Dallas dash

Last weekend I accompanied the law school daughter for a quick trip to the metroplex so she could check on her apartment in Dallas. We visited a couple stores for things like skincare products and room scents, but absolutely made time to sit down for a couple tasty meals along the way. Tex Mex is always a good idea, y'all. Plus we were able to visit a favorite local bakery for a sweet treat or two. Sugar continues to be my kryptonite. The best husband and dad in the world opted to stay home to mount TVs in our lovely guesthouse for his parent's impending move to live in our backyard, and our doggos kept him company. 

 

Summer menus

Since the younger daughter is living with us for her ten week internship, we've been cooking more meals. In addition to grilling, I've also whipped up some shrimp and crab gumbo. This week the lineup includes supreme pizza soup with Mimi's cheesy garlic bread that's sooooo good, plus some muffuletta sliders and chips. I've become quite the soup fan in the past decade or so, and I continue adding to my list of favorite recipes. And with our future lawyer baker home, there have definitely been some desserts thrown into the mix, too.

With our girls and future son-in-law headed to Nashville for the upcoming long holiday weekend, that means we'll be on Chorkie watch for about six days of dog wrangling. Our two terriers have finally gotten to the point where they mostly ignore the rotten little fella, though our one-year-old Finn hasn't given up on engaging Chorkie in play. Which I honestly believe Chorkie perceives as harassment more than anything else. However, that doesn't deter Finn's efforts to interact with their only fur baby. It definitely makes for an interesting time until little man Finn wears himself out.

Galas are a family affair

With the law school daughter in town for her 1L summer internship, we were able to include her when we attended a gala last month for the University Health System. The husband has been a foundation board member with them for several years now. It's always a wonderful evening that honors what the hospital accomplishes for some of the most needy in our local community.

This year we made ourselves presentable to hear about the hospital's life-saving response that focused on an elementary student who was seriously wounded in the Uvalde school shooting two years ago. This brave student and her entire family were in attendance and we got to learn about her life changing experience. It's a good thing there were packages of tissues placed on each table, because it was a touching tribute to their strength and faith. The medical professionals who rallied around this girl to help save her life were all seated at the table next to us, doctors, nurses, therapists and even the first responders who stabilized her for the ride to the hospital. What a blessing they all were to this family in their time of need.

Working the wedding to-do list

Our CPA daughter and her fiance had their engagement pictures taken this spring once she finished busy season. What a stunning couple, if I do say so, but I am a bit prejudiced. We're now less than five months out from their late fall wedding, but the detail wrangling isn't finished yet. The transportation has finally been sorted, which was more involved than I anticipated. We needed a combination of buses, vans, SUVs and one vintage car to get the bridal party and guests where they need to be in the greater Austin area. On a UT football home game day, mind you, but that's a whole other story. I continue to be so very glad we hired a wedding planner who utilizes spreadsheets and timelines to keep the process on track so I can ultimately enjoy their wedding day rather than being swamped in anxiety that everything is running as it should.

Marriage milestone

A couple days ago, the husband's parents celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. With almost 50% of marriages ending in divorce, this is an amazing accomplishment. Many marriages won't reach this milestone for a rather sad reason, that one or both of the partners dies. And this is usually tied to the fact that they didn't marry when they were younger. These two kids seen in the sweet pic below have been blessed with perseverance AND good health.

Nena and Poppy (as our daughters call them) married at the tender ages of 17 and 18. She had just graduated from high school and he had finished the year before her. It's something that's hard to fathom these days, though I'm sure it was much more common in the 1950s when they tied the knot. I got married at 25, and our older daughter will be 29 when she says I do this fall. That almost seems too young to me, but I guess that's probably just my age showing.

As the wedding verse from Matthew 19:6 used in marriage services admonishes us, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." When the Lord brings two people together to share their lives and put Him as their foundation, He blesses the union. That's why I've been praying for years for our Heavenly Father to send our girls their godly husband in His perfect timing. Marriage is a lifelong commitment, one that Nena and Poppy leaned into with a wealth of love and patience. Not giving up when the going got tough, but rather digging in and making that effort with the one God sent you. Forget Mr. Right Now and pray for guidance while you're waiting on Mr. Right. The Lord will send along your husband when you wait on His provision, just like He did for these two. Sometimes you meet him in elementary school. Sometimes it's after graduate degrees.

June already?!

There's no denying summer is upon us with temps already pushing into the upper 90s lately. Sigh. And so I'm back to wishing my life away, impatiently waiting for my beloved fall to roll around once again. Y'all know how much I love the BER months. College football. My pumpkin decor. Soup and chili weather.

This weekend we returned the grandchorkie to his parents in Austin. We enjoyed his stay, but I believe he was ready to go home. I kinda think our youngster Finn will miss him. What Finn won't miss is Chorkie snagging his spot in dad's lap every evening when the husband kicks back in his recliner. Now that Chorkie the leg hiker extraordinaire is gone, I can drag around the water hose and bottle of enzyme spray to clean up all of the places on the back porch and pool pavilion where the little beast left his mark.