Home Visit

Saturday morning started out with a scheduled home visit on behalf of Texas GSP Rescue.

We have a family that has applied to adopt a puppy from the rescue, so that requires a home inspection and visit.

I love performing this service for Texas GSP, mostly because I love the breed, and of course, I love people!  And this visit certainly didn’t disappoint.

I drove up to a beautiful property, text the potential adoptee and drive through a remotely opened gate.  The wife met me at the garage, and led me into the house, where I met her husband, and precious little girl, as well as their rescue lab mix. We all sit at the kitchen table. I look outside, and see two other smaller dogs, and a chicken.  There’s a cat out there somewhere, but I never see it.

I love how all these animals co-exist!  It makes my heart smile.

As I’m interviewing the family, I find out they have a donkey, and share a community horse.  The horse is one they were caring for on behalf of a friend. The neighbors fell in love with the horse, so now it’s become a community horse.  We talk about their property, their fencing, and their plans for their property as they move forward.

About this time, one of the teenage sons walks in, and meets me.  He goes to out to feed the larger animals.  While we’re discussing the ins and outs of rescue and GSP characteristics, another teenage son comes in to greet me.  I knew before I got here they had a blended family of his, hers and ours.  It’s a very vibrant home, but there is no doubt about the peace that reigns within these walls.  This family has been knit together with love, and you can feel it the moment you pass over the threshold

It was an absolute joy to visit this family, and one of the high points of my weekend.  They will be great GSP adopters.  I look forward to seeing their match develop.

The Blessing of Sons

The weekend is over, and I’m trying to think up blogging topics.  Instead, I’m thinking about the blessing that our boys are.

Younger Son just left our house, headed back to his house.  Elder Son is roping somewhere around San Antonio.

I miss them both.

Over the last 15 years, our blended family has experienced seasons of laughter, togetherness, and celebration.  We have also experienced estrangement, lack of communication, seasons of agony and worry and despair.  We’re just like any other family in those areas.  Thank God the good times outweigh the bad, and Love?  Love heals.

Love. Heals.

So, today, I’m thankful that we’re all in communication.  Thankful that our sons know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we love them unconditionally.  And that we will always love them and always, always, always, be their biggest fans.

So, with that being said, I’d like to say to them:

As y’all go about your respective endeavors today, remember this: We Love You.  We love each of you individually, and we love you both. We are thankful you have become brothers, and that you love each other.  We are thankful for each of you, as our sons, and as each of you, as men.

Continue to do what you do, as always, with excellence.  We are here, cheering you both on.  

Sweet Ada Jael

I took this three generations picture two years ago.  Meet Ada Jael.

Friday found us trekking towards DFW, giving a friend a ride home.

Saturday morning?  9 a.m.?  At our beautiful goddaughter’s 2nd birthday party.  I can't believe she's two.  I was with her mommy in the delivery room when she was born.  Time flies!

Here’s the little cake-faced darling now, beautiful Ada Jael.

Saturday morning until late afternoon?  ThatManILove and Ada’s mommy shopped for the perfect mattress, and perfect trundle mattress, comforter, sheets, shams, and perfect bunky boards for Ada’s bed (that I had purchased for a mere $100).  I’m not going to speculate how much dinero he dropped.  Nothing’s too good for baby Ada!

Is she beautiful, or what?

We were exhausted by nightfall…and had to go eat at Fish Grill at Arlington Highlands.  It was wonderful.

Sunday, we headed back to Dallas to our friends’ house and stayed the night.  We had a great time, and talk about carbs - almost everything we cooked that night was fried.

Monday morning, we headed to Kilgore to look at some flowback and wellhead equipment.  It was fun, a beautiful shop and business, with super preventative maintenance plans and a great repair facility.  These guys are definitely starting their business out the right way!

And...I was blessed to see my cousins for a bit!  I sure miss them! We spent that night with friends, and had a good time. Headed home yesterday morning. A good trip!

A Little More Cracked

Damn you, cancer.

Michael and his Mom.

We lost my husband’s oldest living brother, Michael, last Monday night about 10:30 p.m.  My husband was by his side, as were his wife and children and another brother. I cannot imagine what they all felt that night.

ThatManILove immediately called me, sobbing.  My heart, already broken, broke some more, for my man and his family.  I know what it’s like to lose a brother.  Not fun.  Killer deal. And here I was, going through some bizarro rerun, though a little remotely.

Being the only family in our town at the time, I was sent to inform Michael’s mom of her son’s passing.

My friend Clara was still here, thank God, so she went with me to my Mom-in-love’s to give her the news at 11 p.m.. My heart? Broke completely as I held this small woman whom I’ve grown to love as a mom, and told her that her son hurt no more.  That her boy was gone. She sobbed.  I wept.  Clara wept.  

I know, I know. Death happens. 

For a mom to bury a child - it should not happen this way.  And it’s really hard when you’re a mom, to see not one, but two of your sons pass before you.  I remember watching my mom as my big brother passed.  I don’t really know what “the natural order” of things is, but this cannot be right.  It sucks.  It really sucks.

We buried Michael yesterday.  His beautiful wife and children put together the greatest video of photographs of his life, along with some of his most loved songs.  The service was standing room only.  This man, Michael, was an honorable man of great character and integrity.  A man who loved his family, above all else.

I want to be like Michael.  Heck, we all do. He was an amazing man.

I’m more than a little angry.  Perplexed.  Hurting, for those I love, who called this man Husband. Daddy. Pop-pop. Son. And Brother. I'm waiting and watching. Caring. Loving.

And I’m praying. Praying that healing will come, and please, Lord God, sooner than later.  And until then, that Love will dull, and soon remove, the sting of pain for all of those beautiful people that are Michael's loves.  


Happy trails, Mike.  Until we meet again.

Real Life Between The Seeeeester-In-Loves

Texts between my sister-in-love and myself:

Lisa: Do you know much about yours and Scott’s genealogy?

Me:  Not really.  Wilbur (our uncle) has done all the work on Mom’s side.

Me:  Why?

Lisa:  Looking to see if there is anything that will help Nick in college admissions.

Me:  Hmmmmm.  Other than his aunt is a rock star in her own mind?

Lisa:  Yeah....couldn’t find a place for that one on here.

I love ThatLisaGirl.  That girl flat cracks me up.