Helping Marilyn Volunteer for Elijah's Retreat

This week I headed up to Rusk, TX, to visit with Marilyn and help her cook for a team that was coming to volunteer @ Elijah's Retreat, a camp for kids with autism and their families.

I had to take a picture of this cookbook we used for one of the recipes.  Look at all the history on those pages!!

She starts giggling, then I start giggling and it makes a great picture, I think!

For more information, check out their website:  Elijah's Retreat

This is the 3rd cabin going up.  It's the first one to have more than one bathroom.

Taking breaks in the shade was a good idea today.  It was HOT!

This is the front porch area, also a great place to consult

Jesse (or, Eeseeye, as we pronounce it) is a smiling employee of Elijah's Retreat.  He's teaching me Spanish words each time I come.  If you come visit me, I'll practice and tell you them out loud, but I can't spell them!

Jeff is the owner of the property, and his grandson is Elijah.

Always a joy to visit here, but this time I actually got to help out!  Nice!

Meeting Beth Moore

So, I was passing a gate in Houston airport on Saturday, on my way to my next flight, and noticed a very nicely dressed lady step out of the jetbridge. When I saw her face, I did a double-take, and actually kept walking. I knew it was Beth Moore, but being the celebrity she is, I didn't want to interrupt her day. But then I stopped and turned around so I could thank her for being God's instrument in my life to make an impact for Him. When I told her that, she immediately gave me a big hug and asked my name. I told her, and then I explained another one of my co-workers had been on an airplane with her and taken a picture. I told her I had been jealous at the time, and she said, "Well, get out your camera! Let's take one right now!" So, we did! She asked me why she hadn't seen me on any of her airplanes yet, and I explained to her that I had just moved to Houston. She said, "Oh, well, you're in for your first summer!" That seems to be a common theme about how hot it gets down here, and that I may not survive!  I guess we'll see.  Anyway, a quick highlight to my day before I trekked off to work a flight to Frankfurt.

Meeting JK

I prayed long and hard for this little man before he made an appearance just over a month ago. This visit to SEA, I FINALLY got to meet him in person!

Oh, how I love that new baby smell!

Having a little conversation with "auntie".  He has a dimple when he smiles.  I'm in love.

His wonderful parents, who's wedding party I was delighted to be a part of a little over a year ago.

I like this one best, I think!

Seattle Visit. . .Or Chasing After MM

Ok, so I usually try to go to see my cute nieces once a month, but it'd been a while, and I was due. I decided to go this week. It just happened to also be a VERY busy week for my sister who was doing things in the house that little ones couldn't be a part of. In other words, she needed a diversion for MM. This is where I came in. And what a task it was!

Modeling headgear

Auntie holding tightly to her while trying to sneak in a picture. . . .

G trying to do the same. . .

. . .with limited success. . .

I told her to try to get "cheek to cheek" with her.  This was our best effort on camera.

Always moving. . .

. . .and giggling . . .

. . .and climbing. . .

This is an outfit I bought in HKG for CC when she was little.  Then we tried it on G, and now it was MM's turn.  Do you know how hard it is to hold a squirmy girlie dressed in slippery material????

Oh, how I love my girlies!  And their parents, too!

Settling Drama

So, this table took a while to get here, and came in pieces on a span of 5 different days with a lot of misunderstandings in the meantime with the delivering process. BUT, it's here now, and put together, and I think it looks pretty good! Although, the card table I've been using for the last 6 months was fine, too, I think this is a step in the right direction! ;)

AND THIS IS MY PIANO CORNER!!!!!  I think it's my favorite place in my house so far, besides the garage that I press a button and drive in to. . . . ;)