Flying High

Deke and Austin flew their powered paragliders last night against one of the most breathtaking sunsets imaginable. I know these pictures do not do it justice, but just try to imagine the scene.

Well Glory Again!

This early morning when Deke and I sat on the front porch drinking our coffee, this scene developed in front of our eyes. It was glorious and I just wanted to share it with you.

We traveled to attend Mark's promotion ceremony where he pinned on the rank of AF Major. Even Erin and the kids joined us for a wonderful day of being together. So proud of Mark! While there, we celebrated C-Bear's 3rd birthday. She loved the candles that looked like crayons and it was everything I could do to convince her not to color with them. And she licked off the bottoms of each candle when she removed them from the ice cream cake. So much better than eating a real piece of the stuff! When we left Mark and Lori's, we spent two days with the Varnell clan. The men went choo-choo training and the women went shopping. Yeah! What fun.

Mark's promotion to Major

All of the grandchildren together again

C-Bear's 3rd birthday

"I'm proud!"

The Rest of the Story (or Mama Jo Lives On)

This is going to be a tough posting to follow because:  I (Deke) am writing it and because you almost have to be in the family to get it.  But if you want to give it a try, you must do a little blogging homework.

1. First you will have to visit the Verbal Infusion posting titled, "Remembering Mama Jo" (http://www.verbalinfusion.com/2012/05/remembering-mama-jo.html).

2.  Now come back to this blog and read "Wel Glry 2" and "Memorial Day."

Consider this an addendum to the "Memorial Day" posting.  I thought it would be a good idea to link the license plate to the grave of the one we remember so fondly, so I sneakily (if that isn't a real word, just think of it as a texting abbreviation) took the plate off the van and placed it on the head stone.  I told Cindy we could use it in the blog if she wanted to.  Now look at the sequence of three pictures.  Study them carefully to see the subtle change between picture one (that I thought was just fine) and three (that was as it should be).

 MAMA JO LIVES ON!!!!!!!!!

Back Home in Indiana

Memorial Day

Mom and Dad

Grandma Mary at John Paul's grave

WEL GLRY 2

A few blogs ago, I told you the story of this license plate.  Well, Saturday, Deke and I were working in the yard doing really hard, grunge work.  I was exhausted and had just put away the last of the garden utensils when I turned around to punch the outside remote button to close the garage door.  There, right in front of me, I saw this license plate on the van that I normally drive.  My husband had ordered the plate and installed it on the van 3 days earlier, and I had just now noticed.  It brought tears to my eyes to think that he would be that sensitive to the things that are so deep and meaningful in my life. I turned to see him smiling at me and well... you can imagine the scene.  

He has done this sort of thing countess times in our marriage. He thinks of things to make life fun and meaningful.  He surprises me , woos me, dates me, prods me, helps me, encourages me, corrects me (although I'm rarely wrong), loves me unconditionally and in general, makes my life rich. He is the husband that looks exactly like the Lord. I won't worship him or bow down to him or ask him to be my savior, but I will accept the gift that my Savior and Creator has given me and I am grateful. And forever I will say

WEL GLRY!