(40/52) TEXAS TOUR...

early fall weekends brought about
a TOUR OF TEXAS:

AUSTIN AWESOMENESS
pool floating, longhorn watching,
chez zee brunching, buddies for life


HOUSTON HAPPENINGS
school days, playdates, field trips, games galore,
dinner outings, and simply hanging out at home

WARRENTON WAYS
road trips back and forth, slumber parties, serving food, 
finding treasures, evan's performance with gary p nunn

AND MAE'S ABILENE DAYS
stepping stones exchange student, new friends, family dinners,
lots of extra love, grandparent and great-grandparent galore

NOW BRING ON MORE FALL FESTIVITIES!

(39/52) EIGHT DAYS A WEEK...

sibling sundays

my girl mondays

teaching tuesdays

wacky wednesdays

thursday tutorials

family fridays

soccer saturdays

sleepy sundays

ain't got nothing but love babe(s),
eight days a week!

(37/52) It's okay by me, if it's okay... BAYOU!

way back when i was a kid there was a commercial that my family thought was hilarious.

they used their best cajun accents to insert the punchline anytime it was remotely applicable.

i heard "it's okay by me, if it's okay BAYOU"quoted and repeated often,

followed by roaring cackles each and every time its as said.

here's my confession moment: i really didn't know why the joke was funny for years.

i had no idea that the word BAYOU existed, so i always heard and thought "by you."

until one school day as i was seated at my desk copying geography definitions

from my textbook onto notebook paper and the joke finally made sense.

now i know that a BAYOU is a a marshy outlet of a lake or river in the southern united states.

i now also know there is a BAYOU city in texas and i even live in it.

we have a local BAYOU map in our home, and i know random stats about BAYOUS

(The Bayou Preservation Association says that the Houston area has 2500 miles of waterways. if straightened out and laid end to end they'd stretch from here to Boulder and back, with enough left over for a round trip to Austin).

and all these years later i am still hearing BAYOU references often.

our church is even aptly named BAYOU city fellowship.

BAYOU CITY FELLOWSHIP just celebrated it's fifth birthday.

five years of being equipped, challenged, growing, sharing, and learning.

five years of praying, serving, growing, trusting, struggling, healing, and love.

five years of building up and lifting up the name of Jesus.

the first sunday we were meeting in a chapel and a gym.

this fifth birthday we are meeting at locations across the city,

some in an auditorium, some in a cafeteria, and some in a mini alamo.

the locations may change but the truth spoken is the same.

words won't adequately say our thankfulness for this place,
and it's impact on each of us and our family's story.
i am grateful for this special BAYOU in my life.
happy birthday BAYOU city fellowship.
it's a treat to worship BAYOU/by you.

(35/52) SCHOOL DAYS, SCHOOL DAYS...

"the most effective way to do it, is to do it." -amelia earhart

it's no secret we love summer.
so as the start of school was looming on the calendar,
we lived in denial for awhile that a schedule was really going to return at our house.

but then the last of our books arrived,
all supplies were purchased and organized,

and a night of meeting the teachers happened.

dear friends' names showed up on each kid's class list,

both got assigned to delightful teachers for their school days,
and a bit of excitement slowly began to replace the denial.

we laid out first day outfits,
eagerly packed backpacks and lunch boxes,

and celebrated with a back-to-school family dinner.

since the first day of school is the one time a year all five of us are up together in the 6 o'clock hour 

we document it and we did the same when i actually got ready for co-teacher training day.

but usually you'll find me teaching at home in my favorite uniform of all and comfy as can be.

two mornings a week our breakfast table now holds polished students ready to go learn.

and two mornings it is filled with bedheads diving into their learning at home for the day.

every morning i thank God for each person in our family and the gift of this day.

one week in, and i've already decided it's once again a three-way tie for my favorite student.

each comes with their own unique challenges and their own unique gifts.

i pray for strength as i spur them on to learn well, and to also grow well into who we were each created to be.

(26/52) DIAMOND TOURS...

over the years we've enjoyed watching the yankees, royals, 

red sox, and rangers play games on their home fields.

we've sat on bleachers and in stands together at little league games, 

college games, minor league, and major league games.

but we don't have to travel far at all to enjoy that all-american fun of baseball.

watching the hometown astros live is always a treat.

this summer our tuesday night spent at minute maid park was filled with personality.

as well as cheers, conversations, nachos, hot dogs, ice cream, and cotton candy.

please take me out to the ballgame.

again and again and again.