Happy Birthday Honey!

Happy Birthday to my amazing man. We're in this together!!

You keep our home so beautiful. Yes, I do love green grass. You're amazing!

Emeril aka Derrick, even cooks on vacation. Our Kauai cottage.

You're a loving dad.

I think I surprised Derrick the other night when we talked about what to do for his birthday. That was the last thing on his mind. I don't think he even knew it was coming. We're still praying for just the right job for him. God knows what would be best.

Family that are Friends!

Here's coach Pam showing Lizzy the fine discipline of 100 situps! Now Lizzy wants to 'workout with aunt Pam. 2 days now. I think Lizzy is resting.

What fun to have my cousin and his wife here from the chilly farm in North Dakota!
They are here for week and I wish it was longer.
We've already had dinner together at my folks'
We laid by the pool and talked
Sang together and talked
Made dinner together and talked
Watched their pictures from their cruise and laughed and laughed!

Tomorrow Pam will sing with Alex and me as we lead worship at Homemakers.

What a privilege and a blessing.


Maundy Thursday, the day that Christ told His disciples what was going to happen and what He expected of them. His 'mandate' or commandment to them.

He washed their feet, showing His love and concern for each of them. I suppose it was beneath the Son of God to bend down and wash the dust from their feet. But He was our living example of we are to do for others. Down through the centuries, believers have done this ritual on Maundy Thursday.

How will we serve others in this way? And not just on Maundy Thursday?

to the cross I look and to the cross I cling
of its suffering I do drink
of its work I do sing
only my Savior both bruised and crushed
showed that God is love and God is just
Chorus: at the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees
and I am lost for words so lost in love,
I'm sweetly broken
wholly surrendered
-Jeremy Riddle

Night Visitors

At 4am my labrador was going crazy barking out back.

Little did we know, that out front, 3 javelinas were having a picnic in my flower vases! (our neighbor across the street was outside having a smoke and saw them. Too bad he wasn't armed with anything but smelly smoke!)

They were turned over and dumped out and not a flower to be found.

naughty javelina (or collared peccary)

I was so bummed, they were growing so beautifullly at the front door, and Easter's coming.

Guess any future flowers will have to seek shelter in the house at night.

a trickle, or a downpour??

Sometimes God speaks in whispers, slow in coming like a trickle of rain, but they come. Waiting may be the answer.

Sometimes God speaks downpours, never loud, but letting us know He's listening.

We are praying for wisdom in some amazing opportunities ahead for Derrick. That's what we've been praying all along. We've known it would be amazing, just didn't know what they were!

Some friends of ours are transitioning in careers and people keep saying to them, "isn't it exciting to see what God will do?" Well, they aren't that excited after time has passed. Waiting is hard. But sometimes necessary. God knows all of our hearts and what we need to go through.

Lord, I give You my heart through all of this. May our choices bring You glory and honor.

Baseball Season is here

Possible thoughts in the mind of this steely-eyed, determined boy:
"this is what I was meant to do"
"ah, that sun feels nice"
"I wonder if I should try catcher"
"Maybe I'll switch-hit this game"
"I'm getting hungry, wonder what's for supper"

"Okay Coach, I'm listening"

Suit me up coach. Catching wasn't very successful in this game after the ball popped up and hit his knee. Coach Dad was there for a hug.

His buddy Zachary Morelock in outfield.

Didn't make this out, but made another one.

PLAY BALL!

Nice smile for Emma

Jefferson's FIRST baseball game
Jefferson's FIRST front tooth to fall out and
that was the FIRST thing he told his coach,
probably the FIRST switch hit in farm league, Jefferson's choice too

Spring Break, life at home

And tonight, Jefferson's FIRST BASEBALL GAME. He's SO excited!

Praise You in the Storm

O Lord, Your plans are higher than our finite minds.

I praise You in this storm
I will lift my hands
You are Who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You've held in Your hand
You've never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I'll praise You in this storm

We lift up my sweet husband's company and all those who work there. Please bless their labors. May they be able to handle whatever lies ahead. May Your followers trust in You and those who aren't, find this is the time to turn to You. You give and take away and may Your name be blessed.

Post note: while writing this and my A Place in the Desert blog, my kids are cleaning the kitchen and singing really loudly, "In You". What a great song for my heart right now. Thank you Lord.

In You, in You I find my peace
In You, in You I find my strength
In You, I live and move and breathe.
Let everything I say and do
Be founded by my faith in You
I lift up holy hands and sing
Let the praises ring!!!

My Little Sister is 44

Karen Lynn Shepherd, isn't she a doll? I thought she was.

I think we're 2,3 and 4 in this Mother's Day shot.

Thousand Pines, I think it's about 1982, not a good shot of any of us. But funny
Christmas 2005, the five Shepherds

One of my favorite pics because we look alike. We don't always.

We had so much fun being pregnant at the same time... TWICE, actually 3 times, but the first was further apart. The second, a day apart, the third, a week apart! This is 2001

2005, the happy Ray family, still going strong.

Could it be true? We're well into our forties Kee-Ray!

I am blessed to have her in my life, and her husband and boys. And they don't live TOO terribly far away. At least they're in Arizona.

She is a wonderful listener. And will be soon completing her masters in family counseling. I'd highly recommend her! When I think back on our childhood (we had a brother between us) I regret many things. I know I could have loved her more and been a 'friend' to her. Hindsight is 20/20. We learn along the way. But I hope I can teach that to my girls.

Today at The Farm at South Mountain for lunch. What a gorgeous day.

Dexter, Our Protector

A cute little desert rat had the girls fuhreaking out. You'd think it was a bobcat! Poor little creature. Derrick had set out some yummy peanut butter/poison in the fireplace because something had been storing stuff on our roof.




The poison disappeared and I guess this little guy had stashed it in his nest, much to his demise! He was just lying there, could barely lift his little head. So Dexter got out his beebie gun to 'put it out of its misery'. He was successful, but I made him clean up the mess. Whew, crisis averted.

Laura K's arrived!

Isn't she so cute? I can't believe how her Blogging Project Runway has taken off !!! Literally, it's run away! Hope you Project Runway fans have seen her blog.
She just started it for fun and look where she is now.

Here's her article in the Arizona Republic this week. And her blog is so fun. I just love singing with her, she is an amazing alto and a great encourager.