I really think Oklahoma is a beautiful state

lush and green (the parts I've seen, at least)

My grandparents were from that part of the country

so I feel a connection.


******

while we were headed out of town on Sunday,

we passed a row of tall sunflowers.

I made Steve turn around so I could get some photos

these are my favorites:







while I was shooting these I could hear the huge furry bumble bees

humming away like little lawn movers

it was so cute







When we arrived in San Antonio,

Mike, Marci, and the cuties were at our home!

Friday, I'll share the hi lights of visit :)








aren't these beautiful?

with the blue sky, fluffy clouds and bright sun shining through their petals?

they make me happy

We just returned from our trip to Oklahoma!

exhausted from hard work

exhilarated from rewarding results

already missing Brittany and Ili

it was a great trip!

We went to help remodel their bathroom



here are the before shots:

the door opened to the left, into a wall

the room was so narrow, the counter top was just 10 inches deep

and the carpet was disgusting

We moved the wall and the toilet back,

using up 2 feet of a closet in the bedroom.

Ili is standing where the toilet will be moved;

Steve is moving the old plumbing.




gross work, plumbing.

that is mud, by the way, not . . . well, you know.

Steve says you couldn't pay him enough to do this for a living

Ili is glad he has that pilot thing to fall back on





Steve, showing off his handy-work;

he moved the sink plumbing, stubbing out for a second sink





Brittany placing the new tile floor

what do ya do when sweat is dripping in your eyes?

put on a do-rag, of course






are you ready?

drum roll . . . .


ta daaaaaa!






here it is!

It is very Pottery Barn / Restoration Hardware

I love it!











What did Brittany and I do

while the guys were working in the bathroom, you ask?

We were redecorating the Nursery, of course








Because, one of these days (soon we hope)

Wyatt's little brother or sister will be coming

. . . . and now everything is ready for him or her :)







We pulled down the ugly wallboard,

painted the walls butter yellow

laid new flooring

and replaced the chandelier with a fan.

the chandelier has a new home in the dining area







We did a couple of other odds and ends:

new under counter microwave

and butcher block counter top






new screen door

(mosquitoes are ravenous in OKC)





everything looked so nice when we left,

I turned to take one last picture





but the best feeling of all

was watching Brittany and Ili get ready for Church

in their beautiful new bathroom

Thanks for letting us spend a week working in your cute home, Brit and Ili

We really enjoyed it!

We love you!

We are in Oklahoma

working on another episode of extreme home makeover.

I LOVE working on houses . . . . painting, sheet rocking, tiling . . . all of it

and this opportunity comes with a bonus:

a visit with Brittany & Ili


I'll have before and after photos when we return!

everything's bigger in Texas

and here's more proof. . . .

I give you

The fabulous

Texas Giant Hibiscus

currently featured in my front yard

you get the idea?

the blossom is larger than my head

Happy

Fourth of July



. . . . . . O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?








We dare not forget that we are the heirs of that first revolution.
~John F. Kennedy








I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.
I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
~Abraham Lincoln









For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?
~Ralph Waldo Emerson








May I never wake up from the American dream.
~Carrie Latet


******



Freedom

is the greatest blessing our country has to offer.

With deep humility, I thank all who have contributed it.


Happy Fourth of July

From the Freeman House







I love red, white and blue bunting.

Well, I actually love anything red, white and blue,

but I wanted to do something special this July Fourth

so I enlisted the help of my sewing machine and Walmart's $1/yard fabrics.























God bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home sweet home.

-- Irving Berlin

I worked in the back yard this week.

Chrissy was my helper. Have I told you what a workhorse that girl is?

well, she is.





I showed her how to bundle tree trimmings for easy carrying;

she took to it like a pro










I am just now getting to the Spring weeding and tree trimming.

Thanks to Hurricane Alex, it is overcast

the sun is not beating down on us, but man is it muggy

It is only 80 degrees out, which is the perfect summer temperature

when it's not 90 percent humidity

anyway,

I am also working on a little somethin' special for the Fourth of July

stay tuned . . . . .

today is Michael's birthday



My first child, and only son,

Michael is very special to me.

. . . . . mothers have unique connections to their sons.


first birthday / kindergarden



I was very lucky to be blessed with a first child like Michael;
I think it actually made parenting easier.
Brittany and Chrissy just watched obedient, good natured Michael,
and followed suit. Anyway, that's how I remember it.


Mike is smart and funny,

and has great friends




Michael, Heber, Joshua (these guys hung around our house a lot, I love 'em)



Mike shares a love of fishing with cousin, Spencer





a good athlete





avid Oakland A's fan





musician / singer / songwriter





Eagle Scout





Missionary


Dominican Republic 1998




A few years later, our family was lucky enough to visit the Dominican Republic



BYU graduation day, with his sweet wife, Marci





Michael is a wonderful husband and father








One of Mike's outstanding traits is his competitiveness.

This side of his nature was never more apparent than when he ran track;

watching him race brought some of the most thrilling moments in my life.



This track meet, in particular, was my favorite:

It was June 30, 1996, his 18th birthday. When he was randomly assigned the number 18 to wear on his jersey, I knew it was a good omen. We had driven 5 hours to watch Mike run in an important track meet in Reno, Nevada. At the stadium entrance, a permanent sign proudly held the names, times and events of all the stadium record holders, daring the anxious athletes to be good enough, fast enough, to garner a spot on the board and earn a place in history.

Mike's event, the 400 meter hurdles, is a grueling race (full speed around the track, while jumping hurdles). Considered a college/Olympic event, Mike, a recent high school graduate, had little experience with it. Mike's goal that day was to beat his personal best, which, if accomplished, could break the stadium record.

The gun went off; as always, my heart pounded out of my chest. I slipped into a zone where I heard none of the screaming bystanders and saw nothing but Michael's position in the race. Though the hurdles were staggered on the curves, I had taught myself to see all the lanes and Mike's relative position, at the same time. He cleared the first hurdle perfectly. At that point, his arduous training became crucial to maintaining his stride, timing, and stamina. Throughout the race, he maintained good position

. . . . . and then, turning for the home stretch,

I saw that he and another runner were tied for first place.

It was like watching slow motion and real time, both at once;

two determined athletes, in unison, straining toward the finish line.

I couldn't get my breath. Tears welled up in my eyes.

Go Mike Go!!!!!!

it was a photo finish !

both runners had a record breaking time,

but only one of them could earn a spot on the stadium record board.




We waited an eternity (20-30 minutes) for the results.

Finally, the answer came:

HE WON !!!

Thank you, Michael, for one of the most exciting days of my life!




a page from his track scrapbook






Happy Birthday Michael

I love you!