Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Dogs

It's a boy....I'm a nurse



Will had his wisdom teeth taken out yesterday. Three of them had already come in and one was "knocking at the door." The surgery took less than an hour and he came out in a wheelchair still knocked out on the drugs. I had Chuck come home early so he would be there when we got home...as I knew there was no way I could get that tall, lanky boy into the house on my own. Especially drugged up.

I would like to report that the patient is doing well...and using his manners. He says "thank you" after I give him his medicine and juice. Awww. I love this boy.

The Nurse

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Southern California - Spring Break 2007

Why I Am Going To Nebraska For Paper...

1. Karen Lea is going with me.

2. Mary Engelbreit will be the guest speaker at the luncheon on Saturday.

3. I will get to see my childhood friend, Stephanie George Hirschberg.

4. I will be in the same room with Karen, Stephanie and MARY!

5. I will get to take 5 workshops by some very creative artists.

6. I will get to shop at the Market Faire on Friday and just might find something I can't live without.

7. I will be with women who understand that a Hobby Lobby addiction is just as hard to break as a crack addiction.

8. I will get to meet many of the artists whose blogs I read.

9. I will get to attend a Vintage Prom on Friday evening. I didn't go to my prom because I dated a much older guy and he was way too cool to go to my prom. Even if I am just a wallflower at this prom, I can check it off my list of regrets.

10. I might see snow!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

FFF

We went to McKinney this weekend to visit my cousin Barbara and her family. Barbara is a cousin on my father's side....a Langley. Our fathers were brothers and both boys had all girls. The oldest brother, Ernest, had 4 daughters...Suzanne, Barbara, Camille and Carolyn. My father, Bill, had 3 daughters, Lisa, Catha and me. And as fate would have it, my father's two sisters had all boys. So being the youngest child born to the youngest Langley boy....the family name of Langley stopped. But, boy, oh, boy.....did the Langley genes ever get passed down to the girls.

Barbara and I didn't really grow up together, as there is an 11 year age difference...but we reconnected in 2003 when our youngest male cousin, Paul, was ill and eventually passed away from pancreatic cancer. I spent alot of time in Dallas taking care of Paul in his last weeks. I said it before and I will say it again....Barbara and Jim were the only rays of sunshine in those dark days. I would spend some time with them and regain the strength to care for Paul. And when God closed that door.....he opened another. I now cherish a new found relationship with the Langley girl cousins. Okay....now back to the reason for the FFF...Forced Family Fun. (as quoted from a napkin...but believe me this was anything but forced)

The gathering was a celebration in honor of Barbara's husband Jim Dorff. Jim is the kind, sweet husband of my cousin Barbara. He is the father of John and Michael Dorff. He's a brother, a brother-in-law, a son-in-law, an uncle, a friend to many and I claim his as a cousin. And now he is a Bishop...as of 10:16 p.m. Friday evening. Well done, United Methodist Church! You could not have elected a better representative.



Michael Dorff, Bishop Jim Dorff, Barbara Langley Dorff and John Dorff


The Bishop had been at the South Central Jurisdiction Conference of the United Methodist Church all week and the late nights, the excitement and anxiety of the election, the Consecration Service that morning and the house full of friends and relatives wore him out! He went to bed before the party was over.....but not before a little toasting could be done.

The celebrating continued on Sunday with food, a little more food and a whole lot of food. It was a very relaxing day sitting around eating and talking and eating some more. Did I mention that we ate?



Kim Pierce (Barbara's maternal cousin) frying up some okra and green tomatoes.

One of Barbara's cousins on her mother's side has a son whose friend is a photographer...so we had professional photographs taken. She even gave us some lessons on how to stand and tilt our heads so we looked good.......Paris Hilton good. Well...I don't know that Paris Hilton looks good, but she certainly knows how to pose. And that is what we were taught. Here we are trying to stand still, turn to the side, shift our weight to our back leg, lift our shoulders, then roll them back, tilt our head to the side, smile and look at the camera. Whew! I don't think I need to say this....but this is not the professional picture.



Catha Langley Ivy, Julia Langley Hackney, Carolyn Langley Darden, Suzanne Langley Wall, Barbara Langley Dorff and Camille Langley Sproule

Congratulations once again, Bishop Jim Dorff. I pray for you to have continued good health and the strength and compassion you will need to lead in your new position. May you hear God's divine plan for you and the churches in your care. And may all your goals be met. There are some very lucky Methodists churches out there to have been selected to be in your leadership.

And a few more very unprofessional photos taken.... of some very important people. I take pictures like I do everything else....very quick and without much forethought. And it doesn't help that my camera has a little delay action(apparently it has more forethought than I do). So I would focus on someone when they were facing me but by the time the camera clicked they had already left the room. Click on any photo to enlarge....maybe you'll catch a glimpse of yourself leaving the room.



















"Do NOT interrupt me....RUDE." Bon Qui Qui

What the heck is Silver Bella?

http://paperbellastudio.com/silverbella2008.html

Check this out......this is where I am going November 13!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Car rides......

For 20 years or more, I drove a mini-van or suburban.....a road hog. But last year, I downsized to a much smaller suv because 99% of the time, it was just me in the car. The only time we really needed the hugeness of the suburban was long road trips or moving kids in and out of college dorms or apartments. And really, for the amount of money we were spending, we could just rent a u-haul or suburban for those few days a year. So I would like to think I did a little part in helping the environment by trading it all in for a much smaller car....a road pig, if you will.

I have not missed that suburban one bit. Well, maybe one bit. Like this past weekend when we all 5 got into a very average sized car to go out to eat. Oh, my, when did the children get so large? Are those adult bodies on my children? And loud! It's not that they cry and whine so much like toddlers....but their voiceboxes are just turned up to the highest volume. And their mouths are so close in vicinity to our ears. Like their lips are on our earlobes.




And the thing is......when they get loud and crazy....I get loud and crazy. Crank up the radio, let's bust a move. Everybody GET DOWN!! boom, boom boom boom......

But "Daddy", "Old Man", "Mr. I Was Never Young", "Mr. I Do Not Allow Myself To Have Fun, No Matter What"always gets so mad at us! He is trying to drive and concentrate and he wants us to settle down.



And I am thinking, this is a memory.....right now! Don't you get it? It's the car rides. The ability to trap all family members in a metal and glass container going 45 - 65 miles an hour and noone can leave the room. You can act crazy or mean, if that's your pleasure.......and know that when you get to your destination, you can return to your public self and your secret is safe with the car.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

The fireworks and light show on July 4th....

We watched fireworks on the grounds of our church, Faithbridge, in Spring, Texas. They estimated about 4,500 people were there. Here we are before the show....



The fireworks were great....imagine this times 1000...constantly going off for at least 15 minutes.



But the best light show of all was the sunset provided by God...

Saturday, July 5, 2008

everybody's home....

Jordan flew in from Phoenix and Cameron drove in from College Station for the 4th of July weekend. Everybody's home and the house is loud. I grabbed all 3 for a photo shoot in the backyard. Just like when they were 1, 3, and 5, it's hard to get a great picture of all 3 of them. Someone's always moving or talking or blinking. Here's one of my favorites.



Although I would love to believe it's me they miss......I know it's the dogs they really miss.



He's the baby....gotta love him.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Sweet Freedom



Being born in the USA, in 1957, I have never known anything but freedom. And if you're reading this blog, chances are neither have you. So I'm not sure any of us really appreciate it as we should. Even the American soldiers that are fighting right now are far removed from my daily life. And the politicians that are slamming each other because they want to be our next president are far removed from my daily life.

But I do know deep in my heart, that the worst day in America is probably way better than the best day anywhere else. I've never known a life without freedom or lived under any other government besides a democratic one. So in this election year.....when the Republicans and the Democrats are mud-slinging and telling the public that their candidate is the only one to lead this country....and if the "other guy" wins, he will raise taxes or keep us in this war..." I will stay in my "village" and be thankful that I am an American.

Even though I am very UN- political, I do have the right to vote. And today I have the privelege of celebrating my freedom. Sweet freedom.


"Democracy's the worst form of government except for all the others."
-Winston Churchhill, Sir (1874-1965)-