TLC

Turquoise Lawn Chair

 In an effort to add a whimsical touch to my new office space,

Marsha and I found this great TLC at Target...and for just $16!

So we carried it out to the car to load up...to load up...to LOAD up...

OOOOOPS!

After at least thirty minutes of attempting to get it into the car

through a multitude of entry points,(in 104 degree heat, I might add), 

something really miraculous occurred!

A nice couple walked past us, chuckling just a bit at our predicament, 

and in the heat of the moment, I blurted out, "Would you be able 
to help us here? You look like a smart man."

The wife commented that he was indeed a smart man--an engineer, in fact, 
and, as it turned out, a recently retired engineering professor from TTU 
out enjoying his early days of retirement, which apparently 
include Friday morning trips to Target with his wife.

Anyway, after a few seconds of assessing the situation, he managed 
to maneuver the chair quite handily into the backseat of the car. 

(I'm sure he used some mathematical equations, coupled with his 
brilliant spatial-relations skills to make it look so very easy.)

After thanking him profusely, (sorry, I didn't get a photo)
we got in the car...we got in the car...OOOOPS! 

We eventually got into the car, 
with Marsha folded neatly into the backseat,

and headed back to the office to try out the TLC.

After thirty minutes in the office parking lot attempting to remove 

the chair from the car, without the aid of an engineer,

(by now it was at least 106 degrees)

it was finally released from its wedging in the backseat,

and we were off again, making our way to the eleventh floor, 

whereupon it was revealed quite quickly that the TLC was just not 

"the look we were going for".

Who knew?

So we snapped these photos with TLC & MM

for old times' sake:

Sunday Morning Sights

 Miss Allison rolls by...sans training wheels!

 We see the front of the church for the first time!

Separate-Togetherness

Brother's Keeper

GG-on-a-Roll

This is GG's new footwear 

to protect her feet from wheelchair roll-overs.

They are called "Skate Shoes" and this is 
Style #21751:  The DC Villain.

Uprising

From my "Keeper-Friend", Darlene...

I grew up with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen before they had a name for it. A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away.

I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return.. So... While we have it..... it's best we love it.... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken......... And heal it when it's sick.

This is true. For marriage....... And old cars..... And children with bad report cards..... And dogs with bad hips.... And aging parents...... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special........ And so, we keep them close!

Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Keep them close!

My Space

Marsha came to town on Friday, and we played "Matchmakers" 

all day, adding the final touches to my amazing new work space at RWFE.

("Amazing" is the word they use on Design Star!)

The Inspiration:

 I found this great BIG piece of art at Pier One...love it!

Marsha found the stunning metal scuplture!

We both created the lamp with pieces from World Market.

 I was delighted to have a place to hang a most treasured piece of art,

given to me by my late NCCIL artist-friend, Gerald McDermott,

of the Greek goddess Ceres still "doing her thing."

Marsha found this lovely Kimberly Queen fern and pot...

just perfect for that top shelf!

TA-DA!

"Savor the Summit"

Doesn't this look like fun?

Park City's annual Main Street feast

Yes!

Wednesday, June 26th, 2013,

was a remarkable day of celebration for many of our friends

and a tide-turning event for our nation.

Beauty blesses my new office...

 From my faithful cheerleader...Rob

Sunday Evening

Our amazing daughter-in-law, Shannon!

Outstanding Physician by Day

Incredible Cook

Fresh and Fruity Sangria

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Pork Loin & Rice

Bread Pudding 

 Wonderful Mommy

 and Fun-Loving Playmate!

 "Here, Emmy, now take this one."

And the sky opened up!

Sunday Morning

"Acceptance doesn't mean

always saying "yes" to everything. 

  

Acceptance is not toleration. 

When we are tolerating, we are pretending to have a "yes"

 when we secretly feel a "no".

We are pretending to accept, in order to appear nice,

or kind, or spiritual, or positive, or in control, or enlightened.
 

In Acceptance, there is no pretense.

 Acceptance means living as a YES to a life

which can include an honest "yes" and an honest "no".

We no longer say "yes" just to please others, or to hide our doubts,

or to give the impression of being decisive or courageous.

We no longer say "no" out of fear or deficiency.
 

Spoken in truth, both a "no" and a "yes" are expressions

of an infinitely bigger YES to life.

The little "no" and the little "yes" become

celebrations

of that limitless and uninterruptible YES that we are..."

  

- Jeff Foster

  

Date Night

"Triple J & the Flatlanders"

Coloring with Miss Allison

"Emmy, maybe one day when my parents take a trip,

I could come stay with you. You think?"

Ah so...?

Balloons & BBall

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Critters

Get-Well-Wishers for Rob from Mary!

Papa shared... 

Sneak Peak

Morning has broken...

Blue Party Signage

"have fun"
Now where did they get this idea?

Surely not from M.E.!

Cute Kids!

Sarah & Cameron Rasty

Moving Day at RWFE

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