A few years ago we had a chalk art contest in conjunction with the Art Walk in downtown Plainview. It was such a fabulous day!!!

I wish we had a weekend brunch location that plated beautifully. Here is our daughter's family "brunching."

On this date in 2015, we lost one of the extraordinary ones, Michele Waller. There are so many special moments we shared that I rely on to bring me joy. Thank you, God, for the memories. Thank you, God, for my time with Michele and the deep and abiding love that links us still. Remembering.

Love you, Trey.

When I read, I am always looking for a little snippet of Holy Spirit insight. When I take pictures, it is God's eye that is my gift with which to see. I love this "trinity" shot.

I am reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. A snippet ...

"I have aged ...

My skin has the crinkled appearance of wax paper that someone has tried to flatten and reuse. My eyes fail me often-in the darkness, when headlights flash, when rain falls. It is unnerving, this new unreliability in vision. Perhaps that's why I find myself looking backward. The past has a clarity I can no longer see in the present."

Yes, to the crinkled skin and eyes failing. Reflection is good, looking back over one's life in a review of what we did well, what we learned in failure and how we grew. Don't get stuck there, though...live!

Getting older is simply enjoying another day on the journey between life and death. We choose to make each day important; who we help, how we treat others, our compassion, and kindness. I am a work in progress. I am the clay, and He is the potter. I am a simple person with the desire for God to use me. My blessings are many. I am filled with gratitude. I am nothing without the one who planned this journey for me. 

Today, I got a text from Danny Andrews, a longtime friend. It included this snippet from a book ...

Anything I have ever done has been done with key players that God has positioned. We all have a purpose in God's plan. When he throws the clay, he takes imperfection and creates a useful vessel. 

We (Believers) all have times where we question our ability and spiritual influence. Through God's ministry team members the Holy Spirit nudges and they deliver encouragement to affirm my life's ministry.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

God is faithful!

Every drop of water is as different in shape and size as we are as humans. Water is a force, and we are a force when we live our passion. Water is our most valuable resource, and we, the children of God, are His resource.

Water, H₂O, is a pure substance, a compound made of hydrogen and oxygen. Although water is an abundant substance on earth, it is rarely found naturally in its pure form—the same with us. We need the grace of Jesus covering our sins to be pure in the sight of God. So ...

Let it rain, let it pour
Lord, I need You more and more
Let it rain, rain down on me
Every day, whatever You want
Not my will but Yours, Lord
Let it rain, rain down on me!

from, Let It Rain by David Crowder

We have a social dove. It built its nest right by the feeder. Maybe it is a lazy Dove; I'm not sure. It doesn't miss a thing unless it blinks!

She has one egg...

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

We are being molded by the world. It's like little pests that we can't see, but they are silently eating away good thoughts and remolding our brain into a pile of mush. From social media, publications, movies, TV, the news, the Internet, newspapers, books, and radio, we are the evil one's target. Stay close to the Word of God. It is there while living in this crazy place we call the world, that we will know peace. We will have hope and we will be given the strength to endure the bad times and the freedom to sing praises in the good times.

God is molding us and it is good! We must remember that our actions are molding the lives of others. Is it good? I pray so! Every force, good and evil, molds us. What will we choose?

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

As a teen, I kept to myself most of the time. I was learning how to navigate a world I did not understand. I mostly had friends from a distance, and I love that today my love for others is deep & wide. There were a few people that allowed me to be me and included me in their lives. These I can count on one hand; seasonal friends, friends for that time in my life. One of these was Suzy Leach. We had such fun times...spent many together in this friendship season of love and laughter.

Today is Bob Dylan's 80th Birthday. In celebration, I share his 115th Dream. One overnight, Suzy and I stayed up all night memorizing the lyrics to this song. We laughed and started that record over a million times. I still remember the start of the song today: Bob Dylan and two silly girls.

(I own no rights to the music or lyrics)

This weekend was a fun time for the dad! A father's day outing!!! Sir Clinton was in his element, the ballpark. Thanks to "B" for taking our picture at batting practice!

I feel like I have been handling my "aging out" momentum pretty well. I was okay with 65, although I refused to fill out the Medicare forms. I've had a wrinkled face since my thirties, so; I'm used to this old age change. My hair going from copper to blonde was pretty difficult for me to wrap my mind around. But today, this really got to me—my very first skin tear. I nearly cried!