Aftermath Heroes

Not much news coverage on the continued relief efforts in the aftermath of Ike is there?  Our national short attention span has turned it's eye on the next sensational event, but the real heroes are still hard at work.  Today, down in Chamber's Co., Texas, they went in with the cadaver dogs.  While they turned up a lot, they turned up no bodies.... maybe that's good news.  Or maybe it leaves too many questions still unanswered.  

Keep these folks in your prayers.  They need the strength and peace that only Jesus gives.  Thanks to my cousin, Aaron, for sharing these photos with us - he's been a hero in the company of heroes.

Awful, Awesome Ike

All of these photos, other than the fish-in-fence photo, were taken in Chambers Co. and Bolivar Peninsula, Texas by my cousin, Aaron Reed.  The fish photo was taken in Orange, Texas but I am unaware of the photographer.

Out of Time and Memory

In 2002 when my Grandma Dedeaux died, I had the opportunity to speak at her memorial service on the subject of the legacy she left to her grandchildren.  A large part of that legacy existed in the experiences and memories she gave to us by way of her cottage at Virginia Point, Texas on Galveston Bay.  I, along with my siblings, cousins, and friends, spent blissful summers of days there on the bay.  All during my growing up years, that little spot was an island of sunny days and exciting adventures, getting to know each other and the natural world - free of phones and TV's - and free, for the time, of growing-up angst.

We called it Neverland.  And Fairyland.  We called it that because when you drove on the shell road beneath the low-arched railway bridge, it seemed as if you passed immediately from the dreary workaday world to a world free of all cares.  My Grandmother's cottage was the 3rd from the end, so we drove past the other cottages - seeing who was in and who was away - across Crab Creek and to the drive with the sign which announced our arrival - Dos D Dos - and clambered quickly out of the car to the freshening salt winds.  

The cottage was built on stilts and the ceiling was papered with nautical maps of faraway places.  You could dream away simply by staring at the ceiling.  The front porch was screened in and was the best of all places for sleeping to the lull of waves, winds, and seabirds calling.  If you were lucky enough to awake during the night, the moon sprinkling it's soft light over the bay was one of the most enchantingly beautiful sights in all memory.   Hung between the stilts underneath the cottage were hammocks where the breezes would gently rock you to sleep.

We had lots of great adventures there, too.  In addition to the everyday adventures that revolved around fishing, swimming, and running on the rickety pier, we had the most deliciously scary storms.  Storms that swayed our little cottage-on-stilts and brought water spouts, dead men's boats, and the flotsam and jetsam that makes beachcombing fun.  In fact, during our beachcombing excursions we would come across the barest remains of the resorts and railroads that the 1900 and 1915 storms blew away.  It was a portent reminder of the brute strength of nature and, unfortunately, the silent prophecy of the future.

Last Friday, September 19th, the bay cottage along with all of Virginia Point, was swept out of time and space by Hurricane Ike.  Viewing the news coverage of the impending hurricane, I doubted that our little paradise could survive, but I always hoped.  Hope, however, was this time in vain.  It's been several years since I drove my children under the railway bridge and up to the drive behind the cottage, but the loss I feel is palpable.  I cannot begin to imagine the loss that the current residents of Virginia Point, Bolivar, Gilchrist, Galveston and more are feeling today. May God draw them to Himself and comfort them only as He can.  

Our little Neverland is no more, gone from time, but not from memory.  At least not yet.

Tex-Tenn.

For us ex-pats in Tennessee, this says it all!

Want one, too?  Donations for the stickers go to a great cause - adoption!  Check out itexastn.com today!

Why Should He Care?

"O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

When I look at your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?"

~ Psalm 8:1, 3-4

In the whole scheme of eternal importance, there is very little that actually matters.  Very little.  In fact, Jesus told Mary, as recorded in Luke 10, that there was only one thing needful - that which Mary had chosen, Himself.  (L.10:42)  But, we serve a God who has exalted man to be a little lower than angels and has given him dominion over creation,  (Ps.8) and our God, our Father, is interested in the smallest details of our lives; for indeed He wrought us and made us who we are to be - right down to our DNA.  

So, why is it that I should marvel that He has returned to me things that don't matter in the eternal scheme of things, but do matter to my heart and soul?  After years of being horse-less, he brought back one of my horses that I'd sold 11 years ago - one of our family favorites, in fact. And he brought back our pony, right along with a beautiful cart and harness.  Just because.  Our Father loves his children, and gives them good gifts - blessings in many forms.  And it all comes back to what really matters, for His goodness to me causes praise to pour from my lips to the glory of His name.  "O Lord, our Lord,  how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Patrick Turns One!

On August 31st, our dear baby Patrick turned one year old.  While some of us marveled at how an infant grows and prospers in one year's time, others just had fun at the party!

And what better way to party on a hot, sticky August afternoon than with wading pools, slip'n'slides, and trampolines?

Though Uncle Justin and Auntie K. have outgrown kiddie pools, they enjoyed themselves nevertheless.         Patrick is wowed by all the cool toys he was given!Elizabeth shows Patrick how to hold a football while Gilbert gives the xylophone a test drive.No, the cage is not for naughty children while the others get to eat, it is a miniature petting zoo with a bunny and a kitten.It's a little overwhelming when everyone gathers round to look at you and sing to you!However, it's easy to know how to handle the cake situation!            Happy birthday, dear Patrick; we love you!

Look What the Fog Brought In

"The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on."   ~ Carl Sandburg

Two mornings ago, we awoke to a dense fog.  All was quiet, white, and wet when I went outside to take care of the morning chores at the barn.  After taking Mira down to the front field, I turned to go retrieve Lance to bring him down, too and as usual, cast my eye on the dog runs to check on things.  But, this time there was a sight which caused me to look, and look again, and look a third time - not believing my own eyes!  There in the large run with two boarder dogs, was a tiny orange kitten, just walking about with the dogs!

Though there was no distress on the kitten's part, I ran in quickly to scoop him up and found him to be dirty, thin, and full of burrs.  The remaining blue in his eyes told me he was still quite young, and he was also rather weak.  I gave him a meal of canned cat food and milk and he ate heartily which greatly encouraged my concerns for his welfare.  

Our dogs were very interested in this new little creature, and Chloe even showed signs of wanting to protect him, but her great, huge size was a little dangerous for the tiny guy.  So, what to do with the baby? Spying Jack the rabbit's lawn pen, I wondered if Jack might be a comfort to this young kitten and if indeed Jack might even enjoy having a companion - so, we decided to go for it and put the kitten in with Jack.Sure enough, they took very well to each other, and the now-fed and tired kitten spent most of the afternoon sleeping in the grass cuddled next to his new friend.  Since then, while the kitten - now named "Carly" in honor of the poet - prefers the company of humans, Jack has proven to be an acceptable kitty-sitter and we are vastly enjoying watching their interactions.