Why I married Jeff

In reality, it has been so long ago, some of the details have gotten a bit fuzzy. I thought I had better write them down.
The first time I saw him, I was busy being hostess at our coffee shop at Expo 72. I know no one remembers this but it was like the Christian Woodstock at the Texas Fair Park. At least I think the churches had planned it as such. They just didn't invite the more radical element "US", to attend. Well, we somehow got a coffeeshop across the street and  quickly became quite a popular place for the church kids to hang out and take cover when things got boring at the Expo. I managed the front desk and greeted all that passed through our doors. It had it's exciting moments. Well, one day this "beard" walked in. He was all bush but the eyes that peeped out from behind it all won my heart at first sight. It might sound cliche and corny but it was right then that I knew we would end up together.

We maybe exchanged 5 words and then he was off busy working.  Sound familiar? I won't get into all the details of what happened over the next months. My life was so crazy and full of changes and gettting ready to move to Holland. The "beard" just seemed to pop up from time to time and then be gone...sometimes it was 5 words and other times a bit less. It just seemed like it was all really not meant to be and impossible to make happen if a person tended to look at things logically.

So I really didn't try. I know everyone today is into to opposite  and doing long term planning for the future. I had been a school teacher  for 2 years so I loved the new  change, spontanaity and  waking up the each day and just letting Jesus be the  guide for a change. I think because I had that trust and faith, God saw a way to orchestrate the entire senario. There were a lot of physical miles between us most of the time and our responsibilities kept us thus. Still somehow, all these surprising times popped us where we met , totally unplanned, so we did eventually tie the knot- in Danish and twice a few months apart.

Did I choose him? Yes, in a way I did but I do believe I let my Father do most of the chosing.  He knows best. That was way back in 1973. There have been plenty of tough times and scary moments but I can honestly say I love him more than ever.  Here's a little recent event to give you an idea.This year I planted a sweet potato plant. It went crazy and grew everywhere, taking over the whole entire garden, bursting out of the fence and into the neighbors yard. I couln't stop it and then I realized how much was going on underground. I dug my fingers gently into the ground a few times to check on the growing potatoes and was amazed at all the growth that was going on that I couldn't see. My marriage has been like that a lot.
When I first got the potato, a friend found it while cleaning one of her  friend's pantry and nearly threw it out.  in the garbage.It was  a shriveled up funny like thing but she gave it to me to plant and now it is magnificent!
.I am into watching foreign movies lately and I got this movie about a Jewish girl and an Arabic girl that were both teachers in the same school and facing arranged marriages. Amazingly they became friends and they both had arranged marriages of a sort, with very happy endings. I did have to laugh as at my first attempt to get married, things went so haywire and I tried so hard and it didn't happen. I was the wedding planner.
My second time around, I let God have a very big hand in everything and it worked out practically all by itself  and was all just what I needed afterall!
This boy (now man) I married, just turned 57 two days ago.  This week I was looking through all our old pictures as Nadia is putting together one of her famous "BOOKS" by Shutterbug for his birthday gift. It is like pictures from 1950-2009! I just have one last comment.....
                                                                               COOL!
                                                                            Enjoy your life!

Christmas Party

Here are a few Christmas pics of our Dec.3rd party at the Bell Tower

Houston freezes!

We had our annual Christmas Party last night and I was thinking snow since it snowed all during our party last year. It held off but today it is delightfully snowing outside and the afternoon will bring more of those falling flakes our way. I was out early this morning, intense in my efforts to turn the garage into a jungle. There is hardly walking room as my papaya trees take up a lot of space. It really is a wonderful effect. Jurrastic gardens! Instead of dinosaurs leaping out, it's dogs and raccoons.
It took my 2 hours of braving the pelting sleet to rescue all the plants. I ran outside in my PJ's amd flip flops so sbesides giving a show to the neighbors, I will probably come down with with a  case of "Freezing Piggies Illness" My toes are glistening pink and I feel like squealing.
The Party went great.It was a touch of Italy as the place was a Tuscan Villa. It was so beautiful and the rooms so big! We were in the Chandiler Ballroom and thankfully the chandelier was attached firmly. It was so huge and so much wrought iron. Think Zorro! I can imagine that Chandelier in a Spanish Castle.
We only had a week to plan so considering that, it was an amazing feat! 125 people came and so many people lent a hand to make it special, from singing, slides of the Prophet Bus, caroling and really great food and fellowship!. We had a presentation for the new Foundation Stones graduates and a kick off  for the new ones. Russell, a homeless man came with Noe' and he won everyone's heart. Someone asked him how he enjoyed the program and he said he didn't see much as he kept cleaning, serving and being an all around blessing. He said he just really enjoyed the hugs and kisses. He was practically a one man show in the kitchen.
Valorie shared an touching story about when she was in a coma and how everyone stood by her. She exaggerated a bit by saying Jeff came and covered her in Activated mags and then she awoke. Actually I think he basically covered the hospital in Activated mags as everyone must have gotten 2 or 3. She said she's wanted to thank everyone for so long. She looked great, thanks to Lolli- everyone's favorite hairdresser.
Zeb from Brazil had everyone dancing to his lively songs and everyone who wasn't was eating  a piece of Chrisy's famous cheese pies. They are quite a team! All in all, I think it was our best party ever.
It' s still snowing!

Some Recent Pics-

In such a rush!

I will be posting a few pics of Nadia and Justin's visit soon. It was SO much fun to be with them and to be with the kiddos. Now our house seems so empty. We miss you! It was the most fun I had in a long time.
I managed to lose Justin's phone. That wasn't so great.
Well, we are also getting ready for Christmas. We are having a dinner in the Tuscan Castle ( I call it) It is so beautiful and it is amazingly coming together even tho' we have to pull it off in 1 week.
We got our tree and put it up while the grandkids were still here. Violet would put the balls on the tree and Lexi ( rogue poodle) would come behind her and take them off.
Teri had scored at the flea market and was busy making plans of how to use the lights. We found strings and strings. In the meantime, Bella (rogue Golden Retriever) got in the Christmas spirit. It is her first Christmas so all night long she kept herself occupied with trying to firgure out just what all the lights were for. I was dismayed to see all the lights in tiny pieces all over the garage floor. We thought to plug her in and she if she glowed in multi-color. Thankfully she doesn't seem sick. How can a dog chew like that! It was amazing. She even crunched the little bulbs. What kind of vitamen deficency can that be? Now, we need lights!
Well, off to the shop for last minute goodies for tomorrrow.
Oh one last thing is that there are rumors of snow on Friday. That would be so nice to have so early in the winter. It snowed last Christmas all during our Christmas Party. We came home and made a snowman in our yard. Houston isn't all heat, humidity and thunderolls.

6234 Fairdale

Green Van and I took a journey into the Southlands to gather supplies for home base today. Being Sunday it was prettty easy driving and I didn't get lost. I did take a slight detour by our old place on Fairdale. That whole area is a bit gloomy and rundown with lots of FOR LEASE signs around. The only places that seemed to be still doing good were the Unitarian Church and Pappas Restaurant.
I got to thinking about the time I went back after they tore down the house and ripped up the trees. There was still stuff around and I got out and just walked the area where the house used to be. The actual ground where the house stood seemed so small. In fact it just didn't seem real. When we first moved in, we all kept getting lost in that 5,000 square foot house. That day the actual space didn't seem enough for a  decent doll house.  I walked all around, counting my steps, trying to connect. It just never computed. Then I got to thinking of all that happened in that house during the 8 years we lived there. Maybe that's what made it seem so big. After tearing it all down and carting it all away, it just seemed so empty, quiet and abandoned.. That was then. Now there are 13 high end condos where our 6234 Fairdale house once stood. I'll have to pull out my pictures!

Be a friend....

I visited a friend this week. It's been a while since I had seen him but because he had had a lot of hardship in his life, I have so often prayed for him and his family. I always end up crying when I visit him. This time I just happened to have my 21 year old som with me. Both Dan and I cried once again. Sometimes I feel like a lousy missionary. I should have  had some wonderful speech prepared. You see....

5 years ago, Dan's 21 year old daughter was killed by a drunk driver. I felt like I experienced a lot of the pain with them  at the time but one never really knows until you walk in their shoes.
I don't have a lot more to say on this post except- please don't drink and drive and don't let others do it either if it is in your power to do so. Life is too precious.