Fort Worth in the RearView Mirror

Picture It 366

As you may have seen, I've been posting many pictures lately. I have decided (thanks to a friend's insiration) to take a picture a day for this year & share them with you. I am calling my endevor PictureIt366. Why 366, aren't there 365 days in a year you ask? Why yes, yes there is but this year is leap year so there will be 366 days hence the name PictureIt366. I hope you enjoy all my photo's as much as I have & will enjoy taking them. Have a wonderful 2012.

Clarity & Wisdom in 1863

It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

Know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?
We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

Abraham Lincoln October 3rd 1863

Happy Thanksgiving ~ snicker, snicker, snicker

I am truely amazed that I still laugh hysterically when I watch this episode of WKRP in Cincinati. This show had me in stiches in almost every episode, the writers and actors worked together well. They do not make them like this anymore.

slight glimpses of autumn

Here in N. Texas we rarely get the beautuful colors of Autumn but every once in awhile we get a glimpse of what Autumn is all about. Beautiful.

Nai Nai's Here

No our girls are not getting ready for Halloween, their Nai Nai is here and they are soaking up every ounce of every nanosecond they can possibly absorb.

Nauseated

Dear Penn State Students who are rioting in support of Joe Paterno,

KNOCK IT OFF!!! Everyone in the country realizes that it was Sandusky alone who tragically ended the childhoods of an untold number of children. BUT there also was an enormous failure on so many levels & by so many people to prevent further tragedy & harm to more children & provide justice for the ones already harmed.

Joe Paterno played a major part in that failure! Mike McQueary, who witnessed an assault occurring and did nothing played a major part of that failure, the athletic director played a major part of that failure; the administration played a major part of that failure. HOW IN THE WORLD can a person receive a position of honor such as Coach Emeritus after allegations of & being observed sexually abusing a child. Sandusky was rewarded it is that simple & it is appalling. Everyone who had a hand in NOT reporting these incidents to law enforcement authorities are responsible.

We all make choices in our lives & the choice by Paterno, McQueary, the AD, the Administration to NOT act in advocacy for these children, but in turn rewarded Sandusky with the position of Coach Emeritus are RESPONSIBLE in some way shape or form! They in effect, by their OMISSION TO ACT, gave Sandusky a free pass to continue his destruction of childhoods.
The Board of Trusties absolutely did the right thing in firing Paterno. By Paterno's OMITTING TO ACT (other than informing the Administration) he put countless more children at risk to Sandusky's torture & cruelty. JUST THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF PATERNO STOPPED THIS WHEN HE FOUND OUT...HEAR THAT IT IS THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER BY THE CHILDREN SPARED FROM SANDUSKY'S TORTURE BUT INSTEAD ALL WE HEAR IS TEARS!

Yes, Paterno is a great coach & did deserve all the accolades of being a great coach but the moment he failed to notify police of Sandusky’s sexual abuse of children he forfeited the honor of being the head coach of Penn State, he forfeited the honor of receiving all the accolades of being the most winningest coach in college football, he forfeited the honor of respect from people like me. Paterno should not be allowed to coach even one nanosecond more of Penn State football. Paterno is not the only one who, by their inaction, should forfeited their jobs, accolades, & respect, there are many more & if Penn State Board of Trustees is serious about reestablishing the reputation of the school they will fire more coaches, staff, & administration officials, all of which turned a blind eye to Sandusky’s abuse.

Paterno’s comments to press & “supporters” outside his home last night were even more sickening to me as a human being. Paterno’s hollow statement of “I’m praying for these children” is just utterly unacceptable. For Paterno to come out and say he is praying for these children AFTER he did nothing and could have stop it ten years ago is absurd and ridiculous! What Paterno SHOULD have said is:

“I am sorry. I failed these children, I failed their parents, I failed this community, I failed school when I did not report Sandusky to the proper authorities. There is nothing I can do to now but admit I was wrong by not reporting what I knew ten years ago immediately. I am truly sorry for my inaction and beg forgiveness from the children who were hurt and their families and from God.”

Only after a statement somewhat like that will I accept his comment of, “I am praying for these children”.

In addition, the Board of Trustees should be adamant that any financial settlements that arise from this cover up should come solely out of the Penn State Football budget and nowhere else.

Ranger's take the ACLS

^{in picture, Adrian Beltre & Ian Kinsler}The celebration started in the bottom of the 3rd & lasted late into the night. Congratulations to my Texas Ranger's for heading to the World Series for the 2nd year in a row. Priceless picture.

Fans Show Their Spirit

Accident or Divine?

Life is just too intricate and delicate to be an accident.

Good 'Ol Summer Time ~

Love these summer days especially when they are not a gazillion degrees outside. Had a wonderful day with Bek's yesterday at the zoo while Kelly & Mad's enjoyed a 13 mile bike ride to downtown & back to the park near our old house.

I just popped up to say "hi"our neighbors doberman loves to peek over their 6" fence

Summer Fun

This Summer has been hotter than usual this year with 40 days of 100+ degree temperatures. Thankfully, we had a wonderful break from the heat yesterday evening and this morning. RAIN! The storms teased us on Thursday but broke through last night. We have got 1.50" inches of rain since last evening and I am excited I do not have to water my lawn this Sunday. The girls have had their fun swimming and playing in the sprinkler. Bek's has become a pretty good swimmer, although when she comes up to take a breath she stops kicking her legs and down she goes. Mad's went to Horse camp for a week at the local stables and now wants a horse. UGH! We have begun shopping for school supplies. Mad's is excited to see all her friends again but not so much about having homework again. Bek's begins a new school this year and we are looking forward to a 3 day a week program for her. I love summers and am sad that my girls have to go back to school, I enjoy them so much.

Today is the 1st day of spring. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I get so excited about the tree blossoming and waking from their winter nap. The grass turns bright green and all the wild flowers beging popping up everywhere. Growing up in California when you began seeing the Yellow Poppies you knew spring was near. Mom made up a song, "I see California Poppies, I see California Poppies, I see California Poppies, that means spring is near." I know it is just a simple little song but even today whenever I see the Texas Bluebonnets blooming I think of that song and I am taken back driving in the car with Mom singing that song & enjoying goofy times with my mother. I find I get excited over the simplest of things and a full orange moon is one of them. Last night I was able to take some pictures of a big orange moon rising over field with a church in the far distance. Tonight I will be out again, the moon is suppose to be the closest to the earth since 1983. I am amazed at God's creation and how it puts me in awe.

I have begun my journey of reading, "Jesus among other god's" by Ravi Zacharias and for those of you who know me know this is no small undertaking. I hate to read, simply becasue I am not good at it and dyslexia adds a whole extra dimension to my comprehension. I have read to page 12 in 3 days of reading, did I tell you I hate reading.

September 11, 2008 we were blessed with Rebekah Wei. What a difference 2 years make. She has grown so much and what a personality she has.WE cannot imagine our life without her, sne is such a blessing.

"mama said there'd be days like this!"

Letter to a Friend

Candace,
Words do not come easily to me and I am not the most eloquent writer either but I want to tell you how sad I am for the loss of your mother. But what an amazing blessing you and your family had to usher your mom into the presence of God. I know from the loss of my mother 6 years ago what a privilege and blessing it was to be with her, singing to her, reading to her, & telling her it was time to go be with Jesus. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do so far in my life but as I look back on it and the tears come they only last for a short time as they turn into JOY. They turn into joy because my mother is where she was meant to be all along. She is perfect and new and for that I cannot be sad too long. The song, “This is My Destiny” by Dennis Jernigan always comes to mind when I think about my mother's death. In it, it says

"What once bound me is not more! What was stolen is restored! By the resurrection power of my King! What was old has been made new; Lies and doubts replaced by truth! What was silent now resounds, I AM REDEEMED!"

Candace, the disease that bound your mom all these years is gone, she is free from it and the abilities of hers that were stolen by this disease have been restored. She is a new creation now! And if she was unable to talk when she died she is now shouting, "I am redeemed!!" When my mother died she was not able to do the most basic things, she could not walk, sit up, or talk. But the moment her life ended here on earth she was free of everything that bound her. She could walk, run, & dance. She could talk & sing! All the doubts she had, questions, every lie that was ever told to her by satan were gone, her eyes were open to see the truth. For that I am joyful.

Missing your mom will never go away; it will never become "easier" as time goes on. You will find yourself picking up your phone to call her just to talk or tell her some joyful news in your life then remember and begin to cry. I pray your sadness will only last a short while and be replaced by joy. I pray that God will give you His peace. The peace spoken about in Philippians 4:6 & 7,

"Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus."

I begged God for this peace the Thanksgiving before my mother died and He gave it to me. I had been lying on my bed crying for hours pleading with God to heal my mom then all of a sudden my prayers changed. I began praying for His peace instead and after some time I believe I was given that peace. It started as a “pin prick” to my heart then spread throughout my whole body. I stopped crying and only said “Okay”. I do not know what I was saying okay to but later I realized, regardless what happened, if God healed my mother or not, I was going to be “okay”. I cannot explain this peace but it has continued with me through my brother and father-in-law’s deaths. I am sad for myself and my girls that they will not get to know their grandmother, uncle, or Yeye. But I am Joyful for them because they are new and perfect and with Jesus Himself.

I pray God will give you and your family this peace. I love you Candace, you are a dear friend to me and a beautiful godly woman. Your mother helped shape you into who you are today and her influence on your life will truly shine through you the rest of your life. If you need anything please let me know.

Its been a winter cooped up in the house wonderland

Early Tuesday Morning the cold came and has not left yet. Late Monday night into Tuesday morning we had thunderstorms, freezing rain, sleet, & snow. Our temps did not get above 22° for 3 days so all our snow turned into thick ice. UGH! School was cancelled the rest of the week. Mad's school actually could not be accessed becasue the driveway gates froze shut not to mention the the parking lot turned into an ice skating rink. Last night it snowed leaving 5" of snow in our front yard. The sun came out which made all the difference and warmed us up to 33°. So after 3 days of not going out of the house I took advantage of the sun and took the girls outside. They had a blast with our many neighbors. What a beautiful day it was, one of my best. So the thaw has begun. Looking forward to tomorrow and for a 40° day.