(Dec-27-2011) Just thinking about the irony of Christmases in my life mixed with the Armed Forces. Going way back to Christmas ’54, we were waiting for my father who was in the Air Force, his plane went down in Alaska, never to be found … A Christmas doesn’t go by without thinking of him (Daddy).
In 2001, we were absent one – my son-in-law who was in Korea with the Army, defending our country. He happens to be the “meal planner” for the family. So without him around,
(Dec-27-2011) Friends are made from all walks of life and with all persuasions of belief. I count myself among the very blessed to have relationships with people who believe just as I do and with those who believe very little of what I consider the basis of my life. In fact, some of my greatest learning experiences, advances, and challenges come from those who do not believe as I do.
In Southeast Texas, we have fertile ground for meeting folks who come to enjoy our natural beauty of the beaches, the East Texas piney woods, the ranches, our cities, educational institutions, our entertainers, and our many businesses and industries.
(Dec-19-2011) The years seem to fly by and all of a sudden, before you know it, Christmas is upon us – my absolute favorite holiday! Oh my goodness, the excitement of Christmas shopping, baking cookies, anticipating UPS deliveries, will this or that gift be mailed to us on time? So maybe I’ve been procrastinating a little. So maybe I planned a short vacation with my return just days before Christmas. It’s all fine, my husband has been keeping a watch out for everything, he even called me today saying, “it’s ready!” I had no idea
(Dec-19-2011) The name Steve Jobs is synonymous with technology and inventions that cause the world to marvel. It has been clearly proven that he was a visionary, often far ahead of his time, and that many of us rely daily on the things he created. We rush out to buy Apple products, brag about what they can do, and stand in long lines to be among the first to try the next big thing.
Even as Jobs was dying, an invention he had much to do with was being unveiled to the general public. The very computer I am typing this column on is a Mac; my favorite of all the systems one can buy. For those who might not know, Jobs created the first of the home computers or PCs as they are more often called these days.
(Dec-12-2011) I love staying at home in Crystal Beach; one outing a day suits me just fine. A trip to the Post Office or the Big Store is enough to recharge me to come back and continue on my projects, ie. gardening, sewing, reading, etc. When I do venture out – to Galveston, League City, Houston, Sugar Land – it’s uncanny how many people I’ll see from Crystal Beach. We’ll look at each other until recognition sets in, exchange a hug, and chat about what each of us is doing “away from the peninsula.”
Robert and his friend 'Dinner'
It was the most amazing thing! Robert Hudson, a contractor-in-search-of-a-job, found this pelican back in August. Her wing was severely damaged by fishing line, almost to the point of severing the wing – she was pretty crippled. Robert began by removing the string and caring for the wounds. Dinner is his pet now; she doesn’t allow anyone else to get too close.
Pictured in the photo are pastors Dennis Allen, Jerry Valentine, Richard Sallee, Bucky Faggard, Terry Westerman, and Marty Boddie.
Among the many blessings poured out on the people of the Bolivar Peninsula at the community wide Thanksgiving Service was the opportunity for most of us to meet the newly-called pastor to First Baptist Church of Crystal beach. Terry Westerman is from New Beginnings Baptist Church in McAllen, Texas, and he has accepted the call to First Baptist here on the peninsula. Terry, like so many others, has to deal with the current economy and must sell his home there before relocating. One thing we could all do to help welcome him and his family is to pray that the property sells quickly so he can get to the peninsula and get started. We like his outlook, ideas, and energy.
What is November 30th for Gulf Coast residents? It was the stated end of hurricane season, and thank the dear Lord, we did not have a dangerous storm causing millions of dollars of damage and years of hurt and pain for those who call the beach area home. We had a few scares and some weather watching, but the most we had to deal with this year was a little wind from time to time and some flooding in low-lying spots.
Chamber of Commerce President, Anne Willis, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony.
This Fire and EMS station is intended to provide citizens of Bolivar Peninsula a safe secure base of operations for fire and medical services after an event such as Hurricane Ike. It will minimize the gap between the event and resumption of effective operation of these services.
(Dec-5-2011) Determining what interests most of our friends and relatives would be a fun thing in my opinion. I’d like to know what these people I love and admire value and put stock in these days. With all of the commentary and writing about the banking industry and the loss of funds, changes in savings plans, retirement benefits, and the constant drain on our wallets, have we changed our perspective, or are we still all about making that next dollar? Knowing we have to survive and pay our bills, I am not taking lightly that these many changes affect me and my family, but if I thought about it all of the time, I would lose my sanity.
I need the beauty of a quiet walk on the Gulf Coast, a quickly planned fishing trip to the bright, clear water of either the bay, the canal, or the open sea, and some time to regroup from the cares of this world. Thank God, our basic needs are met, and we are not hungry, or cold, or ill today. We have family and friends surrounding us with love and therefore, we are truly among the most blessed.
(Dec-5-2011) Traditions, every family has them…one of ours (girls only) is the Nutcracker Ballet. This year’s Nutcracker was e-specially “special.” Our group consisted of my two granddaughters, two daughters, daughter-in-law and me, Proud Grandma. Our “performance” began at the Aquariam for lunch, where the Sea Bass, Groupers, Manta Rays and Sharks performed to our delight.
At the Wortham Center, my oldest daughter arranged for us all to sit in a box, none of us knew what to expect.
(Nov-28-2012) Not too hard for me to figure out what I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving! We’ve had our two youngest grandkids and their Mommy from North Carolina with us for over a week. And for the Thanksgiving weekend, our Son and Daughter-in-Law joined us. Lots of good food, football games, playing on the beach, finger paints on the concrete under the house, and chalk pictures on the driveway. We even managed to build sand castles on the beach Saturday morning before the front rolled in. We just finished putting up the tree, decorating it while the one-year-old was napping. Hey, maybe he won’t notice, he’ll just think it was always there … Wrong!
(Nov-21-2012) For a few years now, we’ve been in search of a name for our beach house. We discussed it with our kids, then we came up with other names. I know it should just hit us. And last night, it finally hit me – “The Wild Kingdom!” After talk on the Bolivar Peninsula News Group about coyotes and foxes (neither of which I’ve seen yet, thank goodness), I’m convinced “country living” can offer a variety of animals of the Wild Kingdom. Last Sunday night, I saw a skunk. So on Monday, I was at Lowe’s and purchased Critter be Gone – I call it Skunk be Gone.
(Nov-28-2011) Do you ever join me in feeling like when you take one step forward, someone or some thing pushes you two steps backward? Not a good feeling, is it? Perhaps we need to look at our adversities or hard places from a different viewpoint. It is most often in these times in our lives that God is “growing us” to become people He can and will use to do His will here on earth.
A friend shared a great little story with me that advances this point of view. I decided I’d like to share it with our readers.
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to attempt to retrieve the donkey.
(Nov-14-2012) Have you heard the flocks of geese flying over? Thursday, I spotted at least 50; you can hear them honking from up so high, on their way to the marshes and rice fields to graze. Along with the geese flying in from Canada, the white pelicans are returning. A fellow we met at the North Jetty, told us the pelicans feed there in the mornings. On the way back from Beaumont on Monday, just this side of Rollover, we saw 20-30 standing in the shallow water in the Bay. Amazing birds, those white pelicans.
Monday May 20th 2013
The round started like many others for Will Armstrong, Charlie Brannan, and Mike VanZandt May 11th at the Ranch. Two [...]
Mike Comeaux’s neat scorecard Thursday had 5-3s and 4-4s for a 4 over par 31, besting Mike Mitchell, Dabney Harrison, [...]
By Brenda Cannon Henley While talking to a young man the other day about the Lord and His work, we each spoke about reading the Bible. I was interested to hear the very well educated fellow say, “It doesn’t really do me any good to read the Bible or go [...]
By Georgia Osten I don’t know if I’ve ever told you, but the whole idea around adding on to this house was so everyone would have a bed. No sleeping on the floor, no having to bring your travel trailer, plugging in and sleeping in the driveway! Okay, that being [...]
When decorating a room, your vision should always start with the bottom layer. In this room that layer is actually a beautiful wood floor. The next layer is a natural rug, maybe raffia and then topped with an animal print. The good thing about this animal print rug is that [...]
By Ed Snyder/Outdoors Fishing action produced excellent trout and red catches in the beginning of the week but took a serious dive when the weekly storms barged through to roil the surf once again. As of Sunday, the surf and tides are clearing, improving the fishing action. Hopefully, these staccato storm systems will cease and [...]
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