C.S. Lewis

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. C. S. Lewis

I would have loved an afternoon to sit and talk to this man.

HGTV

Yep. I'm already addicted. Getting tons of ideas for my humble abode.

Some Paint and Some Memories

We're painting. Again. This time it's our room. Our room is going to be full of blues and various shades of brown and cream. T is the one who cuts in, because he's got enough OCD in him to make it really nice. I've been working on my W's, because "You don't want to see your lines!" But as T was cutting in, I was kind of in limbo to work on my w's, so I took on another task while I was waiting.

I organized pictures. UGH! See, I'm terrible at organizing those types of things. I usually organize by person or event, but then I start looking at the people in the picture and start thinking this is a good picture of this person, maybe it should go over here, or over there... It's just so confusing.

But today I decided to organize by place. And I'm being very disciplined in the process: wherever the picture was taken is where it goes. Period. And it's been so fun.

Springfield. Florida. Georgetown. Thailand. China. Taiwan. Weatherford. And that's how I'm keeping it. I've really enjoyed looking at pictures of when we were younger, skinnier, smaller... Seeing the kids interacting with cousins, looking at the places we took in. Those places and events aren't just on paper. They are three dimensional motion pictures in my head, and I can hear the sounds, smell the smells, taste the foods. It's wonderfully indulgent.

*Sigh* Back to my w's.

So Thankful.

God is good.

Changes

Daughter off to college
Son #1 working
Son #2 socializing
Son #3 starting middle school

New campus
New Job responsibilities

Things are looking good.

Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.

Socrates

Another Half a Century in this Family!

Last December, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and I'm happy to say that tomorrow will be the 50th anniversary of my husband's parents.

I've taken time to pause and think about all of the things they've seen since they were married. It was a different world back then. I'm sure things traveled at a much slower pace until the 60's went into full swing. I imagine it was difficult to be newly married during such tumultuous times, but Mom and Dad Hughes started their little family and went full force.

Both did what they needed to do to raise a good, strong family. Dad worked as a fireman, and also took side jobs on his off days. Mom worked in the school system. They were busy, but they stayed on top of things in their family, and they have been better for it. My husband likes to tell my kids of the time he disobeyed his mom, and with just one phone call, the fire truck pulled up outside. That was mom and dad working as a team. :)

Mom and Dad Hughes make comments to me occasionally about our kids and how behaved they are, how polite and well mannered. I have to say, though, that those beginnings didn't start with us. They began the generation before us, and worked their way down. I do believe when scriptures talk about blessings being passed to the 3rd and 4th generations, this is what it is talking about. There are real blessings that come with the principles that have been passed to us.

So on this day, Mom and Dad Hughes, I want to thank you for the time, patience and efforts you have put forth for your family and your marriage. It has not returned to you void, and there are a few generations that owe the blessings we are reaping to what you have sown these past 50 years.

We are forever proud of you and grateful to you.