My Kind of Stimulus Plan

My husband was telling me this morning about a conversation he had with a man yesterday. This man passed along a stimulus plan that he had heard from someone else, and I really liked it.

This plan states that every employed (I added that part) American would receive $1,000,000. In order to receive that payment the person would have to quit his job, buy a new car, and pay off his mortgage. This would put money into the industries hurting the most-auto, housing, and employment.

I could support this plan-how about you?

Liz

Spring Flowers

I love Clematis. I discovered it when we lived in Kansas. It grew prolifically there. I planted several while we were living there. The plants would bloom most of the summer as long as I would deadhead them.

When we moved to Texas I had been told that they would not grow well here. Imagine my surprise when I would see them for sale at Lowe's. I bought a few the first summer we were here and due to the drought we were experiencing at that time I had a hard time keeping them alive. Since then I have bought several more and planted at various places in our yard. The one pictured above is the only one that I have planted in a pot and I can say that it is hardy. It has had a hard time but this year it is looking the best that it has ever looked. It is the first one of all of my clematis to bloom and it is so pretty.

The others planted throughout the yard will be blooming soon. i am sure that they will be just as pretty as this one.

Liz

Job 19:25

And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. (NAS)

Liz

Bluebonnets Are Here!

Bluebonnets, bluebonnets, with your coats so blue,

Your white eyes are shining through the silvery dew.

We know you’re a dolly offered for the rain.

We know you’ll return again to Texas in the spring.

Spring is Here!!! In Texas Bluebonnets (the state flower) always announce the arrival of spring. It is always my favorite part of the springtime.

The legend of the bluebonnets state that an orphan Comanche Native American Girl gave up her doll as a sacrifice so that the rain would come and end the famine. Th words under the above picture was a song that I learned in 2nd grade and it comes to my mind every time I see a bluebonnet.

This year the bluebonnets are not as plentiful as in other years. The fall rain has a lot to do with the bluebonnet production. Two years ago there were fields and fields of bluebonnets due to the abundance of the previous fall rain. That year we the fields were blue with the thousands of bluebonnets. There is nothing like it.

This year I am happy seeing the small groups of bluebonnets by the side of the roads. For us it is a sign that spring is here.

Liz

March Madness

My son and I are sports fans. It is something that we share and I love when he calls and wants to talk about a football game that we have both seen. We love football, soccer, and basketball playoffs. I am not one to watch the whole college or professional basketball season but I am there at playoff time.

A few years ago Lucas' father in law started a March Madness bracket and it only cost $5 to fill one out. I have faithfully filled one out through the years and have always lost, although not in last place.

This year Lucas took over administrating the brackets and making sure he reminds everyone fills theirs out on time. I have once again filled it out. I usually guess and so I am amazed some years that I don't end up in last place.

As in the years past it is fun to follow the games and everyone else's progress. Good Luck to all!

Liz

The Farm Entrance

Yesterday I went to see my parent's. While I was driving up to their house I took the above video. It is almost a mile from the paved road to the house and since I was driving the video is a little shaky. If you get have a tendency to get motion sickness then the video might bother you. I was surprised at how green the grass was in the areas that were burned by the fire. In the video the cows are in the back pasture so it is a little hard to see them.

My brother, John, is there for a few days. He has been helping get some things done like doctoring the newer calves and trimming trees. All things I declined to help with.

It turned out to be a beautiful day. There was still some fog when I drove down but it quickly burned off. The spring is the prettiest time at the farm.

Liz

Like Father, Like Son

When Lucas was a baby he would accomplish those milestones: smiling, laughing out loud, crawling, walking, talking, etc. Once he would do some of them he wouldn't continue to do them; it was like he knew he could do it and he didn't need to do it again.

This past weekend Lucas tried to get Lincoln to laugh out loud. Lincoln did laugh on Friday night but he never would do it again-no matter how much we all tried. I guess Lincoln decided to take after his dad.

Liz

Four Generations

Four generations of Ward men.

From left to right: my grandson Lincoln Danger Ward (LD Ward), my father in law L D Ward, my son Lucas Daniel Ward (LD Ward), and my husband Richard Ward.

Liz

The Children

Today was picture taking day. This is my children-my son and daughter in law with the baby and my daughter and son in law. I am so blessed.

Guess Who Is Coming?

Guess who is coming this weekend? Lincoln (and his parents) are coming. With a smile that sweet who couldn't be excited about them coming? I plan on loving and squeezing and holding him as much as I can all weekend long.

Liz

Our Denver Trip

We did go to Denver. The surprise party was great. The youth minister didn't have a clue anything was happening until his blindfold came off and he felt very honored to have this many people come out to celebrate with him.

My daughter and I did get to have lunch with the pastry chef brother and I did score some cookies and bread. The weather was beautiful. We drove on to Vail so that we could see where my son in law had skiied last month. The snow was great, especially since the roads were clear and all we had to do was look at it. The above picture was taken between Keystone and Vail.

Saturday was spent shopping. We went to our favorite store, Gordman's. We do not have one in Dallas and I miss it so much. We seize any chance that we have to go to a Gordman's.

We had lunch at Casa Bonita. That is a "can't miss" place. The food is not the reason to go because it is mediocre at best. The inside is unbelievable. There are waterfalls, caves, and deluxe dining areas. While there you can enjoy diving from the cliff or a short skit. There is even a Black Bart Cave for the kids. Above all Casa Bonita has the best sopapillas around.

Sunday started with a drive up Lookout Mountain in Golden. We went up on the curvy 2 lane road that we had to share with bicyclers. This was only the second time that I have ever been up that road because I AM AFRAID OF HEIGHTS. Once we started driving we were committed because there is no place to turn around. I never plan on doing that again. The view was great but we went down the backside which is a gentle drive.

Next stop was Red Rocks Amphitheater area. We stopped and took pictures before going on to the amphitheater, the best place to go to a concert. The day was gorgeous-50's in Denver in March! We had experienced a brief flurry of snow the night before but then got up to a sunny day and loved every minute of it.

We had a great time and I was so glad that we got to spend a weekend together.

Liz

Off to Denver

My daughter and I are off to Denver for the weekend. We are going there for a celebration tomorrow night. The man that was my youth minister when I was in high school is celebrating 40 years in the ministry. I am going to the surprise party.

We are also going to the Keystone Ski area to have lunch with my brother, the pastry chef. I think that I will get to score some cookies and bread from him while I am there. I love the M&M cookies he makes as well as the sourdough bread. Yum!

Liz

I Am A Lucky Woman

I LOVE THIS MAN!

Ergun and Emir Caner

Photo from Flickr

Sunday night my husband and I went to the First Baptist Church of Euless to hear two brothers, Ergun and Emir Caner (the above photo shows Ergun and I know it is small but it is the only decent one that I could find). They were brought up by Turkish parents that were practicing Muslims. As teenagers they were invited to a Christian church by a friend. Due to that friend's invitation these two men became Christians. Ergun is now the president of Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia and Emir is the president of Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia.

These 2 men were the most interesting speakers. They spoke for only an hour and I could have listened to them for another hour. They spoke of Islam and their personal insights into the religion and the fanaticism related to it. I encourage anyone to take the opportunity to hear them if they are ever in your area, you will not regret it.

Liz

Texas Independence Day

Today is Texas Independence Day. It is the day that the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed at Washington on the Brazos. Today if you go to that small town you can visit the building in which this historic document was signed.

Later this week is the day that the Alamo fell. On March 6, 1836 the Mexican army lead by General Santa Anna charged into the Alamo and defeated the brave men defending the Alamo. Time has somewhat romanticized Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, William Barrett Travis as well as many of the events that had occurred while the Texans were defending the Alamo. The important thing is that these men gave their lives to gain freedom from Mexico.

As a person that grew up in Texas I have always known the story of the Alamo. When I became an adult I understood the pride that Texans have concerning their fight for their independence. I have always been proud of being from Texas and the struggle that was overcome so that our state could first be an independent country before joining the United States.

Liz

Fire at the Farm

My parents live on a farm. The only thing that they raise is cattle. There are no chickens, pigs, goats, horses, or sheep, just cows. Right now things are very dry due to the lack of rain. There are burn bans everywhere with signs displayed throughout the area so that no one can say they didn't know there was a burn ban.

Yesterday my daughter and son in law went to the farm to see my parents and ride their four wheeler. As they pulled in a fire had just started on some adjacent land. The fire had started on someone's tractor-possible a bird nest that had been built on the underside of the tractor had ignited while the tractor was being used.

The fire spread quickly and soon jumped to my parent's land. Fire trucks from every close small town came to put the fire out. My father as well as men from the adjoining land plowed the ground to hopefully create a fire break. The good news is that the only fatality was a truck. A man that had been working had left his semi truck and flat bed trailer in the field. He had been called by several people but didn't come to move it. The tires melted from the heat. No homes or cattle were lost but my father will now be replacing 45 fence posts that were burned by the fire.

Liz

That Precious Smile

When Lincoln smiles your heart will melt and you can't help but fall in love with him.

Liz