We need a new church family

We've been searching for a couple months now but just haven't found the right congregation for us yet. We've visited three churches so far and wonder how many more we'll visit before we find the perfect fit.

The first church was, we found out later, the largest United Methodist Church in San Angelo. The church is beautiful and very active. They have multiple services per Sunday and per week but we found little warmth or evident faith in action there. We saw a great amount of form and function, a very organized service and a preacher full of passion. Unfortunately the congregation didn't show any of that passion and the preacher is moving on to another congregation this weekend.

The second church was, we found out there, the smallest United Methodist Church in San Angelo. The Sunday we joined them we brought the congregation to a whopping 14 individuals. I was, by far, the youngest person there and we were two of 5 white folks in the pews. They were an extremely welcoming group and we enjoyed worshipping with them. I felt the faith and passion for their faith with them, but didn't feel there was any room for us to grow with the congregation. They have been an established congregation for over 105 years and I anticipate their joining with another to survive.

This morning we attending worship services as a large Baptist church. I was expecting a large congregation because they have three services, but I wasn't expecting to walk into a Christian rock concert. That congregation made me feel old and old fashioned. I've been in a Baptist church a couple times, but nothing like this. I put them on the list because they're an Angel Food Ministries host site but don't feel they are the church family we're looking for either.

Our neighbors just stopped over and, once again, invited us to their church which is just a mile down the road. She's singing a special song next Sunday so I think we'll go there. She said their average worship service is around 40 people, a bit smaller than than I think we're looking for. She has mentioned a couple times that they're the only hispanic church members and feel very comfortable. It seems very important to her. She's such a sweety; I really like Erma.

Well, its onward and upward. Our Heritage church family in Iowa is a tough act to follow and it may take us some time.

More later ..........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

Just a few more pics

Guess what Bubba's been up to? There are too many mesquite branches in the drive through the pasture. He's been excercising his chain saw and clearing the path. It will take some time for this wet mesquite to dry, but it will burn well in the fire place eventually.

This pretty purple bloom is one of many different kinds that paint our property.

This funny little black thing looks like a mushroom or fungi of some sort. There are many of them popping through the dry ground. Look familiar to anyone? I have no idea what it might be.

Our mascot, No Fear, is dilligently setting another clutch of unfertilized eggs. She's got nothing better to do and no friends to chase around the pond...  Now that she's setting again she doesn't leave the nest for more than a couple minutes to drink and swim so we brought the water to her along with a little corn. This baby pool is one of many things we found left here and usable.

More later .........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

Kirkland's Home Store

Have you ever experienced the Kirkland Home Store? WOW ....... candy store for an interior designer. Very reasonable prices, interesting variety and lots of faith based decor items. If you get a chance, check them out.

http://www.kirklands.com/

More later .........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

Progress

I haven't posted much lately, but felt like dropping in a few pictures I've taken.

I've removed the cabinet hardware and am preparing to refinish. The kitchen walls are orange taffy; not nearly as bold as it sounds. 

Finally got the new dining area painted yesterday. I'm anxious to get moving on curtains and wall decorations soon. We got a great deal on this table and 4 chairs but are not 100% excited about the comfort, or lack there of, of the tall chairs. Two of the chairs are currently working with a countertop cut out to function as an entertainment center till we get one. 

These bad boys fill our pastures in places. According to our electrician these are just red ants. Their bite hurts like heck and will welt but they won't swarm and attack like the infamous fire ants do. We have lots of fire ants too. They're much smaller. We keep after them with the fire ant killer but they're tenacious.

As long as I wear solid shoes and keep my eyes open to whats in front of me as I'm walking, I don't worry too much about whats out there. I'm a bit anxious to get some grazers in the pastures before they grow up beyond where I'm confortable walking through the green.  

This pretty, blue green thistle sure offers a pretty white bloom!

This is the horny toad from behind. What a beautiful little thing! I don't know why they call it a toad; it sure looks like a lizzard to me.

This dove danced around on the feeder cover for almost 10 minutes trying to figure out how to access the seed. It's simply too big. I need to get some open feeders out. 

Bed Bath & Beyond had an amazing sale last week. I brought home this 10 piece bedding set for less than I've paid for a good set of sheets. Right now we're sleeping in my future workshop room. We're waiting for the carpet to come in before we move the bed into the bed room.

Where you see the beautiful french doors with integrated blinds, there used to be a window in the wall. Where you see the small tile pieces and the white wall there was a wall to wall closet. I still have finish work to do but our contractor has completed his work.

After 4 years of carrying my laundry to town and stocking quarters, you know how amazingly excited I am about this new laundry room!! Lots of room for the freezer and a utility sink too.

New hard surface counter tops and new back splash. The counter tops were installed by Lowes and the back splash by me. Cool stuff!!!!! The cabinets are on the to do list soon. I'm going to sand, primer and paint them dark walnut.

More later ........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

HGTV

Being the loyal HGTV viewer that I am, my great room / living room had to have an accent wall. The North and South walls and bedroom hallways are painted in the light brown color called natural bark, to compliment the fireplace. The East wall is now my accent wall painted in a soft blue/green color called old colonial. When the contractors get done in the kitchen it will be painted a soft orange/yellow and the dining area will be the same as the accent wall, to set it apart from the kitchen. Sounds like a rainbow, I know, but I promise it will look great. After I paint the kitchen walls and I have my work room to myself, I'm going to paint the kitchen cabinets a rich dark walnut brown and change the hardware to match the stainless appliances.

These supplies I already have on hand, the white crown molding will have to wait.

More later ..........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

Believe it or not, three out of four of these fine gentlemen are working on bringing LP into my kitchen for the new cook top. 

;-P

The man in the back is single handedly tearing out a tiny bathroom to make a bigger mud room. 

This used to be a closet in the third bedroom. 

If the 'wife' wants a gas cook top, the wife has to tolerate  trenching in her back yard. No problem!!!!

This is one of about a dozen rose bushes on the property. This one is the smallest and just under our bedroom window. The rest are along the driveway, next to the fence line. They have all been blooming beautifully for the past week or more. I've removed some bushes from flower beds in front of the porch and will put in more roses there. 

Have I expressed lately just how excited I am about our new place!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!

Neighbors

We finally met one of our new neighbors today. We were at the house long enough for her to see us and stop by. I am going to enjoy living next to Jan! She is a woman after my own heart. She has worked for the Humane Society for over 20 years. I look forward to volunteering with her beginning next month. And, once we get the house done and we're completely moved in, we're going to start fostering dogs. 

We are making a trip to Iowa in June so we're not planning on bringing in any animals to the farm before then, other than the two geese and two ducks that are already there. We don't want to have to ask for help from our new neighbors so soon. The pastures are starting to green up a bit and we will need to keep them cleared so Bubba offered our front pasture to Jan today if she is interested. She raises goats and her husband raises sheep. Sounds like a good way to start a good neighborly relationship. She sounded interested. She has several goats about to kid and she might bring them over.

I look forward to learning tons of great things from this native Texan!

More later .........

PRAY OFTEN 

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH