HAPPY BIRTHDAY

LYNNETTE!!!

You haven't changed a bit!

Seriously! You are the best sister in the whole wide world! From the very first time I laid eyes on you I thought you were so cute!....in fact, I asked if you were a doggie? You have always been the precious one...the little monkey....the one that made every smile! And nothing has changed. You are all of the above and you still make everyone smile! ...and smile and smile and smile! You are hands down the most thoughtful person I know! You're always ready to spring into action when someone needs help.You are the Queen of Thoughtfulness!

Thank you Lynnette, for always being you. Unique. Authentic. Classic and timeless. A breath of fresh air. A friend to all...

I love you with all my heart.

Roxanne

WHITE-WATER RAFTING!

After a good nights sleep, we enjoyed hot coffee out on the 'chilly' deck....overlooking the river. The fabulous mountain home, 'Coach' found on the Internet, surpassed all expectations! Warmed by blankets and coffee we began to relax, letting all of our cares wash right down the river.

After a long winter and slow warming trends, the Arkansas river is running high. Because the water is expected to continue rising, everyone decided to go rafting on the 1st day. Donned in wet suits and life jackets everyone jumped in one raft down at Noah's Ark.

..... notice the excellent and stoic posture of Coach!

Oh! .....there's the boat!!!

WOW!!!....is that water freezing or what?

As you can see the trip was wet!

........and woolly!!!

and before it got better.....it got worse.

What a ride! So much fun!!! As you can tell everyone had a blast! ............Well almost everyone. Our daughter Beth, (riding in front of Coach) found it all a bit too much! You might want to run through the pictures again and check out the expressions on her face!

Read her account of the trip at www.bethandcompany.blogspot.com/

Check back Wednesday, when we set out in search of finding the nearby Saint Agnes Vaille Falls.

VACATION FUN!!!

I love vacations! THEY ARE SO EXCITING!!! Packing you bags, loading up the car and heading off for unknown adventures....it's just down right fun!
When driving across the 'lone star state', I'm always amazed at how big TEXAS is!

You can see for miles, and miles and...

...miles and miles...

And though it took 8 hours to travel through the 'snoring-boring' Texas panhandle,

there were signs of ' fun to come', along the way!

And Happy we were hours later, when the terrain began to change....

...and continue to change into a majestic, mountainous display of splendor!

WELCOME TO COLORADO!!!

Check back soon for lots of 'white water' fun and photos from the 1st day raft trip!

VACATION!

This is Kimberly! Our youngest daughter....who currently is a river guide at Noah's Ark White Water River Rafting Co. in Buena Vista Colorado. She has been doing this for a few years and craves adventure! If it's dangerous and scarey, she like it! That's how it feels to Kimberly's momma, anyway! Well, our family and best friends are about to embark on a little adventure. Everyone is so excited to relax in the rockies, raft the Arkansas River, veg & visit on our deck overlooking a creek, raft the Arkansas river, play golf, shop and watch our bff Jason Nix play 2nd base for the Colorado Sky Sox! We are going to have so much fun!!! Woohoo!

SPEAKING OF FUN.....

JUST LOOK AT HER! She is having an absolute ball! Pretty as a picture! Cool as a cucumber!Now, look at the faces of the poor folks with her. Those are the faces of truth! They can see whats coming. They are scared. They want out!


Now, I'm not sure what's going on in this picture. Kim maybe bored or just taking a nap. . .. . . but the boy's look pretty happy. Which could mean the river is running slower and the water is less 'life threatening'! But wait a second! Let me get a better look at those boy's.....oh, know! surely not!!! Yep! There's no doubt about it...it's the same look I've seen on Kim's face time and time again. It makes a mother shudder! Oh, by the way, the river is running higher than normal. This means DANGEROUS!

ADVENTURE?

If you happen to be in Buena Vista, CO and want to have a little wilderness adventure, stop into Noah's Ark White Water River Rafting Co.

Happy Birthday, Leslie!

Precious Leslie!

You have been my best friend for almost 30 years. Quick as wink we've gone from brides, to babies, to mamma's, to women but through it all we've been friends. Friends that are forever! Friends that are like sister's and in some way's closer. We do not share the same parents but share the same Father. We are sisters in Christ Jesus, and it is the bond we share in Him that has made all the difference.

Like two girls running side by side, we have raced to and found God. He has taught us much. He has loved us well! We have discovered the immeasurable blessings of His Truth. We believe Him. We trust Him...most of all we love Him.

He continues to teach us. He is not finished. We have much more to learn. We continue to discover the joy's of a spirit filled life and marriage, as described in Ephesians 5. We practice daily! Quick to forgive and eager to share His love...knowing full well, the effect His forgiveness and love has had on us!

Leslie, life has been a wonderful adventure! A breath taking experience full of twists and turns! And though we share treasured memories from the past and present we look forward to the countless ones we'll make in the future. Rejoice! The best is yet to come!

Happy Birthday!

I love you.

Roxanne

It's CONTEST time!

TIMES UP! ...AND THE WINNER IS....

HEAVEN SCENT

Congratulations, Lynnette! Your suggested title for the garden watercolor was perfect in so many ways! I can't thank you enough! You are the winner of the NEST painting and I hope it will brighten a corner in your own litte nest!Please email me roxannespradlin@yahoo.com and I will mail it ASAP! Again, thanks and congratultions.

A big thanks to everyone for your thoughtful contributions.It took me some time to decide! The following suggestions were 'runner- up's':

Blossoms of Friendship
Friendship Cottage
Friendship Springs Eternal
Buds in Life's Garden ( too cute!)




Sixteen years ago I painted this large watercolor for my best friend, Leslie. It was her birthday. I painted, matted and framed it all in one day and gave it to her before the sun set but I didn't give it a title. Our friendship, like the garden depicted, has been a constant source of light, truth and love where God has grown in us. We share countless memories and stories. I consider Leslie and her precious family one of the sweetest of God's gifts ! With her birthday just around the corner I'd love for her painting to have the perfect title.......That is where you come in and the contest begins.

Contest : In just a few words title this painting.

Deadline: 10:00 PM CENTRAL, THURSDAY, JUNE 5TH. Please enter only once.

Winner : The winning entry will be announced, FRIDAY, JUNE 6TH, no later than 12:00 noon.
PRIZE: The winner will receive this 11 x 14 'NEST' below, a signed mixed media original, painted just for this contest!






Enter: Everyone can enter once. Just click on COMMENT (below) and leave your suggested title. Don't forget to check back Friday to see if you won!



A big hug to each of you for helping me with this!