SHOWERS

When a person thinks about showers, one usually thinks about getting clean or perhaps the rain outside. Usually, we think of showers as great! The ones that clean you are warm and refreshing. The ones outside are cool and breezy, cleansing of all the ugly things that are floating around in the air and making us sneeze. But the best kind, are showers that are given by friends for things like weddings and babies. Showers that are thrown by those who love you and want to share good news and help you begin a new chapter in your life. These type of showers bring a different type of joy than the others. In the process of other showers, we do things alone, enjoy alone, think alone, relax, pray, contemplate, plan and simply be alone. Showers thrown by friends are filled with excitement, fun, gifts, looking ahead and anticipating with others what will be in the future.

This past weekend, Alix, her mother, Kristi and I had the privilege of hosting a baby shower for Alix's sister-in-law, Daphne La Montagne. It was so much fun. I must say, I had more fun, even hosting it, than I've had at any shower I've ever even been to! The friends were fun and adorable, the gifts given Daphne were fantastic and the planning of it was worth all the work. giving of one's self is more fun and rewarding than receiving any thing in the world.

Showers make me think of Christ. How He showers us with the gift of His love. How He showers us with His blood, cleansing us of all impurities/sin. How He showers us with the freshness of eternal life - His righteousness. Yes, showers are wonderful in every sense. What a beautiful word picture of God's love.

Here a few of the pictures we took of Daphne's shower. Enjoy! I hope you are showered today!

Thursday, Alix and I began our cooking for the shower. Alix is

a little surprised at my need for caffeine!

YUM! Macadamian nut cookies...now, if I can just keep Miss Sweet Tooth

out of them till the shower!

Surf board cookies. The theme of the shower was based around the decor

of little Mac's room - surfing

The tables were decorated as beds with surfing fabrics, little stuffed animals

dressed in jams and books about surfing

"Momma Lou" King helped Saturday morning with early prep for the shower.

"Grandma" Kristi, Alix's mom, also a hostess, was there bright and early Saturday

morning to assist in the prep

Alix prepping the chicken skewers with pineapples and cherries

Kristi finishing her fruit tray

Alix and Momma Lou preparing melon balls - poor Lou, she worked sooooo hard

on those bowls and they got thrown out!

Lou was so sweet to serve for us. What a trooper!

The main table with a leaf canopy for the baby's bed.

The hostess' - Alix, Kristi and me

Daphne's Mom Jean, Alix, Kristi, Daphne,

Jackie & Kathy Langdon (Daphne's step sister & mom)

Daphne, Jean, Jackie, Kathy, Kristi & Alix

Billie Grey, another lady & Nina Gunter

Daphne's friend, Daphne, Kathy and Jackie Langdon

Me giving out the answers to the surfer game

Oh my...who could guess the answers to this game?!!!!

Loads of wonderful gifts for Big Kahuna Mac!

Jean Axtell, Daphne's mom, looking over gifts

Daphne and friend who won a "Build-a-Bear" for Big Kahuna Mac

Alix with a teacher from SAC who taught Alix, Daphne, Robb and others

Daphne opening gifts

Lane Hooten, Alix, Chris Benke's daughter, Rachel Grey

Guests watching the opening of gifts

Mac's surf board mat - daddy Robb will be soooo proud!

Visiting guests

Daphne with Jackie, opening gifts

Ginger and Lane Hooten

Kay and Anne

Kay, Kristi and Ann visiting over table

Rachel and Billie Grey holding up gift

Step mom Jackie Langdon, mom Daphne La Montagne,

mother-in-law Kristi La Montagne and mom Jean Axtell

A RAINY SUNDAY AT RANDOLPH

All the years my brother "T" was in the Air Force, I never got to go on a US Military Base to view an air show. Since Eisenhower Bank, a division of Broadway Bank (Jimmy's), has a branch on Randolph Air Force Base, we had the privilege of getting special passes to get in and into a special tent and seating area for the air show this weekend at Randolph. Alix was having a girls weekend with college friends, so Clark brought the little guys along for the day. We were all really excited, but me in particular. I've passed Randolph many times going to and from I10 on the way to Houston or Beaumont or wherever and seen the beautiful white/cream buildings with the red tile roofs. I always wondered what the base looked like after you got onto it. Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, is not a particularly pretty base, so I was curious about Randolph.

Clark and the kids picked us up in their car and we headed out to the base before 10:00 am. Upon driving up to the entrance of the base, we were easily ushered in without any means of security because of a special pass given to us. We were rather surprised we didn't even have to show any ID. We slowly drove through the base and headed toward the designated parking area to check in for this special pass and to be shuttled to the air strip. We didn't find out until later that other viewers without the special passes parked much further away and were brought in on buses. When checking in, we were told to put on these paper bracelets with green stars on them. They looked like a general's stars. When we arrived at the gate to the air strip, guards asked us for our military IDs and then, upon noticing our starred bracelets, said, "Oh...that's okay...go right in." We don't know what the bracelets meant, but they got us in everywhere and free food. It was really quite fun. Guess I'll have to ask "T" what it all means. It's probably nothing...just probably some particular guest pass.

After checking in, we all boarded a people mover buss and headed for the base. You can see below, we were ready to rock and roll. It was raining as we arrived on base, so...umbrellas in hand, we were off!


After entering the gates, we found our way to the special tent where we placed our belongings on a table and waited for the rain to slow before heading out to view some antique and other sample planes lined up along the tarmac. Everything was sooooooo wet. Jimmy didn't enter the planes with us...but rather held umbrellas and watched as Clark and I climbed aboard and hauled kids in and out, taking pictures as they oooood and awwwwwd.

Our Umbrella Stand

On the left was the navigators training stations
but they didn't notice for looking out the windows!



I couldn't keep up with the little guys!
Plus, I wanted to talk to the cute navigators telling us about the plane!
And I do mean cute!


He offered me a seat in his chair! Ooo lala!

This is the plain we just departed from where the navigators train.

Jimmy and the kids are checking the nose and wheels.

This small little jet could hold only one pilot

The steps were quite steep and Huston held tight while

checking out the plane

Pretty cool!

Man! This little girl is HEAVY!

Huston loved the Japanese planes because they had

a big red dot!

Talk about GUNS!

Check out the BULLETS on this baby!

However, this plane didn't look comfortable to ride in. No cushioned seats, bounced around on metal with machine gun firing...not my cup of tea but do appreciate those service men who were flying in them!

Huston checking out the small area under the plane where, I believe,a man (or two) sat and shot those two guns sticking out of that ball. It sure was a small area. Even Huston would have been uncomfortable. Very claustrophobic!

Black Beauty!

Huston couldn't WAIT to go see this plane. He saw the black and HAD to go see it. However, when he was to go UP...another story.

Ems is fascinated but Huston is a little leery of the height

A princess loves to look down on her subjects no matter where she is!

Check out that BOMB Ems!

An even BIGGER BOMB, Ems!

What would an air show be without cotton candy! Thanks Lovey!

Back in the people mover headed to the car...buckle up for safety little Ems!

In the car, headed home...

"Lovey, I've had enough of this dumb paper bracelet with the stars!"

We really didn't see but one plane fly over since the weather was so bad. But we did have a good time and the kids thought it was great. I hope we get another chance to see another show. I loved seeing the base and would love seeing a show with the formations and such. So Huston, let's get on Jim to keep us on the list for next time, DEAL?