Our trip to Houston, Waco, and Austin, June 8th - 11th

 We were in Humble, just North of Houston, for Bill's 35th class reunion.  We stopped by Rosewood cemetery before heading to the reunion dinner to see Bill's father's headstone.  When we were there two years ago, it was not yet in place so this was our first time to see Irv's marker.

 Irv is laid to rest beside Bill's mother Patsy.  They were both wonderful Christian saints!  We miss them both.

 Side by side, it was nice to finally get to see Irv's marker completed and in place beside Patsy's.

 The Humble Wildcats Alumni Association is the longest running High School Alumni Assoc. in Texas!  This was their 80th reunion and there was a table or tables at the dinner for EVERY class from the beginning of HHS to now!  There were about 350 in Bill's class of 1977 and about 40 came to this dinner and dance.

                                                 Bill's old high school, Humble High!

 We got to stay with our daughter Melissa and her wonderful husband Jonathan, in Houston.  The next morning, after the reunion, we all four headed to Waco to watch our Baylor Men's Baseball team play Arkansas in a Super Regional!  We had such a fun time!  It was HOT but we made the best of it!

 Bill and I got there really early to get our "Will Call" tickets and because we were SO early we ran into the head coach, Steve Smith, who is a good friend of ours from our Baylor Days!  We got to visit and pray with him!  He was in Bill's brother Keith's wedding as a groomsman!  His wife Melinda was a KKG with me at Baylor!

We had to get our picture in front of this bronze Bear statue!

                                                                     Me and Melissa!

                                                                Melissa and Jonathan!

                                                                Me and Bill in the bleachers!

          "Feed the Beaver", is a new saying this year, due to when a home run is hit it goes out by
                                           the Brazos river where a beaver has it's home!

 The following morning, in Waco, all BU alum's favorite way to start their day is by having some coffee from our beloved "Common Grounds"!

 Ahhhh!  My nice tasty cup of "Rodeo Clown" coffee from Common Grounds!  I'm ready for my day!

 Anytime I get to be on Baylor Campus I feel "Welcome Home!"  Such a wonderful place to be!

Pat Neff Hall

                                           
                                          Neil Morris Hall, where the Communication Disorders Department is housed                  
                                          and where I spent MANY hours doing my undergrad and graduate work!

                                                         The Bear Pit!

                                                 Commemorative Dr. Pepper in honor of our Lady Bear's National          
                                                  Championship!

                                          We got to meet our friend Robin Drake in Austin for lunch!

Yes, I HAD to stop at the outlet stores!  Bill is so sweet to me!  

                         My TRS appointment wasn't until 4:00 pm so we had time to visit the state
                                                                       Capitol before TRS.

It is now official!  I have applied for my TRS (Teacher's Retirement System) retirement effective May 31st, 2013!  I'm so excited!  Just one more year!

Things I'm Loving today....

Here are a few things I am loving today!

I treated myself to these Twist Pearl Earrings this week and I am loving them!  They show up even in my dark hair.  I think they'll be great for this summer!

I am also loving this Brighton Twist Pearl bracelet!  

I want to complete my set and get this Twist Pearl Necklace too!

Bill and I got KEEN shoes recently for when we hike or walk golf courses as spectators.  We LOVE them!  The Catos told us about them and they wore theirs when they went with us to Disney a while back.  We can also wear these in August as we walk the WDW parks!  They are SO comfortable and made for the kind of walking and hiking we do!  We are loving our KEENS!

 I recently bought Bill and I each a new Tervis Tumbler Sports Bottle and we used them yesterday while walking the Chihuly Exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum.  They kept our ice tea nice and cold the entire walk!  We are loving our new Tervis Tumbler BU Sports Bottles!

 The Chihuly Exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum is a must see!  My Mom bought us a membership there a few years ago so we renew our membership each year.  She would have LOVED this exhibit.

 Truly stunning is the best way to describe these blown glass creations set up for display outdoors in the water and flower beds of the Arboretum.  I can't wait to go see it at night!

 This was my favorite spot of the exhibit!  The reflection pool has an infinity edge with a view out over White Rock Lake.

 We went to see Men In Black 3 at North Park Mall Imax in 3D and loved it!  Very entertaining!

This is the BEST hand lotion ever!  My favorite!  I got a new tube this week and LOVE it!

What are YOU loving?  Don't forget Father's Day is coming up soon so ask the Father's in your life what things they would love to have!

Politics

Here in Grand Prairie we have school board elections, City Council elections and then of course our country is moving toward a new presidential election.  I don't like politics.  In fact I tend to be a naive "cockeyed optimist" like the character Laura in "South Pacific".   I enjoy people of all views, personalities, beliefs, passions, and opinions.  I don't mind having someone disagree with me or see things differently than I do.  I don't mind discussing thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams, desires, and ideologies with people.  I admire people who think, read, study the facts, and who want to do what they can to improve things.  I also love America and I equate patriotism right up there with spirituality!  I cry when the national anthem is sung and I like that our American currency says "In God we Trust".  I hope that never changes.  I do believe in the separation of church and state.  I think that is necessary and good.  I am so thankful to live in a country where freedom is highly valued and fought for and I want that freedom to continue.  

Austin Cline say,  "Many politicians and other important figures in society have long appealed to the support of gods for their various projects. Whatever it is they wanted to do, they managed to find some bit of authoritative scripture or prophecy that purported to demonstrate divine favor for their agenda. How likely is it, though, that many (if any) have been right?

Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them.
- Abraham Lincoln, Letters to Thurlow Weed, March 14, 1865

Abraham Lincoln was well aware of the ways in which people could appeal to supposed existence of God's favor for their projects. Both sides in the American Civil War eagerly claimed that God was on their side, helping them defeat an evil enemy. Both sides in the debate over slavery commonly cited scripture in defense of their positions.

Some, but probably not enough, learned an important lesson from this: just because a person claims to have divine favor, and just because they can offer plausible-sounding arguments, doesn't make it true. Lincoln certainly learned it, if he didn't realize it already, and it impacted how he dealt with religious and political issues."

Whatever your views, it is important to vote.  Be involved and be civic minded.  Your participation in your community and your national politics are important and you do make a difference.  Don't get discouraged and choose to be apathetic and not vote.  I believe it is our civic duty to vote.  I also believe it is my duty as a Christian to be kind, gentle, respectful and loving to all.

Ephesians 4:29 says, "Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
The sermon Sunday was about Barnabas in Acts.  Barnabas was an encourager.  His name means "Son of Encouragement!"  Barnabas was consistent, generous, positive, faithful, served others willingly, he stood strong theologically, and he supported other believers redemptively.  I so want to be like Barnabas!  My husband and pastor is so good at all of the above and he is truly like Barnabas in these ways!

It is so important to register to vote and to VOTE!  Your thoughts, desires, opinions, and views are important and matter.  Make a difference in your community and your country!  However, be like Barnabas when you do!  Be positive, passionate yes, but be polite and don't sling mud.  Voice and share honestly your thoughts but don't attack others.  Be respectful and expect others to do the same.  Be positive and take the high road always.  We need to model this for our children as they mature and become our future leaders.
Philippians 4: 8 & 9 says, "Finally brothers, and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."

My Dad's golf clubs

 This is my Dad's old set of McGregor Golden Bear golf clubs and bag from years back.  Daddy died of Cardiomyopathy back in 1996.  He was a wonderful man, a kind and loving daddy to us kids.  He and mom had almost 50 years together and they were a great example of a happily married Christian couple who always put God first, family second, and work third.

When we were going through Dad's old golf bag, I found an extra head cover with an M on it.  There is a 1,3, and a 5 wood but there is no wood or club to go in the M head cover.  I asked Bill what the M stands for?  He quickly said for a "Mashie"!  Seriously?  I think once again, he is teasing me and go google Mashie.  Well, lo and behold, he was speaking the truth!  A Mashie is a now obsolete club.  Different Mashies had different names!  Who knew?  Not me!
 Bill and Daddy played golf together at Bentwood and at Riverside in San Angelo several times.  I can't remember if they ever played the SACC course together or not.  I know Bill played that beautiful SACC course a few times but I don't think it was with Dad.  Anyway,  Bill and I recently redid Brad's old room and as Brad and I were discussing the decor, he and I decided to try to keep it as masculine as possible while still making it comfortable for a guest but inviting for Brad to stay in over the holidays etc.

                                           The Mashie head cover that there is not a club for.

                           Bill cleaned up all the irons really nice and they are pretty and shiny!

 I even vacuumed out the bag to be sure it was all real good and clean and that I wasn't bringing any unwelcome little visitors into my newly redone guest room/ Brad's old room!

                                                              Didn't they clean up nice!

                                                          Here's their new dwelling place.

What do you think?  Doesn't the color go perfectly with the new comforter!  I think I am pleased!  I think Brad will like it.  I ordered a new vintage bag tag with James D. Wimpee engraved on it and will attach it to the bag when it comes!  I think Daddy would have approved!

I am thankful for Godly parents who raised me lovingly and modeled good character, morals, and lifetime commitment to one another.  So many happy memories are part of my past because of James D. and Dixie Ann Wimpee.  I am very blessed.

Exodus 6:12 "Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."