Happy Father's Day to Two Very Important Men

My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. - Clarence Kelland

First to my Dad, who turned 72 years young just last Sunday.

Dad with mom

When I think of my dad, I think of easy, slow going character. He may not verbally spout off his thoughts at the drop of a hat, but when it comes to push or shove, he stands for what he believes in. He doesn't require attention. He is comfortable in his own skin. He loves cuddling and bear hugs! He's a man of God who preaches the Word in an old-fashioned way and is proud of it! Before becoming a pastor, dad held various jobs. As a young adult, he was known as the most steady coal truck driver of all in the coal mining community of West Virginia. Other drivers his age would brag about how fast they drove and how many loads they would move any given day, however, my daddy would often pass those blow-hards as they were stranded on the side of the roads waiting for mechanical help or working on their trucks themselves. Dad would just drive on by in his slow and steady pace, getting the most loads of the day. After I was born, Dad moved us out to California where he worked in a plywood factory. That place was so noisy! No wonder my poor daddy has nerve damage in both ears and has now lost 60% of his hearing. After Dad accepted Christ and was called to preach, we moved to Greenville, S.C. where he attended Bob Jones University. While there, dad worked in a J.P. Stevens textile mill, making carpets, towels, bedding, etc. This was yet again another noisy job. Through out the years, dad has at times been self employed as a painter and at some points worked construction when pastoring small churches, which couldn't afford to pay him a salary. Some years when dad was not pastoring a church, you could find him teaching Bible in a local Christian school or serving as Principal. Dad's first love is teaching the Word of God to others. Happy Father's Day Daddy and thanks for standing true throughout the years.



Next, Happy Father's Day Agustin!

Shane, Josh, & Agustin

You are a wonderful husband and fine example of a great provider. Thanks for being the best dad you know how to be. I know it is rough at times to adjust to the different stages our boys are going through, but you never give up. You work so hard to provide for not only our needs, but our desires as well. Your patience with me goes way beyond sainthood! I thank God for your loyalty and faithfulness. May you be fully blessed.

Sorting through the gifts he brought back from Mexico, June '07.

Showing us he's still "got it" on the soccer field!

All he wanted for Father's Day was a new pair of PUMA soccer cleats, AND...

a new pair of shoes for his baby!!!

Contemplations of Inspiration

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

A Beautiful City

It's Fun Friday once again, when we can make our rounds and see what kind of surprises our fellow bloggers are sharing with us today! Be sure to sign the list on MR. LINKY over at

Kelli's House.


Queretaro, Mexico

A colonial city well preserved!
This week, I'd like to give you a little glimpse of the city where my husband and I met and were married. I guess it has been on my mind tonight because that is where my hubby is right now. He and Shane flew out Thursday morning and arrived there safely around 2:30p.m. His brother and parents met them at the airport in Mexico City. They had a 2 1/2hour drive to Queretaro. I spoke with Agustin and Shane on the phone around 8 p.m. Thursday evening. Their trip went very smoothly and they were blessed with a "green light" in customs, which means they didn't have to open their suitcases for inspection! YIPPEE! Not that they wouldn't have passed inspection, mind you, but it's such an annoyance when all you want to do is see your family members who are waiting for you on the other side of that wall!

The State of Queretaro is located in the heart of Mexico, just two hours away from Mexico City and its a treasure chest awaiting to be discovered.

Querétaro was founded in 1531 by Franciscan monks.

Driving through the outskirts of Queretaro, one notices all the trappings of a middle-class, industrial Mexican city. Familiar names such as Price Club, Holiday Inn and Kentucky Fried Chicken beckon from the side of the modern highway.

Tourists en route from Mexico City to the popular colonial towns of San Miguel de Allende and Guadalajara might be tempted to bypass this hive of commerce. But the wise ones will plunge in, knowing that the center of Queretaro itself is a colonial gem.

Colonial Queretaro retained the twisting alleys of its old Indian quarter side by side with the 16th century geometric street plan of its Spanish conquerors. The Otomi, Tarasco and Chichimeca lived peacefully with the Spaniards in the old town through the 17th and 18th centuries, when many outstanding civil and religious structures were built. During the 19th century, quiet Queretaro found itself in the midst of Mexico’s struggle for independence.
For these reasons, the Historic Monuments Zone of Queretaro was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Queretaro State is one of the smallest in extension in Mexico with a population of approximately 1'404,306 inhabitants, since its greatness rests so much in architecture, as its wealth in historical facts, its beautiful spots, its thermal waters and curative, large heights to escalate and also caverns to descend and explore.

Queretaro limits to three rivers: the Santa María de Acapulco, the Moctezuma and the Lerma.

The Queretaro name originates of the "Tarasco" and originally of QUERETAPARAZICUYO or YCHAHTZICUYO, that to be abridged remain in Queretaro that it means "Game of Ball". There are other versions that assure that the name originates of Querenda "Stone large or rock"; or of Querendaro "Place or large stones people or cliffs".

With agricultural and livestock farming industries, the state of Queretaro has a largely growing rate of industrial development, and a gateway to the northern, central and southern regions of Mexico.

Its fast industrial development contrasts with the great beauty of its capital city, the historic downtown areas of which were declared Heritage of Mankind by the UNESCO.

Its excellent geographic location helped Queretaro to be the scene of most important chapters of Mexican history.

The Queretaro climate is a gift for the lovers of the nature. Within territory is changing for the variety of heights on the level of the sea.

Symbolic of Queretaro is its Aqueduct, considered one of the great civil engineering feats in North America. Begun in 1726 and finished in 1738, it has 74 massive stone arches that stretch for six miles along the Avenida de los Arcos to the eastern edge of the colonial center. When it was built, the Aqueduct made it possible for the residents of Queretaro to enjoy many public and private fountains, and it still carries water into the city.

One of the many churches in the downtown area. I LOVE the colors!

Cathedral of Santiago

A typical scene in one of the MANY parks downtown.

On a guided tour of "Convento de la Santa Cruz", visitors can see a clay pipe system developed to receive water from the Aqueduct and distribute it throughout the monastery.

Established in the 16th century, Convento de la Santa Cruz stands on a former battleground atop a hill overlooking the old town, where the apparition of St. James on horseback convinced Otomi Indians to surrender to the conquistadors. Other miracles associated with the site include trees with cross-shaped thorns grown from a cane stuck in the ground by pious friar Antonio Margil de Jesus in 1697.
By the end of the 17th century, Convento de la Santa Cruz operated the first Catholic missionary school in the Americas, and it continues to serve as a religious school today.
The monastery also functioned as a fortress when forces loyal to Emperor Maximilian occupied it near the end of the Mexican War of Independence. Maximilian used it as his headquarters from February to May 1867. After his surrender and subsequent death sentence, he was confined at Convento de la Santa Cruz while he awaited the firing squad. While on the tour, you can enter the room where he was held prisoner. It was quite an experience for me to see the very bed, chair, and table he used!

Entrance to one of our favorite restaurants

Interior of the restaurant at Hotel REAL D MINES

Independence Square

At the top of these stairs is a darling little chapel. This is on property of the large University in Queretaro, On the right is a typical colonial style building. I believe our post office was in the downstairs of this particular building.

I hope you enjoyed this abbreviated tour of a beautiful, old city!

Happy Father's Day

I find it hard to express how grateful I am to my husband for all of his love and care for our little family. I can't seem to find the words. My husband makes sacrifices to encourage, guide, love and support us. I'm so happy I found the following poem which says it all so much better than I can!

Only A Dad

By: Edgar Guest

Only a dad with a tired face,

Coming home from the daily race,

Bringing little of gold or fame

To show how well he has played the game;

But glad in his heart that his own rejoice

To see him come and hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,

One of ten million men or more

Plodding along in the daily strife,

Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,

With never a whimper of pain or hate,

For the sake of those who at home await.

Only dad, neither rich nor proud,

Merely one of the surging crowd,

Toiling, striving from day to day,

Facing whatever may come his way,

Silent whenever the harsh condemn,

And bearing all for the love of them.

Only a dad, but he gives his all,

To smooth the way for his children small.

Doing with courage stern and grim

The deeds that his father did for him.

This is the line that for him I pen:

Only a dad, but the best of men.

Agustin's first time to see his first born. I had come to the states to give birth while Agustin was left in Mexico waiting for his VISA. His first born child, Joshua was nearly 3 months old the first time Agustin was able to see him or hold him! My Aunt Ruby Carol, Uncle Ray, two of their children, my parents and I with the baby, drove from West Virginia, where I was living at the time, to meet Agustin in Highpoint, N.C. Some dear missionary friends were leaving Mexico to come back home to Highpoint and lovingly allowed Agustin to ride with them. The Lord arranged it so Agustin received his VISA just in time!

As usual, click on the pictures to enlarge them for better viewing!

Agustin holding Joshua by my side. This was the first time seeing my hubby after a 3 month time apart.

Comforting his sick baby. Josh had chicken pox at 11 months. We had spent an entire night in the emergency room due to the baby's fever being 106. See the bandage on his arm and the orange ID tag on his little ankle?

Agustin and Josh installing hard wood floors in a home we were remodeling.

Kissing his sleeping son the first night home with us. We had just gotten back from N.C.

One of my favorite photos of Agustin and Joshua. I love the location of the bottle! It just cracks me up every time I see it! Doesn't it appear as though Agustin just finished with it, rather than the baby? LOL

Father and Son on the MONTU roller coaster at Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL. Josh is 2nd row waving. Agustin is beside him in white tennis shoes.

At the Air Show, MacDill Air force Base, Tampa, Florida
Agustin holding Baby Shane with Josh at his side. I know you can see Josh, as he is wearing ORANGE!!!

Agustin with Shane posing in front of a Cracker Home at Florida State Fair.

Trimming the trunk of the Christmas tree with Shaney Pooh. Dec. 2006

My two mad scientists celebrate their erupting volcano!

Agustin and Shane working hard in our front yard.

Honey, we love you and are very thankful you belong to us! Happy Father's Day!

A wonderful husband as well as a wonderful DAD! Agustin helping me with my spring cleaning this year.