O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the world Thy Hand hath made...

Well, things are pretty much back to normal now, and I'm enjoying being back home.  I LOVE going on trips, but I also love being back in my house...and with my family.  This was the first time we were able to spend a whole week away on our girls' trip.  It made it so much easier to travel the distance that we did, and gave us extra time to enjoy the sights, but I'm not used to being gone from Dennis that long!

I have discovered that I absolutely love the beach!  I've never thought of myself as the beach type, but now I understand why folks go so crazy over it.  There is something so peaceful and mesmerizing about the ocean.  Even though there are some obvious annoyances (the heat and humidity and the sand that gets in everything), they are a small price to pay for the beauty and relaxing properties of the sea.  I could have spent many more hours playing in the waves or just watching the changing colors.  It was so cool to see the effect of the changing light on the water:  from the pinks and golds of the sunrise, to the emerald green during full sunlight, to the silvery blue when the clouds moved in and the golden bronze of sunset.  I never tired of watching the waves build as they came in, until they broke over in foamy whitecaps.  I loved feeling the buoyancy of the water as it lifted me up and pushed me towards the shore with each wave.  I don't know if it is because our first sensations of life are of being suspended in fluid, or if it is something else that makes being in the water such a relaxing and pleasurable experience.

I also really enjoyed seeing and interacting with the various sea creatures.  Who doesn't just love seeing dolphins?!  They are such friendly animals and always seem to be smiling.  I got a kick out of watching all of the water birds...especially the pelicans.  (Is it possible to look at a pelican and not smile?)  Being able to hold a live starfish and feel its little tube feet as it tried to move across my hand was amazing!  And visiting the turtle rescue was a special treat for me...I love turtles!

This has been such an amazing year for me!  Being able to travel to so many places and see so many new things has been a wonderful blessing.  From the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota, to the lush green forests of Idaho, to the majestic Tetons and rushing waterfalls of Yellowstone, to the emerald green beaches of South Padre.  I've seen snowstorms in Nebraska and Wyoming and rainbows over the Gulf.  I am constantly amazed at the absolute beauty and variety of God's creation!  No matter where I travel, there is always something to see that is interesting and lovely.  I hope that I am allowed to see even more of this vast and gorgeous land in which we live!

Psalms 95:3-6  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

A Day at Port Isabel and Another Gorgeous Sunset

Thursday, Day 274:  We had a little less strenuous day yesterday.  We slept in and took it easy until time to go on our dolphin tour at noon.  I loved it!  Even though it was during the heat of the day, the breeze off the bay was very pleasant.  The guide threw out a fishing net and caught some fish for us to see and hold:  starfish, crabs (no one wanted to hold them!), a flounder and a puffer fish.  It was cool to hold a live starfish and feel it “crawling” across your palm.  We saw several dolphins up close.  It was great!

We visited a few shops in Port Isabel and ate a late lunch at Pirate’s Landing.  We visited a small museum and then crossed back over onto the island.  By then we were all pretty tired, so we went back to our condo to cool off and nap the rest of the afternoon. 

We enjoyed the sunset on the Laguna Madre nature walk the night before so much that we decided to go back again.  It was so enjoyable to watch all of the water birds fishing and coming in to roost.  There was another beautiful sunset tonight, and the fish were competing to see which one could jump the highest.

After it got dark we decided to go get a treat.  Town had pretty much rolled up its sidewalks already, so we ended up at the DQ.  Then we spent a quiet evening reading and watching tv, rounded out with moonlit walk on the beach…pure satisfaction.  I am thankful for a day of beauty and relaxation!

Labor Day Weekend 2014

2014

 

What a great Labor Day weekend!  We started attending the Youngs' annual gathering in 2000.  Things have changed over the years, and we've lost loved ones along the way.  However, the love and laughter and good fellowship and food are the constants that keep us coming back for more. 

We weren't able to make the last two years in Valliant.  Since Kay decided to host it in Haslet this year, however, it made it impossible NOT to go!  The kids (Sheila, Ricky and Brandon) and I drove over Saturday morning.  The guys were already busy grilling up some mighty tasty burgers and dogs for lunch.  The dessert table was already filling up with the inevitable delicious selections (including Wallace's FAMOUS banana pudding).  Folks kept trickling in as the time for lunch drew closer.  It was fun to catch up with everyone as they arrived.  There were so many that it was hard to get around to everyone!

We served up a Mexican feast for supper (after smoking the place up good from a boil-over in the oven!).  There was about every kind of enchilada you can think of...along with pulled pork carnitas, corn casseroles, Mexican salads, and of course, chips and salsa.  Kay always surprises us with one of her unique dessert specialties.  This year it was cheesecake drizzled with jalapeno jelly with a slice of jalapeno for garnish.  YUM!

There were games being played around the room by ALL ages.  I saw the most exciting game of Candyland ever (thanks to Jamie and Phillip).  Of course, there was the ubiquitous game of 42 taking place in the corner.  Big and little girls came together for some Bananagrams.  But mostly there was just folks grouping together to visit...catching up with those we don't see very often, sharing recent stories and life events, talking to like-minded loved ones about what is in our hearts. 

Of course, the weekend wouldn't be complete without homemade ice cream!  It was moved to Saturday night this year, rather than Sunday night.  Every time we enjoy this tasty frozen treat, I think of the story that Dell always told of his black lab.  They always had more ice cream than could be eaten, so they would dump out the leftovers in the back yard.  His dog ran over and gobbled down as much as he could hold (in typical canine fashion).  Then they noticed he stopped, laid his head down on the ground and covered it with his paws.  He was suffering from brain freeze!  I love that story!

At one point, I glanced up at the food line and saw Sheila, Stacey, Leslie, Chelsey, and a few other young ladies.  The years rushed backward to when they were all teenagers together.  It just seems like yesterday...seeing the shy ones coming out of their shells as they reconnected with each other, watching the inevitable pranks that occurred every year, and basking in the joy of living that emanated from them as they enjoyed their time together.

Every year, the Young family include something in the weekend to raise money for someone in need.  This year, pink bracelets were "sold" to raise money (and awareness) for Debbie, who attends the Henrietta Creek congregation and has been fighting cancer this year.  For every dollar donated, a matching dollar was donated to send to Costa Rica to help with the clinic that is being built there...a total of $1000.

We enjoyed two wonderful assemblies at Henrietta Creek on Sunday.  Ken gave us a great lesson on reviving the dead, then Keith followed that afternoon with a wonderful lesson on the gospel.  The singing was amazing!  That new building was filled and the sound of all the joyful voices was breathtaking!

As things were winding down last night, I got a little misty eyed (as I usually do).  I watched Wallace as he and Linda were heading out.  This year was a struggle for him, as his health declines.  Then I watched Daddy walk towards the exit, stooped over as he carried his dishes out.  It made me very aware of the ones who are no longer there:  Dell, Verlie, Toby, Ed, et al.  I thought about the others that would be leaving us within the next few years.  I struggled to hold back the tears.  However, as I see all of the younger families coming on, with all of their beautiful children, I realize that this great tradition will live on.  And those who have "gone on" are still very much alive in our hearts...and in the faces of their children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

2004

2007 - Wallace

2007 - Kay

2007 crowd

2007 - Verlie and Doris

My deepest heartfelt thanks go out to Kay and Kit and their kids for keeping this wonderful tradition alive.  Thanks, also, to the congregation at Henrietta Creek for all of their hard work and efforts that made the weekend possible.  Finally, thanks to all of my dear friends and loved ones who made the effort to drive down (or up or over) and share this wonderful time of fellowship and fun.  This weekend was a true blessing!




2007 - cheering on the softball game
 



2008 - girl time
 

2011 - enjoying good food