The Best of 2013~~

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The pages of another calendar have become obsolete.

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The seasons have cycled ‘round once again through a familiar succession of blooms…

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to the less familiar territory of settling into being just the two of us again…

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P1110582P1130447…after 30 years.

With our last child leaving home, my homeschooling career ended.P1100730straitP1120393Rachel

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My own travels took me to the two largest states in the Union this year—Alaska and Texas…

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…in pursuit of family, the best reason to travel!

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Boating was minimal for us this year.

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“Chase Me” has changed hands and been fitted with new sails for racing that proudly bear the name of our first grandson, Chase, born four years ago when we purchased and christened this Cal28.

Her new owners love her and eagerly relate their latest exploits every time we bump into them around town!

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Ironically, No sooner had we sold our sailboat, then we joined our progeny for a house boating vacation– hopefully just the first of many happy reunions, now that we’re all so grown up!

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And the year concluded with my Grandmom quiver expanding to include one more little guy–Cedrick!
whom we have yet to meet…  Cedrick1

A New Year’s priority is to travel to see him and his happy siblings!

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What else will the year hold?

P1120692 Can’t quite see from this vantage point…

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Hopefully more rides…P1110420crop

more moments for reflecting…P1110910

more noticing the small things that brighten a day…P1120911

And always, the glorious hope of better things yet to come!

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May your New Year be crowned with blessings
such as only the Giver of all good things can give!

–LS

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…”Ephesians 1:3-4 KJV

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13 KJV

Taking in some hills…

I was quite taken with Texas’ hill country…P1130267

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It’s especially delightful by bike with camera in hand.  Care to come along?

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Exotic wild antelope grace the grassland, unhindered by the fences over which they effortlessly bound.

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The Black Buck Antelope is native to Nepal and India and was introduced to Texas in 1932.

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This old burro trotted up to say ‘hello’—like a good native Texan.

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But road kill has never been so exotic!

P1130279…an armadillo, of course.

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I think I could live here!

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But for now, we’re limited to a visit…

 

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And one last sunset…

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in God’s Hill Country…

–LS

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!
Ps.113:3

Texas!

One never knows the wonder-ful things one may see on a trip to TEXAS!

This was of course the main feature…

And of course one can’t visit Texas without a visit to the Alamo!

And the San Antonio River Walk…

And the Capitol…

Then there is the flora and fauna…

 

What? HUH?!

Ah, yes–the famed Cabela’s outdoor store with a taste of Africa…

 

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One never knows the sights they’ll see in such a grand ‘country’–

where the natives are friendly and the language barrier easily overcome!

–LS