Mission Tejas

Mission Tejas

November 28, 2010

Mission Tejas State Park is home to the Rice Family Log Home. It is over 150 years old.

To walk through such a place and read the History of it is amazing. To think about the fact they had to leave Texas because of Native American raids makes you realise the raids must have been at this house and it just seems like you took a step back into History.

Stewart said seeing this house with the "dog-trot" (we call it a dog-run) makes him long for a dog-run log house of his own. I am not so crazy about that idea, I want my house joined all together simply for safety reasons.

The old Mission Replica was my favorite. We walked in and sat on their "Lincoln log" style pews and I read the History of the place off the brochure. To imagine back to the days that these missionaries were risking their lives to bring the name of Jesus to the Native Americans leaves me with a since of longing, back to the days when Christianity was something that meant saving souls and bringing Jesus to the world. Now when you go to a church all you see is how they brought the world into the house of GOD, polluting the Holy with the profane. It breaks my heart to see how far the "church" has gotten from GOD. I started singing Amazing Grace and I felt the presence of GOD in that little church. I long for pure worship of GOD, not the man-made stuff you find these days. I long for real unity and a oneness with others who believe that GOD is the absolute one and only thing that matters. I do not know if I will ever understand why people want to have the world for a short time rather than GOD for eternity. Getting off my soap box now.

We load up in the car and drive around to where the hiking trail begins. Of course there is a park right there and all my kids had to take a turn at the cool little back-hoe toy there. Yes, even my biggest "kid" had to give it a try. Stewart says we need one of these at our creek, then maybe he could get the kids to help him dig dirt.

Stewart and Anna play on the slide. Quickly he realises he has not lost THAT much weight yet. "Hunny, I ...ammm....stucckkk," he calls as he scoots himself down the slide. Anna naturally goes down with ease. Her hiking books slide just fine on the metal.

With fall leave crunching under our feet we head out on the hiking trail. One and a quarter miles is an easy little hike. The kids got a kick out of the sign that read "foot traffic only." "Like what else kind of traffic are you going to have on a hiking trail?" I explain that they mean no bikes or horses on this one.

The first little bit of the trail was nice and simple then we started heading up a hill. About half way up it the kids start whining. I tell them imagine how Jesus felt having to carry his cross up a hill. "While being beat." Stewart adds. "I want us to think about that while we finish this, with out complaint!" I instruct.

We made it to the top of that hill and decided that maybe this hike wasn't as easy as we first thought. I suggest we slow down and take our time, and check out the area. We come across the CCC baths. A primitive dug out area that was lined with rock. I assumed this is where they bathed. Adam acts out taking a bath in the "tub" labeled "bathe". There was another "tub" labeled "rinse" and a hole labeled "spring". On a cold day like this was I was thinking they needed a pit labeled "fire",  to warm that water.

We come to the "Steep Step Trail" and that was exactly what it was. Now that we was on top of the hill, we had to get back down. Apparently this was the way down. The steps was not nice on my knees but with the help of my wonderful son, I made it down. Austin is always so good about staying close to me and lending me an arm to steady myself. I always worry I will fall, I am clumsy that way. Little Adam is picking up brothers good habits and helped me a couple times too.

I only thought the steep steps was taking us back to level ground but I was wrong. It took us through the valley which of course meant that we had to climb up a hill again. Once we got to the top of the hill I actually felt a since of accomplishment. We sat on the bench over looking the valley and soaked up the peacefulness and basked in the serenity of the place. Austin kicked back on his pack and was taking it all in also.

We talked about how we would love to live here. We discuss the idea of taking a two week vacation and travel the eastern states one year, the central states the next, and the western ones last, going and seeing all the wonders of nature and history, avoiding big cities as much as possible. It is something I want to do before Austin is grown so he can be a part of it too. We decided this has been our favorite hike so far because even though it was harder, it was also a greater accomplishment. I have a better understanding why spiritually we have to go through the valleys to get to the mountain top. Once we are on the mountain top, we appreciate the valley also, knowing that you can not have one with out the other.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

November 25, 2010



"Faith makes things possible, not easy"



Thanksgiving most years are held at my house, mainly do to the size factor. Not that my house is big, just bigger than theirs. It always stresses me out because I have so much to do to get ready. I try to deep clean the house, paying special attention to the frig so we will have enough room for the left overs. I also like to decorate. My sister "BL" usually helps me clean and decorate.

This year my kids helped me. They did an awesome job. If not for their help, I would not have been able to pull it off.

"BL"s schedule was too busy, so it was left to me, and crazy me decided to go a little more elaborate than usually and brought out the "good dishes" instead of paper plates.

She did cook part of the meal, and my sister "BD" and my mom brought some desserts, but I swear I still was busy cooking for two days. Mainly due to the fact that my wonderful husband thinks I am super woman and kept adding to the menu. "Hunny, how 'bout cook a pot of dumplins.... Hey, we need cornbread if we are having dumplins..... can you whip up a cheese cake, well you should do two.... Oh, and can you make the chocolate pie thing you make....ohhhh I like the rolls that rise, how about do some of those..." So you see what would have been a easy menu of the basics: turkey, stuffing, peas, potatoes, broccoli and cheese casserole and brown and serve rolls; grew drastically by the time hubby was done.



These pictures are before all the food was finished and brought.

I also had to call everyone and get their "thankful" list.

Each year we put up my tree poster I bought for schooling and list all the things we are thankful for that year on the leaves. I use dry erase on the adults and permanent markers on the larger leaves for the kids, so they can have a keep sake. I like this tradition, but it is kinda crazy trying to remind everyone to get me their list so I can write it all on the tree in time for Thanksgiving day.

"BL" was a bit late because she had to go to her in-laws first, which kinda threw off my groove and things did not go as planned, kids (and grampa) was grumpy so I prayed and served them the dumplins while they waited for "BL" to arrive. So we didn't get to pray as a family, and we almost forgot to read the thankful things, but all in all it turned out a good Thanksgiving.

Everyone was fat and happy by the end of the meal. "BL" had to leave to go to the deer lease and Grampa was wanting to leave to watch his football game but the rest of us stayed and played the game "Apples to Apples" and laughed and joked and had a great time. We sat and talked about GOD and I told them how Historically speaking the first Thanksgiving was probably more of a Feast of Tabernacles from what my studies have told me.

This year I am thankful for (this is what my "leaves" said):

GOD's perfect will working in my life,

a loving and understanding husband,

obedient children with morals and values,

knowledge, wisdom, and understanding,

Stewart and my weight loss,

our nature walks,

my classroom/office,

and my animals.

I am thankful for my family and for my life.

Heritage Village

Heritage Village

November 22, 2010

We noticed the other day coming back from Livingston State Park a place called Heritage Village in Woodville TX. I may have heard of it before but never really knew where it was until then. So we decided this would be our History trip this week. When we pulled up we noticed a school bus in the parking lot, my first thought was, "Oh No!" Don't get me wrong, I am sure they were nice kids and all, but I like us to visit places and be basically the only ones there. Crowds seem to distract the kids and I like to read the History as we go because I am using it as a lesson. We headed into the Museum Store. We were fascinated by the Native American Artifacts. More Arrowheads than you can imagine. We also looked at a big cut-out from a tree that was over 400 years old. We discussed how to tell the age of a tree. We talked about world events that was labeled on the annual circles. Very cool to think that this tree had been alive through all these things.

Thankfully the bus load of teens was leaving before we headed out to the village area, so we could enjoy our self without interruption. I really have to say I wished the memorabilia was better taken care of and cleaned and restored to its original glory but I assume limited funds are the cause.

We wander into the Pawn Shop/Dentist Office and have a look around. I suppose it is called a Pawn Shop because they put all manner of items that really didn't fit into any other "shop", there was everything from an old diving suit to dozens of eye glasses. 

In the J.P.'s office, Anna was amazed by the old books in one case and Adam looked over the "heater".

Then we looked at the Newspaper Office which was called the "Village Vidette.

The Livery Stable housed a "Penny-Farthing." Anna says, "I believe I will stick with my bike!" The door had many types of Texas Barb Wire displayed. We all are suckers for a good buggy, probably more to do with my admiration of the Amish than this time period.

The Barber Shop was a shop we felt connected to a bit, Stewart's dad was a barber in his day so we had to pose with some of the equipment just for Paw-paw.

Go directly to Jail! Stewart put on his best "The Shining" face and then we lock the two little ones in the jail cell. Adam is trying to "bust out" and Anna thinks her pouty lip will persuade the jailer to set her free. Stewart started touching the noose, I ask him, "What if it actually had been used to hang someone!" He decided touching it was not a good idea.
At the Post Office, my husband was in his element. Of course posing was required and Adam had to play Post Office with daddy.

Adam wanted so badly to "break in" to the Blacksmith shop to check out the tools. Of course I said no.
This front porch "Stage" was all Anna needed to start busting out in song and dance. (Well that is what it was used for so why not!)
The old log house was pretty neat. The kids could see how small the houses used to be, maybe now they will not complain that their rooms are not big enough.
The church was one of our favorites. My kids all "took their places" Adam on piano, Anna lead singer, and Austin my preacher. They seem to feel pretty relaxed in those roles, hmm I wonder? Adam "closes" the praise and worship service and takes his seat in the pews.

I inform Anna she is not Millard Martin. "I'm not?" she questions with all innocence.
Austin is looking at "The Still" until I explain what it was. He is appalled and says it is time to move on.
The kids find the later day version on the Ice Cream Truck and Austin saddled up next to the Amish made wagon. There were way to many buggies in the barn to post all the pictures on here but it too was a favorite.

This is my favorite one, the school house. Stewart had to start ringing the bell until I begged him to stop. Adam and Anna both hop in a desk while Austin takes on the teacher role. Anna volunteered for the "spanking" picture. Stewart was being bad so I sit him in the corner with the DUNCE hat on. Austin liked how the back of one chair was the desk of the other and they had some really neat maps in here.

The "General Store" was nice. Adam runs over to the window and says, "Look mom, it even has a drive thru!" I laugh and tell him back then there was no "drive thru's" which embarrasses him. This old coffin was weird, it had a mirror inside it so when you looked in the small window you would see yourself as if you were the one in the coffin. That was creepy.
I labeled this Doctor but I believe it was the dress maker now that I look at it again. Adam had to thump the little girl, "Meany!"
For some strange reason we walk into a Saloon and all my kids act like drunks. At least Anna looked the part of a Saloon girl for a second. "Ok, kids that is enough bad influence, lets move on."
Adam and Anna try to climb up in the Hay Barn but I quickly tell them no, the thing looked as if it might fall on their heads at any moment.

We return to the store and Anna decides she wants a bonnet, until she puts one on. Not as stylish as she had thought at first.

It was a nice trip. I have seen better but for a small town this was not bad at all. We are usually so busy with Science I do not add in History trips so I am glad we went. The kids seemed to have a good time and that is all that matters.