Home Free

Home Free, eventually
At the ultimate healing we will be Home Free
Home Free, oh I’ve got a feeling
At the ultimate healing
We will be Home Free
--Wayne Watson, "Home Free"

My dear friend, Kimberly, is home with the Lord today. She has fought leukemia for about 14 years. When I first met her, she had just gone into her first remission. Her courage and faithfulness in the midst of her illness and many other personal struggles has encouraged and inspired me. As fellow redheads, we bonded quickly, and shared a similar sense of humor. We enjoyed spending time together when we both lived in Killeen, and even after I moved away, we remained close. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding, and I treasure that memory of her.

Her fair skin glowed and her red hair was set off by the copper dress. Through all of her struggles, Kimberly had a ready laugh and a deep love for people. She loved and treasured her son, Braedon. She cherished her sisters and her parents. And she was a special friend to me. My heart aches at the loss of this dear friend, and I know her family is grieving right now. But I rejoice that she is home free. She is experiencing the ultimate healing and worshipping at the feet of Jesus today!

This song/video is blessing me and encouraging me today:

Lampasas, TX - Stop and Stay Awhile!

So Brian & I went to Lampasas, TX for our anniversary trip. Lampasas is a cute little country town on 281. They still do things the old-fashioned way in Lampasas, and that was part of the draw for us. We love small towns with town squares. We loved the americana and texana aspect of Lampasas. While we were there, we got to go to a city-wide garage sale on the square, and a Christmas bazaar in the courthouse! We also saw the high school drill team in their uniforms, doing a "boot drive" to raise funds for a trip.

We stayed in a very rustic, but very private bed and breakfast in Lampasas, called Lancaster's Pecan Grove B & B. Here's a picture:

The best part of Lancaster's was Lucy Creek...literally just outside the door. Here's an early morning picture:

And a late afternoon picture:

We visited Gorman Falls at Colorado Bend State Park. It was breathtaking.

We explored city parks in San Saba, where we met this little Russian duck:

We also explored Longhorn Caverns:

It was a GREAT trip. We loved the area! What a nice way to celebrate 6 years!

This is dedicated to the one I love...

formal Originally uploaded by thingspondered

My sweetheart and I just celebrated our 6th anniversary. We were late bloomers...married at 32 (me) and 33 (him). But he was SO worth the wait! God provided just the right man at just the right time, and I am very blessed.

We were married in McAllen, TX (our hometown), on November 3, 2001. OK...so now you know how old I am. Oh well.

Our wedding had a fall theme, since we both love autumn. My brother & father sang, the girls group I used to sing with (Shekinah), sang, and Brian & I sang a duet for the unity candle. Both of our brothers and their entire families were in the wedding party. It was such a treasure to have all our nieces and nephews involved. Our flower girl (Brian's brother's daughter) dropped autumn leaves in the aisle, instead of flowers. The triplets, my brother's boys, were bell-ringers. They ran down the aisle just before me, ringing their bells and shouting "Aunt T, Aunt T"! They were almost two...and so adorable. Then the trumpet voluntary began, and I floated down the aisle on my father's arm, to meet my groom, my beloved.

Our home church is situated downtown on a block that also has an old city park and a historic hotel. The church & the hotel share Spanish-style architecture. We were married in the church, then led our guest on a stroll through the park to the hotel while friends played guitar and sang worship songs. It was perfect.

We honeymooned in Estes Park, CO, and enjoyed beautiful sunny days for hiking, followed by a few days of snow! We had the best time. We're saving up to go back for our 10th anniversary.

Our wedding day was a wonderful, special day. We treasure it. But it was only the beginning. In our six short years, we've been through better and worse, but mostly better. We've grown up and matured and found ourselves in a deep, solid, steady love.

You were worth waiting for, my beloved. I thank God for you! I love the life we have together. To God be the glory!

We now return to our semi-regularly scheduled blogging

Oops! I took an unnanounced sabbatical. It wasn't intentional. Things got a little busy at the end of October, and then my dear husband and I took a little anniversary trip at the beginning of this month. I held off on blogging because I had the best of intentions to do an anniversary post. But I wanted to include wedding pictures, and I didn't have any on this computer, so I kept putting it off. So here we are...weeks later. I'll post my anniversary post later today. I still haven't carved my pumpkins. That's ok...we do the fall thing more than the halloween thing, so we'll make some lovely lanterns! I've got lots of projects to get done in the weeks to come. I'll post anything that's not a Christmas secret! 'Tis the season to be creative!