A HILL COUNTRY HOME...WHERE MY STORY BEGINS...

Spring Visit

2010-03-22T16:18:00.002-05:00

Family Christmas!

2009-12-31T19:17:00.002-06:00

Christmas Memories '09

2009-12-31T19:15:00.000-06:00

As we reflect over the past year there are so many blessings! In September we thought our home was sold and we would move to Austin. The sell fell through and Randy was laid off from his job in February. We saw God's hand in it all! While looking for another job, we opened Rock Harbor Hill County Lodge, our Bed & Breakfast in the Texas Hill Country. In June, Randy got another job working at Tootie Pie Company (absolutely the best made-from-scratch pies you'll ever buy!) in Boerne where his talents working in the food industry are very useful. September we reunited with our son, Brandon and his family which has been an answered prayer! October I launched my dream, The Little Black Dress Society, Inc., "a society of women committed to impacting women's lives through philanthropy". December 14th Randy and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Christmas was spent with our family, Brandon, Carla, Brayden, Dustin, Jenna, Saige & Davin. We count our blessings as we go into the New Year and pray that you will find peace, love, and joy in the coming year as well! Happy New Year 2010! Randy & Amanda

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T18:17:00.002-06:00

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Christmas with Family

2009-12-26T21:37:00.000-06:00

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-12-20T20:19:00.002-06:00

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Rock Harbor Hill Country Lodge Christmas!

2009-12-13T10:28:00.000-06:00

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My New Blog!

2009-11-17T10:52:00.000-06:00

Follow me on my newest BLOG, http://thelittleblackdresssociety.blogspot.com/

That's me on the far right, the Founder of The Little Black Dress Society!

A society of women committed to impacting women's lives through philanthropy.

Heart-to-Heart, Hand-to-Hand, Women Helping Women!

Family is so important!

2009-11-10T12:32:00.000-06:00

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Halloween Costume Party

2009-11-01T18:53:00.002-06:00

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The Little Black Dress Society, Inc.

2009-10-31T11:40:00.000-05:00

I know it has been a long time and I really miss this blog but I've been working on a new and exciting project! The launch of my dream...The Little Black Dress Society, Inc. Please check out my new blog that is in the works at http://www.thelittleblackdresssociety.blogspot.com/ My website is being revamped but you can email at amanda@thelittleblackdresssociety.com

See what it's about and add it to your favorites' page. I would love to have you become a member and join us as we connect...heart-to-heart, hand-to-hand, women helping women! Love, believe, dream and never stop dancing!! Amanda

Join us on the beaches of the world!

2009-08-06T20:46:00.000-05:00

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I'm a City Girl Living in the Country!

2009-07-17T09:55:00.021-05:00

Hey, I just want ya'll to know that I'm really just a city girl living in the country! I don't really talk like I did in the video!! REALLY!

I do use the word "ya'll", "fixin", and eat grits and love living out here because it's quiet and peaceful. But this gal loves great restaurants, classic music, live theatre (Phantom is my favorite), dressing up (boy do I love to dress up!) and city lights (as long as I can go back home to peace & quiet!).

Oh, and did I say I loved to travel?! My daddy use to call me "Go Baby" because I was always on the go! One of my "Before I Kick the Bucket" goals is to travel all over the world to places I've never been before.

Now, I can take dream trips at wholesale prices! So, Randy & I are going on our first cruise to the Western Caribbean for 6 days, 5 nights for under $400 (total!). And guess what, we're not at the bottom of the ship!

Come take some dream trips with us! Check out my website at http://www.rockharbortravels.worldventures.com

Meet you around the world!!

Amanda

AMANDA

There's Nothing Like Going Home

2009-07-11T13:41:00.007-05:00

To me there is nothing quite like going home. Since our mama & daddy passed away, "home" is in Eclectic, Alabama where my sister's live. There I find unconditional love, acceptance, and encouragement.

One of my favorite things to do is hang out at the Tussie Mansion and play cards, Spinners or sit and listen to my brother-in-law and his friends play some good 'ole gospel music.

I hope you enjoy the video of some down home pickin' and grinin' in the ORIGINAL Tussie Mansion ya'll keep hearing me talk about.

If you haven't read the story I wrote about the Tussie Mansion, make sure you scroll down and take in a little history.

Oh yeah, next time you're near Montgomery take a short ride to Eclectic and ask the folks where the Tussie Mansion is. They'll point you in the right direction!

And on your way there have lunch at my big sister's place, Dixieland Barbecue, home of the original Hunt's Sauce, 4570 Chana Creek Rd., in Kent, AL.

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NEVER STOP DANCING!!

2009-07-10T07:52:00.004-05:00

Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do—they can't keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us— you've been so good to us! We're walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!
Psalm 89:4-6 (in Context)THE MESSAGE

We have danced through joy, danced through trials, danced under the full moon that lights up the night and under the sun that brightens the day. But I tell you, there's nothing like dancing in the rain!

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass-it's about learning to dance in the rain!

NEVER STOP DANCING!

Catching Up

2009-06-15T16:30:00.005-05:00

Life has been busy this past month! I've missed the "blogging" world but I've traveled, celebrated our granddaughter, SAIGE's 2nd birthday, May 2nd and the birth of our grandson, Davin, May 11th. I've started our B & B, Rock Harbor Hill Country Lodge and hosted our first guest, walked through a knee surgery and a skin cancer surgery with my husband, whew...but praise God all is well. Oh, and started back on my 5-6 day workout routine...yeah! I'm in the process of redecorating the Cowgirl Room to Cowgirl Chic when I return this week from visiting my precious little ones. And hosting more bride and grooms at the B & B. Tell me, does life slow down? If it did, I would certainly be bored. My daddy use to call me "go baby" and I guess he was right...I'll go until the good Lord calls me home. Good to be back with you in the blog world...Blessings ~A

The Tussie Mansion

2009-05-07T09:54:00.020-05:00

This here is the Tussie Mansion built at Rock Hill. Now I know that I have mentioned having a "Tussie Mansion" of my own at Rock Harbor Lodge but I must admit...it is a "want-a-be" Tussie Mansion! This is the real thing built with hands of love from a whole lot of family and friends. It sits on my sister, Sue and brother-in-law, Mike's property in Eclectic, Alabama. If ya don't know where Eclectic is...why it is right down from Flea Hop. It's so small you could stand at one end and spit to the other!

The very spot where the Tussie stands is where my daddy lived for years under the watchful eye of my sister and it's where he passed on into heaven. He planted the fruit trees that sit out front and tended the garden below. Sometimes when I sit on the front porch swing I feel like he's sitting right there with me. He would have loved this place.

Every Wednesday morning Mike and friends gather for a homecooked breakfast of eggs, grits, bacon, sausage and my sister's famous biscuits. I know Mike would like you to think that he's the one that's been making those great big "cat head" biscuits all these years but don't let him fool ya! (Sorry Mike but I know first hand that our Mama taught Sis how to make those biscuits and she's been makin 'em ever since!)

Mike says the words gotten out all the way to Atlanta and they got so many fellas showin up that not only do they have to eat in shifts but they have to limo them in from Atlanta!!

The Tussie Mansion's motto is "Be on time and be glad, be late and be sad...and by all means, don't forget to say the blessin."

There's not a Wednesday that goes by that you won't hear pickin, playin, and singin comin from the front porch after breakfast. Sounds a little bit like The Grand Ole Opry listenin to the guitar, the bango, the mandolin, and the harmonica as they pick and sing some old hymn like Amazing Grace. So if ya find yourself down South on a Wednesday mornin drop in for some breakfast at the Tussie Mansion but don't forget your instrument so you can join in on the pickin and the playin and the singin. It will make your heart dance!

Broken But Confident Women's Conference

2009-04-28T08:52:00.011-05:00

Before my book was published I was at the Canton Flea Market up near Dallas, Texas (Side-note if you've never gone...you are missing the boat!)and one of the vendors, a woman, gave me this sign. She told me that I would be blessed and highly favored by God. I wish I had her name and address so that I could tell her how truly blessed I am!

The Women's Conference, Broken But Confident "in Jesus" was awesome! I was blessed by all the speakers and I was blessed to be able to share "my story" of God's redemption, restoration and love.
(This is my best girlfriend's daughter, Tovah who came down from Dallas for the Conference. Yes, I put her to work at my booksigning table!

When I am preparing to speak I always ask God to give me the words to say and to season it with humor. God always comes through because He knows that we all need to laugh. The stories I share are true life stories about my family, my friends, my pets, and making fun of myself.I love it when God comes through and He always does! I read recently in my favorite devotional, My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers,"God brings us to a standard of life by His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that standard in others." He goes on to say, "Our work begins where God's grace has laid the foundation." Wow, it isn't about having what is often referred to as "spiritual" success...it is simply about having a relationship with Jesus who by His grace we are saved. It is that simple and yet so profound!

I pray today that you ...

and BE BLESSED!

2009-04-18T23:33:00.012-05:00

Have you heard of my book? Chances are you probably haven't unless you're my friend or family member, been where I've spoken or attended one of my book signings. It may never be a bestseller but there is one thing it is...it's MY STORY. I remember when I was in the editing stages and I was deciding who I wanted to ask to write the forward. It was only appropriate to get someone "famous"...someone in the Christian circle that most people knew because that would make it known out there amongst all the millions of other books. I needed that endorsement or so I thought. Since I lived close to a mega church known for the now famous author/pastor I thought I would just walk in and ask for that endorsement...wrong...doesn't work that way. Walk in I did but I walked out with no endorsement!!! What was I thinking?!

Oh, I was a bit sad when I left...my head bent low as I walked back to my car pondering how this now famous person got his first book endorsed. Did he knock on doors? Did he feel like a nobody because "the right" person in the right Christian circle didn't give him a chance? Getting in my car after being cordially rejected I remember driving down the freeway when the Lord spoke to my heart, "Amanda, I'm the only endorsement you need." Wow, I thought. God is right...He is the only endorsement I need!

My book, The Little Black Dress,was published in September 2007. It's still not on the bestseller list but to God it is a bestseller because it is about His amazing work in my life. And it's MY STORY...a story of how He took this broken woman and brought redemption, restoration, and love.

The important thing I've learned is that God continues to use this little book's message to touch one life at a time. And that is really all that matters. I pray that it touches your life!

If you would like a copy you can order it at www.amazon.com or through my publisher at www.tatepublishing.com

For my speaking ministry visit me on the web at www.amandagraybill.com

I would love to hear from you!

Blessings!

Amanda

Love Letter from God

2009-04-16T18:22:00.001-05:00

I'm speaking next Saturday, April 25th at a Women's Conference called, Broken But Confident "in Jesus". As I have been praying and searching what God wants me to share I realized how many women have experienced brokenness. Whether it be a broken home, a shattered marriage, a lost loved one, a son or daughter who's gone astray, a broken promise or a broken dream...God is there!

If you are experiencing brokenness or know someone that is I invite you to this conference...Broken But Confident.
Go to www.smithandsmithministries.org to get the details.

HAPPY EASTER!

2009-04-10T17:33:00.006-05:00

(This is a cross I made from a dead tree I found near our property. The tree had actually been burned from the inside out making the outer bark peel off. It is a reminder that I too have had to die from the inside so that my old way of life could be shed and Christ could make something fresh and new of my life.)

EASTER IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY OF THE YEAR! IT'S BETTER THAN CHRISTMAS BECAUSE THE GREATEST GIFT IS NOT THE BABY IN THE MANGER BUT THE RESURRECTED CHRIST!

Don't get me wrong...I love Christmas...giving gifts, decorating (oh, do I love decorating),celebrating Christ's birth. But so often I think we leave Jesus in the manger or forget to take Him off the cross! He is Risen...He is Risen indeed! Because of Christ's resurrection my life was resurrected. I have been given a new life...a life that is meaningful...a life that counts!

This is what the Bible says about The Resurrection:

From Mark 16:1-6 (New Living Translation)

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning,just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

(THIS ARTWORK IS THOMAS KINKAID CALLED "THE PRINCE OF PEACE")

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”- Romans 5:6-8 (New International Version)

MAY YOU BE BLESSED AS YOU CELEBRATE EASTER WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

IN HIS GRACE,
AMANDA

Dog and Cat Wrestling Match

2009-04-07T23:36:00.001-05:00

This is our dog, MaryKay and cat, BoogieBear in a wrestling match. Our granddaughter, Saige is the referee!

Too Good To Be Through (Continued)

2009-04-06T07:53:00.006-05:00

Good Morning! Wow, there's a little bit of chill in the air this morning here in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. I awoke this morning to the most gorgeous sunrise. God with His paint brush in hand painted the vista with the warm hues of blue, pink, orange and yellow.

How I love the Spring, don't you? Fresh cool breezes, new blooms on my flowers and bright green leaves on the trees. A reminder to me of new life, fresh starts and new beginnings.

Continuing with the story I shared at retreat, Too Good To Be Through,I think of Spring as if God were taking off the old and putting on the new. Observing the Live Oaks, they shed the old leaves in the Spring and put on new growth to make a beautiful canopy for the approaching hot summer days.

For way too long I have gone onto my closet and put on the old clothing that represented who I was rather than who I have become as a daughter of the King.

The wearing of sackcloth represents two types of mourning; a sign of mourning over a death or imminent death as seen in the book of Esther and a sign of repentance as seen in the book of Matthew.

I don't know about you but I have a closet full of sackcloth dresses and when the enemy reminds me of my past I walk in there and put on the same old sackcloth!

Girlfriends, God's grace covers our sin and He gives us new clothing to wear! Perhaps some of you have the same old sackcloth dresses hanging in your closet.

I encourage you to march right in there and throw them away! As I have seen God do in my own life I know He has something fresh and new to do in your life today.

So take off the sackcloth dress you are wearing and cling to this scripture...

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11

Too Good To Be Through

2009-04-05T18:46:00.004-05:00

Recently I was asked to speak at a Women's Retreat. Pondering over what I was going to share God kept waking me up at 3 am. I just don't get it...why 3 am? Until one morning, at 3 am," I heard Him speak to my heart, "Amanda, I need your undivided attention. I know it's early but you're meeting with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"! Does God have a sense of humor or what?!

Of course, like any time I have spoken I cannot speak unless God is working out something in my own life. As I was driving home one day from one of my favorite consignment clothing stores, Too Good To Be Threw, God once again spoke to my heart. This time He said, "This is what I want you to speak on, Too Good To Be Through".

It had been that very message that God was ministering to my heart about...that I was too good to be through. He who has begun a good work in me is faithful to complete it. As a matter of fact, my new friend and life coach had just shared with me that God wants to re qualify us not disqualify us! But with all the blunders in my life I had begun to listen to the lies of the enemy telling me I was not good enough, not worthy enough and a disappointment. What a lie!

Girlfriends, if you are feeling like you are not good enough then I encourage you to do as I have done...renounce those negative statements (lies) and realize that you too are accepted and loved, worthy by your Heavenly Father to do good things! You are simply too good to be through!!

Even though I knew this message would be difficult to share simply because it was so personal God continued to give me confirmation. I turned to my devotion, My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers on March 10th to read this, "Let God have perfect liberty when you speak. Before God's message can liberate other souls, the liberation must be real in you. Gather your material, and set it aflight when you speak." With God's help that's exactly what I did!

My desire as a speaker is to share the story of God's redemption, restoration, and love through the landscape of His grace in my own life.

If you need a speaker for an upcoming women's event I would love to be a part of it! You just have to listen to a little bit of a "southern drawl"!

WOMEN'S RETREAT

2009-03-24T21:57:00.008-05:00

This past weekend I attended a Women's Retreat in Fredericksburg, Texas and had the opportunity to speak at a break-out session, listen to a very funny guest speaker, sing praise songs to the Lord, and make new friends. It really was a blessing!

On Saturday night at the close of the session a young woman in her early twenties shared her God-given gift with us. Take a look at this painting...

As a beautiful script was read to praise music describing the names of Christ, this young woman wrote them on an 8' x 8' black canvas with chalk. After the speaker finished reading the names of Christ...the music continued to play as she began painting Christ with her hands. Her artistry was so incredible as she reached her hand into the first bucket of paint, then the second moving her hands across the canvas as if she were playing a baby grand piano. Lastly, she reached into the third bucket...this time we watched intently as she splatter the red paint across His brow. As the paint ran down the canvas you could have heard a pin drop as every woman's eyes were drawn to this breath-taking painting of our Savior.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. ~Joseph Scriven, 1855

This popular hymn was written over 150 years ago but is still relevant today.

Take heart my friend, He is there for you. All you have to do is call His name!

Family Memories

2009-03-19T20:02:00.001-05:00

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Mardi Gras in Comfort, TX

2009-03-06T17:33:00.018-06:00

If you know anything about the great state of Texas you know that there are a whole lot of small towns with great names! One of those small towns happens to be right down the road from us...COMFORT, TEXAS. And right down the road from Comfort is the town of WELFARE. Because we live somewhere in between we like to tell people that we live near Welfare but close to Comfort!

Hey, welfare might not be too far off since my hubby just joined the ranks of the middle-class management group that was laid off and our 401K is dwindling! But once again I am reminded to have a thankful heart by the sign that hangs next to my front door that reads, "a thankful heart is the greatest virtue".

A timely welcome of fun was joining some friends from Comfort for their annual February Mardi Gras. Yes, small town folk like to have fun too! The Mardi Gras dance was a fundraiser for the local library so not only did we have fun but we helped raise money for a good cause. That makes me feel better! Besides that, I love to dress up and my husband has learned over the years that he might as well join me in playing dress-up because it just adds to the fun!

So here's a few photos of a wonderful event that served up laughter in a time when we could have been down. ENJOY!

Yes, he actually allowed me to spray his hair purple and green and his beard purple! He's such a great guy and I love him so much!!!

My girlfriends are so much fun!!

Decorating With RED

2009-02-10T10:25:00.001-06:00

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DECORATING WITH RED

2009-02-09T14:07:00.012-06:00

Since the month of February celebrates love, hearts, and the color RED I thought I would share how I use RED in decorating my home.

I first fell in love with the color when my husband and I discovered this painting, The Door of Valbonne by Leonard Wren in a Laguna Beach, California art gallery. We both were drawn to the RED door. What you can't see in this photo is the small lavender tile by the door with the number three on it.

When asked why we were so drawn to the painting I quickly remarked, "the door reminds me that Jesus is the door and the fact that it is painted red reminds me of the blood he shed for my sins. The number three on the tile reminds me of the Trinity...the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit".

Mr. Wren has no idea how his painting inspired my decorating journey with the color RED . I absolutely love it!

RED is also a hot color...very strong and often conjures up conflicting emotions. I believe that it screams "passion"...romance...love. Studies show that it actually increases the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure. Ooh, La, La! Hey, who needs a stimulant when the color RED is in the bedroom!

Check out my bedroom wall! I added a package of crushed granite (Lowe's) to the paint to give it just a bit of glow when the light hits it.

In China, RED is the color of happiness and prosperity and may be used to attract good luck (who doesn't need that these days?)

RED means power, hence the RED power tie for business people and RED celebrates VIPs. Want to feel like a VIP? Try a little RED in your next decorating project. You just may get hooked on RED like me!

Make sure you check out my gallery of photos on Smilebox!

THE LOVE JOURNAL

2009-02-06T16:19:00.014-06:00

Did you know that 85% of women purchase Valentine cards? And that it's the second largest card-sending holiday behind Christmas? Valentine's Day is about love and I believe, girlfriends, it is because we are in love with "LOVE"! We love to be loved, give love, share love. So I thought before the BIG day I would share an idea I came up with a few years back to give to my husband.

It's called a HUG BOOK. A blank journal where I write "love" notes to my husband. Now I just happened to find a red journal with the words "HUG" already on it but you can be creative with some crystals and glue the words on a blank journal.

Take a look! A simple idea but one that has been such a blessing to my husband. Make your own rules. I don't write in it every day but when I do my husband's face lights up! I leave it on his side of the bed to find when he gets home. But again, you can place it where you think is best.

Sometimes I purchase cards, cut them out and glue them in his journal, then write a note. Have fun, be creative, and most of all...pass on the love you have for him. We've found in our 23 years of marriage that no matter what we may face, we have each other. So, make your love count. Pass on the LOVE JOURNAL to your friends so they don't miss out on the fun. Hey...and let me know how it's going, OK.

Love,

Amanda

P.S. Shh...don't tell my husband I shared my little "nickname" he gave me with the world!!

A VISIT TO ROCK HARBOR LODGE

2009-02-04T17:52:00.001-06:00

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Bed & Breakfast

2009-01-26T17:36:00.022-06:00

There has always been that dream in the back of my mind to have my own Bed & Breakfast. But little did I know that this would be the place. A couple of years ago after returning to Texas from living in Southern California, we found ourselves deep in the heart of the beautiful Texas Hill Country. After all, our children live in Texas and we were married in Texas so it was like coming back home.

As soon as I laid eyes on this one-of-a-kind rock house I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. And I was so in love with it that I didn't even care that it had no central air. What was I thinking? Texas?! No air condition? But, the builder, whom I consider a "master craftsman" built this house to look and live as if it were built in the 1800's. Every person that steps through the huge front red doors, re milled from an old water tank, feel as if they have stepped back in time.

It's hard to believe that this home wasn't built in the 1800's...but as my husband's sign says on the door, "at this site in 1879 absolutely nothing happened". Of course it is always fun to pretend!

It has been two and a half years and with some major remodeling and a new addition, ROCK HARBOR LODGE has finally become a home. A wonderful marriage of old and new, stone and wood, rustic and elegance. It is a place where I have found peace and tranquility...A refuge from the storms of life.

Our desire is to share it with others as ROCK HARBOR HILL COUNTRY LODGE...a traditional Bed & Breakfast offering a place for you to leave the cares of this world behind and breath in some good ole fresh country air. Pull up a chair by the fire pit and count the stars that God hung over the Texas sky, or sit on the back porch awhile and sip a glass of wine while overlooking the beautiful vista view.

Because we are located just a mile from the beautiful Marquardt Ranch, a lovely wedding venue, we are excited to welcome wedding parties the amenities and peace of mind to prepare, celebrate or just unwind after an unforgettable wedding!

But all are welcome. A Girls' Weekend or a Romantic Weekend for two, it's just the place to unwind and is centrally located between Boerne and Fredericksburg. So, if you ever find yourself needing to get away...come on over. The porch light will be on for ya and some Texas sweet tea will be waitin' for ya in the frig!

Comfort Food, Don't You Love It?

2009-01-09T09:35:00.014-06:00

Baby, it's cold outside! This is the season when I love to make big batches of soup. There's something about soup (the comfort food) that warms the heart and the soul. Don't you agree? Last night I made my good ole southern cornbread and Southwest soup (a recipe I got out of this month's Southern Living). Oh, don't you love that magazine? I told my husband if he ever let my subscription expire that he would have to sleep in the Tussie Mansion (I'll explain what that is later)! Anyway, here's the recipe for my cornbread which I make for my lactose intolerant body. My mother "would turn over in her grave", as they say here in the south, if she knew I used Lactose free milk instead of buttermilk! But I have to say that it taste pretty darn good.

Now if you don't have an iron skillet then you need to go out and find you one and make sure you season it. That's when you grease it and place in your oven on a low temperature for awhile. Email me if you have questions.

2 Cups of Aunt Jemima Self-rising Cornmeal (I also like Martha White)
1 Egg
Add milk until you get the consistency of a cake batter (not too thick and not too runny)

Heat oven to 350 and grease skillet (I use a little Crisco oil & just enough to cover the bottom) ~ place skillet in oven to heat. Pour cornbread mix into skillet and bake 30 minutes or until golden brown. Isn't it pretty? It sure tasted good with a little butter and some honey!

There's just something about comfort food that's makes me feel good inside.

Enjoy! Oh, and by the way, next week I start back at the gym. But, hey...a little bit of comfort food every once in awhile won't do a girl no harm, will it?

Three Church Ladies and a Deacon

2009-01-08T16:10:00.004-06:00

I have to tell you about our new addition to ROCK HARBOR LODGE. Our four guests arrived Tuesday evening around dusk with one suitcase and a bag of corn. Yes, corn. Undoubtedly that's what they like to eat...just corn, oh, and grasshoppers, mosquitoes, deer tick (which I'm sure we have a lot of since we have lots of deer) bees (yeah, since I'm allergic to bee stings) and a few other tiny creatures. Oh, I am so happy! By now you're probably wondering who these four guests are. Well, our new guests are four guineas we appropriately named, Three Church Ladies and a Deacon (yes one is a rooster!).

Now from what we understand these four birds act like guard dogs. Yes, guard dogs! I was thinking about getting a great big dog that barks to warn me of intruders when a friend called to ask me if I wanted guineas. Well, they are so much easier. I don't have to bath them, play with them or put them in a kennel when I leave town. No, I simply have to throw out some corn and they are happy birds! I love it.

The morning after their arrival you would have thought I had thrown out a dead animal. The vultures who only eat dead meat decided to perch their ugly heads in one of my trees hoping they would get a stab at some fresh meat. That is until I (remind you this city girl gone country) gets her most powerful BB gun out and target shoots all twelve vultures until they get the picture that these guineas are not on the buffet table! OK, for all you animal lovers who think it is wrong for me to shoot vultures, I didn't kill them which is why I used my BB gun rather than my shotgun! Hey, but next time they come after my three ladies and a deacon, you better believe I'm pulling out the shotgun!

Watching them run around in single file is the most fun as they hackle at the top of their lungs. Oh and I forgot to tell you that the way you tell the difference between the female and the male is the female is louder! Ha...Sounds like a few church ladies I know. Hm mm. No wonder the Deacon chases them around...to get them to shut up! You can take that however you want.

Well, gotta go throw out some corn...it's feeding time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2009-01-06T18:28:00.008-06:00

Well here we are...a new year has begun. Whew, I just finished taking down all the Christmas decorations. Taking them down is not near as fun as putting them up. But as the Christmas season comes to an end I realize that like every year, the season of Christmas should live in my heart and home all year long. So even though the tree is undecorated, the ornaments are put away and the gifts have been opened, the greatest Gift lives in my heart, the gift of Jesus. The greatest Gift of all. I guess we need Christmas to remind us that He came as a baby in a manger but often times we forget to take Him out of the manger and put Him on the cross! He came, He died, and He rose again so that we could have a blessed and abundant life. For that, I am thankful. I pray that as you begin your new year that you too will reflect on the goodness, the faithfulness, and the abundant grace that Christmas brings and live it all year long not just for a day!

Happy New Year! Blessings to you and your family in 2009!

Christmas with family!

2009-01-02T14:54:00.000-06:00

We enjoyed having Dustin, Jenna and Saige for our little family Christmas in the Hill Country. Even though Saige was sick, she still managed to run around, see a few deer that wandered into our back yard and help her daddy and Grandy put the ping pong table together.

Christmas at Mimi's & Grandy's House in the Hill Country

Children are precious in His Sight. Saige and I were in the Junior Suite and I couldn't help but catch this photo op as she climbed onto the vanity stool and began digging in the drawer of my antique dresser! Angelic, isn't she?

Christmas in Our Hearts and Home

2008-12-27T20:55:00.000-06:00

WELCOME TO ROCK HARBOR LODGE IN THE BEAUTIFUL TEXAS HILL COUNTRY!

THE LORD IS MY ROCK, MY FORTRESS AND MY DELIVERER; MY GOD IS MY ROCK IN WHOM I TAKE REFUGE. PSALM 18:2

THE WARMTH AT ROCK HARBOR LODGE IS JESUS IN OUR HEARTS & HOME

RANDY & I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Importance of Family

2008-12-27T18:10:00.000-06:00

Sometimes the unexpected can bring one joy and sadness at the same time. Right before Christmas we received a phone call to tell us that my husband's brother whom he hasn't seen in 15 years was in Hospice care in Amarillo, Texas. With mixed emotions we called to check on him only to find out that he had been given only a couple of weeks to live. Needless to say, it didn't matter if we had lost touch with him for 6 months or 15 years, it's about the importance of family. So we did what we knew we were called to do, a few days before Christmas, we loaded up the car and drove 10 hours to Amarillo to see a very sick and fragile man who needed to be loved. That's what you do for family, isn't it? When it really comes down to life and love it doesn't matter what the past looks like. When you are faced with a loved one who's been told he only has a few weeks to live you realize that Love can change the future. When we arrived at Hospice we received the greatest blessing we could ever ask for, the gift of reuniting with family. It was a very emotional time as I watched two brothers come back together after years of separation. But this Christmas, God, who operates with infinite wisdom and divine plans, brought these brothers together once again.

I am learning so much from this. First, that life is short. We never know when our time on this earth will come to an end. We must love, forgive, and love some more! Secondly, God can bring healing and reconciliation to any relationship if we allow Him to work His divine plan in our life. And thirdly, how important relationships are over jobs, titles, money or possessions. If we have nothing else on this earth, but our relationships are rich, then we are wealthy!!

Before this year is up, I want to encourage you to call someone you haven't talked to in awhile, write that letter you've been wanting to write, forgive that person who has hurt you deeply, love unconditionally.

I read this recently, "Most of us spend our lives seeking our destiny, One Man created His own. It began in a manger and led to a cross, and it included you. You too have a destiny and someday...someday soon, your destiny will cross with His.

Love to you this Christmas!

CHRISTMAS IN THE HILL COUNTRY

2008-12-12T15:02:00.000-06:00

Wow! Tuesday night when I got ready to go to bed I just happend to gaze out toward our gate and saw snow falling. What a beautiful sight it was! I grabbed my coat and hat and the dog to run out and play. Feeling like a little girl again, I ran around shouting, "it's snowing, it's snowing." What a beautiful gift from God right here at Christmas time. Hey, it's was a white Christmas to me! The next morning I awoke before daylight to grab my camera, coat, and hat and once again capture this most spectacular sight here in the Hill Country. May your season be bright and filled with God's love. Merry Christmas!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Where Have I Been?

2008-12-08T11:45:00.000-06:00

OK, it has been way too long since I have written...where have I been? If you know me like my family knows me, they know that I get easily distracted and then boredom sets in.

This morning as I was putting on my makeup looking out our large picture window in the bathroom, I watched about four deer prancing back and forth just across the fence at the back of our property. I knew they smelled the fresh corn that my husband had spread out for them like a Thanksgiving feast. They're hungry since we have not had rain here for about four months. But hey, they have a choice...eat from the feeders the hunters put out for them and take a chance of getting shot or come across our fence and feed on the fine corn we have laid out for them with no worries of being hit by a gun! But still, they walked back and forth gazing at that corn afraid to jump the fence. Perhaps they were hoping I would come down and open the gate making it an easier decision to cross over. After watching them for awhile I got impatient and marched down to open the gate. Of course they ran off but I knew the smart one would be watching me and when I disappeared he would enter through the open gate and feast on that big pile of corn. As soon as I got back into the house sure enough one deer came over to feed. Just one. The one that wanted the corn the most!

This mornings observation reminded me of where I've been so often in my life. I'm on the other side of the fence smelling the "manna" that God has placed out for me. Prancing back and forth and getting distracted by things that don't necessarily take me away from God but aren't what God has called me to do. Afraid to cross over for fear of failure or even fear of success, I become an onlooker...smelling the aroma of the "manna" and wondering what it would be like to taste what God has for me. I mean to really taste and see. I want it...I want everything He has for me but do I really want it bad enough to jump the fence and feast on the "manna"?

God, who watches me patiently, opens the gate making it even easier for me to feast on His "manna". And once again, it is clear to me just how much God loves me and I walk through the gate hungry for His love, hungry for His word, hungry for His manna.

Hey, what are you waiting for? Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is really good!!

BE STILL & KNOW THAT HE IS GOD!

2008-09-25T09:29:00.000-05:00

2008 PANIC!

2008-09-25T09:05:00.000-05:00

Everywhere we turn we are reminded of the 2008 Presidential Campaign and the Financial Crisis of 2008. Turn on your television or talk radio and you'll hear about the backlash, the fights going on amongst the leaders of our great nation, and the doom and gloom of our economy. Listening to the negativity can make a good mood turn ugly in a minute! It can make you fall into a deep depression!

I believe that God is calling all Christians to their knees! If you haven't been praying begin now. Pray for our nation to be "one nation under God". Pray for our leaders to fall on their knees and repent, turn to God, and ask for wisdom and direction to lead this country. Pray for this to be a time where people from all races, all social economic backgrounds, all genres, all nations have such an emptiness in their heart that they turn to Jesus! Yes, Jesus! There is nowhere else to turn.

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

God desires that all come to Him. Now that is the Good News! That is news we can depend on, that is unbiased news! That is fair and balanced news!

Give somebody hope today...not in the world leaders but in the One who created the world!

GOD IS FAITHFUL...TRUST HIM TODAY FOR YOUR FUTURE!!

Life is Short!

2008-09-23T08:43:00.000-05:00

Life is short when you think about it. We always remember that when you, a family member, or a friend faces a life-threatening situation don't we?

Let's remember that every day is a gift...that is why it is called the present! Take time to smell the roses, walk barefoot in fresh cut grass, watch a sunset, gaze at the stars, sit still by a stream, pet a dog, stroke the fur on a cat, take 5 minutes to just listen in silence, turn off the radio in your car , take a deep breath! Sometimes life comes at us so hard and so fast that we forget to even breath!

And today, don't forget to tell someone, "I love you"!

CONNECTED TO THE VINE

2008-09-19T11:59:00.000-05:00

Lately, I have been treating our Live Oak trees due to some disease that I have become very familiar with called, Oak Wilt. It's a terrible disease because much like cancer in the human body if it goes undiagnosed for a period of time it will spread like wild fire and kill the tree. Therefore, the tree has to come down , be burned or hauled off because it will no longer produce leaves. Unfortunately, it is a disease very prevalent here in the Hill Country of Texas.

My husband has a new name for me, "Tree Doctor"! Every morning as the sun is coming up over the horizon I am out back with my bucket full of fungicide filled syringes, my electric drill, my gloves, and my rubber boots treating trees and praying over them.

It has been hard to take down what use to be some beautiful trees. But, guess what? God has taught me some great lessons even in this. Some of the most wonderful blessings come to us because we have been sharply pruned or completely chopped down to the core of our being so that God can use us in a way we never thought possible! Believe me, I know the pain of a knife that cuts so deep to the core of my soul that the only unspeakable comfort is resting in the arms of God.

I read this morning , "There are blessings we can never have unless we are ready to pay the price of pain." - Dr. Miller from Streams in the Desert

Oh Lord, I pray that we all know how deep, how wide, how far Your love reaches.

Enjoy the wonder of His unspeakable comfort as you rest in God today.

Never Forget!

2008-09-11T09:53:00.000-05:00

Our Son, Brandon and the fall of Bagdad!
NEVER FORGET!!

This morning I awoke to the somber remembrance of 9/11/2001. As I turned on the television I watched as many read the names of those who lost their lives that day. I remembered where I was when I first heard the news and watched in shock as the planes hit the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and heard about the brave souls aboard United Airlines Flight 93.

I pray that this is a day we don't forget because it is a day that will always be marked in history of a freedom we so often take for granted. Please join me in prayer today for our nation, its leaders, the families who have lost loved ones due to terrorist's attacks and the men and women who have sacrificially fought for our freedom!

WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

By the Scruff of the Neck

2008-09-09T08:34:00.000-05:00

My 13 lbs Miniature Schnauzer, Mary Kay often makes me laugh when I see her carrying around her favorite stuffed animal, a gray cat from the Whiskas commercial. You can imagine what it looks like after four years of her dragging it around. The only thing it hasn't been through is a chewing since Mary Kay only has six teeth! Everywhere Mary Kay goes... this stuffed cat goes. Even when we travel whether Mary Kay is with us or in a kennel her gray cat is always by her side. It's almost like a child having a security blanket...she doesn't go anywhere without it. Mary Kay knows the cat by its name which we simply call, "Baby". When it's time to go to bed we tell Mark Kay, "put your baby to bed". She wanders through the house looking for her until she finds where she last left her and then grabs her by the scruff of the neck and brings her to her bed. It's pretty funny to see her carry that cat around by the scruff of the neck because "Baby" is almost as big as she is.

This morning while I was sitting at the breakfast table I happened to glance into our bedroom. Mary Kay was on top of her bed trying desperately to dig under the blanket that covered her "Baby". Scratching, digging, and scooting her bed across the floor she finally uncovered "Baby". Grabbing it in her mouth by the scruff of the neck she carried it to her next destination, the comfortable Chaise that sits near the window overlooking the backyard. Mary Kay and "Baby" then lay calmly taking in the beauty of a peaceful morning.

It is often in the stillness of the morning before the radio, TV, or computer is turned on when God teaches me some of the most beneficial lessons. This was one of those mornings.

I'm sure you have been in a place where you have prayed so hard for something and it not turn out the way you expected. Disappointment, sadness, even self-pity kicks in and you wonder if God even heard you. You want to just crawl underneath the covers and hide until He brings you sunshine or even more than that...answers your prayers the way you want them answered!

After all, He is suppose to give you what you ask for, right? Hm mm.

The past couple of weeks have brought one disappointment after another. Not understanding what God's plan is and wondering why I could have my hopes up so high to be so let down in the end. Questioning God...crying out to God...and then this morning God spoke to me about all of this through a dog and her stuffed cat named "Baby"!

You see He showed me that I have been like "Baby", hiding under the covers of disappointment and self-pity...rather than understanding that sometimes He doesn't answer our prayers the way we expect them to be answered. My disappointment comes because I don't get what I want. God wants what is best for me and even though I don't understand and as my good friend told me, "I can't trace His hand", I have to trust His heart. It is through answered and unanswered prayers that we learn and grow. It is through difficulties that we learn to trust Him more. Sometimes God answers, " yes", sometimes He answers, "no", and sometimes He answers, "wait".

So this morning was one of those mornings that God had to grab me by the scruff of my neck and pull me out from underneath the covers of self-pity and disappointment. And now... as I sit at my little breakfast table gazing out the window at the goats grazing in the field next door, the squirrels scurrying up the trees looking for acorns, and the beautiful vista view I am so gloriously blessed with...I find myself at peace with myself and God.

And I realize that's it's not so bad being grabbed by the the scruff of the neck every once and awhile! After all, God is in control and His purposes and plans are so much better than mine!

So God...where's that Chaise?!

Guard the Gate!

2008-08-08T15:28:00.000-05:00

The other evening I was in my kitchen preparing to cook dinner. I have a beautiful vista view out my kitchen window of the Texas Hill Country. Gazing out the window I suddenly spotted a mother goat and a baby goat. Yes, another goat story! Seeing that they had made their way far enough up to eat off my fig tree I quickly stopped what I was doing, hollered for my dog and ran out the door. I began shooing them to the back of my property thinking they must have gotten in by the back gate. When I reached the gate I opened it enough to sway them to go in but when I did the other mother and baby came in too! So now here I am with Mary Kay, my 13 lbs Miniature Schnauzer running back and forth all over the back of our property trying desperately to get the goats to go out the gate. I'm yelling at Mary Kay, "get the goats, guard the gate", like she understands what I'm talking about. She's a smart little dog, don't get me wrong but she's not an Australian Shepherd and she's on 13 lbs...hello. Finally, after we are both exhausted the four goats go through the gate and I secure it. As we are walking back up to the house, I'm telling Mary Kay, "guard the gate". Of course now she begins to understand guarding the gate means watching out for goats!

You know what? We all have gates in our lives we need to have guarded. Most of us adults know what our weaknesses are. We also know that if we don't guard against predators they'll sneak in and destroy. The goats look harmless. And they are when they stay on their side of the fence eating their feed and the underbrush. But I know that if given an entrance through my gate they would come in and eat my green grass, my fig tree, my pear trees and anything else they might find tasty to their palette.

So today, I encourage you to identify your weakness and make sure you guard your gate! If not...well...I can tell you from experience if you don't it's not exactly a pleasant journey.

Road Kill

2008-07-28T16:20:00.000-05:00

Living out in the country presents many opportunities to observe nature. One thing that I observe often are vultures. Actually, I've never been around vultures before except to see them at the zoo. I always thought they were an ugly bird and now that I see them up close and personal I still think they are ugly. I've shot a few that landed on my windmill fan until I was told by a friend that it was illegal to shoot them. Don't get me wrong...they didn't die or anything I just stung them with my BB gun to make them fly off so they wouldn't try to pick up one of my cats or my 13 llb miniature schnauzer!

So where there is roadkill there are vultures and lots of them. I have simplified it to what I call, "a vulture party"!

Well out here in the country it is a pretty regular event to see dead deer laying on the side of the road. The hunters don't shoot them and leave them there, automobiles do! It's really an everyday occurrance and guess who cleans up the mess? You guessed it, vultures...big ugly vultures.

Just this week I was coming down our road and for the very first time I saw a dead vulture right in the middle of the road. As I said it is usaually the other way around...dead deer, dead armadillo, dead whatever (they eat anything). EXCEPT their own! That's what I found interesting. Vultures don't eat vultures! They eat all the other roadkill creatures but they don't eat their own. You may be thinking by now, who cares. But I promise there is a moral to this story.

Here it is...as I thought about the fact the vultures don't eat their own I couldn't help but think about something I've heard over and over again. "Christians (Believers, Jesus followers) devour their own". Not all the time but often. Don't get me wrong, I love the Lord with all my heart and I stand for the church (the body of devoted Jesus followers). It's just that so many get hurt badly by other believers in the church. Why is that? I think we need to remember that vultures devour the things that are already dead! They don't devour their own! When a vulture sees something it needs to devour they get all their buddies together and have a "come to Jesus" party. Think about it...as Christians we need to have more "come to Jesus" parties to devour evil in this world not to devour each other. Next time you see a brother or sister who needs a helping hand to get back on the right track because they've fallen down, hate the evil and pray for them but don't devour by turning your back on them. Even vultures don't do that to their own!

The Goats

2008-07-25T17:25:00.000-05:00

My husband and I moved to the Hill Country of Texas two years ago from Southern Cal. Yes, you heard me...Southern California. I must say for this "city girl" it has been an adventure to say the least. When I thought I was getting use to the country critters like scorpions, "Bubba", the armadillo, snakes, cows, to name a few...goats moved in next door! Not just a few mind you but about 200 of them. Now I have never been around goats and I didn't realize they eat everything in site, thus that's why they were put on this beautiful land next door to graze on the cedar underbrush. Only when they get tired of grazing on the cedar they like to graze on our side of the fence. Not an easy task for them to do but desperate goats go to desperate measures! Well, we came home from being out of town for the weekend and a billy goat had gotten stuck in the fence by his horns. I don't know how long he was stuck but sadly to say he did not survive. I'm sure for the goat keeper it was not a pleasant task to pull a dead stinky goat out of the fence but needless to say it had to be done.

By now you're probably wondering why I'm sharing this goat story with you. After I thought about it I realized there is a moral to this story. My mother once told me, "the grass is not always greener on the other side". You know what, she is right! Often we think it is greener. If I get out of this marriage the next guy will be better...if I change jobs it's got to be better than the one I have...right? Wrong! Been there...tasted the grass...it was not so good after all. Actually, it was poisonous! I'm just glad Someone (God) came to my rescue before I died!