Romans 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Knowing He is sovereign, and I won't always understand His ways, allows me to trust Him with it all as He knows so much better than I.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
At the Passport Office
We finally made it over there and it was, of course, another adventure. But, I want to say that Houstonians are some of the nicest people and all our fellow "passport comrades" waiting for their turn, were funny, friendly and gracious.
After spending the day before trying to get through to the office to ask about whether I could make an appointment or if it was first come first served, but getting nothing but a busy signal all day, we show up at 9:40 for the 10am opening. There is a sign on the door saying you have to sign-in and they only take 35 people a day. So I go to find the sign-in and discover you can sign-in starting at 7:30 am and we are numbers 22,23 and 24. I call Tim and tell him not to come over (he has his passport, but has to be there for the boys).
Decide to go home. Try to time it (based on the 10 minute per applicant I was told) to arrive back and not have to wait too long. We return and discover they had JUST called us and he took the next person. This because #20 wasn't there, either. So, when he comes out, I tell him the Wallaces are here but he says we have to wait since we were not there when our name was called and we were suppose to be. I smile and say ok.
The other people are super gracious about this. One guy says tell him you had to leave to find a restroom as there are none here. One gal says she wanted to leave to get lunch but was afraid to. Yes, peoples bladders are bursting and they are fainting with hunger in FEAR they will miss their spot in line at the passport facility. Is there something wrong with this picture!?
The passport Nazi takes us next after punishing us and then rants about us not having official state identification for Ben. I tell him I have EVERYTHING the web site says (and then some) to have and I need a form he has to provide (an Affidavit thingy) as I couldn't access it. He says something inane about "Well the web site might say that but I..." I manage not to scream at him. I'm at this point telling him how to do his job. Another guy comes in and gets the affidavit forms for us and we start to fill them out. Passport Nazi then begins to fill out his portion and then decides to let guy # 2 (who we'll call Dave because I think that was his name) take over so he can go to lunch.
Dave is much nicer. He starts to fill out his portion when I notice that passport Nazi had put the wrong information in the boxes. I point this out and Tim and I have to start over with the forms.
We eventually raise our right hands and swear the information and pictures are true, sign the forms, write all the necessary checks and leave. I thank all my fellow passport comrades as we leave that they didn't insist on us going to the end of the line. They are so friendly and gracious and one guy says, "See you here again in 10 years!"
After spending the day before trying to get through to the office to ask about whether I could make an appointment or if it was first come first served, but getting nothing but a busy signal all day, we show up at 9:40 for the 10am opening. There is a sign on the door saying you have to sign-in and they only take 35 people a day. So I go to find the sign-in and discover you can sign-in starting at 7:30 am and we are numbers 22,23 and 24. I call Tim and tell him not to come over (he has his passport, but has to be there for the boys).
Decide to go home. Try to time it (based on the 10 minute per applicant I was told) to arrive back and not have to wait too long. We return and discover they had JUST called us and he took the next person. This because #20 wasn't there, either. So, when he comes out, I tell him the Wallaces are here but he says we have to wait since we were not there when our name was called and we were suppose to be. I smile and say ok.
The other people are super gracious about this. One guy says tell him you had to leave to find a restroom as there are none here. One gal says she wanted to leave to get lunch but was afraid to. Yes, peoples bladders are bursting and they are fainting with hunger in FEAR they will miss their spot in line at the passport facility. Is there something wrong with this picture!?
The passport Nazi takes us next after punishing us and then rants about us not having official state identification for Ben. I tell him I have EVERYTHING the web site says (and then some) to have and I need a form he has to provide (an Affidavit thingy) as I couldn't access it. He says something inane about "Well the web site might say that but I..." I manage not to scream at him. I'm at this point telling him how to do his job. Another guy comes in and gets the affidavit forms for us and we start to fill them out. Passport Nazi then begins to fill out his portion and then decides to let guy # 2 (who we'll call Dave because I think that was his name) take over so he can go to lunch.
Dave is much nicer. He starts to fill out his portion when I notice that passport Nazi had put the wrong information in the boxes. I point this out and Tim and I have to start over with the forms.
We eventually raise our right hands and swear the information and pictures are true, sign the forms, write all the necessary checks and leave. I thank all my fellow passport comrades as we leave that they didn't insist on us going to the end of the line. They are so friendly and gracious and one guy says, "See you here again in 10 years!"
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Accidental Tourist
So, are you sick of my Gruene post yet? On Saturday morning, after a more than decent hot breakfast at the hotel, we pile into mom's car to drive over to Gruene. Being the conscientious people that we are, we see a detour sign for Gruene road and so follow it. We have since decided that all the detour signs were some kind of a prank. We end up at a barricade across the road. So off we go up on the bluff above the river. We can see the river off to our right. We arrive at a 'T" intersection eventually at River Road. T.A., being more directionally oriented than my aunt and I says we should turn left. Nan and I think we should turn right. So mom heads off on the river road to the right. Twelve miles later, after a gorgeous, winding, riverfront drive, we are in Canyon Lake. So we pull into a parking lot where some folks are and I hop out to ask how to get to Gruene without going back on the River road. They give us super directions and we actually arrive in Gruene only thirty minutes later than our projected arrival time- better than a lot of airlines I know. Here's a pic from the car ride.
One more from Gruene
This place has awesome food and a great view of the river, plus a very cool antique place is right next door and you can wax nostalgic in the there for a long time.
More from Gruene
My Aunt is a total flip-flop addict. We were cracking up when we found this nightshirt that says "If the flip-flop fits, buy it in every color". Aunt Nan models it for us. Plus, in another store, some styling ones. She only bought two pair at the San Marcos Outlet stores. What restraint.
Gruene
After postponing for a month because of weather, we made it to Gruene for Market Days this past weekend. Plus, my mom's little sister (who was very tired of Kansas City winter) joined us. Gorgeous weather, shopping, eating and laughing made it a perfect break.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Just Thinking...
I'd post some more random stuff.
1. The front door deadbolt fell apart when Tim went to lock it last night about 9pm. Some little bits fell out. So off to Wal-Mart (thank you, Lord, for 24hr stores!) to purchase a deadbolt. The new lock fit the existing cut-out and matched up with the strike plate and everything without a bunch of fiddling- how awesome is that?
2. Our landlords were here last week and did some minor repairs around the place. They pulled the pvc pipe out of the living room ceiling where the previous tenants had stereo speakers mounted, and patched the holes. Looks much better.
3. They also patched holes in the soffits so hopefully that will deter rats and other undesirables from making our attic their home.
4. I found a mother-of-the bride dress while shopping with the "resale/thrift shop queen" (my mom) last Friday at the Guild shop. It's a lavender skirt and beaded top by Oleg Cassini. Needs some slight alteration but was only $27!
5. Jess leaves for her Spring break trip to see her Aunt in Hawaii this Friday. Pray for safe travels for her.
6. Also, for all the wedding planning.
7. Ben turns 18 on Tuesday. I saw a picture in a magazine recently that reminded me of him as a little boy. Where do the years go?
8. Attended weekend 2 of NANC this past weekend. Always challenging, inspiring, convicting, helpful and refreshing. http://www.nanc.org/
9. Tim and I decided to read a book together each evening. We chose Wayne Mack's Strengthening Your Marriage to start. We have decided we really needed to SCHEDULE time for us, so 9pm is our time.
10. I'm changing vets to one closer to our home and Daisy has her check-up this Thursday. It's time for her 3-year rabies etc. shot. This vet is about $75 dollars cheaper than our old one. I had done research about prices before choosing our old one in the Copperfield area, and they were one of the cheapest but now I'm excited to be saving even more money on her annual check-up! They don't give one of the shots the other vet did because they don't believe it's necessary in Houston. I like that they don't over-due the shots. Here's their web site: http://www.jvah.com/
1. The front door deadbolt fell apart when Tim went to lock it last night about 9pm. Some little bits fell out. So off to Wal-Mart (thank you, Lord, for 24hr stores!) to purchase a deadbolt. The new lock fit the existing cut-out and matched up with the strike plate and everything without a bunch of fiddling- how awesome is that?
2. Our landlords were here last week and did some minor repairs around the place. They pulled the pvc pipe out of the living room ceiling where the previous tenants had stereo speakers mounted, and patched the holes. Looks much better.
3. They also patched holes in the soffits so hopefully that will deter rats and other undesirables from making our attic their home.
4. I found a mother-of-the bride dress while shopping with the "resale/thrift shop queen" (my mom) last Friday at the Guild shop. It's a lavender skirt and beaded top by Oleg Cassini. Needs some slight alteration but was only $27!
5. Jess leaves for her Spring break trip to see her Aunt in Hawaii this Friday. Pray for safe travels for her.
6. Also, for all the wedding planning.
7. Ben turns 18 on Tuesday. I saw a picture in a magazine recently that reminded me of him as a little boy. Where do the years go?
8. Attended weekend 2 of NANC this past weekend. Always challenging, inspiring, convicting, helpful and refreshing. http://www.nanc.org/
9. Tim and I decided to read a book together each evening. We chose Wayne Mack's Strengthening Your Marriage to start. We have decided we really needed to SCHEDULE time for us, so 9pm is our time.
10. I'm changing vets to one closer to our home and Daisy has her check-up this Thursday. It's time for her 3-year rabies etc. shot. This vet is about $75 dollars cheaper than our old one. I had done research about prices before choosing our old one in the Copperfield area, and they were one of the cheapest but now I'm excited to be saving even more money on her annual check-up! They don't give one of the shots the other vet did because they don't believe it's necessary in Houston. I like that they don't over-due the shots. Here's their web site: http://www.jvah.com/
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