Of magic and miracles...

This was the site of a magical Saturday evening, during which my oldest son married his lovely bride, and friends and family relished in the moment and imprinted it in their hearts.  At this point the ceremony was over and all had gathered for a reception in the "barn" just behind the photographer, but as I looked out the window, I saw the fading light on this Texas Hill Country scene and begged my daughter to go catch this shot. 
Those of us who live in Texas all have great affection for this part of the state.  I'm not sure that anyone can pinpoint the exact reason for what is endearing about it all, but this "saying goodbye to the day" may be part of it.  There is a peace about it that is hard to find anywhere else, and on this evening, we had experienced two miracles which brought that peace further home for us.  Here were two young people who had made their promises to each other - who had found each other so by accident, but by more than coincidence.  God was there.
And the day before, in this very spot, the outside temperature had been around 104 degrees, but overnight, the first cool front of the fall had blown through, and the temperature topped out at 90.  I tell you, God was there again. Odds cannot begin to handle that.
So, peace be to you in the world who need it.  Come to the Texas Hill Country sometime in your life, and be filled.

HLSR...

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It's that time of year. It's a state of mind in Houston. Every year at about this time, the event is heralded by the arrival of trail riders from all over Texas who have actually ridden horses/driven wagons/followed in support vehicles from all corners to converge on Memorial Park on Go Texan Friday. Then they all get up at the crack of dawn to ready themselve for a parade through downtown Houston. All of that is followed by several weeks of students showing the animals they've raised, hoping to win scholarships, art contests, carnival rides, actual rodeo competitions, calf scrambles and last but not least, musical performances (mini-concerts) by recording artists representing everything from the expected country music, to hispanic, to soul.

It all works, draws huge crowds, and is all basically crafted and manned by thousands of volunteers from the community who donate the man-hours to organizing everything from BBQ cookoffs, to manning the gates, to welcoming the arrival of the trailers of animals, to banding the chicks that are handed out to FFA students to raise. All in all, an enormous project, with all of the money earned funding college scholarships for students across the state. And not just FFA-type scholarships - across-the-board opportunities for learning.

And when they arrive on Go Texan Day, many of them ride right past our administrative offices on Memorial Drive. Horses, wagons, moms, dads, children, country music blaring, traffic cops ahead and behind trying ot protect them, flags flying, news helicopters following - and everyone just taking a step back to remember.

Crazy Texans. We do love our state. Supposedly, there are many people across the country who don't have a positive feeling about the state and its people. We're so sorry, y'all. We may not be perfect, but then who is? Come visit sometime, and we'll try to change your mind!

Fire and rain...

Would that this were about the song.

In my last post, I asked for the weather predictions to come true, and yet, our meteorologists have once again been foiled by the whimsy of the planet. Yet another part of our country is being devastated by flooding, and we in Texas were only to receive the wind out of the storm. Gusts of wind. And no precipitation. Gusts of wind to knock down power lines that would spark and start wildfires in our tinder-box of a state. 25,000 acres...How does one imagine that. And 300 homes. People who have lost everything. A mother and child who have lost their lives. Resources for fighting the fires depleted and firefighters being begged to help wherever they come from.

It all makes me very sad. Very, very sad. So many extremes become overwhelming at times.