Sounds strange, no? Well, strange or not, that's just what we've been having. Sam & Tammy rode with us to Sister Ellen's funeral yesterday. James and Sam officiated the service and they both did such a good job. It was a really good time in the Lord and I feel like it was a comfort and blessing to the family.

Afterwards, we drove the 40 miles to Lubbock just to dink around and see what we could see. We actually ended up seeing a whole lot more than we needed to see since Brother Sam can't read a map and James can't follow directions. No matter, we were in no hurry. We finally found a Fuddrucker's to eat lunch at -- we sat in the Beatles booth. Joe loved it 'cause all the pictures of guitars hanging all around us. :-)

After lunch we went to Staples to check out the clearance section (it's as necessary to James' survival as eating and sleeping), then to the mall. It was HUGE and probably the nicest one I'd ever been in. But no Christopher & Banks! What a gyp. Anyway, we just walked the mall for an hour or two. We had SUCH a good time together and it was a nice, relaxing day with no pressure, no chores, no schedule... ~big sigh~ I think we all needed it! Things have been so busy and hectic, it was great to have a day off.

Today was filled with lots of little accomplishments, but nothing BIG. A little cleaning, a little laundry, bathing the kids, and that's about it. We had a good prayer meeting tonight, then Sam & Tammy stayed and played games. James even played with us! WOW! He usually heads to his office when we whip out the games, but he actually suggested the game tonight. WEIRD. I wonder if he's feeling okay...

We've got Michael coming again tomorrow (he's our plummer) to install the new sink and RO unit. James finally caved in and bought the RO unit because the city of Andrews sent out a letter recently telling us that our water is full of flouride and arsenic (no, REALLY) and it's going to totally rot our kids teeth out and such. They've only been drinking it for THREE YEARS NOW. Oh well, the Bible says if we drink any deadly think it won't HARM us, right?! Not only won't kill us, but even "harm" us, so I'm banking on that promise! :-)

I received no response from Jimmy Williams today. Chicken. That's okay with me though. I'm enjoying the night off from poetry. It's so much more time consuming than regular writing. Anyway, I'd best get some sleep. G'night all!

~Becki~

P.S. -- Here are some pictures of the kids. I figure it's about time.

This picture was taken on Christmas day, I believe. Sam picked out those crazy shoes for her -- she still loves 'em. (We let the kids do little "extra" chores around the house at Christmas time so they can earn some money to buy each other gifts from the dollar store. It's so much fun to see what they pick for each other! I'm amazed at how much thought they put into it!)

As you can see, this is Cowboy Joe. A mighty fine looking cowboy, too, I might add! He and Sam wear their cowboy boots every day, without fail. And hats and holsters and vests... Lately Joe is enthralled with anything that "really" shoots: a gun that shoots balls, anything rubber-band-like that can work as a sling shot, pretending that a hanger is a bow and using whatever he can find for arrows. And here's Sambo having a conversation with one of the fish he caught while Mom and Dad were here last month. The other kids seem easier to describe than Sam. He's such a strange combination. I don't know how one kid can be SO bad and SO funny and SO ornery and SO affectionate and SO mean and SO smart and SO mischevious and SO loving... He's a mess!