Round Rock Ramblings

We are parked at Old Settler's Village and Park.  This is the view to the west of the Q.This is the view to the east of the Q... Dell Diamond. We'll be going over there this evening for a game. We walked all around the Old Settler's Village that has been restored.  A few of the buildings have been moved here from the area.

I am delighted!  You know how I am about windmills, trees and old buildings... here they are all in one picture! This combination church/school house was moved here from another local location.  "Where's the door?"How considerate, a seat for the adult and a seat for the child.An old barn and farm equipment.A general store.Inside are walls lined with shelves and chairs and tables with red checkered table cloths, Don reported.This replica of a local firehouse was built to house two fire engines.  One is a horse-drawn pump engine.

From the village, the RV park can be seen.Another view of the houses and school house.A view of the Palm Mansion from the gazebo.  The Palm family owned a lot of property here.Continuing our sightseeing, we followed the street to the park and eventually this fishing lake.

Tonight we went to the Express baseball game, which they lost, but we had fun with Leslie, Emma and Camden.  It seems we've brought cloudy skies and a breeze to Texas.I just have to be quick to get a picture of Camden. He's constantly on the move.  You notice that he's reaching for his mama's hand.  NOT!! Just to prove that we're at a baseball game.Emma took this picture.  Pretty good, huh?Camden gets into EVERYTHING that goes on at the ballpark.Emma is showing Leslie her very loose tooth...see, I told you it was loose...and she pulled it all by herself, tonight, at the game!!So Camden must show his daddy his teeth!And he shows me that he has a toothA rare moment when he was still AND looking at the camera.  

It was Fireworks Friday after the game tonight and they were fantastic. 

After the game, all Don and I had to do was walk across the parking lot to the Q and we're home!!

We are so blessed.

And we're off!!

Don is finally getting to scratch his hitch-itch!

A couple of scenes as we are leaving Oklahoma.

The prairie dogs are everywhere in south Oklahoma.

We cross the Red River on I-44. While Don was pumping gas, I saw this picture.Ok, the tank on wheels is real but the driver and mule are made of sheet metal. A going-down-the-road picture in Texas. We made it to Round Rock in one day.  Don was tired, but decided to go on and get settled in.  By the time we got over to Leslie's, the kids were bathed and ready for bed.  Emma was on the phone with cousin Lydia.  Can you see that sweet sprinkling of freckles on her cheeks and across her nose.  I love it! Just like her mama had.Emma peeking over the top and Khalil laughing at her.Emma loves her daddy.

I didn't get any pictures of Camden tonight because, frankly, it wouldn't let me.  Don't worry though, there will be pics of him.

It's good to be here for a few weeks. 

We are so blessed.

You Can Be a Blessing and Be Blessed

Thursday, September 3


Blessed to Be a Blessing (by David Jeremiah)

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
Genesis 12:2

Recommended Reading:  1 Peter 3:8-9

The Hebrew word for "blessed" can also be translated "happy," as in, "Happy is the man who . . . ." "Happy" in biblical days meant "content" or "satisfied" more than our modern understanding of happiness. Today, Christians sometimes act like God's blessings are primarily to make us happy. The truth is that we have been blessed in order that we might be a blessing to others.

When God called Abraham from Mesopotamia to begin a new life in Canaan, He set the standard for the meaning of blessing. He told Abraham that he would be blessed—no doubt about that. But He also said, "And you shall be a blessing." Abraham and His descendants were going to be blessed by God so they could become a channel of blessing to the world—and indeed they were as the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was born as a descendant of Abraham. Sometimes when we grow discouraged (unhappy) with the life God has given us, we need to remember that there is blessing in being a blessing to others. Happiness and joy come in this life when we share God's blessings with others.

Look for someone this week who needs God's blessing—and then become that blessing for them.

It is dangerously easy to fix our hearts on the blessing rather than the Blesser. Ronald Dunn
Now maybe you understand a little better why we call this blog "Bakers' Blessings."  We are so blessed because God helps us be a blessing to others and the cycle just keeps going around.  When we think of the saying, "What goes around, comes around" we think of negative things, but that saying also applies to blessings.  When we are a blessing to others, we are blessed.

Oklahoma Buffalo

I have tried all summer to get pictures of the herd of buffalo not far from where we are parked. 

Finally.....

Happy Birthday, Emma!!

Our delightful granddaughter, Emma, is SIX today.

Six very short years ago, God blessed us with this bright miracle.

I doubt, this year, that she will dive into her cake with this much abandon, but we will be able to get birthday party pictures come Saturday.Have a wonderful day, Emma.  We are so proud of the wonderful little lady you are growing up to be.  May God bless and protect you all the days of your life and may you love Jesus more and more everyday.

Countdown... Wednesday.... 2

Took Mama to the Norman Police Department and the Cleveland County Sheriff's office today.  The apartment that she's applying for in Georgia requires a Criminal History Record.  It struck us funny to be getting a CHR for Mama Trudy.  She's never done anything criminal in her life and she had to pay $5 to prove it. 

Speaking of the the apartment in Georgia near my brother, there are none available at this time and no indication that one will be available soon.  So.... she waits.  We are very thankful that home health will be coming to see her each Tuesday and Friday and have set up a BP monitor in her home that will transmit her BP daily to their office.  Sweet neighbor, Pat, will check on Mama regularly and get her anything she needs.  Her stomach is causing no problems now, but she still contends with light-headedness (is that a word?).  We are praying that subsides at least enough to give her more good days than bad days.

Saying good-bye to Mama was very difficult., as we pull out early in the morning.  Thank you, again, for your prayers for her.  Please pray that she has an abundance of friends and family visiting, writing and calling her.

Tonight, we had dinner with Don's mom, sister Debby and Debby's hubby, Steve. (mom was standing on the patio... she really isn't this tall) We are so thankful for Debby and Steve providing Mom a wonderful home right on their property.  They are also in the process of adding a wing onto their house for Steve's mother, who will be moving in from Florida when the wing is finished.  They are angels, son and daughter, all in one and will need much prayer, also. 

Countdown... Tuesday... 3

First thing this morning, my phone rang and when I saw that it was Wendy calling, I knew what she was going to say.  Rick's dad has been promoted to Heaven and reunited with Rick's mom.  It's been a really tough time for Rick and Wendy since they left here on the 10th of August to go home to spend time with Rick's dad during his last days on this old earth.  We continue to pray for them during the coming days and we know they would appreciate your prayers.

What would we do without good friends?  This morning, Larry came over with his big compressor and aired up our tires and also greased the wheels on the "Q."Larry even crawled under the "Q" and aired up the spare tire.I got a little distracted by the interesting bark on the tree by the "Q."Next the Chevy tires.Next, on the ground again, greasing the wheels.A good picture of Don and the friend who stood with him at our wedding.  He's always been there when Don needed him and always good for humor therapy. The list of friends that God provides for us when we need help just keeps getting longer and we are so very thankful.  I remember back to our first "assignment" in Branson and there was Barry ready and willing to help.  Now Barry is in heaven with the Lord.  And then we got to Quail Run and there we met Bob Quinn, Dave Sutton, Rick Fury, George Reid and others who were always willing to help Don with the awning or anything else needed. When we went back to Branson, Jimmy Beckwith, stepped in and helped when Barry didn't feel well.  Jimmy was great for humor therapy, too!  Back to Arizona, Sunscapers like Larry-Larry, Jack, Slim, Wayne, just to name of few, were so helpful to us.  Have I told you lately how blessed we are? 

Thanks again Larry, for helping Don today. 

Around noon, we took some stuff over to our storage building at Don's sisters.  We visited with his mom for a while before heading to Norman.

Around 4:00 PM, we went over to get grand-kids Lydia and Blaine to take them to dinner with us.  For some reason, Lydia loves Golden Corral, so we took them there.  Back at their house, Lydia wanted us to sit on the deck and watch them play.  Here's what a the end of a front flip looks like when you land on your feet.  A friend came over to play with them and they made a silly pose for Nonni's camera.  These two girls are the same age.Next they played 'good vs. evil'.  Lydia was good Antebella (or was it Auntie Bella?); her friend was good Artic, the wolf and Blaine was the evil ZaZ in his purple cape. Don was The Candy Man and I was the Gingerbread Woman.  I was in charge of the "blue orb of power."  It's good to know they can entertain themselves without TV or some other gadget.

Sunset on the way back to the "Q" was very hazy and red.

We got a lot done today, with the help of Larry, to get ready for our departure Thursday morn.

We send our love to Rick and Wendy tonight.  We miss them and wish we could give them a hug right now.

The Color Rule for Eating Healthy

Yesterday I went to the doctor for my yearly physical.
My blood pressure was high, my cholesterol was high, I'd gained some weight, and I didn't feel so hot.
My doctor said eating right doesn't have to be complicated and it would solve my physical problems. He said just think in colors...
Fill your plate with bright colors... greens, yellows, reds, etc.
I went right home and ate an entire bowl of :

And sure enough, I felt better immediately.  I never knew eating right could be so easy.
I'm sharing this with all my friends so that you can eat healthier, as well.