The Schroyers West

"Dental" Implants and the like

2009-02-21T06:20:00.000-08:00

About three years ago, I set about a journey to obtain some 'pretty teeth.' You see, I grew up with ugly spaced out wacked out teeth. My bite was all wrong, they hit each other when I chewed, my gums would expand and get sore. Most of all, I had this big space between my two front teeth. I suppose for a while it was my signature look. Wow - what a thing to be known for, huh?

So back to three years ago. I went to the orthodontist, plopped down a chunk of money and got braces. Yep braces like all teenagers have nowadays. I didn't realize you could get mouth claustrophia. Within a day, I realized that I couldn't just take them off when I wanted to. After a little bit of hyperventilation, the moment passed. 34 months later, I got my braces removed! Weird actually how they became sort of a security blanket to ensure that my teeth wouldn't become all crooked and jacked up again. But oh my, does it feel good.

The other part of this journey involves getting two 'dental' implants. {I've been told to be sure to use the word 'dental' in front of implants, so as not to confuse people with which type of 'implants' I am getting.} Anyway, in December, I had the oral surgery for the titantium posts to be inserted into my gums. Not as bad as it sounds or as I thought. I was a little nervous after all. Then last week came phase 2 of the 'dental' implants - impressions of the posts to create the abuttments and temporary crown (fake teeth really). I will get those on or about March 24. In a few months after that, I will have my teeth professionally whitened and my permanent crowns inserted. Yippeee!

In the meantime, me and my retainer are going everywhere together. The only time it's out is for me to feed my trap. Then it's time to brush and push it back in. The other reason I need to wear it right now is because I have two gaping holes in my mouth where the 'dental' implants will finally reside. I look like a hillbilly without the retainer. Kind of fun actually to watch people silently react. Hee Hee Got to have some fun somewhere!

Well, anyway. Thank God for dentists, orthos and oral surgeons. Because of them, not only do I have 'pretty teeth', but I have healthy teeth that should hopefully last the rest of my life. P.S. If I happen to die anytime soon, I'm donating the dental implants because they cost a fortune!

Well, another year older and still happy

2008-12-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my 43rd birthday. So far, the 40's have been pretty good. Of course, it's had the usual ups and downs of life. But there is something beautiful in being in your 40's. Different level of maturity, knowledge of self, understanding of others, and hopefully growth and nearness in your walk with God.

I am thankful for the air I breathe, my family, my friends, the ability to run, the beauty outside and my dog named Bubba. {He's really a cool dog.} I'm sitting here remembering that everyday I need to wake up and thank the Lord for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me. It is to Him that I am thankful for all of the tangible, and most importantly, the intangible things of life.

Hope you too take a minute to thank Him for what makes you uniquely you.

Beautiful Hair!

2008-11-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

This is my 'teacher' photo. Where is the apple?

Model switcheroo

Just gigglin'

A little more gigglin'

Peace out baby!

There is nothing more fabulous than a great day at the hair salon! Well, that is not entirely true, but getting a great haircut or a beautiful new color sure does feel good. Love my 'imahairpro' as she gave me this rich, deep color. The transformation is fabuloso. I will post photos in the next couple of days. I have to take them first.

Thank your hair stylist today! They certainly do their best to make us look and feel beautiful -- in whatever shape, color or style that works best for you.

Alright - update to this post. My personal photographer, Denise, took some model shots of me being a total dork yesterday. So, anyway, here is the new improved Sheila! Well, really it's just the same ole' me with a different hair color. Nothing fun like trying to keep the husband guessing on what color my hair will be today or tomorrow.

Love the Helmet

2008-10-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Every year, our staff is blessed to spend an entire week away from the office - relaxing and learning how to 'sabbath.' It is not as easy as it sounds. This year, we went to east Texas and spent a few days in and among the pine trees. The mornings were cool. The sun sparkled off the lake at our retreat site. Worship was intense and deeply moving.

Some of us spent time playing flag football. Some read. Some played their guitars among the trees. Some watched movies. Some of us went horseback riding.

I got 'Marge.' And no, she doesn't have a big blue beehive of a hairdo nor is she married to Homer. She did, however, have spunk. She wanted to pressure me into who was boss, but I showed her. Well, I tried to anyway. I sure would love to spend more time riding horses. It's been years since I had gotten in the saddle. I hope it's not years before I do it again. Thanks to my friend Denise, here are a few photos of my favorite part - the helmet!

P.S. I really am a dork in real life!

Get Out and Vote!

2008-10-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

From the Web-site of 'ActiVote - a nonpartisan effort getting Americans to vote':

The history of voting in America is a story of ever-increasing voting rights. The rules for eligibility have changed substantially since America's founding, and continue to change today. When America was young, only white males over the age of 21 were allowed to vote. Some of the landmark changes since then: Black suffrage which gave the legal right to vote for African-Americans was established at the end of the Civil War. However, due to numerous restrictions, many blacks weren't actually able to vote until the 1960s Voting Rights Act. Women's Suffrage brought about the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote in 1920. This amendment resulted in an international movement. However, women were unable to vote in Switzerland until the 1970s and as of 1990, women could not vote in Kuwait. In 1971, the legal voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 as a result of the 26th Amendment.

Voting was not secret in the United States until the mid-1800s. Prior to that, voters would be sworn in and announce their choices by voice. The secret ballot box was seen as a means to increase voter participation, but also has problems with fraud.

In the United States, we utilize an indirect election system whereby the Electoral College formally selects the President and Vice President. The Electoral College consists of 538 popularly elected representatives which is equiavlanet to the number of Senators and Representatives of the specific states. While Electors are technically free to vote for anyone eligible to be President, in practice they pledge to vote for specific candidates and voters cast ballots for favored presidential and vice presidential candiates by voting for correspondingly pledged electors. Each elector casts one vote for President and one vote for Vice President. In order to be elected, a candidate must have a majority (at least 270) of the electoral votes cast for that office. If no Presidential candidate receives the majority of electoral votes, the choice is referred to the House of Representtives. If no Vice-Presidential candidate receives the majority of electoral votes, the choice is given to the Senate.

There is much debate about the features of the Electoral College and whether or not it protects the rights of specific groups. Numerous constitutional amendments have been introduced in Congress seeking a replacement of the Electoral College with a direct popular vote; however, no proposal has ever successfully passed both houses.

Anyhooo - get out and vote. It is your privilege to vote. Early elections are taking place now. to find your voting location in Texas, go to www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/earlyvote.shtml.

P.S. I will be glad when it's all over. Things can get back to normal......

Just Playing Around with My Camera

2008-10-24T17:53:00.001-07:00

Tyler Rose Garden

2008-10-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

My favorite flower has always been roses. After our annual staff retreat, Denise and I took off into Tyler to see their rose garden. Apparently, this town hosts an annual rose festival. We weren't sure what to expect, but when we drove up the grounds were spectacular. The gardens were quiet, cool and peaceful. Cool air with the sun shining brightly on the petals.

Palo Duro Canyon

2008-10-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we drove 6 hours across northwest Texas to Palo Duro Canyon. Jack and I signed up for their annual trail run. They sponsor three different runs: 50 miler, 50k and 20k. We chose the 20k. Our friends, Dan and Karen, went with us. We drove down into the canyon about 7 a.m. - pitch black and 48 degrees out. However, by the time we hit the trail, the light was peaking over the top of the canyon. The dark outline of the canyon rim rose and fell on the horizon. The trail run was challenging, but not ridiculous. As I was running, the scenery took my breath away. When I came around the last curve and saw the finishing line, my eyes welled up with tears. After over two hours of running, my body was on its own. I cruised on in with Christopher waiting for me. While I had spent the last four months training, I just wanted to finish the race. My goal was accomplished and it felt good...

Here are a few photos from a camping trip we took there a couple of years ago. When I get the race photos from Karen, I'll add them in as well.

Playa Mujeres Vacaciones!

2008-08-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hasta la vista Mexico - ola mi casa!

Gracias amigos - We are back from beautiful Playa Mujeres (beach of women) which is located approximately twenty minutes north of Cancun on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. The resort was beautiful, remote, quiet and relaxing. Excellence Playa Mujeres opened at the beginning of 2008 and the service from the locals was superb. Everyone on the property was friendly and very accomodating.

We were greeted at the front doors with wet cool towels and a glass of champagne. We went on this vacation with Jack's brother (Matt), his wife (Sandra), and four other couples from Sandra's family. Sandra and her family are from Columbia, full of fun and energy. There was a lot of laughter, laying in the pool, hanging out, eating, eating, and more eating. But the eating was good. Fresh fruit, ceviche, shrimp cocktail, seafood. All yummy.

The property was full of pools. Our was on the ground floor with a walk-out to one of them. We floated by the spa and hammocks sagging in the water. The beach was just a few steps farther. White soft sand with a cool blue ocean. Across the water was Isla Mujeres (Island of Women). History of this island begins with the Mayan culture who claimed the island for their fertility goddess, Ixchel. The Spaniards discovered the island in 1517. Over the next three centuries, the island was uninhabited used only by fisherman and pirates who left their women on the island for 'safekeeping.' The island now has a village and is a tourist attraction.

Playa Mujeres resort also included an ecological preserve. The property was home to two jaguars, an alligator, macaws, a boa snake, lemur, Aztec dogs, and many iguanas and geckos. The owners of the resort, who are spanish, plan to expand the ecological preserve to include many other endangered species. In addition, the property just northwest of the resort has been claimed by the government as an archeological dig. During construction of another property, they discovered mayan ruins and are in the process of uncovering what that property has kept hidden for centuries. Because of this discovery, the Playa Mujeres area will be home to only four resorts which will keep the north end of the peninsula from becoming a busy loud touristy area like the Cancun hotel district. So if you want a vacation away from it all, but includes the beauty of the Caribbean, then Excellence Playa Mujeres may just be for you. Please note that the resort is for adults only - no children much to the dismay of our son, Christopher.

We are fans and definitely would choose this resort if we return to Cancun.

Here are some photos from our room, around the property and of us. Enjoy!

Runnin' with Bubba

2008-08-20T10:15:00.001-07:00

On the Denton Rail Trail. It calls my name everyday. It is a gravel trail that runs behind houses and through trees, winding through Corinth and up toward Denton. There are creeks and birds and bunnies and squirrels. And sometimes, an occasional snake. IKES! But what I love the most are the Cardinals. These beautiful red birds remind me of the beauty that God has created and given to us. As I run under the shade of the trees, the Cardinals flirt around chasing each other. The brilliant red ones are the males while the more brown shade of red ones are the females. They usually come in pairs and today I saw three pairs. I hope the spring time next year brings lots of baby Cardinals with more pairs to watch hop and fly to and fro.

It is on this trail that my dog and I both find peace and joy. My dog, Bubba, is so happy when I lace up my running shoes. I think he smells the dirt on the soles. He licks my face and practically knocks me down because he can't wait to get out to the trail. Once out of the car, he waits patiently for me to tie my key onto my shoe and head across the street. Over the years, I have trained him to run off leash. Ninety percent of the time, he's pretty good. He responds well to key words that require him to run by my side while others run or bike on by. As soon as they pass us though, he's off and sprinting down the trail. In the cool of the morning or the evening, the unsuspecting bunnies and squirrels get a surprise or two. Their hearts are racing as they try to hide in the weeds as Bubba goes passing by. But when he sees them, he's off. Just like a bird dog, chasing them and hopping up and down. It's hysterical. I swear he comes back with the biggest &#!+ eatin' grin on his face! Hee hee.....

I too come off the trail with a smile on my face - shortly after the final grimace that comes from running 5 or 6 miles. My body is feeling better and so is my mind. The peace I find on this trail is insurmountable. The outdoors, exercising, being alone, runnin' with my dog all remind me of the beauty in Creation. The Creation that only comes from our great and glorious King. Thanks to Him for these gifts that He has chosen to give to us. Take a moment and enjoy the peace.

Cancun - here we come!

2008-08-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

Woohoo! Cancun, here we come. Jack and I leave in 10 days for one of our only 'alone' vacations. We are heading to a new resort north of Cancun called Excellence Playa Mujeres. We plan to spend four days in the sun, just plain relaxing.

Here are some photos of the resort. Thank you, Sandra (my sister-in-law) for finding this fabulous location. I certainly hope it's everything it appears to be. I can't wait!

Love to Grandpa

2008-08-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

In the wee hours of Saturday May 10, 2008, my grandfather, James Junior Hoffman, went home to be with the Lord. A quiet respectful man, he recently suffered from breathing problems. He had spent the last two years of his life in and out of nursing homes, but close to family. He got to spend time celebrating birthdays and Christmas, watching baseball games, and listening to our family chatter.

When it came time to tell stories about grandpa, we struggled. We struggled mostly because he was such a man of quiet resoluteness. He held his convictions and his loves close to his heart. He loved to read. He loved history. He served in the military during World War II as a communications soldier. He celebrated his 66th wedding anniversary the very day before his death. He told my grandma that he didn't want to pass away on their wedding anniversary. He has two grown children, nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchildren. He loved Jesus and attended/served in their church faithfully.

I guess in the end, the story to remember about my grandfather is His Legacy. His Legacy is us, his family. How we treat one another is our legacy to him.

Love you grandpa. I will see you one day in Heaven!

I love to eat dessert first!

2008-08-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

As I drove home Wednesday night (August 6th) from my very last graduate school presentation, project, homework, etc., I realized that I love to eat dessert first. You may be wondering what the two have in common. Well, in May, I 'graduated'. I ordered and mailed announcements. I attended the school's ceremony. I had a fabulouso party with family and friends! I ate my cake first.

I knew in May that I would have three classes to finish in the summer time. It seemed so far off, but like it would be tomorrow. Well, tomorrow has come on and gone. It's official now - I've completed my last project, written my last paper. I am waiting on one last grade from the presentation that I gave on Wednesday night. The teacher left us with the parting words of "you don't have anything to worry about." I called my friends and family to let them know that it was now time for dinner.

Actually, it's time for the long lazy Sunday afternoon nap after a huge meal and dessert. I hope I don't talk in my sleep......

Memories of Old

2008-04-27T14:04:00.001-07:00

I just returned from the memorial service of our dear friend, Del. What a time of honoring and praising a man who always preferred not to be in the spotlight. He always sought out the lost, the one who was a little away from the crowd, and I pray that through his service today the same occurred.

As I stood in the foyer to hand-out programs, I saw people from days gone by dawn the doors of the church. You see I started working at First Baptist Church of Highland Village, as it was formerly known, six years ago almost to the day. The church was small with about 200 adults coming to church faithfully week in and week out. I observed these families gather in the foyer, shake hands, hug, smile, laugh, and share stories of how their week went. Their children were not quite in college or just leaving for college. They would share tears. And they would share their fears, expectations, hopes, and try not to be the weepy 'parent.'

Today was an emulation of those days gone by. Six years in, we now have over 3,500 adults on average dawn the doors of the church in Highland Village alone. About 20 miles up the road, another 650 adults attend our Denton campus. While I am grateful for what the Lord has done (and I'm not truly speaking numerics here), I do miss the community of families that drew me and my family in. You see in this group of about 200 adults, I knew all of their names. I knew their names by their faces or their spouse's face. I knew their children. But what was greater was I knew they loved the Lord and felt a calling to this place becoming The Village.

Due to various circumstances, some of them no longer attend. They have moved on to other churches, moved to other states, or haven't step into the doors of a church for years. It is for the latter that I grieve. I grieve for their loss of relationship with our Lord Jesus. I grieve for their loss of community. I grieve for their loss of being known with a group of people with whom they walked and journeyed through some dark circumstances. I grieve because, selfishly, I miss them. I miss seeing their face, their laugh, witness their tears, watching them smile, worshiping, hoping...

I am grateful for this gift that was provided today because of our dear friend's passing. This gift is the gift of friends.

For the Love of Del

2008-04-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

One of our patriarchs at the church passed away a couple of days ago. A sad day for us left here on earth. A glorious day for him to see Jesus. As we've sat around, cried tears and shared stories of all that he had done and all that he was to each of us, I thought I would share a few words about him.

1. A man of quite gentle faithfulness. Del was a gentleman through and through. He had a quiet countenance about him. He was faithful in everything, even what some would consider to be the smallest of details. He didn't consider anything beneath him. He served and lived out his faith quietly and gently.

2. A man of loyal service. Del served our Lord, by serving His church. Del made himself available to help out whenever needed. From signing checks, to counting money, to filling the pens in the seatbacks, to picking up trash, to smiling and shaking hands at the front doors, to leading our Elders, and the list goes on... Week in and week out, he was there. Del served faithfully and loyally.

3. An unselfish man. Del put others first. As many have said, he did not particularly like the type of music we played during worship. However, he put the potential for others to hear the Word above his personal preference for music. Also, he would assist elderly women who had no means of transportation.

4. A man of discipline. I met Del after he had his heart surgery. But I knew him to disciplined in his eating habits and exercise habits. Every morning, I mean early morning, he would rise and go to the rehab center. Not only did he go there to work-out, but he went there to minister to others in the program.

5. A man of family. If anyone had a conversation with Del for longer than 5 minutes, you knew how important all of his family was to him. He was always talking about his grandkids, going to eat donuts with them, watching soccer or baseball, having them over to spend the night. You knew he loved them through his words, but also through his actions.

6. A man of humility. Del never sought praise for himself. While he served faithfully, he also served humbly. He was an example to those of who remain behind.

7. A man who listens. A good friend of mine said, when you spoke with Del, you had his full attention. He had the gift of listening whole-heartedly. He paid respect to whoever he was in conversation with.

8. A man of surprises. When I started working at the church, Mr. Del was on the Counter Team along with Gerry, Emmette, Tim, and Danny. Shortly thereafter, Sherry joined the team. What a combination we all were. My office at the time was nothing but furniture and a door. However, every Sunday after the 11 a.m. service, a combination of us would gather in my office to count the money and post to the database. We had great times together telling stories, laughing, and watching things just grow. We would be in the middle of a conversation. Del would be quietly working, and then he would pop off with a little comment. Which, by the way, would throw all of into hysterical laughter. Which, in turn, would cause him to get so tickled his face would turn pink and he wouldn't be able to stop laughing. Sometimes, the old saying 'the good ole days' has meaning...

There are many more attributes of this man. While his mere presence and name commanded respect, he would not have desired the attention to be drawn unto himself. He would have preferred that the testimony of his faith in Jesus commanded the respect.

We will miss him and love him dearly. However, he is sitting with our Lord and Savior right now - pain free and cancer free. What better place could he be?

Del and his wife, Gerry, at our 2006 Village Church Staff Christmas Party.

What type of blogger are you?

2008-04-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

As I've entered the world of blogging, I've come to observe different types of bloggers. What type are you?

Are you the wanna be blogger like I was when I started? I joined on-line journaling in July 2007 only to not publish another post for six months. I had grand and glorious ideas of what to say, images, provoking thoughts – only to let life steal them all away for a while.

How about a blog stalker? Blog stalkers peak into the lives of others. Others they may never even physically encounter. They get glimpses of different cultures, struggles, situations, and, sometimes; someone’s most intimate thoughts.

A bleeding heart blogger lays it all out there for us to read, sense, try to grasp or imagine ourselves in similar positions. They are not afraid of what others may feel or think about their thoughts and struggles rather they are inviting others into their lives.

Just for fun bloggers post photos, keep family and friends updated on the light, fun and enjoyable side of life. I believe I am primarily a “just for fun” blogger because I am intensely private. However, I believe I am moving and progressing to opening up more and more…while not quite to the same level as the bleeding heart blogger.

Devotional bloggers give us something to ponder. Challenging us to think about God, creation, Jesus, our relationship with Him, our response to Him...

The deep blogger is so lost in their own thoughts that it may be difficult to peak into their lives. Their thoughts may be dark and ominous, yet very real and poignant. The deep blogger doesn’t want to put surfacy words out there for us to contemplate. They want to get lost in the universal unknown world of blogging.

Blogging is an ultimate voyeuristic activity. One can see another’s life from the outside without any emotional or physical contact. Blogging may appear to give us a sense of intimacy that does not exist. It is this lack of true intimacy that can be a problem if one is so wrapped up in blogging that they evade real life. However, blogging can lead to some very positive results. For instance, a blog stalker may stumble across people dealing with deep hard life issues and stop to pray for them. Imagine a world where people are praying for you…and you don’t know their name…and you don’t even know they are praying for you…

Blogging is also a simple tool for family and friends to keep up with your daily life. Our lives sometimes seem to be spinning at warp speed. There hardly seems time to spend 15 minutes on the phone with a loved one. Running errands, working, taking care of our families, keeping up with our households - let alone doing anything for ourselves - are the priorities of the day. The simple life of hanging out on the porch with neighbors and friends seem to have gone by the way side. In my neighborhood, closed garage doors and front doors are the norm. While blogging doesn’t replace good old fashioned chitty chat, it does help to keep up with loved ones more frequently than a once a year Christmas letter.

Let me know what type or types of blogger you are OR if think of any other types of bloggers…I’m sure I’ve missed some.

Memoir in Six Words

2008-04-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

Caring

Gracious

Giver

Faithful

Servant

Believer

My memoir in six words. Pretty difficult and it may change over the coming days as I ponder what would I really want to be said about me. And do I live up to what I would want?

What's in a name?

2008-04-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

I admit - I stole this from Bexy's blog. Fun.

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car)
Sandy Sorento

YOUR GANGSTA NAME (fave ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe)
Strawberry Sandals

YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal)
Green Horse

YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born)
LeeAnn Nevada

YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name)
Schsh

SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
Red Water

NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers)
Roy James

STRIPPER NAME ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent,favorite candy)
Chanel Payday

TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Sissney Seattle

SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Summer Rose

CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing rightnow)
Strawberry Sweats

HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Biscuit Maple

Hillbilly holes replaced with fake teeth!

2008-04-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, I chained all my teeth together with braces. Metal mouth became I. My motto has been "pretty teeth." You see, I have had ugly teeth my whole life. Spaces here and there. Two teeth that never came again. I love genetic defects. Although, missing two teeth genetically speaking is far down the line of what is considered important and vital to life here on earth.

Once I got braces, I started noticing everyone's teeth. How beautiful, straight, white...and always comparing to my misaligned, spacious gaps in my mouth. Comparing is not always such a good thing to do. Fortunately, my comparing always led to a desire for pretty teeth rather than a jealousy or envy of the other person. My braces made me appreciate the beauty in teeth at a completely different level than before.

One of the first actions of my braces was to the bridge the great divide between my two front middle teeth. My ortho wired my teeth together, tied them together, looped them together, and all kinds of other things. Well, about a year and half after getting them on, I awoke one day to no gap in my front two teeth. I couldn't hardly believe it! I hadn't seen my mouth without a gap since early childhood.

Well closing the gap open up two gaps on either side of my two front teeth. I went from teeth like Lauren Hutton to teeth like a hillbilly. My teeth now appeared as if I had never been to a dentist. It's a good thing my mouth isn't very large as I don't think most people ever recognized the huge spaces in my mouth. I felt even more self-conscious than before. I would laugh with my hand over my mouth or close my lips when smiling.

Well today is a new day! My hillbilly teeth have been replaced with fake teeth! My ortho fitted me and locked two fake teeth in my braces. Fully bracketed and chained on, my mouth is completely full of teeth. I was shocked when I looked in the mirror. Amazing, a glimpse of what my teeth will be when the braces come off and my 'dental' implants are securely in place.

Below are some silly photos of my "before and after" fake teeth. My friend and I cackled as we took before photos. I think she about peed her pants laughing at my stupid facial expressions. The after photo was fun just for the sake of fun. I know my teeth aren't perfect yet, but they give me hope to continue the journey. So if you are blessed with beautiful teeth, say a word of praise and thanks! And if you are fortunate to have braces, say a word of thanks for an invention that can turn you from hillbilly to human.

For the Love of Carol and Helen

2008-04-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Do you always know when you are getting a phone call you don't want to hear? I was in the middle of watching a movie late Saturday night when the phone rang. It was way past the normal time that my mother would be calling me, so I knew it had to be bad news. I wasn't prepared for the news - fearing the worst. Well, I finally summoned bravery enough to call her back. It was bad news indeed. My oldest brother has a son named Jordan who lives in Florida with his mom, Pam. The news was Pam's mother - Helen - had passed away on Friday April 4th. She had been battling cancer and now succumbed to this terrible disease. I remember Helen having stayed at her house in my early 20's. She was a lovely joyous lady who always made me feel welcome. It was like she never met a stranger. As I think about my nephew Jordan, I grieve for him as he wanders through the path of loss of a loved one. I am comforted to know she did love the Lord. Maybe one day that will comfort her closest family and friends.

On Sunday, I opened my e-mail to find one from a very dear old friend. The title had a name from my past that I hadn't heard in years - Carol. Carol was the best friend of my dear old friend. Carol had been feeling unwell for quite sometime. She too passed away on Friday April 4th from respiratory failure. I met Carol when I was a teenager. My friend and her painted ceramics every Tuesday evening. At one point, they invited me to join them. I felt honored - being 20 years their junior - to be included in their party. They talked to me like an adult, listed to what I had to say, and treated me like a friend. It was a great place of acceptance and love. Even though I haven't seen Carol in years, I will miss knowing she was here on earth. But as my dear friend said, it is better for Carol because she has been unwell for so long.

Times of death always make me think of fleeting life. No matter when it comes, it always seems to be here early. I find comfort knowing when people have loved the Lord. It provides me with peace and a different understanding into their death. It takes the edge off of the "earliness." While I will miss these people, heaven is far better than what we could ever imagine or dream. May they truly rest in the peace of our Lord.

My Friend Paul

2008-03-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

Many of you know our friend, not just mine, Paul. He has been on my heart lately as he is preparing for a big change in his life. He will be coming home from Asia. I have been praying for his leadership while in country, the work he has been doing, his relationships, his re-entry into this amazing, but complex and very selfish materialistic culture called America...I am asking if you too would pray for him as well as the rest of our team returning. They are going to need an extra measure of grace and love from our Lord during this time of transition. Please reach out and encourage them.

Paul with our friend Gilberto at a Village Church staff Christmas party.

Paul and I on my 40th birthday. Denise and I offered "photo ops" all day long. What a great time!

Nieces and Nephews

2008-03-29T09:31:00.001-07:00

Spring Break has come and gone, but what a time we had. Christopher and I left early on Friday and headed to Kansas City - Missouri not Kansas. My childhood home. My parents, four brothers and their families all live here. I have lots of nieces and nephews. They have been a great joy to watch grow up.

My oldest brother, Jim, has four kids and has been married to Margaret for about 11 years. Jordan lives in Florida and is college-aged. I remember him when he was a baby. My parents and I drove to Mountain Home ID where Jim was living at the time. The town it not far from Boise and sits in a valley at the base of the mountains. What a little guy he was. He was also the first grandchild to represent five living generations in our family. I'll have to find a baby photo and post it later. Brooke is going to be 16 this summer and driving! Eee gads. I can't hardly believe it. Such a lovely, caring young lady. Kendra is married with one son named Skylar. What a fun kid. Krystal is graduating from college this year and ready to embark on life.

This photo is of Brooke Shea and her cousin Rachel.
Jim and Krystal playing Santa.

Jer Bear, formerly known as Jerry, formerly known as J.D., is the next to oldest son and has been married to Janet for - gees a long time! They have one daughter - Rachel. She is a very smart and helpful young lady.

This picture was taken a year ago at Christmas time. She is sporting new clothes from her Aunties.
Shawnie Pawnie Wawnie - oh he would hate and love it! What a nickname from our childhood. Shawn is married to Denise and they have two children. Megan recently got engaged. And Josh found football last fall and I think fell in love with the sport. He is such a loving young man. Kind of a flirt actually. Like father, like son.

These photos were taken at Christmas a year ago also - Megan with her mommie Denise; and Josh playin' pool. Shawn, Megan and cousin Lauren.
Well the baby of the fam is Markie Clarkie. He is the youngest of all five children. I of course was stuck in the middle, but we had fun! Mark is married to Alberta and they have two children: Jake who is a teenager (like Christopher) and missy Lauren. Jake loves sports and is naturally gifted athletically. Lauren is just cute. A girl who loves her "bubba" aka Jake.Hello Miss Kitty was her fave!
The great thing was the younger ones were all on Spring Break at the same time! We had a great time going to the movies, shopping, bowling, and just plain hangin' out. It's too bad we live so far away...

Corinth's Winter Wonderland - in March!

2008-03-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Bubba wallowing in the snow

2008-03-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Let it Snow. Let it Snow. Let it Go...

2008-03-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

Wow - an amazing snow storm we had this past week. I marveled at the beauty that fell from the sky and covered everything in sight. Christopher, Bubba (our dog) and I had a great time running and playing in the snow. Bubba just bounced around and even went sliding across someone's driveway as he tried to escape another dog. We call Bubba the "chicken dog". He is a great dog, very friendly and docile. However, he is scared of anything with four legs - even cats. It's silly actually, but we love him anyway.

I love witnessing acts that are not under our control. The snow storm was clearly the magic of God. The beauty. The monochromatic whiteness. The reflection of purity. Purely amazing.

Enjoy our photos from the day.

Thanksgiving on the Beach of North Carolina

2008-01-26T12:15:00.001-08:00

What an amazing trip we had this Thanksgiving. Every year we spend Thanksgiving with the Schroyer family. For the past couple of years, we have tried to visit some city on the East Coast and check out the sites. One year, we went to NYC. Some of the photos for this trip are located at the bottom of my blog. The next year we went to Phillie and posed in front of the Rocky statue. Hee Hee.

Well 2007 brought us to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Mark, my brother-in-law, and wife live close by, so it was his turn for us to descend upon his city. The weather was warm and refreshing. The sun and the ocean were relaxing. We took many walks on the beach, played football, the kids fished (smelly!), and ate, ate, and ate again. I so miss the beach and all it has to offer. We left the door to the patio open at night so we could hear the waves crashing against sand. The salt air reminded me of bike rides on the boardwalk in Sunny California. There is a freedom in being by the ocean. Just taking in the beauty, majesty and having a healthy fear of it. Christopher swam almost everyday we were there. Even his PSP took a dive in the sand only to come up ruined. Oh well, the good and bad of technology.

Being around family was fun. We always have a good time laughing, telling stories and eating great food. My sister-in-law is from Columbia and makes the best rice and pasta. My brother-in-law is from Syria. Amazing food. Hummus, stews, ribs. He even cooked a fresh lamb for us one year with rice and all the trimmings.

Christopher loves to visit his cousins - Asaad, Fatima, Amber and Khalil. They ran around chasing each other the whole time. I'm glad he gets to spend time getting to know them. He and Fatima are on opposite ends of the spectrum politically. So they had a few charged conversations. I think it just fueled Christopher's desire to be an attorney one day.

Well, enjoy the sunset from Atlantic Beach, NC. We certainly did.

Welcome Back to Me

2008-01-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

Well - I'm sure many of you probably felt like I dropped off the face of the earth. One glorious night of blogging and getting every ready to go - and then - nothing for six months. Well many things have happened since July 2007. The first was I had surgery in late August which took me out of commission for a little while. But by the grace of God, I am recovered from the surgery. I still have a few issues, but I think they can be handled as long as I eat healthy foods.

After surgery came budget season at the church. The fall flew by with many late hours of working as well as 9 hours of graduate classes. Then in early December, I ended up back in the hospital on two separate occasions via the emergency room.

The ER is a place of sadness and drama. I spent most of my time in the ER praying for a baby who screamed for over an hour straight. Actually, the baby was still screaming when they moved to another section of the hospital. The second trip to the ER had me giving up my room to an elderly gentlemen they rushed in to revive. From all of the words flying by, he had been on a ladder hanging Christmas lights and found he was unable to breath. I'm not sure if they were able to revive him as they closed the door and then I was transported away for an overnight stay or two at the fabulous Lewisville Medical Center.

I ended up in the ER as a result of a severe pain in my chest causing an inability to catch my breath. On the first occasion, we had been bowling with some friends of ours. Fortunately, my friend had driven separately and was able drive me two minutes down the road to the ER. She called Jack for me and took care of Christopher. They ran a battery of tests on me only to come to no conclusion. I wasn't too impressed with their level of care and felt like all they wanted to do was give me drugs. Actually, I refused valium which caused the nurse to comment that I wasn't like their normal patients.

The doctor recommended that I visit a cardiologist for further testing of my heart. So I had a treadmill test on my 42nd birthday. That was always what I envisioned doing on my birthday. Anyway, the treadmill test came back inconclusive, so we scheduled a follow-up more stringent treadmill test. That was on December 5th.

Well on Saturday December 8th, Jack was at work and Christopher and I were hanging out home. Paying bills, reconciling the bank statement, playing games, eating pancakes. Normal Saturday stuff. All of a sudden I felt a severe pain in the middle of rib cage right at the bottom of the sternum. It was the same pain again and it radiated outward in both directions. Christopher called Jack to let him know. Jack left work immediately and headed towards home. I was trying to do biofeedback and calm myself down, but the pain wasn't going away. I think I was little worried too with the "inconclusive treadmill test" a few days earlier.

Christopher grew up all in a moment. How great and how sad. He called 911 for me, gave them all of the pertinent information, took care of the house and dog, locked everything up when they paramedics hauled me out on a stretcher, and called his dad to let him know what had happened. I was so proud of him, yet scared that he had to see me laid out on a stretcher with an inability to catch my breath. He was so caring and gentle. I just love that little boy. He spent the day with our next door neighbors. I love my neighbors.

I always dreamed of being around firemen - just not laid out in the back of an ambulance. They were great and very helpful. I wasn't sure if the pain was heart related or related to my surgery or anxiety. So I have now had nitroglycerin which they give to people who are having a heart attack. Pretty scary actually. I spent the next three days in Lewisville Medical going through a wide variety of tests. Anyone ever had a CAT scan? Weird. Your body temperature raises so you get all flushed, face turns red, and its just plain hot. Then within about 2 minutes, you feel normal again. I had isotopes running through my veins causing me to glow in the dark. Not really, but. The cardiologist I had was very informative and wanted to find the answers. We did find answers to what the pain was NOT. The pain was not in anyway related to heart issues or as a result of my surgery in August. Thank you, Jesus! Literally!

Right now, I am working to control the pain through diet. I am watching what I eat to see if anything else will set it off. I'm praying that the pain is a result of not eating healthy foods and that it can be controlled through diet. So far, it's been good.

I definitely appreciate my health and living pain free. I often wonder how people live day to day with pain. How does the pain change their world, their emotions, thoughts, actions? I know many people who do live with pain on a day to day basis. I have a different appreciation for what they go through although what I went through was no in way comparable to their situations.

Well, I'll be back in a few with more....

Our Long Haired Hippie

2007-07-10T20:24:00.001-07:00

A Little Taste of Asia

2007-07-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

NYC

2007-07-10T19:54:00.001-07:00

Rain, Flowers and More Rain

2007-07-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Summertime is my favorite time of the year. Nothing like a beautiful bright sun against a soft blue sky. No clouds in the sky. Well, here in Texas we haven't seen too many days like this so far. The sky has been full of voluminous white puffy clouds and sky covering dark clouds that hover above you. Waiting to drop on you. The rain has been plentiful, plentiful, plentiful...But oh so needed. My prayer has been that this rain will carry us through the next 80 years of not as much rain. The grass is lush. The flowers are blooming. And everything is green. Got to love that aspect of the extra water. How amazing our great God is!

Our son, Christopher, spent the last six weeks in Kansas City with his grandparents. What a time he had. He played with his cousins, played with his cousins, and oh, yea, played with his cousins. He certainly doesn't get to see them often enough, but loves it when he does. He came home the end of June. We were so excited to see him. I don't know who tackled him first - my husband or me. We then spent the next week on vacation. Although I'm not sure he thought it was much of a vacation as we pulled weeds, mulched, laid paver stones and trimmed shrubs. Five days of hot, back-breaking work. But oh it was worth it. I don't have the honor of earning "Yard of the Month" like one of my friends, but I appreciate our gardens nonetheless. There is something to be said for sitting amongs the roses and watching the butterflies land on the lilies.

Working hard never hurt anyone. Actually it was quite therapeutic. Great way to take your mind off the normal everyday stresses of life. It came at a perfect time considering I had just finished two graduate level classes as well as facing many new challenges at work. All worthwhile pursuits, yet stressful at times. A week of vacation is a gift from the Lord. What a time to stand back and appreciate the beauty in life and see things for what they are.

Well until next time.

Welcome to Blogging!

2007-07-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I can't believe I'm actually starting a blogspot. Who'd've thunk. We will see if I am able to keep up with it. I'm not really sure how much time it will take, but it looks like fun. I also enjoy seeing photos and hearing stories from friends and family members that I don't get to catch up with often enough. Quite sad that life becomes so busy that we don't seem to have enough time for those who are important to us. Quite a pondering thought.