Fall means change

So, who says there are no seasons in Texas? Here you can see some of the amazing colors of the leaves - on the trees and as they begin to fall. I will confess that what you can't tell that it is 80 degrees outside when I took these. But tomorrow the low is supposed to be 24 and the high 40...that is what living in Texas is all about...change.

I have also included some pictures of the new entrance to our land. My grandfather bought it before I was born...they used to live on Lake Waco but in 1960 they raised the level of the lake and told my grandfather to buy land elsewhere. All the men in my family fly planes so they named the land "Scottwood Strip." Over time, several houses have been added to the place. Presently, my brother and his family live in my grandparent's old house, my parents built out here when my dad transitioned to the Navy reserve started teaching at Baylor in 1968. My aunt and uncle retired here from 20 years in the Air Force in 1976. I built my log cabin out here in 2002 and my cousin and his wife built a house out of the stone underground and moved in in 2003. There are three driveways so my parents decided to shorten the name of theirs to SCOTTWOOD. Thus, the new sign. My brother still hangs the original sign that my dad carved out of cedar which reads SCOTTWOOD STRIP.

HOMECOMING - better late than never

I have been overwhelmed with how far behind I am on the meaningful thoughts and experiences that I would want to write about...ironic isn't it...that my last blog was about writing! It has been just over a month since Baylor's Homecoming weekend and our last win on the gridiron. The weekend was filled with the normal activities from the late night Pep Rally and Bonfire on Friday night to the nation's longest collegiate Parade on Saturday morning to the Football Game on Saturday afternoon. All of these activities are very familiar to me. I have been to them for at least 30 years. But, I guess it never really hit me since I have always lived close and now work at Baylor; but this was the year that I truly learned the meaning of the word HOMECOMING. Technically it means "the arrival of someone who has been away." Generally it is a gathering of alums at a designated time to come back to campus to revisit the nostalgia of years gone by.

As most of you know, my friend and the first-ever Spirit Coordinator for Baylor University, Elizabeth Williams moved with her husband to Alabama. Her last week with us was spent just as the first four years were...with students from the spirit program. At her going away party they gave her a plane ticket to return "home" for Homecoming. I picked her up from the airport and the weekend that was literally a whirlwind of activity. However we did share some special times throughout the weekend. I won't go into the "B--U" cheers at the Bonfire or the Chamber Police at the Parade or the tears of joy on the football field. I will tell you that Elizabeth and I grilled out on Saturday night at the cabin with two of our favorite students: Bailey (in picture above) and Erin. It was so fun to catch up and to share from the heart about where each of our lives had gone in the last six months. I am thankful that the bond we have cannot be severed because it is in the Lord who "is the same yesterday, today and forever." Friendships that weather the test of time and distance are also those that are forged in the mountains and valleys of life experiences. The four of us have been together all over the United States...New York to Seattle to Arizona to Indiana. We have witnessed the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." We have also prayed together and laughed together, cried together and we still do not agree that an apple has caffeine! Life together was certainly sweet while it lasted. Life changes but we will share these memories forever. This Thanksgiving weekend, I am truly grateful for the gift of friendship - with these iron sisters and now I truly know the depth of the meaning of HOMECOMING. Thank you Elizabeth for making the sacrifice to come and hang with us. On this earth, the only thing more precious than the air you breathe is the hand you hold...I am grateful for the chance to hold hands with Women of God like these. I am blessed.

WRITE ON!!

I have just started a book about "waking up your soul." I am going to have to withhold the title until after Christmas because some of you will be seeing it soon. :) Anyway, the second chapter is about journaling. For those of us who like to question and write - this is a familiar setting. For those of you who find it hard to write honestly, this is a challenge. I wanted to share two quotes to encourage you today: "We write to taste our life twice, in the moment and in retrospect." Anais Nin

Then in discussing this thought the writer says, "Your journal can remind you that your must make a life worth recording."

So, I say, WRITE ON sisters!

Rachael Ray & Dolly Parton at the Ponderosa

Well, it is the simple things in life that make the heart sing. On Sunday afternoons, Mia comes over to play while her mom and dad go to home group and sister, McKenna, goes to Bible Drill at church. Last Sunday, she decided to come over looking like Dolly Parton...just walking down the country road over to Aunt Kim's. She made me laugh out loud.

Then, today you see the Sunday afternoon Rachael Ray cooking lessons with my niece Mia. I asked her if she wanted to make pizza or brownies (for dinner) and she picked pizza. So we kneaded the crust, spread the sauce, browned the meat, sprinkled the cheese, and watched the clock and whola! It'sssssssssssssss Pizza Time!

I definitely think I like her without the wig. Yes, truly it is the simple things in life that make the heart sing...speaking of singing, we rode the "phonics bus" on the letter "S" tonight as well. It is truly amazing what toys teach today. I had a hard time matching her word for word.

So, today I learned that life is one big lesson and it is much more fun shared with those you love. Soon I will share some of the life lessons I have learned about faith and friendship. Thanks for walking part of this journey we call life with me.