Liz's Letters

April is finally slowing down and it has been a great month. A month of celebration, change, and challenges. A photo a day did not happen, but photos were taken several times a week at the most memorable times. Starting with one below! My friend, Tricia, was baptized (by Marla and myself) on Palm Sunday! Here we are. Don't you know the angels were singing? We went out to eat lunch to celebrate Tricia's baptism. Fred and I parked next to this pick-up truck. It was so funny that we took a picture. Only in Texas! My son, Adam, and his girlfriend Thien, arrived in Texas Saturday before Easter! We are were so excited to have them here for the weekend. I thought as the kids grew into adulthood that the Easter baskets would decrease... but this was our table on Easter morning! More baskets than we have ever had! The Easter Bunny searched high and low for this particular fingernail polish for Rebecca's basket. It is an O.P.I. color - Mad as a Hatter - from the Alice in Wonderl...

Hmmmm. Don't go to read this article if you are easily offended, especially regarding your weight. I popped over to one of my favorite blogs this morning - The Resurgence blog and read this very direct article on...well, quite bluntly, being fat. I read it because I have found myself struggling with weight creeping up on me the last few years (turning 40 some time back changed my metabolism greatly!). About a year ago, I decided I was finished with the excess and have been gradually losing weight ever since. Recently, I have found the last 15 pounds to be like concrete stuck to my 5'2" frame and hence my interest in hearing what John Catanzaron M.D. has to say about it. After reading his article I am more motivated - spiritually - to rid myself of the excess weight. Caring for my body, also the temple of the Holy Spirit, has been part of my desire in obtaining a healthier weight, but there are other factors as well. Feeling good in general is important to me. I also h...

(click the picture for more Friday Fill-In posts!) I know, I know! I do this almost every week....and for you...it is sort of boring! But for me, it is fun! It challenges my mind (I am simple, what can I say!) to fill in the blanks of these little sentences! Here we go! 1. I'd like to know that all my loved ones know Jesus . 2. One of my most favorite romantic memories is the surprise anniversary that I planned for me and my hubby at Virginia Beach. We had a wonderful dinner out and danced in our hotel room, to Natalie Cole, totally enjoying our time together . And he was SO surprised! (it was one of those events where I left instructions for him to meet me after I was already gone....) 3. Last night, I had Italian Sausage, spinach and pine nuts over fettuccine for dinner. 4. Sorry for the slightly boring blog post . 5. Can we quit worrying about the health care reform now? ( I wish!) 6. One of my worst temptations is over-eating ; really good food is simply ha...

“History of Present Illness Chief Complaint – DRUG OVERDOSE. This occurred last night. Toxic symptoms present in ED with nausea and abdominal pain. The patient has experienced situational problems related to work. Has recently lost job. The symptoms are described as severe. He has been depressed. Has had suicidal thoughts. Has highly lethal plan for suicide. The method is available.” (HIPPA compliant) I read medical records like these every day. And my heart breaks. Every time. Every single time. These are more than medical records, they are real, live human beings. They are in front of us at the grocery store and beside us at the stop light. And the one who’s record is notated here…the same age as my oldest son. Sobering. When I left for work this morning, I was upset because my husband made a comment about the untidiness of my shoes in our closet. Something as trivial as shoes had the capacity to ruin my mood the entire day. Until I got to work. My job responsibilities sometimes have...

I love trying L.L. Barkat's poetry prompts. Sometimes I read them, think about them and nothing comes to mind. Then, every so often I am brave enough to try one. This one caught my attention because of the title, "How to Write a Poem" - and I thought... "that's just what I need, instruction!" Here is what she says, "But we have to begin somewhere. Nobody wakes up and becomes Keats or Yeats, or the bard of Beowulf, in a day. Begin with a single sentence, or a phrase. Use a memory or something you see. Maybe pick up a few cool words from someone else's poems and play with them like a kid with a mudpie. Don't worry about what you're going to end up with." I was at lunch when I read her poetry prompt, so, sitting at my desk, I scribbled on a note pad the first thing I saw...scattered paperwork, and ended up with a poem about retirement. Ha ha! Here it is: Daydreaming Pages scattered mind the same jailed, restrained. Sore from pushing again...

It is Friday - again! Last weekend went by so quickly! The week was a whirlwind of activity and transition. My son flew back to his home in Northern Virginia but his girlfriend stayed in Texas to start a new job. She is living with our family and it has been a great week. She has been a trouper as she tries to figure out our crazy family's schedule, pet-peeves, and communication style. She has eaten American food every day (she prefers Vietnamese) and not complained once. The bathroom sharing has worked well between she and Lovely Daughter, except the hair clogging up the bathtub. This will hopefully be remedied that that Mr. Husband is aware of it. And I am just thrilled that it is Friday and another weekend upon me! (I need it!) To start things off, I will play my favorite blogging game, Friday Fill Ins! Not sure why I like to do this - but I find it to be a fun and easy challenge! So, here we go.... 1. In 1992, I was in Wichita, Kansas, praying that we would get pregnant with a...

Tranquil My heart experiments Yearning for more Knowing only He can provide Trusting I fear sometimes Pain is searing He is faithful to protect Tomorrow What is there? My eyes strain to see But I close them and look to Him Today Full of love Soaking it all up Grateful that He gives so much

Since I am not taking a photo a day these days, I am thinking of changing the name of my photo project! Maybe Project 52? Representing photos of my day to day life - at least every week! ha ha I will think about it. In the meantime, Here is what I was up to last week! When Fred and I moved to Texas, there was a mesquite tree beside our pool. It died the first winter we were here. The following spring, we planted this Redbud tree in it's place. It is my favorite flowering tree, and represents our home state of Oklahoma. This spring it looks really great! For some reason, I always hesitate to plant bulbs. I think it is because we have moved around enough that I fear having to leave behind beautiful, mature, plants! Why? I don't know. Selfish, I guess. But, I did purchase and plant some daffodils this past year. The wind was blowing fiercely as I tried to photograph the first blooms. And these? Well...these are the peonies that I would not, could not leave behind when we moved...

Yay! Yay! Yay! It's Friday! And since I am too excited to be very creative, I think I will post a Friday Fill-In post! Here we go.... 1. All you need is God and God is LOVE . 2. My family fills me with laughter. 3. Each generation, as it grows up, has more knowledge than the generation before . 4. Hatred and lying (I can't make up my mind) is/are something(s) I have a hard time dealing with. 5. A trip to Los Cabos is what I need. 6. Give and you get back. 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to working out (I know....it's crazy!) and spending the evening at home , tomorrow my plans include cycling, shopping for Easter goodies and my son and his girlfriend arriving from Washington D.C. !!! and Sunday, I want to spend time with my entire family together celebrating Easter! He is Risen! Celebrate!