Ms. Elsie in a better place... may she rest in peace.

Ms. Elsie was a dear friend.

I had been living in Henderson for a little while... making friends in the neighborhood. I had been hanging out with a boy a few yrs younger than me. He introduced me to his next door neighbor: an older lady. Little did I know this was a beginning of a great friendship.

Whether we were sitting in her kitchen chatting while she made one of her yummy pecan pies, playing a fun filled game of Rumikub, picking peas in Beckville, or attending church at Trinity, we were always enjoying time together.

I haven't seen her in a few years, as Alzheimer's really took Ms. Elsie aways from us long ago. It started out as forgetting simple things... we all do it. Then it quickly morphed into becoming dangerous... not remembering where she was... or why she was there. It broke my heart to see her in the nursing home... sitting there thinking that she was visiting... not realising she had been there for over a year. The last few times I went to visit her she remembered less and less. Our conversations consisted of repeating the same questions over and over. She atleast seemed to remember me... she was happy to see a familiar face... as familiar as it could be. The last time I visited her... she has been moved to a special security wing because she was a flight risk. That was the hardest visit... because that smile and twinkle in her eye that had once said "Oh... I know him... yay a familiar face in this unfamiliar place " was no longer there. It wasn't that she had forgotten my name... or those times we had eaten at Johnny Ozarks... or the time she let me try the homemade "dill pickles"... that were much spicier than I expected... or the many times we sat next to each other on the pew in church. It was that Ms. Elsie was no longer there.

Today, as I checked my hometown newspaper online I saw what I hoped I'd never see... Ms. Elsie's obituary. I don't even know why I checked it today... I only look at the website every few weeks. As the news sinks in... I am sad... but I rejoice in knowing that Ms. Elsie is with someone who is very familiar to her... someone who was always with her... Our Lord and Savior...Jesus.

Ms. Elsie... I miss you... I love you... and I'll see you when I see you.

- Your friend,

Chance

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday. I was glad I got to see him on his big day... he took the day off and got to stay in town... so we got to have breakfast... him, mother, and I. I also got to hangout with them this weekend. They came into town this weekend for my Baptism (plus we had two family birthdays). It was great to have some family time this weekend.

I hope he had a great day... and got to relax some!

Happy Birthday Cassie!

To the lady that is by far the wittiest, prettiest, smartmest, and craftiest gal I know... Not to mention awesome mother, fabulous cook, and uber Aggie... Thanks for being my amazing (and my favorite) Sister... Have a SPLENDID birthday... Happy 25th! With Love... Smile and be Happy!

Cassie grew another year younger this past Friday(17th). Here are a few pics of the two of us:

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mother's %( th birthday! Yes I typed her age in a secret code which I am sure NO ONE can figure out.

I wish I could have been there for her birthday... but schedules just don't work so well.

I hope she had a great day... Hugs & Kisses!

-Chance

College Station Baptist Church

For the past couple of months, I have been visiting a small Church here in Collge Station. A friend from work and her husband had invited me to church with them, and I just kept going. It is a small Church with a big heart. It feels great to be a part of a Church Family again.

When I came to College Station in 2003, I had tried a few places around town... throughout my college years with friends. Nothing ever seemed to be a good fit. Nothing reminded me of the family feel that I had at the Church I went to in High School/Middle School. I guess things happen as they should.

I am finaly going to get Baptized! I have been a believer as long as I can remember, I just never made my public profession of faith. I had wanted to get Baptized when I was very young, but the wise adults said "wait until you are older... you can't possibly be sure at this age" Then, when I was "older"... I wasn't attending Church regularly. In Middle school, I started to attend Church with a little lady down the street from me. I became involved with the youth group and was a part of the Church, but I never actually walked down the aisle and joined. After a certain length of time passed, I felt so much a part of the Church it felt wierd to "join"... when I was already a part of it. So then I moved off to College without ever actually being Baptized. But... this is all about to change. In early September... I will finaly.... get Baptized.

I just wanted to share my happy news!

P.S. FYI... as I type this... all these random " Believin' " lyrics keep popping into my head.... Like Journey's " Don't stop... Believin' " and the Shrek song "I'm a believer".

RYAN & SIERRA ONE YEAR

RYAN & SIERRA have been married ONE YEAR!
Click here to check out Year Two Pictures.

Happy Anniversary!

We had a fun lil' photo shoot in the SIZZLIN' HEAT of DOWNTOWN BRYAN!

Here are some of the results:

Let me know what you think... with a comment!

Turk and Zoey

Jennifer brought Turk over today... Zoey had a blast playing with her Buddy!