Day 52.  Dugan and Maggie celebrated their 14th birthday yesterday.  I wrote about something else that was going on, so today it's all about the twins.  I can't believe they are 14 now.  They have a very unique relationship with each other.  I hear that is common among twins, but it is cool to see it first hand.  Last night we had a lot of fun remembering things they did as they were growing up.  One of our favorites happened when they were three or four years old.  The house we lived in had a play room halfway between the downstairs and upstairs.  The opening was actually in the stairway and we secured it with a baby gate.  We would put them in there to play and lock the gate.  When they were ready to get out they would stand at the door with their little faces poking out over the gate and start calling out for us.  It was so cute to turn the corner and look up and see those faces, side by side, smiling down at us.  Side by side, that is pretty much how they have always been.  It really has been a challenge at times but it has been a joy all of the time.  They are definitely a blessing.  And next year they learn how to drive. 

Day 51.  Today was the season opener for our district's Junior Bible Quiz.  The team that Annie is on won first place.  And she was the second top quizzer.  Seven rounds and seven quiz outs.  If you are familiar with bible quiz you know that this is very good.  Our family has been involved in Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) for about thirteen years now.  It started with Matthew then the twins and now the youngest.  She really has a knack for memorizing scripture, she just doesn't like to study.  Anyway, she did great today.  Looks like it's going to be a good season.

Day 50.  Matthew came home tonight for a few days.  He is taking Arabic for his foreign language so he brought his book to show us.  It is so cool how they illustrate the letters and even words.  It is a form of calligraphy.  I tried calligraphy several years ago.  I got pretty good but it sure didn't look like this.  Maybe I should try again.  

Day 49.  Bloom where you are planted.  Or, in the case of these cut flowers, just keep blooming.  They are beautiful, but they have reached their peak.  It's only down hill from here for them.  What a sad thought.  I don't want to go down hill.  I want to keep on blooming, keep on growing, keep on learning, and keep on being useful.  The way I see it, as long as I stay in the fertile soil of the Holy Spirit there doesn't have to be an end.  So, bloom I will.

Day 48.  My memory may be a little fuzzy on some things but I remember this day vividly.  Twenty five years ago today I married my best friend.  Seriously, we had spent almost three years just being friends and hanging out.  When I had a bad day she was there to cheer me up, when I was ready to give up she wouldn't let me.  She knew all my secrets and my faults and she still hung around.  We were inseparable.    One day I realized that I was taking advantage of this good thing and had better do something to insure it kept going.  So, I asked her to marry me.  For me, that was the best and scariest decision of my life.  I liked being single, I was never getting married and I was not having children, period, end of story.  But, I couldn't let her get away.  Man how my life changed, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  And, today, she is still my best friend, still cheers me on and still won't let me give up.  Today, we will celebrate our silver anniversary with friends and family, and look forward to the next 25 years.  They will be spectacular!

Day 47.  I can't believe I actually got this shot.  There were a few storms around us tonight.  And, as usual they move to the east and right past our little town.  But, they seem to migrate to right behind the house.  So I sat up the tripod and stationed the camera at the back door waiting for the right moment.  And the moment didn't happen.  Either my reactions were too slow or I had just stepped away when there was a great flash.  Then, just as I was giving up, I hit the shutter button and walked away to take care of something.  When I came back and looked,  this is what I saw.  It really surprised me.  But, what a great surprise.  I really know that it wasn't me and it wasn't luck.  God showed favor on me.  So, Thank You God.

Day 46.  Ugh!  Ok, I can do this.  First of all, thanks dad for teaching  me basic mechanic skills.  I might not be able to overhaul an engine but I think I can fix this.  First it was the water pump, then the thermostat, and today the radiator blew up.  Literally, it blew up.  I flushed the radiator this morning and everything was going good.  When I was finished with everything I took it out for a drive.  On the way home it began to overheat.  I parked and turned off the motor and as I was about to get out, boom, and steam started pouring  out from under the hood, on three sides.  I waited for it to cool down and this is what I found.  So, it's back to the parts store and probably another skinned knuckle or two, and it will be running again.  It's 16 years old but I really enjoy driving it.  Anyway, with so much going wrong I know that something really right is about to happen.