Diving in...

Brett and the kids have been swimming since May 5, probably the earliest we've ever opened the pool. Today, I joined them for the first time, and even though the water's still chilly, I can't wait until school's out and swimming can be part of our daily routine! Bring it on!

Yes, we still have kitties.

And I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted their pictures! Obsess much? Why, YES, we do!

Mother's Day program.

Katie and her third grade classmates honored moms at school. Even though I had to miss it because of work, I was still delighted to see my gorgeous daughter all dressed up for the program!

T-shirt Thursday.

T-shirt Tribute #8

I hadn't planned to post this shirt today; after all, it's not one I'm really getting rid of. But since I just spent three hours (some of which in the rain) waiting for our yearbook delivery, I thought this would be appropriate. The truck with our 1,100 yearbooks on it got stuck in traffic, so I was held hostage, waiting until the 18-wheeler pulled into the school parking lot. It was only three hours late!

I've taught for almost 16 years, and I've advised newspaper for all but three of those years. The yearbook gig is a new one. I advised the 2003 and 2004 yearbooks, helped a tiny bit with the 2006 book, and here I am again with the '07 edition. In spite of my limited yearbook experience, I've been around long enough to realize that distribution day--that would be tomorrow--is a BIG DEAL. So wish me luck!

And this staff shirt, like many others, is destined for display in our journalism lab. I have about a dozen newspaper and yearbook shirts that belong there, as part of journalism staff history, instead of collecting dust in my closet. So off it goes!

Tributes to Megann.

Megann blessed everyone she knew. One of the many sad things about losing her is that she didn't have the time for even more people to get to know her. If you never had the pleasure of meeting Megann, check out these links to some of her friends' blogs. They provide sweet descriptions of Megann's spirit and personality:

Jenna

Sarah

Tami

"Megann songs."

Megann was a teacher by trade and by lifestyle. Even before her cancer diagnosis, she taught us a lot about life. She truly loved living, and through her friendliness and straightforward attitude, she interjected that spirit into everyone she met.

After she was diagnosed, it was her faith that taught me even more.

On Wednesdays when the praise team rehearses, they often sing what I've come to think of as "Megann songs." I never heard Megann sing them, but they exemplify Megann's steadfast faith in the face of adversity. On more than one Wednesday evening, I'd be working in the booth and have to fight back tears so I could see the computer screen.

Ever since last summer, "Come, Now Is the Time to Worship" reminds me of that unforgettable evening when we were so honored to pray with Megann and Jon. I can't sing it or even hear it without thinking of Megann.

Another one that gets me is "I Will Praise Him Still," especially these two lines:

When dark trials come and my heart is filled
With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him still.

And then there's "Blessed Be Your Name," which has several lines that fit her spirit:

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place,
Though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed Be Your name.

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise;
When the darkness closes in, Lord,
Still I will say,

Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name...

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me,
When the world's 'all as it should be,'
Blessed be Your name.

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering,
Though there's pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name...

It is wonderful to know that Megann's suffering and pain are gone forever, but now we're the ones who can see the darkness closing in. It's time for us to say, "Blessed be Your name"...

And keep singing.

Please pray.

Please pray for Megann's comfort and for Jon and the rest of her family.

Megann blesses us all with her friendship, her sense of humor, her spirit, her sweetness and her feistiness! We love her so much and are scared to lose her, and we ache for those closest to her.

We know what's next for Megann:

"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

(1 Corinthians 15:54)

But this is just too difficult. Her pain, our pain... It's too much. Help us, Father. Take care of our sweet Megann. And God, I very selfishly ask you to take care of the rest of us, too.

Crop 'til you drop.

This weekend I was lucky enough to join nine friends from church for a B&B scrapbooking retreat. This particular B&B, in Mabank, is specifically for scrapbookers, and even though my paper cropping days are nearing an end, I actually got a bunch done!

I cropped in this room, the Piggy Parlor: I got 60 pages done (well, almost--I still need to journal and add titles via PC at home)! That's major progress for me and my lame cropping skills. This weekend helped me make a major dent in our vacation album. Of course, in our room we also watched movies and chatted just a bit.

The rest of our crew worked in the Cropping Barn:

In addition to scrapbooking, we also enjoyed fabulous meals and the services of massage therapists. What a treat!

In the evenings, we could visit near the fire in the patio fireplace.

And then there was the relaxing view of the country:
Friends, fresh air and fun: Just what the doctor ordered! A big thanks to all the guys who made this happen!

Swan song.

Tonight was our last chance to see Ryan and his school's choir perform. They performed a variety of songs from musicals, such as "We Go Together" from Grease and "Singin' in the Rain."

Memaw, Nana and Papa were all there for the big show, too, which led to this picture: three generations of Dub men!

So long, CJ.

We shipped CJ off to her new home Thursday. (OK, we didn't really mail her. We just used the box for the car ride.)
It was hard to say goodbye, but we know she's in a good, loving home.

Cat and mouse.

C.J. is headed to a new home soon, so the photopalooza has begun!

T-shirt Tuesday.

T-shirt Tribute #7

Oh, how I love Lyle! I've been to more Lyle Lovett concerts than I can count (I'm in the late teens), and only instant sell-outs and exhorbitant ticket prices have kept me from his shows lately. "That's Right (You're Not from Texas)" is one of my all-time favorite road tunes, and I get tickled when it's blasted from Godzillatron (the massive scoreboard) during UT pregame warmups.

This T-shirt I bought off eBay, but since it's stretched out into an odd, ill-fitting shape, I've hardly worn it. Since it was dusty from lack of wear when I pulled it off the shelf, I decided I could let it go. Besides, Lyle will always have a place in my heart--and in my cyber closet!

Rhome if you want to.

We met up with the PowerZone kids for a cookout at JLR's awesome house in Rhome. Ryan and his buddies had a great time, and the Randolphs' place was perfect for...

Reflecting...

Exploring...
Having a water balloon fight...

Playing kickball...

Roasting hot dogs and s'mores...

And just having a great time!

A big thanks to our hosts and the PZ leaders!

The Big One.

ChaCha and KitKat are now 1 year old!

To celebrate our original chitties' birthday, Ryan made special plates of cat food and I baked a cake. After singing happy birthday and helping the cats blow out their candles, we cut the cake and let the birthday girls and the three littlest kittens enjoy a taste of cake. Watching all five cats in the kitchen at the same time, we came to the realization that we are officially crazy cat people.

Later, Mama KitKat fed her sleepy babies, proving that a mommy's work is never done, even on her birthday. Then C.J., Tiger and Casper found the coziest napping spot in the room: my purse!

Celebrating Volume 2!

Brett got the email today: His publishing company has given his latest book proposal the green light! This book will be a continuation of the volume he finished in January. (That one may--we hope!!!--be out as early as this summer.)

To celebrate Volume 2, we went out for Chinese food. YEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAAAW!

T-shirt Tuesday.

T-shirt Tribute #6

Ahhhh--how sweet it was! Since I'm bummed about the Stars' game 7 loss last night and just a tad worried about the Mavs' first round series, I thought today might be a good time to remember the good ol' days. It's been SO LONG since we've had a Super Bowl caliber Cowboys team. Instead of basking in victories, we've had a botched snap to sulk about all off-season.


Well, here's to a good draft Saturday (Aaron Ross, maybe?). Thank goodness there's always next year!

Prayers for Brenda.

Please pray for Brenda to recover fully and quickly, and for her family to find comfort and peace in the meantime.

Has this been a brutal week or what? Each time we hear more bad news, I feel like God is tapping me on the shoulder: "Hey, you! Remember ME?" It had been a while since I'd prayed a desperate "Help me!!!" prayer--you know, the kind that is filled with more tears and begging than words. But this week has been full of these petitions, these responses to shocking news. Virginia Tech. The Midtown friend who died way too soon. The Austin friend who buried her stepfather Wednesday. Mary and Paul's mom's stroke and surgery.

How sad is it that it takes a crisis for me to reconnect with God and rev up my prayer life? How wonderful is it that my failings don't keep God from hearing my desperate prayers?

"O, Lord, you have been good! You have been faithful; you have been good."

Remembering another tragedy.

Last summer Katie and I spent a few days in Oklahoma City while Ryan attended Camp Impact. Our visit to the national memorial there made quite an impression on us. On this, the anniversary of the bombing, I'm reflecting on the sights and sounds from that summer visit and on our memories of that awful day 12 years ago.

And I'm still Remembering Baylee.

T-shirt Tuesday.

T-shirt Tribute #5

Another Tuesday, another T-shirt for the cyber closet. This is an appropriate one for this time of year. Didn't you know? It's JOURNALISM SEASON!

Late-March through mid-April is our busy time for newspaper and yearbook trips. On March 24 some of my students competed in the district UIL meet. On April 11 a few newspaper students and I were off to Dallas for the Morning News Journalism Day. Then since two of my students placed in the top three at district, we flew to Lubbock for UIL regionals last Saturday. The grand finale to all this travel? Our state convention in Austin is this weekend. We leave at 7 a.m. Saturday and won't be home until after 6 p.m. Sunday. Whew!

Even though these last few weeks have been amazingly hectic, I teach journalism because of all the occasions that let me get to know my students better. Spending time in workshops or at contests outside of school are real bonding activities, and I know how much those times meant to me when I was on the Southern Accent staff in high school. And looking at old T-shirts, even the ones I'm parting with, I can still remember the students that made those staffs so special.

Prayers for VT.

I'm stunned by the tragedy in Blacksburg today, and I'm praying fervently for the entire Virginia Tech family, especially those who lost sons, daughters, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, friends.

Hail, hail, the gang's all here.

And we're so thankful our house is still here! Like a bunch of folks in these parts, we were pelted with golfball-sized hail Friday night. After getting a weather alert phone call from the city and hearing the sirens go off, we took cover in our hallway. We kept a TV on for updates, and when we knew we were safe, we went outside to see monstrous hailstones.

A friend of our nephew's lives not far from our house, and he got an amazing shot of a funnel cloud. Check it out here. Scary stuff!

That's our girl!

Bible Reading

Chorus

Getting the Hardware

Displaying the Art

All the Heritage LTC kids were recognized for their honors Wednesday night, and Katie had the chance to shine! We're so proud of her for all her hard work. Many a Sunday afternoon was devoted to LTC practice, and she also spent time at home practicing or working on her art project.

And the neighbors got to come, too!

Bunny buddies.

Hangin' with the bunny, through the years...

1998

1999

2001

2002

These days, we don't visit the Easter bunny anymore, but I still love to take pictures of my sweeties all dressed up!

2007