Just Peachy

I seem to have a fruit theme going this week...

Jeff's dad planted this peach tree in our yard several years ago. We didn't ask for it, he just brought it with him and told us that every house needs a peach tree. (I remember peach tree limbs as what my parents used to spank my brothers with. Not me, of course.) Every year since it has been large enough to produce peaches we "might" get 2 or 3 peaches. The squirrels always get the rest. This year we had tons of peaches but they had some type of black spots on them. Oh well...the same as every year, I thought. Jeff asked tonight if I was going to pick the peaches or just let them ruin. He said there were plenty of good ones. And there were! I was so excited to find so many I took a picture of them. (Just in case it never happens again.) Guess we'll have peach cobbler next week...

Berry Picking Time

Abigail and I spent a little time at a farm in Arlington yesterday picking blackberries. Boy, was it hot! Sweat was rolling down our faces after only 2o minutes. I loved picking berries as a child, although I didn't have to pay for the privilege. We just picked them where they grew wild near our house. Even with the heat, we had a great time searching out the biggest, purple-est berries. As soon as we got in the car, we both tasted one. The rest went into a delicious blackberry cobbler, which we ate with Bluebell vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Abigail is ready with the necessary blackberry picking items: a bucket, a glove for one hand and a stick to pull back the thorny branches.

It's so bright out here!

There were many rows to choose from. The owner sent us to the back of the patch where people had not picked yet. There were lots of berries.

Here's Lookin' at Ya!

Katherine, Rebecca and Jeff enjoyed a picnic at a park in Arlington while waiting for Rebecca's volleyball game to start. I have a feeling we'll be going back there for picnics most every Monday and Tuesday until summer volleyball league is over. Unfortunately Mom and Abigail were at Care Now. Abigail has strep throat and had an allergic reaction to her medicine. So, back to the doctor for a different medicine and something for the reaction. Yuck!

FEE, FI, FO FUM!

A thoughtful Katherine...wondering how she's going to get out of this tube she's stuck in!

Hello there!

Oops! Are you stuck, too?

Just a few more twists and I'll be at ground level.

Youth Camp '07

Katherine spent the week at Riverbend Retreat Center in Glen Rose. She came home very sunburned and tired, but everything at camp, according to Katherine was "Amazing!" I'm sure when you see her next you can ask about how she came to be in the shape she was in in photo number one. (She tells me this pic was taken after being hosed down TWICE!) I can tell you that I have attempted to wash that shirt, and it will never be the same again.

Coming Soon to Video

An angel surrounded by light!

When they say "green screen" they mean green!

Chuck - g3, Rebecca, Elisa - choreographer

Rebecca has been a busy girl lately. She spent the day at g3 Recording Studios in Fort Worth, filming a demo for their next Kids Worship Music Pak. She memorized words and choreography to 7 songs. I was very proud of how well she followed directions and how flexible she was when they asked her to make last minute changes. Rebecca was impressed when Chuck, from g3, shared that "her" DVD would be shipped all over the United States and to Sweden. Pretty exciting!

Volleyball Girl

Rebecca spent this week at Grace Prep's volleyball camp which was held at Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington. She had a great time, and learned many things about the game. She is also playing in a summer league on Monday nights. Here she is with her two buddies, Amanda and Rebecca. The coaches have already decided that one of the Rebeccas will have to be called something other than Rebecca. Taryn, the freshman coach, has been calling her Baby Holmes this week, in an effort to not call her Katherine. We'll see if the name sticks.

Peru Warrior

Here stands a warrior ready for battle. Who knew he would be battling sickness instead of anacondas? Most of the team got sick while on the boat in Peru. Thankfully they recovered within a few days and were able to finish out their mission of carrying the Gospel to the Yagua people in the Amazon Basin. One team member, Angie, said it gave a whole new perspective to being willing to suffer for the sake of Christ.

The Yagua children love to have their picture taken by Jeff. He snaps the photo and then turns the camera screen around so they can see themselves.


Balloon animals are a huge hit with the kids. They also come running when they hear music.

This is the Nenita, the team's home away from home. Also known as the slow boat.

More on this trip later if I can find the time. We are just glad that Jeff is home safe and sound where he can fix all the things that stopped working in his absence. Trash compactor, garage door opener, etc., etc...

Heavenly Hydrangeas

I have long thought that hydrangeas are the most perfect flower God ever created -- the colors, the perfect petals, the tiny flower center within the bigger flower. When I was a child, my nanny had huge bushes of them in front of her house. The blooms were the most gorgeous shade of purple-blue you've ever seen. Due to the soil in my yard, my hydrangeas (when they choose to bloom) are always shades of pink. Not a bad color either! Though I do not consider myself a gardener, I am always pleased when my hydrangeas show their summer finery.

Party Time

Both parties yesterday were a hit. I forgot to take pics at the children's choir party. A good time was had by everyone and hopefully we managed to get a little sun on our too white legs! Katherine's party went well, also. We had food from Chick-Fil-A and an ice cream cake made by Katherine. Yum! Here are a couple pics of the party, playing Apples to Apples.

Jeff comes home from Peru tomorrow. Yea!!! We are all ready to see him and have him home. Maybe he'll have some interesting photos to share.

Ahhh...Summer

Abigail and I spent the afternoon getting the pool ready for two parties tomorrow. The first is for children's choir kids who memorized Scripture and the second is Katherine's belated birthday party. Abigail is a great worker. I think the pool looks pretty inviting!

Well, I'm worn out just trying to add pics to this blog. I'm having trouble manipulating them once I've uploaded them. Barb...help! I think I will call it good for now and be happy that I have pics at all. (Even though they are not where I wanted them!) Maybe tomorrow I'll try something really challenging like changing the background color. Yikes!