Festival of the Falls

Today Erin's middle school band competed at the Festival of the Falls. I had planned my day so I could attend. Usually I am always running behind schedule and rushing to get places on time. But today I actually left with plenty of time to spare. I got to Cy Ridge High School and parked about 15 minutes before her band was set to start warm ups. As I walked around the school looking for an unlocked door, I was thinking about how I would probably have to go to the front desk and ask for directions to the auditorium because I had never been in Cy Ridge. It then occurred to me that the Festival of the Falls is held at Cy Falls High School and not Cy Ridge. I couldn't believe I had gone to the wrong high school. So I hurried back to my car and headed over to Cy Falls. Once again I was rushing to be on time. But luckily, I started out on this brain lapse adventure early enough that even with my mistake I made it to the competition in plenty of time. So I was able to relax for a few minutes before Erin's band performed. They played 3 pieces and were absolutely amazing! It really was hard to believe they were a Middle School band. I was so glad I was able to attend!

A day in Austin

Melissa is finished with finals and planning to stay in Austin this summer, so I decided it was time for me to go spend the day with her. I caught a morning flight on Monday, and we had a great time eating and shopping. That evening Mellisa had her FHE group over for their last meeting of the school year. She has been the FHE Leader for 2 yrs now and has really enjoyed her calling. They sounded like a very fun group (I was in the bedroom reading while they met), so I can understand why.

After FHE wrapped up, Melissa and I went to the movie Baby Mama, which we both thought was pretty funny. I then spent the night and caught an early flight home on Tuesday. It was a really good visit. I can't believe she has been in school three years already and will graduate next year. Who knows where life will take her then. But where ever it does, I know she will be amazing! I love her and love spending time with her, and feel blessed that she is not only my daughter, but also my very good friend.

Band trip to Dallas

This weekend Rachel went on her band trip to Dallas. The work part of the trip was competing in the Lone Star Showcase of Music. All 3 Cy Creek bands won their division and the Symphonic Band (Rachel's) received Straight First Divisions, Best in Class for Varsity 5A bands, and Best Overall Band. Yea! After the competition part of the trip was over, the party began. They enjoyed an evening at Medieval Times (which was very entertaining even though Rachel had been there before), visited the JFK Museum (which was interesting for about 10 minutes), and then went to Six Flags in Arlington. It was a quick trip (so quick they didn't get to miss a day of school--a disappointment for all the band members), but it everyone had a lot of fun and came home very tired!

Rachel and her best friend Lauren










Medieval Times Show










With Chris at Six Flags

My silly dog

Let me start off that I love my dog. I really do. But some days I wonder what I was thinking when I wanted a puppy for Christmas in 2006. Dakota is a sweet dog, but she is a shredder. She loves to shred paper, socks, stuffed animals and has also been known to chew up pens and pencils. It is a habit we have tried to unsuccessfully break her of, and so we have had to resort to keeping the bedroom doors closed during the day. If we don't, she always seems to find something interesting to steal and shred. Well, this morning I apparently did not get my door shut tightly. I came walking through the living room to find Dakota playing on the stairs with a spool of yarn. She would throw it down the stairs, retrieve it and run back up the stairs and start again. It was so cute I decided to let her keep playing with it. The next time I walked by, I discovered that she had not been content with just tossing the yarn around. Instead, she had worked her way through the yarn and managed to shred the cardboard spool it was on. Such a naughty girl! I guess that will teach me not to let her keep things she has stolen!

The Lord always knows

Something happened this wee that reaffirmed that the Lord knows everything we are going through. Hopefully I have all the details straight. Melissa and her roommate Michelle have been trying to find a roommate for next year with no luck. As time goes on, it gets more and more scary because soon most people will have their living arrangements made for next year and they really need a third roommate to make the apartment affordable. But she told me they have both been praying about it and knew that it would be OK. I started praying for their success too, because I really don’t want to have to cover the extra rent next year. Anyway, yesterday at church a girl who is transferring from BYU was asking around to see if anyone was looking for a roommate. She was directed to Michelle, and they set up an appointment for her and her mom to come look at the apartment. So Sunday night she and her mom were telling her aunt who lives in Austin about the apartment, and that there is a senior who is a dance major living in it. Her aunt asked her if the girl's name was Melissa and they said yes. Turns out her aunt is Elena Robinson. What are the odds on that? So these two groups hook up--one who are worried about where to have their daughter live and the other who are worried about filling the empty slot--and it turns out that there is a strong, unknown connection between the two groups. It had to be more than just a coincidence! The meeting went really well, but she hasn't signed the lease yet--so who knows if it will actually work out. But it was just a nice confirmation to both sides that the Lord is watching over them and everything will be alright.