I have written or blogged about my brother, John Hugh, several times over the years. He was born in 1948, and we grew up with seven years between us.
We were never close because of the age difference but we had a clear understanding of family.
I was working at the Hale County Historical Commission today and came across his 1967 PHS class photo from his 40th reunion in 2007.
Brother John is seated in the 2nd row in the black and white striped shirt.
I enjoy volunteering with the Plainview Chamber of Commerce. We had the banquet tonight where we named the Man & Woman of the year, Bill Cross and Beverly Dunlap. The Ambassador of the Year with the most attendance points is Gerald Dean Holt. The Chamber allows me to meet wonderful people running amazing businesses while partnering with each other through the Chamber to produce productivity.
As President of the Chamber, I am grateful for a partner who allows me to enjoy doing what I love, serving others.
Sometimes you come across a lucky find, like this 1933 Frontier Times. The cover says, Devoted to Frontier History, Border Tragedy, Pioneer Achievement. The cover photo is of Col. Ben R. Milam, an American Colonist.
What is so wonderful is the included story, "Founding of Plainview Told by Daughter of Pioneer." It was first printed in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, February 2, 1932, by Mrs. Jane Lowe Quillen, daughter of Edwin Lowden Lowe, founder of Plainview, Texas.
This birdhouse holds a special sentimental place in my heart. Like almost everything we own, what we enjoy invokes a sweet memory of a loved one or dear friend when I see it.
My cousin Tracy Quisenberry Grissom Motes gifted me this birdhouse and the old metal hanger that holds it. It is from her childhood home.
It hung outside at her house and is enjoyed in our backyard today. Tracy passed into eternity too soon for me, but I understand in God's perfect timing. We were beginning our cousin relationship after years of life apart. She certainly impacted my life in the time we had. Thank you, Tracy.
Recently, I was invited to sit in on a conversation with the Texans on Mission Water in Plainview. My eyes were opened at the work that is being done through this organization. I have heard of their scope of changing lives through love and even have friends who serve, but the depth of rebuilding lives is phenomenal. Read more below...
MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE.
Texans on Missions
WATER IMPACT 2024 - 39,719 people gained access to water from new water sources daily, Texans on Mission provided water access in 8 countries, 96 new water access points were added through drilling, well rehab, and community filtration, 822 people were baptized, 2,094 people prayed to receive Christ, and 1,034 individual home filters were distributed to families.
Every three days, Texans on Mission opens another water access point that will last for generations!
Texans on Mission is systematic, sustainable, and gospel-centered. When you support Texans on Mission Water, you help provide a community with Bible studies, hygiene, initiatives, water wells, youth outreach, and microfinance incubators.
Partner with Texans on Mission by bringing water & hope ...
Photo Credit: Texans on Mission
Texans on Mission has many ministries that allow serving and giving opportunities that can be trusted and are established in faith:
Let's do something! Where is the Holy Spirit leading? Read others' experiences with Texans on Mission here.
GIVE. GO. PRAY.
A few years ago, just realizing before Covid, I asked my sweet friend, who is a fabulous quilter, if she would create me a simple quilt from my scarves. A few were my mom's, and many were mine. Silk scarves are hard to sew. The quilt is what I use when I watch a movie or a special in our basement, which is the "hat room," for its 300 hats from Plainview women on display...and a TV!
This quilt has been delicate-cold-washed and air-dried. It is warm, or it is cool. It has covered me in illness and health. It is my favorite cover.
I may have shared a photo before, but I want you to see it and the love and care that was put into it by Susan Barkley. She has such a gift that she quietly shares.
What a sweet treat it was to visit Donnet Evans, one of our Five Friends Fun group members, at the Brew today. She and her husband were traveling home to Oklahoma from a New Mexico trip, and they stopped in Plainview so we could visit. Susan Barkley, Donnet, and I had some catching up to do! We missed Glenda Ferris & Karen Henderson.
It is supposed to be another high-wind day here in the "blue sky." I love where God has placed us, and it saddens me when others focus on the maybe seven days a year when we have high winds and allow this to define our beautiful plains living. Our climate enjoys four seasons with less cold and more heat. Personally, I love it! I always say to be happy where you are. If you aren't happy, move. Life is too short to live where you aren't called to live. Joy and peace are mine here. If God called me from here, I would question his sanity! LOLOL Not really, I would go only because of my trust in him!
Today is set to be a high-wind day. For me, this means anything over 50mph, so I prepare.
Come Sit With Me by Donna Ashworth
If you are too much
too emotional
too sensitive
too loud
too honest
too deep
too loving
come sit with me
and we can pool our too-muchness
and send it up to the moon
to scatter amongst the stars
let our too-muchness
find solace in their brilliance
expand a million times more
and shower the world
with that light
of too much person
for one person
if you are too much
come sit with me, my friend
I like too much
you can be too much
and more
with me.
Each of us has a style. We have a life-style, fashion-style, and home-style, among others, our comfort preferences in design.
When I think of a style that represents me best, it would be hygge (hyu-gah). Hygge style emphasizes comfort, coziness, and well-being. Simple, natural elements with a focus on a warm and safe environment where quiet comfort surrounds.
Some key elements of hygge design are: Atmosphere: turn down the lights. Presence: be here now. Pleasure: treat yourself. Equality: we over me. Gratitude: take it in. Harmony: it's not a competition. Comfort: get comfy. Truce: no drama.
All the other style elements fit into this comfort and peace genre within my soul.
We have a lot of beautiful family pretties and amazing gifts we have received through the years. Personally, I love art, eclectic, and things that make me smile and draw me into a prayer of gratitude.
We enjoy being home. We have no desire to travel for relaxation. The home we have soothes our souls.
I have thought about a photo that might best represent the peace that we enjoy. One that comes to mind is this one, "It's Hip to be Square." In a world of clutter and chaos, we find joy and peace in being who God created us to be. Simple, "square" and peace-filled.