technology, smecnology!

Blogging from Jackie's. My computer is still down, so here's a quick update.

Had a wisdom tooth taken out today. Glad Dana was here to drive me and dish out icecream. Now if I can just heal without a dry socket. To do again, I'd take better care of my teeth....

Hopefully this weekend, I'll have some answers to the computer problem; we think it's the modem.

Have a great weekend!

Amy

Computers are a curse!

First of all, sorry it's been so long since my last post - my computer will not sign on; saying I have no dial tone. Right - I do have one, so it's internal somewhere and I'll have to wait for Robert to come home and look at it.

I'm north of Dallas at my cousin's. Her brother whom I'm written about passed away, and the funeral was today. Wonderful service, testament of a life lived to the fullest. His mother turns 84 tomorrow, and this is her third child to bury, along with her husband. Bobby Aaron was 57 years old, and leaves a loving wife, son, daughter-in-law, and 3 grandkids along with his mom and siblings. Too soon to die....

WON, SPURS, WON!!

Those of you old enough to remember the Beatles remember that there were basically two types of girl Beatle fans. Some were screamers and jumpers, and the others were cryers and hair-pullers.
I was the cryer-type, and during this past Finals, with my Spurs, I discovered that I still am!!

Lastnight, while everyone was jumping, high-fiving, and yelling; I sat on the couch and soaked it all in!! I was just as excited as everyone else, I'm just not a jumper/screamer. My passion stays internal, personal, intense. ( Wow, that sounds deep.)

We hosted the game, so I was able to just stay in my nest and watch the interviews and such instead of driving home, which was nice. It was hard to sleep afterward, and I would be in front of the tv all day listening to it over and over if Andy were at work, but he's heard all he wants, and we'll do something else.

So, here's my last SPURS blog for a while; thanks to Tim, Tony, Bruce, Manu, Pop, and all the rest for giving us such wonderful entertainment for another season. Thanks for sharing your friendship, commitment, and passion with us, and for showing the world that good guys do win. Take some time off, and come back ready to do a back-to-back; it's the one thing left for this newly born "dynasty" to do.

It was truly fun.

Green, green grass...

Living in South Texas, you become numb to color in the summer. Everything is dull, blah, brown; the color ranging from the light color of the sand that burns your bare feet to the dark, deep brown of old mesquite bark. Leaves that survive hang limp, and the wildflowers bloom and quickly die. Tanks dry up and crack, the thirsty cattle trying to survive. It's the way things usually are, and it has the ability to make you think everywhere is the same.

Today, Andy and I drove to San Antonio to Home Depot - the grown man's Toys R Us. Along the way, I saw several tanks with nice, blue water nearly up to their tops. Cattle standing under trees with lush, full leaves and green grass beneath them made me realize how unusual this is for us in June. The Spring rains have given rise to the world as it should be - and it is beautiful. Wild flowers are fading, but the ones still standing are in profusion and standing tall with their faces to the sun. How long has it been since this was the case?
The summers of drought and scorching heat have numbed us to thebeauty of our climate. I know that July and August may return us to the dryness to which we are familiar, but for now, it is wonderful.

Thanks, God.

My psychotic daughter who can't make up her mind...

It was SO much easier when she was a baby. She was compliant and obedient and such a people-pleaser. No more - she won't let me tell her what to do, and yet we talk about almost nothing else. I am at quite the breaking point with her making decisions, because I want to know when the move is taking place and where she will be and what her job will be, and she won't make up her mind!!!!

Dana - it would be so much easier if she'd let ME choose her destiny!

So where are the Christians?!?

Pleasanton is growing - you can almost see it happening daily. Chili's, Best Western, Walgreens - not to mention the explosion of housing surrounding me! I'm not sure what's bringing them all here - some say Toyota, but for whatever the reason, Pleasanton is attracting folks from all over.

Now, for many years, every Spring I begin praying for new families to move here to help grow the Church stronger. Ray kind of teases me about it - he's aware of my ritual and asks me each year if I've started adding that to my prayers. (I know I do it in Spring because of school being out and people tending to move then.) Anyway -

with all this growth, we've not added many members. Oh, sure, we've grown little by little and I've very greatful, but it's not in proportion with the cities' growth. I mean, surely some of these folks are bretheren, right?? Do I need to go door-to-door to check?

It's not that I want us to grow huge or anything - I just like new families bringing new ideas and excitement to perk the rest of us up.... a hold-up from growing up in the Poteet church where we WERE desperate for new members regularly.

I guess we'll just have to convert some....

Now, it begins!

My visit with Shanon was perfect. Two friends, a couch, a couple of salads, and lots of wonderful conversation. Andy keeps asking what we talked about, and I keep telling him, "everything." Now, I realize it was the past, the present and the future.

The past is always full of wonderful, fun memories; Meredith "tattling" on Dana before she could even speak, Meredith's and Erin's weddings, late nights of games and cheese-dip.

The present - teaching, church wonders and frustrations, motherly concerns about our grown children, and being married 30+ years to the same wonderful men.

The future is the most scary; retirement, aging, health and what is in store for us and those we love the most. I have faith in one thing, though - Shanon and Mark will be in the future with us, and that makes me VERY happy. I'm so very glad she came!!


Now, to the SPURS -- I feel nauceous!! It starts tonight, and I am literally shaking at the prospect of the SPURS actually losing to these guys --- does that mean I have no faith?!?! What if "he" actually is unstoppable?!? Can it be???

You just never know

Lord willing, Shanon will be at my dinner table in a few hours. She is coming over to spend a couple of days with me, to "catch up on life."

We met when our husbands worked together at a prison unit in Huntsville, before children and home ownership. Andy and Mark were buds together, and so it was natural that we meet. Soon afterwards, the place next door became available, and Mark and Shanon became our neighbors.

Shanon loves to antagonize Andy during games - we spent many hours together with Mark and I putting up with their battles, while Mark usually came from nowhere and won everything we did.

Anyway, in 1981, we left Huntsville. I think in many ways, it was the saddest and one of the most pivotal days of my life. I drove off with Shanon and their baby on their porch, waving bravely while Dana and I left for Brookshire.

We've kept up through moves and life for all these years, and love each other very much. For me, other friends have come and gone, and I've loved them all; and I think my friendship with Shanon showed me how to cherish people, even from a distance.

Now, it's just the two of us for a few days - don't expect to hear from me until she's gone back west; I don't want to give up a minute with her while she's here!!

20 and a few more to come

Blogging from Floresville - Andy's office to be exact. Brought a chocolate cake over to commemorate 20 years of his coming to work for the District. ( 14 here in Wilson County.) Most of his gang are off today - they work 4 ten hour days - but his sweet secretaries and another officer are here, along with some folks from the court house.

We didn't know he'd stay here when he was moved over, and for the most part, it's been a good place to work. He's a good boss, I hear, and while retirement is coming, it'll be home for a few years yet.

Great - now he's taking my picture -

Well, have a good weekend -

What else, the SPURS !!

I know some of you are pretty darn tired of my writing about the SPURS - well, tough.

We won last night in a dazzling display of talent and desire - it was a blood bath that I usually don't enjoy watching, but last night was sweet. Those pesky Utah fans and the lack of respect from the media about my guys just filled me with such a rage that I could barely stay on my chair and eat my Chex mix!! Well, maybe not, but it was sweet to see the boys (old men!) show anyone who cared to watch that they've got more in them than people thought.

Now, though, we have a long wait until the next, and last, series begins. I appreciate them finishing it out so they don't have to play on Sat. - I'd have hated to mess up the family party by sittin in the den while they all were outside talking about boring stuff like FAMILY!! (Can you tell I"m feeling a little goofy today?)

Anyway, the next few days will be filled with wonderful visiting with friends and family, and wishing my nephew Matt well on his graduation. Real things, not sports, to refocus my perspective. On marking time and getting re-aquainted with dear friends, and seeing Roark!! Should be a wonderful weekend!

Come Monday - Shanon comes to town!!!

Olan Mills memories.... :(

Last night, Andy and I had our appointment for our pics for the new church directory. I totally forgot about it until he reminded me about 5:15 - the appointment was for 6:30 ! Dinner was already going - which is a rarity for me! - so we had to swallow it down quickly to make it on time. I did have time to refresh (shampoo!) my hair and throw on some makeup, but off we went.

Having these portraits done always sadden me - I miss the girls tremendously! It marks a passage of time that, while I am content here, I miss the bows and pretty dresses and funny smiles of having my girls in the photos with me. Each one tells me that those days are gone forever; the 4 of us will never again live as we once did - happy and lovingly. And while I think our picture turned out good (even with me in it!) - it looks empty.

Do other moms feel this, or is it just me?

SPURS WIN!!

YES !! It was a nail-biter at times, but the boys pulled it out! Everyone is meeting at the Hutton's Wed. night after church, and we will sit in the same order as last night just for "luck's sake!" (Not really - we're not THAT rabid!!)

Anyway, to the topic of the day. My friend Jackie says she likes to go places with me because she likes the way I watch people around me. Never really thought about it, but growing up shy still surfaces sometimes, and I am overwhelmed by the goings on around me. Best way to pass the time in those circumstances is to sit and watch. I would say that is one of the best things my mom taught me - to see what people around you are doing and how they are in social situations.

Which leads me to this - I LOVE our little elitest group of SPURS folks. You can almost quote before the game what Jon or Lonnie or Andy or - well, you get my drift - is going to say. We've settled into this wonderful little company of friends who moan and laugh and cheer ourselves crazy for 48 minutes every other day or two. We rarely let anything else enter the moment (unicorns the exception!) and we don't need a word of conversation to keep the night pleasant. Dralena's cheese dip, Ann's peanut brittle and Jackie's eggs are staples of the evening, and life is just good for that period of time.

Like Jackie says, I'm really gonna miss it when the playoffs are over.

Thanks, SPURS!

13 weeks

Summer's here! Dana came down to use our washer and dryer - and to see us, of course. While she was in the kitchen with me, we counted up the weeks of summer - 13!! I have a whole week of May left, and then we start back to school on the 20th of August, so those add up to 13 with June and July thrown in!! Never thought of 13 as a "lucky" number before.

The sun is shining today - I swear my Burr Oak tree has grown 4 feet since the rains began !! I love looking out my kitchen bay window at the new growth and vibrant green shades of the new leaves! The rain has really been wonderful....

We host the SPURS tonight, so I'll be hostess. Hope it's a good win with the SPURS coming out on top. I'll watch with my fingers crossed!

Have a good Memorial Day -

Mrs. and Micter Richter

Tonight is the SPURS group - game 3 against Utah. We host game 4 on Monday; I'm hoping it'll close out a sweep for the guys in silver and black ! We have such a good time together - cheering and clapping and yelling against the refs - and eating. Lots and lots of eating goes on at these gatherings. Such sweet fellowship over a game of basketball and a team of guys who wouldn't know us from Adam if they met us on the street. That's okay - it's fun.

When the girls were little, we'd just moved here, and one day we were going down the street. We saw another couple from church, and Dana calls out "Look! There goes Mrs. and Micter Richter!" It's one of those silly family things we laugh at that no one else can get - well, not anymore!

We're going to Mrs. and Micter Richter's for the game tonight -

Go, SPURS, Go!! See 'ya there!!

"And, they're off!!"

I know, that's usually a quote you hear at a horse race, but it always come to mind when the bell rings on the last day of school. So today, I positioned myself to help with the raucous crowd, knowing they'd be blowing by me in hysteria, and wait. And wait. And wait some more...

Finally, the big doors at the end of the building open, and a kid or two walk calmly out. HMMM... it IS the last day, right? The kids continue to come out, in little clumps, and a few yell, "Have a good summer!" and then they walk to the bus, just like every other day for the past 180+. No bigs tears, a couple of jumpers and yellers, but for the most part, in 5 minutes the building was empty and I walked back to my room. The teachers I pass are worn out from their trek to the Plestex and back and an afternoon of "parties" now to face a full day tomorrow of putting the year to rest. I myself came home and slept from about 4:45 to 8:30. Poor Andy....

I love the beginning and ending of school. It defines the passage of time in my life almost more than anything else. The end of a year is time for reflection and planning - not just of summer activities, but of how to better myself as a professional for the next group of students who I'll face in the Fall. My 4th graders are gone - my time in their life is done, but I'll see Pate, and Jimmy, Max and Zoe in the Fall, and meet a whole new group. We'll begin again. I hope they all have a good summer.

For now, it's bedtime - we are having our campus breakfast in the morning. Time to say goodby to some good friends - Clara, Beth, Jackie - I hate to see them go, but hope their new lives are full of good things. Patti and I will close the door on our shared lives and call it a day.

I'm ready.

31 years in a paragraph

How do you go about encapsulating 31 years of a marriage in a paragraph? I've known all day that this is what I'd want to do, but just the memories overwhelm me... how did so much time pass so quickly? How did I know - Andy was the "high scorer" on my list of necessary qualities in a mate; strong Christian man (became a Christian AFTER we met), leader of our home - oh, yes, good dad-potential ( I can't imagine a better parental partner!) and an all-around best companion. He opened my eyes and heart to a life that has been full of blessing and fun. I praise God for His providing such a help-meet for me in all the areas of my life. I hope He continues to be with us all the days of our lives....

I love you, Andrew

Real dreams

Going to Dana's !! She's playing hostess to us overnight, and treating us to dinner, then we will worship with her tomorrow. Nice to see her in her element and interact with her friends. Can't wait to meet Jeff and Alyssa - and Abbie! Grateful for their part in her spiritual life - those are the people God gives us to make us want Heaven even more!

Back to the title: Ever wake up from a dream that was so REAL that you were sick to your stomach with the whole scenario?!? I did this afternoon -

Hope your weekend is wonderful!

200 and counting

According to my dashboard, this is post 201 for me. Wow - I'm sure I've not said anything earth-shattering, but it's been both fun and challenging for me this past year. I hope I continue to find things to share.

Like this - we had a bomb threat at school yesterday. We were all told to keep it quiet from the kids; and as I walked through the hall, I thought it sad that their lives at 9 and 10 already know about bomb threats and evacuations. Lots of parents came to pick up their children, which is their right, but it worried all the ones staying behind. Even though they did not know what was going on, they knew SOMETHING was very wrong.

It reminded me of the Cold War years. We would have bomb drop practices, where we would scramble under our little desks with our arms over our heads to protect us from the debris. Now I don't know what those desks were made of, but it wasn't long before I figured out that it wasn't enough to stop a nuclear bomb.

I guess every age has its fears - makes Heaven look even more welcoming.

One thing that I never have been able to do is not care if someone doesn't like me. It eats at me and makes me spend way too much time wondering what's wrong with ME that someone would not like me. My mom was the opposite; she wanted you to like her, but if you didn't, oh well - she' d move on to the next person who did like her and forget the other person. Figured it was their loss

I'm 52, for crying out loud!! I have loads of people who love me and find me quite fun to be around, some even seek me out for their fellowship. So why is it that I give a care if there's someone who's out there that just doesn't "get" me? Why can't I turn loose?

I guess it's just my burden to bear....

8 days and counting

Well - we are in single digits now on the school-day countdown. I find myself (and most around me) are already finished; bags packed and car loaded for Summer. It's an odd arrangement, actually. You have to pass the days, and go through the paces, before what has already ended ends. Once the TAKS tests and taken and baseball uniforms put on, school is over.

I will miss my little ones this summer. First time in a long time I've gotten this attached, and especially to my Amigo. I'd love to bring her home with me and make her life just one happy day after another. She's seen, heard, and been through way too much already, and she's 11. There will be tears on my end at our parting.

Well, the game starts in about an hour, so I'd better go get ready.

GO, SPURS, GO!!!!