Eat, Pray ,Love

Have you read it? "Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have been reading it since my new friend Phoung gave it to me last week at lunch. I can't put it down... I like how I feel after I have read it...centered and balanced and connected and thoughtful. I love to read and I generally read very fast. This book though, I am enjoying slowly; like a yummy piece of chocolate cake. This is one of those books that really gets you thinking about life, people and God among other things. It's not the kind of thinking that you do quickly though..this book requires slow, luxious and thoughtful pondering.
The author takes a sabbatical of sorts to travel to Italy, India and Indonesia over the course of the year. In Italy she eats, in India she prays and in Indonesia she finds love...I don't yet know if the love she finds is with another,herself or for God;
perhaps all three... and while I am eager to find out I continue reading it slowly; enjoying the scenery.

Sunday afternoon

It's Sunday afternoon. Kids are finishing homework, I am finishing laundry and the checkbook and trying to decide if I want to make dinner or let them all fend for themselves. I think the later is looking pretty good! But, I will let G talk me into making homemade chicken pot pie.
As we do every Sunday we come home from church and run. The total distance is usually dependent on whatever Hay has to run and, her mileage went up so, today we run 4 miles. Most who know me know I would rather ride than run and that I am always grateful for days when running feels good. Being a bit competitive I also like it when I don't get totally smoked by Hay or Keith. Today is no different and I find myself eyeing G enviously on his bike as we all head out! Gratefully, today was a "good" day...I felt good and ran a decent pace(sub 8:30) in front of both Hay and Keith.
It was only after I had finished(still in front of Hay and Keith) that they critiqued my run. The two of them described my form as a cross between a "joint-less, knee-less looking hobble" to something resembling a 40 year old woman on the verge of peeing her pants.They delivered this kind and hilarious critique both verbally and visually...I nearly peed from laughing. Funny thing is...I don't feel like either of those two descriptions when I run; especially if Kayne West's "Stronger" is pumping loudly in my ears; in which case I feel wicked fast and mighty fierce. As I try to reconcile this dilema between reality and the obviously deluded image of myself running Hay convinces me that even hobbled and knee-less I do look fast,...'just in a weird kinda way mom'. Gotta love the honesty of a teenager!

January in Texas

Okay, I love the warm weather...there is no if's,and's or BUTT's about it...check out these pics from a great weekend spent outside, on bike, on foot and in the water.

January in Texas

Remenants of New Years day

So we did New Year's Day Southern Style and had about 18 people at the house for Jambalaya, Ham, Greens, Cornbread and Hoppin John. It was great fun, good people yummy eats.

Remnants of New Year's Day Southern Style

Hallie's Baptism

So, Hallie was Baptized today. The same day, one year later than Keith. Keith was baptized in Lawrenceville at St. Edwards in a solemn yet bueatiful service on the last day of Christmas. The service suited Keith's style; traditional and reverent, etc. Garrison was also Baptized in Lawrenceville at St. Edwards but in June. This service also suited Garrison's style; it was Pentacost and lively,feiry colors were in abundance. And so today, it seemed right that Hay waited to be baptized in Katy. Today was joyful, colorful just like Hay. Amen

Hallie's Baptism