He Leadeth Me

Donna and I worked together for many years and became good friends. Recently her family was taking a road trip to Colorado, so they stopped in the Springs and spent a few days visiting with us and seeing the sights. We enjoyed hanging out in the backyard with kids and grandkids one evening. Michael and David became good buddies. Why is it that water is often the best toy around? Michael and Amber The Summers family on our back deck. Nana and Ducca with Michael and Amber We enjoyed your visit Summers Family

Because little David and his parents  were on a vacation, these cousins and best friends had not seen each other in three weeks. Such a sweet reunion!!!

Some of the ladies at our church enjoyed a picture scavenger hunt at our monthly get together for July. My team consisted of (left to right) me, Linda, Vanessa and Crystal. In the following photos, you will get to see some of our challenges. Go to a donut shop and buy a donut and bring with you with a bite taken out of it by the person who sold it to you.  (150 points) This guy was such a good sport.   Picking up litter. (10 points) My team gave me a hard time because I picked up the litter for the photo and then put it back down again. BAD! I did go back and put the litter in the trash can after realizing what I had done. Hugging a stranger (20 points) Go to a McDonald's restaurant. Go inside, and everyone gets down on his hands and knees and pretend you are looking for someone's lost contact lens for about 3 minutes. (100 points) In a bathroom stall at McDonalds (not handicap) (50 points) A picture of all of you i...

I am a lucky woman. I get to see Pikes Peak every single day.  In fact, when I  am in the car with the grandsons, we often say, "Good Morning, Mr. Pike" to the mountain.  I got to go up to the top of the Peak on the Cog Railway when visitors from Houston were here last week. The views are truly breathtaking and no photograph can really describe the beauty. Katharine Lee Bates penned a poem while she was going up the mountain in the 1800's and the poem became our well beloved song, America the Beautiful . I cannot imagine ascending that mountain in a buggy, but she did. Equally hard to describe is the blessing of lifelong friends who share life and ascend both literal and figurative mountains with you. God is so good!  

Our good friends David and Barbie stopped by to see us on their way to Estes Park. As on many July evenings,  we had rain, but decided to take a drive through  Garden of the Gods anyway. We were rewarded with the most beautiful double rainbow I have ever seen. David C. noted that the colors on the two rainbows are reversed. Can anyone explain that phenomenon? The remainder of the photos need no captions. Just enjoy the beauty!   One thing that was very interesting to me was the length of time these rainbows lasted.  It seems that rainbows are usually around for a very short time. This one lasted for 45 minutes to an hour. It was also fun seeing all the people who were gazing upward at God's breathtaking beauty.

I'm not sure if I should thank my friend Mindy for letting me know that Kohl's is featuring Skippyjon Jones items in their stores, or whether I should send her the bill for the items I purchased. I actually restrained myself (although all items purchased are not displayed in the picture.) There are many more Skippy Jon Jones items at your local Kohl's. Let me just give Kohl's  and their Kohl's Cares program a shout out. I am so impressed with their commitment to local charities benefitting children. All the items above were $5.00 each with the total proceeds going to charity. "Kohl's Cares thanks you for over a decade of dedication and hundreds of millions of dollars raised.  100% of the net profit from the sale of this item will be donated to support kids' health and education initiatives in communities nationwide. Since 2000, more than $180 million has been raised through our Kohl's Cares cause merchandize program." For more information, vi...

Sometimes it seems I am defined by the books in my life, the ones I have read, the ones I am reading, and the ones waiting to be read. My UHCL class is using two new textbooks this fall. I am enjoying learning new things to teach my students, but new textbooks are a lot of work. Our preacher, Patrick Mead, suggested this book.  It is by Sara Barton, who served as a missionary in Uganda with our friends, Greg and Jill. Sara is stretching my thinking. Another friend from church told me about Inspired Reads, a FB app which  tells you about Christian Fiction. I have downloaded several books on my IPad free of charge. Oh, dear, another way to read. I "have" to read lots of children's and young adult books for my job as an instructor of Children's Literature. This is my current shelf of library books waiting to be read. I received an e-mail from a mother the other day asking if I had some books that her children have to read for summer readin...

I don't often have the opportunity to entertain little girls. Last night our neighbor girls spent the night and Caleb came for a sleepover as well. We had fun playing in the backyard, eating pizza and popsicles, reading books and laughing. Carmen and Heath, you have raised delightful children.  Imagine my surprise when I checked and they had even made up their own bed this morning.