He'll be leaving soon.

This is a service flag from my mother in law. The star in this banner represented how many of your sons were actively serving in the military; if there were 3 stars ,you had 3 sons serving,etc. When it first originated, it was also called a "Sons in Service"flag,which is no longer appropriate today, as we have many women serving also. If there was a gold star on it,it represented a son who had died in service.
We have the service flag,very fragile,I might add, with 1 star,to represent our son, Travis. (Man, I love that boy!!!) Here he is,on leave,having some R & R while in the States.
Hoping to get in some moto cross riding with friends. He'll leave here around 3:30 AM for Japan. The house is sure going to seem empty & quiet without him around. We'll miss you,Trav!

I'll be back

We've got a bit of a crisis going on,can't really say too much about it...But I want to thank my friends,you know who you are. I'm going through this so un gracefully but without you guys,& knowing that those "everlasting arms'' are underneath us-IT WOULD BE EVEN WORSE!!! I'm not sure how long I'll be gone! THANK-YOU FOR PRAYING.

In Honor of the men & women & children who believed in freedom enough to endure hardships.People who have lived sacrificially,rising above their personal wants & needs to pursue a vision of "a nation under God".

They gave out of abundance.

They gave out of want.

They gave of their time.

They gave of the very dearest they had to give.

A Nation was being birthed in the united hearts & souls of men working together in a common cause.Living & dying,freely,that others might gain the freedom they had longed for.A Nation birthed through prayer & tears & blood.

It is a good thing to remember that long ago vision,to remind ourselves of the men who believed that we would be a Nation indivisible as each man,woman & child sought to serve,obey & love God. I hope you are proud to be an American today & still find an undivided strength in seeking to serve,love & obey the God of our Nation. Take a pause to reflect & offer a prayer for those today who are willingly sacrificing their personal freedom for others.Join with me,in still saying "God bless the United States of America" & may her flag proudly wave.

He's Home,He's Home ,He's Home!!!!!!

I can't believe it's been a year since we've seen him!! & once he was here,it felt like he's always been here! Maybe not quite completely for him-he's caught himself driving down the wrong side of the road !!!! Yikes!! I did kinda expect he'd go to the wrong side when he went into the car..but I forgot about that road thing!!!

It felt really good to hear Dan & Travis talking at the breakfast table,with Trav having some coffee from his mug from his Great Grandfather (now passed on). I was soo happy to pull that out of the cupboard & watch him sipping his coffee!!!

Trav-Our traveling feet Mr. Popular. He's already seeing everyone he can; this is one of his friends here. Jake,another friend,picked him up at the airport & brought him down. It is almost as much fun to see his friends again !!!

He may be home, but he likes to be off! Dan, Travis & Mark headed off to the drag strips this morning!

I, on the other hand,being without a vehicle, have turned this into a vacuuming,dusting,mopping,laundry kinda day!!( Whew! I've needed this break! )

Another gathering of friends!!! We are all working on a couple of projects that will go to Ecuador.
Joyce & her husband are heading up a Missions Team that will be going to Ecuador a little later in July.
J. had an "extra" project that was so much fun!We got to decorate some plain white gift bags.The team has little goodies, for the Ecuador women ,that will go in these cute bags!
This is Joyce!!
We also were tracing Spanish Bible verses on fabric. With these,they'll have a time of fellowship with the women to turn these into a wall hanging to take home.

While we worked on these,we got to sip one of my favorite summertime tea recipes. I've always called it "Plantation Tea'' but I see the actual name is "Plantation Almond Tea" I'm quite sure I will merrily go on calling it by it's shortened version, it seems to call up a lazy vision of iced cold tea while sitting on a humid veranda,okay, porch. Porch takes the romance right out it for me.Imagine Scarlett sweeping her magnificent, flowing sultry gown & inviting Rhett to 'Hav a lil" tea with me on the porch!!!! I don't think so, mah dear!
No matter whether porch,veranda,kitchen or dining room it tastes awful good to me! Most people can't quite identify the flavors for the first time.

Plantation Tea

3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. lemon juice
2 tea bags or 2 tsp. loose tea
2 c. water
2 c. cold water
1/2 tsp.almond extract
1/2 tsp.vanilla extract

I take the sugar & water & bring it to a boil to make a sugar syrup.After the sugar's dissolved,I take it off the burner & add the tea bags to steep,20-30 minutes.(I think I always put an extra bag in also).After done steeping,I remove bags, adding all ingredients left, minus 1 c. of the cold water. I like it stronger,so I don't add all the water without tasting it first. Adjust to your own preference,grab a glass & sit a spell!! After all,it is the good ol' summertime!!!!

Happy Birthday Melissa!!!

Here's Ashley & Summer with 3 of my nieces at Summer's baby shower.Mary,Melissa & Mandy.When they were younger we liked to call them our "M&M's". Not just because they all have names beginning with "m",but they were/are also very sweet!!

This is Melissa & her little boy,Lance. I was down at my sister's house when she had Melissa, to help & watch her big sister, Mary.As I recollect,Deb hardly made it to the hospital in time!!!

Melissa is a hard working Mom.She's very creative & her house reflects that. She's also a very good cook-we had Easter there this year & bless her heart, it was quite a feast for our crowd!!!

This is Melissa' daughter Madison. She was Summer's helper at the shower & a very good one!!!

I've got just one small story to share about Melissa,she may not even remember it,but I've never forgotten it. When we used to live up North,Deb was so good about making regular visits with the girls. Our house was just a small ways from Mom's & Grandma J.'s, so all kinds of visiting could go on. Our children were alot younger & this particular night we were having a campfire in the back yard & roasting marshmallows. Melissa consistently had a flaming,black crusted marshmallow. A question was asked if didn't she like the golden toasted ones? Her reply was something like this-"well, I can't ever seem to get them just tan so I've decided this is my favorite way to have them"!!! Wouldn't we all be wiser to make up our minds & will's to like the "burnt marshmallows" we get in life??!! To determine in advance we'll learn not only to accept the things we're handed in life, but determine to enjoy them. I like your wisdom,Lis!

Happy Birthday, Melissa!!!! With love from me to you, Aunt Jill

Tea Time

Tea time.. a time of quiet, a pause to refresh.

My heart is full of prayer & gratitude this morning,Lord. I thank you today that your promises stand true. To those that are weary,tired from life's daily struggles,you promise to lead them into green pastures.Still waters. That You lead them, causes me to know that there is a walk behind You to get there..sometimes, that walk might involve some rough climbing over rocks & steep hills to get to those still pools of refreshing.. sometimes, it seems we walk along the very precipice of a cliff,when all our security seems but a small slip away.. but if you lead..and we follow..we're going to arrive there..no matter the path you choose to lead us there. You know best the path we need to go on. You know where it leads..you lead us to green pastures & still waters..In this quiet,morning moment, paused & still before You, I know,with heart & soul & strength..that You, are more than enough..You, know the way.. & I, choose to follow.. it is enough.