Winter Fun!

After the Winter storm the mountains were covered with snow. We headed up to Madera Canyon for some fun. We left a balmy Sahuarita that was in the upper fifties headed toward a winter wonderland. As we made our way up the mountain into the park the road was closed. There was about a mile left to the top so we decided to hike it! Never underestimate a mile in a half uphill on a road covered in ice. Whew! But, boy was it worth it! Where we started there wasn't much snow, if any at all. But when we reached the end of the road there was a good 6-12 inches!
Sorry for the pictures being out of order. Picking them from my flash drive is a little difficult, and my blog posts them all in reverse order.

This is the Santa Rita River. It's usually dry as a bone. Now it's filled with water from the snow from the mountains and the rain. I've never seen it this full!

This is a little gift shop that was half way up our walk up the mountain! So cute. Doesn't it look like Hansel and Gretel live there! We stopped here for some hot chocolate on our way down.

John Russel in the snow! He had so much fun sledding down the hills and throwing snowballs! He was so busy I could hardly get his picture.

Mae the snow angel!

Who needs a sled! She loved going down the hills solo!

Weee! So much fun being pulled on the boogie board (aka our sled).

Here we are at the beginning of our hike. As you can see there isn't much snow. The kids were so excited.

Here's the mountain on our way up.



We all had fun, but were exhausted. Whew!!!

Hold on to your Hats!!

Yesterday the weather went crazy. We were under a winter storm watch. There were blizzard warnings for the mountains, high wind warnings, dust storm warnings, flood watches, and even a tornado watch! It was scary! The dust blowing around was insane! Rusty's hat even blew off his head at the bus stop and flew into the neighbors swimming pool! Oh my! The funniest part of the entire episode was the weather man. He was beside himself. Rusty and I couldn't help but laugh. We knew that it could have been a serious situation, but the poor guy was just so out of his element. If only he had Dave Brown to help calm his nerves with his Doppler and storm tracking devices. Oh well....all is good this morning. We didn't all blow away.



Another crazy thing I want to share with you is my husband's new look. I want to share a picture, but it's this long process now that I don't have my "own" computer. I have to save it to a flash drive.....and so on and so forth....that takes too much energy to explain, much less actually do! I know...I'm lazy....but that's another story.

Anyway.....back to Rusty. He's growing this grizzly adams beard. It's looking pretty good actually. AND his hair is growing out. He doesn't want me to cut it. You want to know what else? It looks pretty good too. It curls just in the right way to look cool in a rugged sort of way. Some guys at work say he looks like Wolverine. Right after he told me this we watched the movie Australia with the actor that plays Wolverine in it. Oh my! He does look like Wolverine! I like it! Ok...I'll work on getting his picture on here. If your super curious, I posted his picture on facebook.


All is well at the Workman house. We didn't blow away. Rusty will have to get his hat when the neighbors decide to fish it out of their pool. He doesn't need it anyway!

My Heart Breaks

I know the news has been flooded with scenes and stories from Haiti. I'm sure you, like the rest of the world, are moved by all the horrible pictures. I don't get to watch the news much around here. When I do get to watch TV its usually to watch Oswald or Sponge Bob. (if you a do not know who these two characters are consider yourself lucky) So, when I do get to catch a glimpse of the news I'm just blown away. Yesterday I saw a piece on children. These children were orphans. Precious, precious orphan children. Children with big brown eyes with long eyelashes. Baby girls with precious pigtails. Sweet boys with tattered clothes. Their eyes haunt my soul. As I watched these babies crawl over each other as the journalist explained their story my heart broke into a million pieces.
I thanked God right then and there for my sweet healthy children and the ability to provide a warm loving home for them. Then I prayed that these sweet innocent children in Haiti could have the same.
If I could bring them all into my home I think I would. Seriously. But for now, I'll just keep praying.

Back In The Swing of Things!

Oh me. It's been a long time. I feel like I'm still getting my feet back under me from Christmas. No matter how hard I try, it knocks the breath out of me every year. It was a whirlwind of fun times. The big kids birthdays went well. Nativity Quest was beautifully delivered. The drive to Tennessee was better than expected. Although we had a few illness all went well.

Now it's back to reality. The kids are doing great. School is going great. Rusty was home last week and is home this week....so far. So, all is well. Thank the sweet Lord.

I'll try to do better in posting. Now that we are back in the swing of things....finally.

Beauty

Define Beauty.

Beauty is roaring laughter that comes from a smile. It's a sprinkling of freckles across a little nose. It's big blue eyes that dazzle. It's long legs that just learned to peddle a bike.

Beauty is a heart so big it cares for everyone. It's a spirit so loving that it befriends anyone. It's a thought for others that are younger. It's a concern for those less fortunate.

Beauty is a daughter born seven years ago today. A girl that captured the world's heart with the blink of her big blue eyes.

Beauty is my sweet big girl!

Happy Birthday Dear Mae!

Such a Big Boy!

He's skinny as a rail and just tall enough to be called lanky. He's funny, good to his siblings (most of the time), and holds my heart in his hands. He's fair skinned but he's as rough as they get. He's fast, he loves to play sports, ride his bike, and make people laugh. He's my first born. He made me a mother.

Happy Birthday Dear John Russel!

Perspective

Perspective....There is so much in this word. I just finished a book my mother let me borrow. She borrowed it from my brother and his wife. It's called The Noticer by Andy Andrews. It's a good book. A quick read. It makes you think about your life and the little things that we consider so big. So....Let me ask you a few things:

Does that cranky lady in the grocery store that scowls at your children make you want to say something smart back to her? Or should you just smile and think about the "real" reason she is so cranky?

Do you tell the mother that is volunteering at the 2nd grade Thanksgiving feast to stop bossing you around? Or do you just smile and be thankful that she is there making her child's school a better place?

Do you turn the TV on because your children are wrestling in the floor? Or do you pull a book out of the book basket and sit down and read to them?

Do you feel sorry for yourself because your husband is gone 5 out of the 7 days of the week? Or do you thank the Good Lord that he has a job and he is so happy to see you when he gets home?

Do you tune your children out when they talk non-stop in the backseat? Or do you patiently listen to their little stories (complete with stutters and mispronunciations) and reply with enthusiastic exclamations (even when you've heard the same story 20 times)?

Do you volunteer in the nursery at church because you feel obligated? Or do you smile, and read, and hold, and love those precious children and realize that you are doing the most important thing in the world?


What is your perspective? Where will you let your mind lead you? It's all up to you.....with a little help from Jesus.

By the way, William and Terri, I'll be returning the book this Christmas!