Reconnecting

Today I got a wonderful surprise - an old friend that I haven't heard from in several years called me. OOPS! Did I say old? She will never call me again if I said that...hummm...how about a good friend of long ago who is always young in my mind? Do you think that clears things up?

Anyway, it was great catching up on our lives, what we do, our children, future plans, etc. Lots of laughs, lots of serious moments, scattered with encouragement on our faith in God.

As I am sitting here thinking of that I thought how sometimes we need to reconnect with God, too. We get busy and His priority becomes lower on our list. He is not in our daytimer or things to "do". He becomes reduced to an emergency number.

Or perhaps its not the busy days - its a sin problem. Something else becomes our idol and seems a lot more fun...and if we face him the guilt would have to surface. We have to acknowledge how self centered we have become so we choose to ignore Him for a while.

So how do we reconnect because deep down we know that life is always better WITH Him then without him? I have a few suggestions through a favorite scripture, "Be still and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10.

"Be still" - turn off the white noise, the distractions, the agendas and get really still with Him. "and know" - you know through His word. Pick it up, dust it off and wrap yourself up in a story or chapter or a Psalm. Or look around you at creation and you will know the Creator. Or remember the tough times he helped you through and you began to know more of Him then. "That I am God". That pretty much says everything but in Martie's translation it means "I am the One who loves you more than anyone else. I am the one that forgives your past and cares about your future. I am the one that will never leave you. " And that says it all.

Now don't you feel better for reconnecting? Aren't you sorry it took so long? Don't you just love being still (in this too busy world) just to be with Him and to know how fully loved you are?

Emily, 2005 in front of a French garden. This is one of my favorite pictures of her! She has such a gentle sweet spirit and it reflects in everything she does. 

Tom, 2003. This was taken at our niece's wedding. I love his smile here - it reflects his heart...so loving. He has a good sense of humor but is also warm and caring. Any nice Christian single girls out there? His mama's always looking... 

Why Texas Road?

You may be wondering why I chose to call this site Texas Road. To be honest, my son was helping me come up with a name and we tried several that didn't work. I looked over at my James Taylor CD called "October Road" and I said, "Guess mine should be called Texas Road!" Well before I knew it my son typed it in! (If only he was that quick with other things I want him to do! LOL)

However, now I've had time to think about it, Texas Road seems to fit me just fine. If you go down an old Texas road, you can be in for some surprises....a roadrunner speeding past, a casual armadillo traveling by or a sleepy rattlesnake by the side of the road. Around the next turn could be a field of bluebonnets, a pasture of horses or the best view of the Hill Country Hills. And on the road goes, full of adventure and promise if you take the time to enjoy it.

So my life seems to be like an old Texas road - full of surprises. Sometimes it takes me too fast, like the roadrunner and other times it has challenges that I don't want - like the rattlesnake. But whatever is on my road I like to look at it with an adventuresome spirit and full of God's promise.

You see, there is one wonderful thing about the road I am on...I don't have to go alone...Jesus is my constant companion. If I move too fast, he has ways to make me slow down and enjoy the view. If my way is tough and painful, He holds my hand a little tighter and helps me get through it. When I start to stumble, Jesus keeps me from falling.

Sometimes on the road, I start to take the wrong way. A different turn seems so inviting. Jesus gently but firmly pulls me back to the road I am suppose to take to begin with - the way He created for me. Then he reminds me how I could get very lost and lonely if I go without Him.

Other times I get very tired. The road begins to look the same and I feel restless. He beckons me to rest for awhile. He always knows the best places to do that as He cools my thirst with fresh water from His Father's words. Looking at MY time schedule, I tell him I need to get going - I have so much to do. But in his experience of life, he reminds me quietly to wait. Wait? Why?

So I sat there trying to pass the time...wondering if HE realizes how long its been. He smiles at me and says again, "Wait. My Father knows the time." Then I get anxious and fears surface...I began the What if game...What if an awful rattlesnake comes along? What if it gets dark before we leave? What if....He stops me and says, "Trust me".

And in time, as I am waiting, I slowly began to trust Him. Then when he sees me fully at peace and contentment with just being in HIS presence, he beckons me to travel again. Then I see more clearly that in my waiting, he had been busy clearing my path, making things right but I needed to trust Him.

So my life is like an old Texas Road...traveling along, enjoying the surprises and learning lessons as I travel. I'm taking my time and enjoying what is ahead of me with confidence because I have a wonderful traveling companion.

"I am with you always" Matthew 28:20

Our wedding day, January 18, 1986. We got married in the French Quarter at the Olivier House in New Orleans, Lousiana. It was a simple wedding in the parlor. My father married us and Dennis' dad was the best man. The reception was in the courtyard with lots of New Orleans food and the Jazz Band from Arnaud's Restaurant. We stayed at Nottingway Plantation on our wedding night. A true southern-style wedding! 

Girls' night out - Josh Groban Concert! 

Easter in Fort Worth, 2005 

There's nothing like a New York hot dog!