Good News Train

Mac developed some film for me for Christmas--Here's a favorite photo from our summer cross-country road trip!

I recently realized something about myself:  I am not very forthcoming with good news.  It's strange.  I'm not that shy about telling people my struggles, but I have the hardest time telling people about good stuff when it happens.  It's almost as if I don't really believe it...or maybe I don't trust it.  As if I think the good news is going to disappear once it's spoken outloud and I'll be standing around like an emperor without clothes.  It often happens that, rather than being thankful and celebrating all I've been given, I live in fear that it won't last and I forecast depression on an otherwise pretty bright future.  It's ridiculous, really.

I've been thinking about this because I've had a lot of people act surprised when they find out I have a job--a 'real' job, not seasonal retail or temp labor (though I'm thankful I had that when I did).  It makes me sad I've been so tight-fisted with this information.  So here I go...the law office I had been working for on a temporary basis has offered to keep me on indefinitely, and is training me to be a legal secretary/assistant.  They have been really good to me--patient and kind and generous.  And I actually enjoy my job...fancy that!  Right now it's only part-time, so something will need to change, but...I don't know...deep down I feel like it's taken care of, and what's required of me is just to work well and be grateful. 

God is so good to me, even when I can be an unthankful little brat (my words, not His).  It feels refreshing to share good news with you.  Speaking of good news, my husband and our music pastor are singing When Peace Like A River (It Is Well With My Soul) in the living room as I write.  Talk about being thankful.  The full story of that song is here, but it was written by a man who lost nearly everything...including 4 daughters in a sinking ship.  I remember my dad singing this song in church and getting teary-eyed.  I guess he was thinking of us.  Yeah, I've got a lot to be thankful for.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Favorite Shoes

The Velveteen Rabbit of shoes.  Except, unlike the Velveteen Rabbit (near as I can remember anyway), there was a time when I had to let these go forever.  I started noticing that every meeting I went to (back in the days when I had a real job) smelled suspiciously like feet.*  A sad day for many reasons.

Anywho, they (Seychelles) don't make these anymore (also a sad day when I found that out), but someone is selling a slighly used black pair on ebay.  As much as I loved them though...I'm not sure I could handle the potential of someone else's foot smell showing up one day like an uninvited guest. 

How do you guys feel about used shoes?  Have you ever owned a pair of shoes you wore to death/sadly discovered aren't made anymore?

* My feet don't smell normally, I promise!  It's just that I wore these shoes THAT much.  And it's true what your mother told you...don't go without socks/stockings.

Walkin' in a Texas Wonderland

As promised (sort of)...some photos of our Christmas day stroll.  To help set the scene for folks far away:  December 25th.  Mid-afternoon walk along a town lake, that's also a ladybird lake, that's really a dammed up river running through town.  Roughly 50 degrees, a married couple's first Christmas.  She loves walking, he hates walking, they both love each other.  A little duckwatching, a light breeze, lots of Spanish spoken, but not by them. 

I think my very favorite part was at the end, when Carol of the Bells started chiming out from this tower, or at least I think it was this tower:

It's called Buford Tower.  Did you know that one of the first--if not the very first--friends that Mac and I made in Austin is named Buford?  Pretty cool.

Yay for walks with sweethearts and best friends, and for Christmas walks at that!  I think it was the best gift Mac could've possibly given me.

Colors

Montana sunrise...

Texas sunset...