Here I am!!!

I don't know where time goes theses days, but, wherever it goes, it's doing it way too quickly!!!

Mom and Dad are well. They, like all of us, are staying indoors as much as possible to avoid the heat! Mom walks down to the road for the newspaper and tends to her plants outside in the mornings before Dad gets up, and then they spend the rest of the day in the house. Often, they go out for lunch or dinner and they don't miss Mass on the weekends!

Their helper, Jerry, has decided to retire. That's good for him, but not so great for Mom and Dad. They really liked him and he was a great help for Mom. She trusted him with some of her laundry and house keeping chores, which was a huge step for her. He took great care of Dad and Mom didn't have to worry a bit when she would leave Dad in Jerry's care. That's life I guess...subject to change! Winston Churchill said that there is nothing wrong with change, as long as it's in the right direction! We'll just haveMom in seeking more help and making sure that she is happy with the results. It is sadly true that good help is hard to find!

Danny and Lisa spent last Saturday at Mom and Dad's. I know Dad loves his girls, but there's no one quite like that son, you know! Danny is such a wonderful, Godly man and I am so proud to be his sister! He is an elder in the Lutheran Church in Elgin that he and Lisa have attended for many years. He is a reflection of a respectable father. "What was silent in the father speaks in the son, and often I found in the son the unveiled secret of the father." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
The previous Saturday, Glenda visited with Dad and fixed lunch for him while Mom attended a bridal shower for one of the daughters of dear Church friends. Of course, Jean is still visiting on a regular basis also. We all are so blessed to have each other! Glenda tells all her kids' friends to be sure, when they have kids, to have more than one because they will need each other, especially when their parents are older! We didn't think of that...Jean and Jimmie have one daughter, Glenda has 2 kids, I have one, Ollie has one, and Danny has one!! The great part, for our kids, is that they were raised close in proximity and close in heart, so they are like siblings to each other. At least we did that right...all with the loving example of our parents!

I'm hoping to visit with Mom and Dad tomorrow, as long as they don't have other plans. I am going to call Mom as soon as I post this. Mom and Dad love to listen to our stories of mine and Ollie's "treasure hunting" for our antiques business. I am sure that I have told you that Ollie is a bookseller and specializes in old and out of print or specialty signed books about Texas, as well as old Texas maps, documents, slave documents and old photography. My part of our business is selling things that are old Texas pieces...furniture and oddities. So Ollie and I are always "on the hunt." It amazes Dad what we find and loves to hear all the details of our travels and of the purchase to us selling it! We are often borrowing their flat-bed trailer to haul our finds! Last week we followed some leads to Hebbronville and Burnet Texas, and found good things at both places! We are preparing for our big upcoming sale in Warrenton that will be held September 22 through October 1. Come see us! We are in a building called Cole's at the intersection of Hwy 237 and FM 954. In Cole's, our aisles are named, and we are on "Waco Dr."

For now, I will leave you with this passage from Isaiah 41:10...

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Amen!!!