A Tale of Two Vans

Once upon a time there was family that was growing and they were able to purchase a mini-van. What joy to have all that space after being squeezed into a tiny Ford Escort. But, the mini-van played them false, and even though it was a Honda, it gave them nothing but grief. The family was very glad they had purchased the extended warranty, for repairs were needed time and time again.

Then, a much loved mini-van, whose owners didn't want to scrap it and had lovingly named it "The White Knight", was offered to the family. It needed a new air conditioner, but had already had its transmission replaced and the family gladly welcomed it into their home and had it's air conditioning repaired.

Shortly thereafter, the Honda grew jealous of the new van and decided it wanted a new transmission, also. But, it didn't time its revenge well and there were still 2000 miles left before the extended warranty expired. The White Knight came to the rescue during the time the Honda was being repaired.

But, the poor Knight worked so hard that the very next day after the Honda came home, its transmission got sick. Even though it was out of its warranty for its second transmission, the shop was kind enough to repair it for a nominal transmission service charge.

The Honda gloated.

But once the White Knight returned, the Honda grew jealous again. It didn't even have a cool name. It planned its next attack. It waited until it was 1000 miles out of warranty. It wanted a new air conditioner, too. The White Knight had waited until winter to need it's a.c., but the revengeful Honda, chose the heat of a Texas summer while its master was driving home from work.

Perhaps the family needs to appreciate the Honda and give it a name, but they are seriously thinking it is time to part ways. But don't mention this to the Honda. It's at the shop and we will try to make our decision before it returns.

Broken Glass Theology

I should know after all these years to not put dishes away when I first get up and haven't had a cup of coffee but I haven't learned. I thought the glass was on the shelf but it wasn't and it started to fall and I grabbed for it and it hit the edge of the shelf beneath and shattered.

Broken glass is a reminder that you need to clean all kinds of places you haven't thought of or cared about for a long time. We also know that through some incredible law of physics, glass travels great distances and into spots you never would have thought.

So, how does this relate to my spiritual life? Well, there are certainly areas that I choose to overlook that have gotten "dirty" or need come cleaning up. The flip side is how do my words and actions (thoughts,too) travel much further than I imagine?

The mercy of it is that that goes not only for my sinful words and actions but for those seasoned with grace.

Thanks for the broken glass, Lord.

More Wedding Stuff

I

captured these from Sherry's Kodak Gallery. I really appreciate people who are willing to be in weddings. Think about it- you are asking them to shell out gobs of money to participate in something that last very briefly so that you can have nice pictures. But what photogenic kids they are!

Wedding!

Some Bridesmaids

I forgot my camera AGAIN and so don't have any photos (yet, April will email me the ones she took)from the shower last night, but here are Siara, Jess and Emily in Jess's room which is slowly emptying. Jess went to Intercontinental and grabbed Siara on Tuesday around 8am and then they hopped on I45 and went to Hobby and picked up Emily who arrived at 9:45am.

The shower last night included an awesome game. Rebecca and April interviewed Jason with video and then played the tape, pausing after each question, so Jess could answer. Then we saw Jason's answer. Fun stuff- like the old Newlywed game. They also had prizes, so how can you beat that?

One week to go

It's one week before the wedding and things are falling into place but who was worried about that? As is usual, having little or no control causes me to see so many of my glaring sins. Yes, sins. Being anxious and worrying are really sins. Here's recommended reading for all who struggle as I have: Respectable Sins- Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges.

Lack of thankfulness is a "respectable sin" so here are things I'm thankful for:

• Nick got sick with nasty cold last week and then Jess wasn't feeling well on Wednesday and I had an on again off again sore throat and we're all feeling better now.
• White Night's a.c. is working fine after check (I love my mechanic) and doesn't need expensive ($95) air cleaner housing, and I figured out how to change the headlight- no thanks to Hayne's manual or owner's manual.
• Tam will do my hair for wedding for only $25.
• Lawn mower problem was fixed (ladies, I recommend going to auto parts store and telling the guy or gal at the counter your problem. All the employees came over and chipped in with their diagnosis of probable cause and $6 later I left with everything needed to fix the issue).
• I found green placemats at Big Lot's for $1 each that I've been wanting to buy to tie my southwestern theme together in the dining room.
• Jess has started taking all the shower and wedding gifts over to her and Jason's new home.
• All the water bugs (big roaches) I've seen around house have been dead. My extermination skills are working.
• I got all the beds weeded and put out mulch in front and planted some peonies and it all is so pleasing to look at.

Ephesians 5:20- ...always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father...

Ben's Graduation

May Things

May slipped up on me and is so incredibly packed with events, I need to follow Elizabeth Elliot's adage to "Just do the next thing."

Here's an overview of the month:

May 1- Visited with brother and his wife who were in town from Utah
May 2- Having dinner with friends
May 3- Graduation banquet for Benjamin
May 4- Church; Another bridal shower for Jess
May 6-8 Boy's working at Tim's office
May10- sister-in-laws b-day
May 11- Mother's Day
May 12- Tim turns 50
May 17- Nephew's b-day; friend's graduation and party
May 18- brother-in-law turns 50
May 20- Jess's NC bridesmaid arrives
May 21- friend's b-day, Jess's Baltimore bridesmaid arrives,last bridal shower for Jess
May 22- my birthday, maybe wedding rehearsal
May 23- Probably wedding rehearsal
May 24- J&J Wedding
May 25- Likely taking bridesmaids to airport
May28- 4H end of year Awards Meeting

There are "regular" things, too. So, from all you blog readers I expect sympathy :) but more importantly your task is to leave a comment that encourages not only me, but all who need to be reminded of the absolute sufficiency of Christ.

Here's my own admonition to myself: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
2 Corinthians 9:9

And: Whether then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1Corinthians 10:31

Probably Last Post of Shower Pictures

Well, I still haven't spent the time to know how to add captions. I have, however, been using my Complete Idiot's Guide to Paint Shop Pro 7 to help with cropping, etc... Something else I need to practice.

Few More Shower Pics

I need to learn how to put captions under or next to pictures in Blogger, but since I haven't figured that out I'll have to just mention things and you can figure what picture they go to (not dificult).

1. 1. The Gifts waiting to be opened
2. 2. Table Decorations
3. 3. Jess in cool hat from her Aunt T.A.- Cowgirl Princess.
   

Details

I didn't take pictures at the shower and hubby's didn't turn out too well, so I might blog some more if I can get pictures from a friend who was snapping away.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the hall was decorated with Japanese umbrellas and other cool thingamajigs. The food was delicious and we had a big turnout of both ladies and men. The ladies of Mills Road Baptist Church did an awesome job and we felt so loved and honored.

Our side of the family was rowdy so I hope Jason's family doesn't think we are uncouth (but we are so...).

Pastor Larry read a beautiful devotional that can be applied to us all and Jess and Jason both simultaneously opened gifts as there was an overwhelming amount.

We took most of the presents home and Jason took some as well. The kids didn't even get to opening the cards that weren't with gifts and did that Saturday night.

April Showers

The Happy Couple, Displaying the Cake, The Wall of Gifts

Tuesday Tales

1) Still waiting to get the White Knight back. After having the Honda out of commission for two weeks, we finally got it back from dealer on Friday, March 28, with new transmission, new left front wheel bearing and strut and then on Saturday, March 29, the White Knight's transmission died. The place that rebuilt the transmission last year is working with us to rebuild it again.

2) Jason's mom came over this past Sunday afternoon and she and I addressed wedding invitations while Jessica folded stuff (response cards etc).

3) Bridal shower brunch is Saturday, I see on Bed,Bath & Beyond's registry that two toaster ovens and two everyday dishes have been purchased. I had to call Target about four days after I bought some stuff to say it wasn't showing up as purchased even though I handed the print-out to the checker and she scanned the bar code. She manually entered things and now it registers.

4) I'm weepy thinking about the wedding. Anyone know of any anti-weepy medicine :) ?

5) Pulled out twelve years of portfolios for Ben and assembled two display boards for his graduation banquet. More weeping.

6) Headache today-probably from all the weeping.

7) Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss is recommended reading.

8) Also, The Beautiful Fight by Gary Thomas.

9) Ordered suit from Amazon for Ben; bought one from VegSource (swap board)for Nick; went to dry cleaner/alterations with hubby to have his tux fitted; bought myself a dress from GoodWill Select store for bridal shower.

10) Am thinking of using nursing pads as dress shields as anticipate 'flop sweat.' I know, I'm too "practical."

They're Here!

In a remarkable display of efficiency, the Government issued our passports in only one week and two days. I'm speechless!

Comforting Thoughts

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.

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!"

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.