It is hard to believe it will be six weeks tomorrow since Mom's Home-going. While some things are getting easier, in others they are getting harder. We're discovering more and more ways in which we miss her, and long for her presence.

Shannon has been in San Antonio for work the past two weeks and will be there for a little over one week more. I've been blessed and grateful to have a few friends here to stay with me, so that I wouldn't have to be home alone during the day. Last week I had my friend Faith H. here with me. Her sister, Melody, has been keeping me company this week. The female companionship has been ever so sweet. We have had fun doing all sorts of girly things.

Bryan had his 30th birthday on the 9th. We're grateful he is still with us to see it! Last week at 1 a.m. in the morning, he was hauling cattle to a packing plant and three horses ran out in front of him. He hit the second one, which did damage to the right side of his semi, and caused damage inside the trailer as well (no less than $10,000 worth of damage). There were originally four horses running loose. One had gotten hit earlier in the night, so the police were already out looking for the others. Oddly enough, the horse Bryan hit was not found at the scene of the accident. He isn't sure where it went to. If it didn't go off and die in a field, it sure would have had a nasty headache and bruises. We are so thankful for God's hand of protection in keeping Bryan safe! Since Bryan has been super busy working this week, we will be doing the bulk of celebrating probably Saturday night. Though, I did make an apple cheesecake for him on his birthday (per his request). He liked that.

The 10th of this month marked the first anniversary of my dear friend Amy Wilhoite's passing. It brought so many memories afresh to my mind of things we enjoyed together, talks we had in our early teen years about growing old together, places we wanted to visit together, watching our children grow and play together.... As we know, the Lord had other plans. I miss her. I can now imagine how much her family is missing her. My heart aches for them.

During one of the nights when I was feeling particularly lonesome for my mom, the Lord directed me to Psalm 34. It really encouraged my heart, so I share it with you.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints,
for those who fear Him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that He may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and His ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.