We just ate at the famous and old TIP TOP CAFE in San Antonio. It was recently featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network. They are famous especially for their HUGE chicken fried steak.
It was truly huge and delicious. I have a serious Thanksgiving afternoon feeling right now...
Yum!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
True Story
What you are about to read is absolutely true:
I made a new friend the other night. I dropped the girls off at youth group and kidzone and hung out for a little while at church. I met this sweet lady who runs the kidzone stuff full-time, and we absolutely hit it off. Her candor and outgoing personality were a breath of fresh air. Anyway, she went to A&M and met her hubby there and has a 7th grade daughter...
I found out she's 36 and said, "O, well I'm 34." She invited us to her life group, and the whole conversation was great.
Greg and Brian are still in Florida, so I laid in bed by myself that night almost asleep while all of those random elements of the day meld together in swirling thoughts. Suddenly I thought, "I don't think I'm 34. Sheesh, how old am I?" I tried doing math in my semi-conscious state and figured out that I'm actually 35.
So the next morning, I emailed my new friend about the whole funny thing. She chuckled and emailed back. Later that day while I told Greg all about it on the phone, he quietly said, "Um, Kelly?"
"Yeah?"
"You are actually 36, and I just turned 37."
"NO WAY! I counted, Honey; I know I'm 35."
"Well, no, you're actually 36."
Can you believe it? He was right! So, I emailed my new friend again thinking she should have fair warning before really inviting us to her life group.
She loved it actually and told me to give her my birthday, including the year, so she could keep track of my age for me. Then she made a comment about how she wouldn't make any comments at all about my education at U.T. compared with hers at A&M.
Wasn't that nice?
I made a new friend the other night. I dropped the girls off at youth group and kidzone and hung out for a little while at church. I met this sweet lady who runs the kidzone stuff full-time, and we absolutely hit it off. Her candor and outgoing personality were a breath of fresh air. Anyway, she went to A&M and met her hubby there and has a 7th grade daughter...
I found out she's 36 and said, "O, well I'm 34." She invited us to her life group, and the whole conversation was great.
Greg and Brian are still in Florida, so I laid in bed by myself that night almost asleep while all of those random elements of the day meld together in swirling thoughts. Suddenly I thought, "I don't think I'm 34. Sheesh, how old am I?" I tried doing math in my semi-conscious state and figured out that I'm actually 35.
So the next morning, I emailed my new friend about the whole funny thing. She chuckled and emailed back. Later that day while I told Greg all about it on the phone, he quietly said, "Um, Kelly?"
"Yeah?"
"You are actually 36, and I just turned 37."
"NO WAY! I counted, Honey; I know I'm 35."
"Well, no, you're actually 36."
Can you believe it? He was right! So, I emailed my new friend again thinking she should have fair warning before really inviting us to her life group.
She loved it actually and told me to give her my birthday, including the year, so she could keep track of my age for me. Then she made a comment about how she wouldn't make any comments at all about my education at U.T. compared with hers at A&M.
Wasn't that nice?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Emma
Greg and Brian left somewhere around 4:30 a.m. to get to the airport for their 6:30 flight to Florida today. They'll be learning all about using our new roaster and running a coffee roasting business and things like that and then be back here on Saturday.
The last few times I've gone on a 3 mile run, Emma has come along on her bike. She rides on the right side of the street while I run on the left, and I tell her she's doing great and she shouts back that I am too.
As we came upon our last major hill somewhere in our third mile today, I heard the birds singing beautifully.
"Hey Emma, you're doing a great job; the birdies are cheering you on!" I shouted.
"No," she replied confidently, "they're cheering you on, Mom."
So, anyway, I battled tears the rest of the way back.
The last few times I've gone on a 3 mile run, Emma has come along on her bike. She rides on the right side of the street while I run on the left, and I tell her she's doing great and she shouts back that I am too.
As we came upon our last major hill somewhere in our third mile today, I heard the birds singing beautifully.
"Hey Emma, you're doing a great job; the birdies are cheering you on!" I shouted.
"No," she replied confidently, "they're cheering you on, Mom."
So, anyway, I battled tears the rest of the way back.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thoughts and Ethiopia
I'm feeling the need to do a little thinking in print. I have conflicting, swirling thoughts competing for my undivided attention. We all battle with those, but I know whichever thoughts win will have a powerful impact on my attitude, emotions, and general outlook right now.
1) I am REALLY tired of having most of our earthly possessions in storage! We are so well-provided for as we share a home with gracious, loving family. However, Grace came jubilantly out of her children's class at church this morning talking of nothing but the upcoming indoor swim party for all of the children and their families next Saturday. Grace's big box of clothes did not make it to our current shared home. In the whirlwind of the move, it somehow made it to the back of the storage room with all of the other boxes. Her swimsuit is in there - along with all of her dresses and skirts and anything else I didn't specifically pack into a suitcase for her when we moved. This is not a great time of year to be buying a new swimsuit. Just an example of little almost falling apart moments for me lately.
2) I am looking forward to getting into our own home and putting our roots down with things like our own address and neighborhood, inviting people over, etc. Our home in Kansas has not yet sold, because our renters/eventual buyers have yet to sell theirs. I'm occasionally getting into a blue funk over this waiting period. It's interesting how much of my identity can be wrapped up in my own home.
3) I recently received a letter in the mail from the Ethiopian director of the Dakota 1 project in a village where we sponsor a precious little girl named Ethiopia through World Vision. She will be 10 in May. This is a high risk area for AIDS. We receive wonderful letters from Ethiopia as well as her yearly report card and picture. The letter was expressing this man's concern over the economic crisis he has been made aware of in America. He wanted to let us know that he is praying for us and is humbled by and deeply grateful for our continued financial support. Our support provides things like clean water, clothing, food, shelter, medical supplies, and education (none of which is lacking in our lives, I might add).
4) We had the opportunity shortly before we knew we would be moving so quickly to send a special gift to Ethiopia. I honestly had forgotten about it until we had a forwarded letter from Ethiopia's village arrive here in the mail. The letter was from Ethiopia letting us know how thankful she was for the $45 USD that supplied a goat for her family and several items for the World Vision office in her village. She included a picture of herself beaming and standing next to her beautiful goat and one of a joyful Ethiopian World Vision worker holding his new items for the office. Tears of joy and shame leaped to my eyes. So much there for so little impact to my finances.
Anyway, as you can tell, it all depends upon my perspective. Gifts, rights, grace, expectations, needs?
In Ethiopia's words at the end of her letters: "May the peace and grace of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all here and there."
1) I am REALLY tired of having most of our earthly possessions in storage! We are so well-provided for as we share a home with gracious, loving family. However, Grace came jubilantly out of her children's class at church this morning talking of nothing but the upcoming indoor swim party for all of the children and their families next Saturday. Grace's big box of clothes did not make it to our current shared home. In the whirlwind of the move, it somehow made it to the back of the storage room with all of the other boxes. Her swimsuit is in there - along with all of her dresses and skirts and anything else I didn't specifically pack into a suitcase for her when we moved. This is not a great time of year to be buying a new swimsuit. Just an example of little almost falling apart moments for me lately.
2) I am looking forward to getting into our own home and putting our roots down with things like our own address and neighborhood, inviting people over, etc. Our home in Kansas has not yet sold, because our renters/eventual buyers have yet to sell theirs. I'm occasionally getting into a blue funk over this waiting period. It's interesting how much of my identity can be wrapped up in my own home.
3) I recently received a letter in the mail from the Ethiopian director of the Dakota 1 project in a village where we sponsor a precious little girl named Ethiopia through World Vision. She will be 10 in May. This is a high risk area for AIDS. We receive wonderful letters from Ethiopia as well as her yearly report card and picture. The letter was expressing this man's concern over the economic crisis he has been made aware of in America. He wanted to let us know that he is praying for us and is humbled by and deeply grateful for our continued financial support. Our support provides things like clean water, clothing, food, shelter, medical supplies, and education (none of which is lacking in our lives, I might add).
4) We had the opportunity shortly before we knew we would be moving so quickly to send a special gift to Ethiopia. I honestly had forgotten about it until we had a forwarded letter from Ethiopia's village arrive here in the mail. The letter was from Ethiopia letting us know how thankful she was for the $45 USD that supplied a goat for her family and several items for the World Vision office in her village. She included a picture of herself beaming and standing next to her beautiful goat and one of a joyful Ethiopian World Vision worker holding his new items for the office. Tears of joy and shame leaped to my eyes. So much there for so little impact to my finances.
Anyway, as you can tell, it all depends upon my perspective. Gifts, rights, grace, expectations, needs?
In Ethiopia's words at the end of her letters: "May the peace and grace of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all here and there."
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Texas winter
I just went for a 3 mile run on January the 8th in shorts and short sleeves under a brilliant blue sky with bright sunshine in my face. I LOVED IT! We'll see, of course, what tune I'm whistling come July, but for now - this really makes me happy.
Greg is in Austin today visiting an artisan roaster who shares the values we do and is a part of an importing co-op we're really interested in. I just say it's nice to go to Austin whatever your reason is, but I'm thinking he'll have a good time learning more from someone already in full-swing business. Thanks for all of your encouragement, by the way. More to come as soon as we know more...
Greg is in Austin today visiting an artisan roaster who shares the values we do and is a part of an importing co-op we're really interested in. I just say it's nice to go to Austin whatever your reason is, but I'm thinking he'll have a good time learning more from someone already in full-swing business. Thanks for all of your encouragement, by the way. More to come as soon as we know more...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
MAJOR UPDATE
For a MAJOR UPDATE on our future lives, please see my husband's blog - http://www.holmesblend.blogspot.com/
I'm excited and slightly nervous and all the other things you might expect after reading. I figured instead of trying to explain it all again, I'd send you there. Now, finally I can post about this new journey of ours...
I'm excited and slightly nervous and all the other things you might expect after reading. I figured instead of trying to explain it all again, I'd send you there. Now, finally I can post about this new journey of ours...
Monday, January 5, 2009
PHYLLIS
Just want everybody to know that thanks to my sweet sister and brother-in-law (Erika and Darin), my directionally-challenged days are over. I HAVE A GPS!!
Her name is Phyllis - Emma named her after watching Prince Caspian. She's very friendly and helpful (Emma and Phyllis). Let the life transformation begin...
Her name is Phyllis - Emma named her after watching Prince Caspian. She's very friendly and helpful (Emma and Phyllis). Let the life transformation begin...
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