holiness, don't we then become overwhelmingly grateful for the cross and the grace offered there? If God is "holy, holy, holy" and we are dead in our sin...praise can be our only response when we acknowledge the vast chasm that was spanned in order for us to draw near to Him.

Photos

These are some of my favorite pictures from August and September.

My grandparents

My grandparents have been married for 65 years (of course they were both VERY young when they got married). They have lived most of their lives in Beaumont, TX but have also lived in Odessa and Oklahoma City. They brought three children into this world - Kit (my dad), Frances and Barbara Elaine. In 1974, they buried Frances and I was born. As they sit in my living room this evening, they have 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. What a blessing to have them in our lives. What a blessing for my children to know their great grandparents. God is good to provide us with elders to help guide our footsteps. Thank God for Arthur and Lyndall Owens.

Much ado about nothing

The storm has passed...literally. There was a lot of talk over the last 48 hours indicating that Tyler and East Texas was going to get pounded by the remnants of the hurricane. We've had a slow steady rain all day and hardly any wind. It was the best case scenario for us.
The mandatory evacuation has been lifted for the Beaumont area so my grandparents are going back home tomorrow. We will miss them but are glad they are heading back to an area that was not damaged.

A family affair

My grandparents arrived in Tyler this morning, safe and looking well. We grilled hamburgers and seemingly ate for two hours straight (it is a holiday). Now we watch CNN and the Weather Channel to find out what is coming next... from our friend Gustav.