Jackson's Christmas Kitty

For Christmas, Uncle Josh and Ashley got Jackson and his parents a kitten. It was a big hit with Jackson. Sorry the video is rather dark but you can hear his reaction for a while after he discovers what it is. I think the kitty's name is Kiefer.

Our College Graduate

Yesterday our younger son, Josh, graduated from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. It was a very nice day and we are so proud of him. Family and friends attending were Phillip and Jenny, Gale (my sister from Opelousas, Louisiana), Ashley Massie (Josh's fiancee) and her parents, Steve and Chaulzie, Josh's friend Kevin Colwell from Temple, our friend and his former boss, Mason Howard from Jones Creek. After the graduation ceremony, we all drove down to Conroe to Los Cucos for lunch. We had a very nice time. Josh then went to Temple where he will have his 4th interview with a company there. It is down to two candidates and we are really hoping this is the one for him. With Ashley going to school in Temple, that would be really good. Anyway, here are some pictures from the day.

There he is in the middle trying to call Ashley on his cell phone.

He is about to receive his fake diploma.

Shaking hands with some representative's hand. He was the speaker.

After the ceremony

Kevin took this picture of us. Mason joined us at the restaurant. We didn't know he was there until after the ceremony.

Random Pics of Jackson

Jack, Mom and Dad. Soon they will be four.

Jack and Uncle Josh making stone soup.

He seems a little pensive in this one. The shirt is true.

Working on the computer

Light Saber Fights Go On All The Time

5 lbs.? Piece of cake!

The Emperor Meditating?

Gratitude

This week I am just grateful. So grateful that my younger son is alive and well. Very early yesterday morning, lightning struck his apartment building and the subsequent fire destroyed the complex. He was halfway awake when the firemen beat on his door and told him to get out. This is a miracle in itself. My son can sleep through hours of the alarm clock going off at the highest volume you can imagine.

At any rate, he got out. He had on his shirt and pants and flipflops. No cell phone, no sweater, nothing. When the fire was out he was able to go back in and retrieve some things. Amazingly, his clothes seem to have survived after going through the laundry. None of his electronics and few of his furnishings survived. But as he said yesterday, "It's just stuff." And it is.

The only thing of value that matters to me is walking and talking and going about his business today. His name is Josh. Thank you God for this precious gift.

Camping Again

We took Jackson to Brazos Bend last week just overnight to test out the new trailer. It was a beautiful weekend and we had a nice time. Of course, it was way too short. Jackson is ready to go again and so are we. By the way, the new trailer is excellent.

A Post for Beth

A couple of weeks ago, Beth posted on her blog about food associations. I quote from her blog, "Aunt Debbie::flintzens--she makes great ones!"

I promised Josh that I would make flintzens the next time he and Ashley were home for the weekend. Well that is this weekend so this morning I got up and made them. Beth, I'm sorry you couldn't be here but I thought I would post these pictures so you would feel like you were. Maybe you will remember burnt fingers after you sprinkled the sugar on them and rolled up those hot little delicacies. And maybe you will even imagine the wonderful taste of them. Enjoy!

Our New Purchase

Last Thursday afternoon, Donald and Jackson and I left heading up to the Fort Worth area to purchase a new RV. We love to camp (in comfort) and the time had come to replace our 1988 fifth wheel that we got from Donald's mom after his Dad died. Jackson has started going with us some and besides being old, the RV was just too small. We were trading it in so we pulled it up there and slept in it one last time before buying the new one on Friday. We stayed at Lake Bardwell out of Ennis Thursday night. Jackson was just a trooper about being in the truck so much. He wasn't so sure he wanted us to get a new one either. He loved playing in the old one. But he seems to have gotten over that. He is in and out of the new one. I think it is like a play house for him.