It was a good day!

Since our travel plans changed so suddenly, we found ourselves with time off and no place to go.  Two days before Labor Day weekend is NOT a good time to find accomodations anywhere.  We do have reservations down on the Gulf for Monday and Tuesday after the other tourists leave, but that gives us several days to fill.  We decided to play tourist in our own area.  Heaven knows, we haven’t had much time off to just play in the past few years. Our first destination was Washington on the Brazos State Park, the “birthplace of Texas”.  My husband, a native Texan had never been here, and he’s a history buff.  They have a wonderful museum, which was perfect for today’s nearly 100 degree temps.  There are outdoor attractions as well, which we will leave for late Fall or early Spring.  This is a great place in a lovely setting and if you want to know more about Texas history, you’ll want to visit.  To learn more, go to their website:  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/washington_on_the_brazos/ One humorous note…  There is a small section of the museum devoted to the Texas Rangers, not the baseball team, but venerable lawmen indeed.  I was a bit taken aback and couldn’t resist a chuckle when I saw, near the end of the display, images of two fictional Teas Rangers, Clayton Moore as “The Lone Ranger” and Chuck Norris as “Walker, Texas Ranger”.  Hubby Harold was quite as amused. Our next stop was Somerville Lake, not far from Brenham.  What a gem!  This is a beautiful lake, not big by Texas standards I guess, but certainly picturesque.  There are several campgrounds and picnic spots.  Although it was really hot, we sat for awhile in the shade by the water — seemed cooler anyway!  Everywhere we turned, there were deer!  They wandered in and out of the camping areas, down by the water and up to some of the RV’s and trailers.  There were a number of young ones with theirs spots still in evidence.  Some were resting in the shade of some wonderful old huge oak trees draped with Spanish moss.  It’s a place we’ll definitely revisit!  It will be a lovely treat in fall.

 If you look in the shadows of this picture, you may be able to see the deer.  They were smart and stayed in the shade where it was much cooler!      

This is a picture from the shore of an island in the lake.  Harold says the fishing would be great near the island’s shoreline.      

We’re not sure where tomorrow will lead us.  It will no doubt also have a historical flair.  The main thing is that we’ll be together and away from our normal routine.  That coupled with the falling gas prices…life is good!!! 

                  

Rethinking the journey

As I said in my first post, there was a chance that we could return to our life of service in retreat and camping ministries.  Well, this chance did not work out.  Awanita called and said they had decided to hire someone locally.  Once the tears of disappointment were past, I could see their point — quicker turnaround for them as they have a couple departing and what they must have felt was a more stablizing factor, someone closer to their roots and families.

That being said, I wanted to tell them that they missed out on one great opportunity.  They will never find anyone with such enthusiasm and heart and darned good qualifications.  I wanted to tell them, but I didn’t.  We may not want to burn this bridge just yet.

So, we keep searching, and trusting that if God wants us in His fulltime service, there will be an answer.

We must have a change in our lives.  Harold is just not internally wired for the high stress corporate managerial position he has now.  Add to that the fact that he is just not a city boy, and you have one miserable soul.  He withers a little each day, and I won’t let that continue.  My job is just boring, and the whole truth to that story is that I want to be able to write more and my hours now do not allow that luxury.  I carve time out when I can, when I must.  Those of you writers out there know there are times we just must…

Next week’s trip — yes, in a modified version.  Don’t know the details yet.  We definitely need a break, and there is the matter of an anniversary to celebrate.  So stay tuned for an abridged version.

My muse and I am here!

I never thought about having my own blog, but hubby Harold & I are about to embark on a grand road trip.  We’re going to drive to Marietta, SC for a job interview at Awanita Retreat Center. 

Before our last move to Texas three years ago, we worked at a camp & retreat center in New Mexico.  We left for some very valid reasons, and we would not exchange our time here for anything.  However, ever since leaving the camp, there has been a piece/peace missing from our lives.  Our hearts are truly in camp ministry — enabling those who come to have a place where they can rest, worship and re-connect.  So, there is a chance, with this interview, that we may be returning to that life, albeit in a much different locale.

I’ve never driven east of Texas, so I know I will be well entertained by the new sights.  We’re taking a camera and I’ll post pictures along the way.  I will have to teach my hubby that the car can STOP between destinations.  I like to sight-see and he likes arriving.  We’ll find a compromise, I’m sure, as we often have — you see, we’ll be celebrating our 38th anniversary on this particular jaunt.  We’ve journeyed long together, and this trip will be the beginning of another great shared adventure.

Our exceptionally talented daughter Becca helped me set up this site.  I’ve listed a link to her blog.  She has lots of fun with it, so visit her too.  Hopefully, I’ll find a way to set up a link to our other exceptionally talented daughter Johanna. 

Check back often!