The" New Two" aka Cleopatra and a pirate

Oak St. Backyard Chill.

It's not Central Park, but it was a great place to rest and relax.

2 and seven is nine!

Photo opp very late Saturday night, saying goodbye to Rebekah. Gathering all at once is becoming somewhat rare and so we treasure every minute together.

The City of God, St. Augustine

In one introduction to the City of God by Etienne Gilson it is written that..."Many, perhaps most, readers never finish reading the City of God in its original form."  That will most likely be me!  I just picked it up Sunday afternoon because I can't just sit from 1:30 -7:00 watching softball and baseball and nothing else!  And while I love watching the "new two" play I can do more than one or two and sometimes three things at a time.
So, wow, I am only in the forward and even though it is abridged for modern readers it is slow go. Read and re-read for sure.
I am though already so revived mentally by what I have read.  The following paraphrase is what I want to share.  Indulge me with your time and even a comment or two.
This is from the foreword by Vernon Bourke:  ...through the one ancestor, from whom all men are sprung, this unity...is not just an ideal..but a fact....instead of considering themselves bound together by a mere likeness of nature ,men are conscious of a real family bond.  None of the faithful could doubt that all men, regardless of race, color or appearance, have their origin in the first man created by God.  There was no doubt in St. Augustine's mind that God Himself had created the human race in this way so that men might understand how pleasing unity, even in diversity, was to God, nor could they doubt that their unity was a family unity.  Thus, men are naturally brothers in Adam even before being supernaturally brothers in Christ; of this we are assured by faith.

The unique thing about humans...

is that they look forward to upcoming events in their lives.  I heard or read this somewhat recently and it speaks to me.  Sorry I can't remember where....but I don't even remember where I put my keys and I have only been home for about 20 minutes now! 
This day is one of those times when I am looking forward  to the weekend.   God willing I will be in the presence  of 7 of the most precious people I will ever know.  Monica will be visiting from New York and Rebekah is traveling down from Dallas, and the boys are taking a break from their college lives.
We will be meeting in Austin and Luling on Friday and Saturday and I can't wait to be together as a family.  We are also hoping to see other family in Luling and spend some precious time under the Oak tree.

Fall breeze....thank you

I am breathing easier now that the cool Fall air is here.  The life pace is still as speedy, but the cool air on my face early in the morning warms my heart and makes me think of Autumns past.  I can't seem to get away from the sound of a train in my life, there is one near our house in Corpus Christi and with the tilt of the earth the whistel(horn) is muffled and it always reminds me of Luling. 
I am so glad that the Alaniz's invited us to the beach yesterday.  There were the usual reasons to say "no" ...wash, school work, yard work etc.!  Once mentioned to the "new two" they were on it.  They know exactly what to do, towels, boogie boards, drinks, chairs, suits on and ready to go in 15 minutes!  They are beach babies (bums) for sure.
Friday Football score- Calallen 49- Moody Trojans 0.  Boy #3 had a TD, 3 carries 53 yards.  Details and pics on http://www.callertimes.com/ click the sports icon.   We are off to church soon and then double header softball and baseball games this afternoon with the "new two."  October beach pics below.

Fall breeze and breathing at the beach in October

I