Spring Break - Grandparents

We enjoyed time with Charles parents in Arlington.

It's Rodeo Time....

Last night, Charles took the kids to the Rodeo.

Great Job, Johnny!!!!!

Johnny is in the symphonic band at his school. He and 6 other french horn playing classmates performed a song for an ensemble contest and they all got ribbons for being "exemplary".... the top rating!

Way to go, Johnny!!!!!

I am so very proud of both of my children! Not only for the things that they have accomplished, but for who they are. They both love the Lord and love people. I am truly blessed!

Great Job, Amy!!!!!

Amy had a singing contest a few days ago at the school. She had to sing a solo for judges. She has been taking private singing lessons. After the audition thingy, her voice teacher called and said that she got the highest marks that you can receive.......WAY TO GO, AMY!!!! I am so proud of her!!!! She has a beautiful voice.

Just like kids...

Sick of cat stories, yet? Too bad. I get a kick out of these two! That cat puts up with a lot, obviously! Spring is just too curious. And what is up with sniffing? We don't do that when we meet someone new! Is that taken as a friendly gesture? Ok, so I am in a really goofy mood.

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Quilt of Holes..

Quilt of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with
all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles;
an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged
and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole
here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and
empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the
light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly
fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I
spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to
accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.

An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared
at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes,
creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes.

He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine
through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."

I don't even like cats......

There is a new neighborhood cat. We don't know what his real name is.......We named him "Blackey" He acts like a dog, because he is very affectionate. He has a funny meow and hangs out at our house. We have let him in the backyard with our dog, Spring. He just lays there. He would come in the house if I would let him. Amy and I are highly allergic to cats, but not this one. He doesn't shed. I tell him every day that I don't like cats as I pet him and he purrs. He doesn't seem to care. I have really grown quite attached to him.

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Round Up Sunday

Today was "Round Up" Sunday at church. It is always a really fun Sunday to invite visitors. Can't go wrong with a petting zoo, a mechanical bull and chili!

Johnny rode the mechanical bull.......Hang on Johnny!!!!

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Old Movies......

I have been on a kick taping old movies. I watched......"Love Letters" last night. It was in black and white and starred Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten. It was filmed in 1945. It was about love letters written by a soldier in WWII......On the Turner Classic Movie channel they have a ton of great old movies. I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's not too long ago and a 3 hour movie all about Audrey Hepburn. My kids will sit down and watch them with me too. Get out the recorder and tape some old classic movies!

A Hero goes home.....

Today, Sunday - February 18, 2007 a Hero went home to Heaven. My sweet Uncle Pete Allee went to Heaven. He was 85 years old and lived a wonderful, full life. He served his country faithfully and proudly in World War II. He was such a fine man. We will miss his love and laughter.

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Then and Now....

Found this picture recently............This older picture was taken in the early 70's at our house in Albuquerque with me and my brother, Jeff standing by the hutch and buffet. The other picture was taken this past Christmas. Isn't it funny how even furniture holds so many wonderful memories of your childhood.

Talking dogs

New Choir Rehearsal

Harlem Globetrotters!

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Today we took the kids to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the Toyota Center. They were great!!! Afterward, both kids got Matt Jackson's autograph. Amy took the picture of Johnny with Matt with her cell phone! I got to see the Globetrotters in the 70's when I was a kid when they came to Albuquerque. That was when Meadowlark Lemon and "Curly" Neal were playing.

My little Rock Stars........

Here are Cooper and Sydney Hennesy. They are my nephew and niece in Indiana...........

If this doesn't make you smile, nothing will!

A night in the Emergency Room...

Well, last night (Saturday night) I was doing songs and prayers with Johnny and he started complaining that his chest hurt. He said that it was hot. He didn't have a fever or anything else and he said that it was hard to breathe. I called the nurse and she said to take him to the ER. This was about 10:00 pm and we all had our pjs on. We all got dressed and drove in the pouring rain to St. Lukes. I have to say that St. Lukes was such a great hospital. We didn't really wait at all. Within 5 minutes after arrival, they were taking his vitals. Within about 10 minutes after that, we were called into an examing room. I went down the hall to call and txt some friends to start praying. The kids didn't know it, but I was scared to death. The doctor didn't have a clue what could be causing these symptoms. She did an EKG and a chest x-ray and found nothing abnormal.....PRAISE GOD!!!! I have to say that during all of this, the kids were cutting up as usual and the ER Technician, Brian was a complete nut, messing with the kids, pretending to pass gas and blame it on the kids and when he hooked up the EKG to Johnny, he pretended like he was giving him a lot of electrical shocks! They of course ate it up! They were laughing at everything. Amy messed with Johnny so much during all of this, that I made her wait out in the hall.........well, then Brian, the ER Tech was throwing things at her!!! Everything came back just fine and there was no need to worry. WHEW!!! I slept in from church and hated missing, but knew that if I didn't get enough sleep, that I would get sick....................the end.

First Place!!!!!

Today, Johnny won a FIRST PLACE Trophy at a Chess tournament at a local high school!

WAY TO GO!!!!

A Day of Quilting!!!

The first quilt is a special memory quilt that I made for my sweet Mom when she turned 75. I used all 1930's replicas fabrics. The second is a baby quilt that I made for a friend.

Today is my first full Friday off! I have started taking Fridays off to quilt! I took myself to Starbucks this morning to start things off........ I have enjoyed myself so much today! I had jazz blaring all through the house while I quilted.....Even at lunch, I sat down with my sandwich and diet coke with lime and watched a quilt show that I tape every day! I love my life! Quilting is so very rewarding for me. It is a way that I express my creativity, but it is also my way of giving....I think of the person that will receive the quilt the whole time I am making it. I am working on a baby quilt now for my niece that had a baby in November. Quilting is my way of passing down a piece of me. I have a huge list of quilts to make this year. I will make another baby quilt for a special friend, finish a Hawaiian quilt, make a memory quilt using pieces of my Father's shirts, a 50's quilt, a denim rag quilt and 2 Christmas quilts and I am thinking of ideas for new quilts all of the time! I collect fabric from quilt stores, but recently, I collect them from e-bay! I can buy the most unique fabric from ebay from people from all over the world. I have quilts in every room of my home. I have some quilts that date back to the early 1920's or so. I learned to sew in high school, but did not learn to quilt until about 8 years ago. I saw a quilting show on HGTV and told myself that I can try that and learned as I went. I have taught Amy to quilt. She made her first quilting project in the 3rd grade. Quilting is a lost art and I don't know that many people that quilt. Whenever I go into a quilt shop or a quilt show, I am usually the youngest person there.

Starbucks, Jazz and Quilting.............does it get any better than this?? I think not!

New Year's Resolutions....

I made a lot of resolutions this year. Of course I want to lose weight and have started back to the gym on my lunch hour. I have taken Fridays off from work to quilt and have some "me" time. I want to get better organized, play more, save more money and do what I do better.........I teach 6th grade girls Sunday School and want to be a better teacher. I want to be a better friend. I want to tell people that I love them more. Each day that God gives us is a gift and I don't want to waste it.

What are some things that you want to do this year? In 2008, when you look back on 2007,.......what do you want to see?

Happy Birthday, Uncle Pete!

Saturday, January 6th, we celebrated the 85th birthday of a very special man.......Mr. Pete Allee. He is my mother's brother. He served in WWII and is a man that I love very dearly.

We met at a restaurant in Crockett, Texas. We enjoyed each other's company so very much. There is never enough time to enjoy family.

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