Over tea and creme brulee. . .

I will sing aloud of Your steadfast love in the morning, 

for You, my God,  have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

Once upon a time I penciled the names of 2 old friends in my Bible next to Psalm 59:16-17.
My friends live on opposite coasts- they've never met, but one day they might.

 Pam lives on the west coast- she comes to San Antonio every November and we pack in a day together.
She brings gifts- San Francisco sour dough bread for John, treats for my grandchildren, an assortment of little treasures for me; we've  been friends for almost 40 years.

A few weeks ago I met Pam in Dallas. We stretched dinner over an evening and then ordered dessert. The waiter set out little white teapots and a creme brulee with 2 spoons.

"I think you haven't seen each other for a very long time." He observed, smiling.

The tea steeped and we probed, "What is God teaching you, friend?"

"Blessed are the meek. . . He's teaching me not to think more highly of  myself then I ought to think- you know, old lessons in new shoes." I said.

We sipped hot tea and dipped 2 spoons into creme brulee, in slow motion.

 "Ahh,  every morning I pray the same. . . pray and practice again and again" she revealed.

I say to every one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think,

 but to think with sober judgment. Romans 12:3

Elliott Benjamin~Welcome to the world
and to the family.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made
. . .and with a soul that will live forever

A peek into retirement

Boots, big puddles, sweet girls, a grandmother . . . I'm spending the week with Noah's family in the Dallas area, anticipating baby boy's arrival.  

John drove up for the weekend and Saturday we played at the park.
My husband buckled his little grandaughters into car seats- I watched him eye the narrow spot where the infant seat would be wedged-

"I'm thinking about this design. . . a base for triple interlocking car seats."
(Hmm, I call that his "Thomas Edison brain")

For an instant I peeked through the retirement window. . .

Last week I shared with a friend that my husband is thinking about retiring at the end of this school year.
"Really?" She sounded surprised. "He seems so vigorous!"

"I don't foresee pushing him around in a wheel chair any time soon." I said.

I know. . . the future is a mystery.
 But bit by bit we share plans, and my husband keeps adding to his bag of worthy pursuits -

And sometimes he tells me about inventions stored up in his Thomas Edison brain. . .