DEAR SWEET FRIENDS

www.fbcodessa.com

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN SEEING BRO. BYRON AND ANDI AND THEIR KIDS LAST SUNDAY. IT WAS REALLY QUITE AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT WHEN HE STOOD UP TO SPEAK. I KNEW THE SECOND HE SPOTTED US BECAUSE HE HAD THAT LITTLE GRIN. OF COURSE I SPOTTED HIM FROM THE BACK - I WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT HEAD ANYWHERE (NUFF SAID). HE WAS SO AMAZING - HIS OPENING SOUNDED JUST LIKE A BIG TIME PREACHER. HE MENTIONED US AND THE FACT THAT ZACH WAS THE FIRST PERSON HE BAPTIZED. HIS CHURCH WAS VERY NICE AND GREETED US WARMLY. HE PREACHED AN AMAZING SERMON ABOUT HELL, AND LEFT NO DOUBT AS TO HIS CONVICTIONS. I ALWAYS SAID HE WAS DESTINED FOR GREAT THINGS AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE OVER YET. THEY HAVE JUST COMPLETED A GREAT CHILDRENS WING THAT ANY CHILD WOULD BE CRAZY ABOUT. THEY HAVE A SLIDE JOAN...

WE ALL WENT TO THE ODESSA COUNTRY CLUB FOR LUNCH AND CAUGHT UP. THE FOOD WAS AWESOME. I COULD GET USED TO THAT. OF COURSE ANDI HAD LOTS TO TALK TO THE CONNERS ABOUT. (OUR FRIENDS) SINCE THEY ARE OLD ODESSIANS. ANDI LOOKS FABULOUS - I DON'T KNOW HOW HER KIDS GREW UP SO MUCH AND SHE DIDN'T AGE A BIT. SHE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE BASKET OF GOODIES WE GAVE HER WHEN SHE LEFT. THE WHOLE FAMILY LOOKS HAPPY AND HEALTHY. AVERY IS ALMOST 17 AND A JUNIOR - DOES THAT BLOW YOUR MIND. JORDAN IS 15 AND IN 9TH GRADE AND BEAUTIFUL LITTLE REAGAN IS ALMOST 13 ISN'T THAT CRAZY.

UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO GET TOGETHER AGAIN. THEIR CHURCH HELD ONE OF THE OFFICERS FUNERAL WHO DIED THIS WEEK. AND OUR FRIEND JERRY'S FATHER DIED THIS WEEK. MAYBE WE CAN DO LUNCH TOMORROW IF WE DON'T HEAD BACK AFTER JIM'S CLASS LETS OUT. IF NOT, I WILL CHERISH THE TIME WE HAD, IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE DEAR SWEET FRIENDS.

TILL NEXT TIME

tz

WAY OUT WEST

Good morning all - seems that Lynn may be the only one of us that is in more desolate country than I am this morning. Odessa, Texas may not be the other side of the world - but believe me it ain't (isn't) Southeast Texas. I am always amazed when we come out here as to why anyone would want to live here. But all that aside I was and am excited to be here with our friends. They make us feel so welcome. And then there is that thing about getting to stay in a hotel for a week and do only what I want to, that is always good. We are spending the weekend with Jerry and Terry and will move to the hotel on Sunday. Jim will be in class all week and I intend to enjoy every minute of down time. Actually I brought my sewing machine and hope to get some things done. (Only what I want too tho - no pressure).

Tonight we are going to see Permian play - you know the whole Friday Night Lights thing. Jim is so excited and I am trying desperately to catch the bug - but somehow it escapes me. It's that whole balls are supposed to be round and bounce thing - and you are not ever supposed to make contact with the other player. You'd think I understood basketball a little better than football. huuuuummmmm. This place lives, drinks and breaths Permian football. Makes you feel a little sorry for Odessa High - who by the way Jim played for in highschool. Click on the link below and you will see what I mean. (at least there is supposed to be a link) Not only was the entire front page and headline of the local newspaper about the game tonight ( there was a small part about OH) The entire front section was about football. Having said all that, I know it will be exciting. I am looking forward to it. http://www.mojoland.net/

But what I am looking more forward to is that this week is the Permian Basin Expo - and one of the featured performers is none other than Terry Fator. Now that, I am excited about. I have wanted to see him and thought I never would and here he is - just waiting for my arrival. Well at least here he is and I get to see him perform. If you don't know, he is the guy that just won Americas Got Talent; do a google on him and check him out - he is amazing. I would tell you what he does - besides impersonations - but I can't spell it so just google him - Reba knows. I will think about you when we go to the show Reba.

It seems really strange to be here without Zach. I found myself planning for him for this trip and having to do a reality check on that he wouldn't be here. He likes to come out here so if I allowed myself I could feel guilty. But I don't. The truth is that while he would love to be here - he isn't crying him self to sleep at night; and because he isn't - I choose not to also. Learning to live your life without considering your childrens needs first is a process. Sometimes harder than others. Sometimes it is almost impossible, other times it comes amazingly if not scarily easy.
As a side note - I feel the need to tell you that I am really pleased and proud of all our children right now. They are all moving through the trials and every dayness of their lives with determination and strength. And THAT, is one of the satisfactions (if sometimes brief) of post child rearing, watching them live.

Till another day (if I don't get lost in a sand storm or something)
triciaz

HOW TO ADD PICTURES 101 or BIRTHDAYS & "BOBBIES"

A couple of weeks ago mom and I went to Longview for Kathryns birthday.  We gave mom a little surprise birthday party also.  It was so much fun.  Wish you could have all been there.  I have included a couple of pictures.  Of course the star of the show was princess Kathryn and her Bobbies (Barbies).  She is just too cute.  I made her some doll clothes, my first attempt.  It was fun, just a little...little...if you know what I mean.  I can't imagine making "Bobbie" clothes.  OK - I must quit for now and go do the things I need to do to get ready for our trip.  Wednesday night dinners start tomorrow, so that day will be filled and we are leaving early on thursday.  Have a delightful day.

HERE GOES

Greetings friends and family - I am not sure about this - but thought I would give it a whirl.  It is a bit daunting when you realize that what you say (write) is not limited to a specific person and could be read by any number of people.  I think it is more daunting to know that someone you know could be reading than those you don't know.  I personnally  think it would be fun to write incognito.  Maybe I will figure out how to do that. But since this is intended for communication with those that I love - I will have to save that for another day.  I suppose it is a sort of public journal.  Maybe??  You can tell that I am so up on the times and all this electronic amazement.  OK my next task is to figure out what to do with this next.  So Good Day for now.  I hope that all your days are filled with wonder and peace.