REED at the DALLAS ARBORETUM - 2006

May your troubles be less, your blessing be more, and

nothing but HAPPINESS come through your door.

We Gather Together To Ask The Lord's Blessing

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praise to his Name, He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning:


Thou, Lord, wast at our side: all glory be Thine!
We all do extol Thee, thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation:
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

Words: Nederlandtsch Gedencklanck 1626;
Translation: Theodore Baker (1851-1934), 1894.Music: 1626 Dutch melody
Arrangement: Edward Kremser (1838-1914)

Nothing says "Thanksgiving" to me more than this hymn. As the temperatures "fall" and the calendar page is turned to November, I start humming this tune. The words are inspired and inspiring. In years past I would envision humble pilgrims bowing gratefully over their harvest meal and think, "What a lovely and wonderful tradition."

But now, as I study the words, a veil is lifted and a vision of that great "fight," even the War in Heaven between good and evil, is recalled to memory. And as I read the words in this light, the hymn has so much more meaning to me - for we are all, right now, in the thick of it. The fight is all around us and has been from the beginning. But with the Lord beside us, to guide us, the fight we ARE winning.

May we always remember and acknowledge Him, our Defender, our Leader Triumphant, who is the Source of all blessings, and who is the One and Only One who will make us free.

CHILDREN HANDS . . .

This is one of my favorite photos -

Garrett and Adam

Flagstaff AZ

10.07

SWINGING ADAM!!

Can you remember what it was like to swing high and touch the sky? Cute Adam's delighted expression helps me remember how it felt.

BEAUTIFUL DREAMER

This Beautiful Dreamer is my beautiful Bailey Sue, age 9 years.

Photo was taken October 17, 2009 in Flagstaff, AZ.

HAILEE - OUR LITTLE BUTTERFLY

Our little granddaughter, Hailee (age 6), is a precious, beautiful little girl. She rarely just walks but flits and flutters like a butterfly.


This was my first attempt at blending a photo with the background.

CHANGING COLORS - 2007

Can you believe it's September?!! Even though we are still having triple digits here in AZ, just the fact that it is the first day of September makes it feel cooler. There is a definite change in the air - or is it the slight shift in the way the shadows fall? Whatever it is, it is beginning to feel like Fall and I am giddy with anticipation of all that comes with the changing of the weather and the leaves.

The beautiful photos for this page were taken by Amy in 2007. Bailey was 7, Alex was 5 and Adam was 1. They found the beautiful leaves along Lake Mary Road when returning home after a day in Flagstaff.

You Are My Sunshine!

Postscript: I just had to change the title of this post. Little Adam is Sunshine persona. He lights up the room, he lights up my life. I love this little man!

July 4, 2008 - Durango Mountain Resort, Durango Colorado:

a golf club, a red ball & a quarter - treasures to a 2 year old.

Adam carried them everywhere and didn't want to give them up.

I am thankful for summer days, sunshine and grandchildren.

I am also thankful for digital design artists who share their talents freely and provide such lovely templates as this. Check out DesignerDigitals here.

The Many Faces of Reed Miles

Reed is so expressive. He pulls the funniest faces. The cute things he says and does make me smile. But his funny faces make me LAUGH! These "funny face fotos" of 4 years old Reed were taken Monday, July 20, 2009.

I am thankful for funny faces and LAUGHTER!!