White Family Reunion and other news

Oh my, these pictures are all out of order! Oh well. The first two are updated pics of my garden. There are several peppers, tomatoes and squash visibly growing. Everything else is still just leafy and green.

Here we are at the annual White Family Reunion. This year it was in Lockhart, where my grandpa and his family grew up, 5 brothers and one sister. This is probably half of the White family descendent from them. Such a neat group of folks. Randy and Donald set us up with some famous Kruez sausage and brisket - there just isn't anything better!

Evan has been officially walking more than crawling! He's so fun.

On the way to the family reunion with Grandpa Wilbur and Linda. This kid LOVES his Aunt Amanda!!!

Playing with Daddy.

Papa and Aunt Amanda feasting on Kruez!

Visit from the Hami Fami

Mark and Alora and their family came to visit this last week. We had so much fun with them and were sad to see them leave! Evan loved playing with Hudson and Elliott and I loved holding sweet Nathaniel AND getting to spend time with Alora. We love you guys! The "Taste of San Antonio" coffee never tasted better than at breakfast together... if only Kenan could have joined us!

Hudson and Ryan above, and Evan below, mowing the grass in his jammies. Thanks Mimi and Papa for the mower!

Hudson playing football with Mark.

Alora and Nathaniel chilling on the porch.

Mark and Elliott playing soccer (notice the growing garden in the background). :o)

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful hymns I have heard.  

Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken have a 

beautiful version recorded!  

Check it out on iTunes.

Beneath the cross of Jesus 

I fain would take my stand 

The shadow of a mighty Rock 

Within a weary land; 

A home within the wilderness, 

A rest upon the way, 

From the burning of the noontide heat, 

And the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus 

Mine eye at times can see 

The very dying form of One 

Who suffered there for me; 

And from my smitten heart with tears 

Two wonders I confess 

The wonders of redeeming love 

And my unworthiness.  

I take, O cross, thy shadow 

For my abiding place; 

I ask no other sunshine than 

The sunshine of His face; 

Content to let the world go by, 

To know no gain nor loss, 

My sinful self my only shame, 

My glory all the cross.

~ Elizabeth Cecelia Douglas Clephane

Sandboxes

This is Evan's sandbox.  These are the only toys allowed in there according to him.  Anything else gets tossed out in a hurry.  Guess a bucket, shovel, rake, and tractor are really all you need for "dirt work".  Thank you, Daddy!

This is my sandbox!  With the soaker hose it's not so pretty looking, I know.  But the container is really nice, it's pretty big, and just the sight of all those little sprouts is just so fun!  It's like having all these little babies on a MUCH smaller scale.  It's fun though!  

I like to look at them and watch them grow.  When I do get to admire them, my hands are usually frantically pulling out the grass that grows up in the garden.  As I pull I think about my own child and how I desperately want to keep him away from the things in life that spring up and "choke us out".  I want him to grow in the Lord, unhindered and with everything he needs to be a mighty and fruitful man of God.  Father, may it be so.