a little comfort on the journey

On my way to Presbyterian Mecca (Mo Ranch) for the Multi-Cultural Youth Conference, I stopped by one of my favorite places in Texas: Comfort. Yep, that's it's name. And it really does live up to it: a sleepy historic downtown area just off the main road choc full of antique shops, local restaurants and one amazing ice cream parlor with homemade chocolates. Last time I stopped by Comfort, I missed it, but on this 105-degree Texas afternoon, there was no way I was missing Sweet Comfort, the historic ice cream parlor.

And here is what made my little Comfort excursion worth it: Bluebell mango ice cream. Wow, wow, wow.

What an idyllic afternoon. (Mo pics coming soon...)

wild honey is born

http://whitswildhoney.blogspot.com

Hiya blog buddies,

In a flurry of foodie energy, I've created my new blog devoted to my food adventures: Wild Honey! You'll find an explanation of the name, a first easy recipe and my vision for that blog there. I'm excited to get creative in a whole new way and embrace my love of cooking & eating with this wonderful interweb community. :) So, pay me a visit over there (link above) and share your recipes and joys of food with me and each other.

I'm headed to the holy of holies (Mo Ranch) tomorrow to help out with their Multicultural Youth Conference, and so you won't hear from me for a few days, but I'll be back Sunday. Have a great grace-full rest of your week!

Peace,

Whit

Coming Soon...

My new food blog!

If you're confused, check out Matthew 3:1-6. :)

delicious festivities

-A low-key, relaxing 4th of July spent baking (nutella cookies mmm), watching favorite old movies and eating (perhaps the world's tastiest steak topped with a red wine mushroom sauce). What fun.

-The sound of cicadas outside, a true sign of Texas summertime.

-Rockin' my red & blue today and seeing that most people at the grocery store were too.

Hey blog buddies, I have an idea I'd like your input on. I'm thinking about starting a food blog, devoted to my culinary encounters and recipes I've tried, complete with drool-worthy pictures and stories. As you know, I'm a bit of a foodie and would have a lot of fun just focusing on food and my creative experiments with it. Of course, this blog would continue to have delicious delicacies posted (because, let's face it, I experience God through food a lot). What do y'all think? I'd also love to hear your ideas for blog titles. Thanks, buddies! Hope you've all had a great 4th.

Peace,

Whit

family gal

What a wonderful week & weekend! I had an amazing time with my fabulous nieces. They're so hilarious. Here are a couple of pictures from our little trip to go out to eat Friday night. They're so amusing in the car.

Natalie wanted to hold my hand. So sweet.

She also sang me a song (I'm bringin' home a baby bumblebee...").

Precious Gigi.

Saturday, we all headed to my Aunt Dorothy's for her 90th birthday party (where Natalie & Gigi were reunited with Ash & Clay).

"Please, no pictures."

("I can't go anywhere.")

I got to see the adorable Grant again, my cousins Adele & Justin's cute little boy. He's such a charmer!

There were toddlers everywhere and Nat had so much fun smiling at me through the glass door.

Cousins catching up. It was so great to see everybody -- like no time has passed. I can't wait until we're all together again for our annual Mo Ranch gathering in a few weeks.

A very happy Grandmother (my Aunt Madelynn).

A very happy Aunt Dorothy taking it all in.

And, finally, a very happy Gigi getting to play with Great-Grandmother.

After all the fun yesterday, I scooted over to Port Lavaca this morning to guest preach at a great little Presbyterian church. They were welcoming, humorous and engaging and I was even invited to have lunch with some wise and wonderful "young at heart" women. They're all in their eighties, nearly all widowed, and they meet together every single week for lunch after church, and also once a month outside of Sundays. They know each other so deeply that they pick on each other in that affectionate way ("Do you really need more salt?") and have so many stories to share. It got me thinking about my generation and all we have to learn from them. When we're in our eighties, I hope we do more than tweet (as fun as it is) and facebook one another...I hope there's time for real conversation, real food and in-person community still. I'm betting there will be.

I wrapped up a great, busy week and weekend in my favorite way: by cooking. Nothing's more relaxing than a big plate of pasta with homemade tomato sauce, piled high with cheese and fresh basil.

Divine. Have a great 4th, everybody!

all things great and small

-Getting Sunday's sermon written in under 2 hours (albeit with prep well beyond that amount of time). Coffee shop = center of enlightenment. :)

-Getting the first parking spot in the Target parking lot. It's the little things...

-The way Jessi is always available to talk. Someone even called in while we were chatting and she matter-of-factly said, "I'll call them back." I have fabulous friends.

toddlers & tea

-Today was Toddler Time at the local library and my Mom and I took Natalie and Gianna. I love that they love books. They each got to pick out books and a dvd (we're going to have movie time this afternoon "with popcorns" as Natalie would say). They had a great time!

-Having a perfect wee cuppa and mentioning it on Twitter (oh addictive Twitter, how I love thee) and having my buddy Neil from Belfast respond. I love how social networking connects me with so many lovely friends from around the world.

-Hayden taking a serious nap with his cute little paws sprawled out.

delicious delights

-Curling up with a cup of delicious herbal tea and a good book to lull me to sleep.

-A woman making delighted faces at her baby.

-Going to the coffee shop and being so engrossed in conversation with Ted that I hadn't even ordered my coffee yet. The barista brought my usual regular cup of coffee over to where Ted and I were chatting and said with a smile, "Regular coffee, right? Need anything else?" So friendly.

backyard bliss

A relaxing family Saturday...

(Where Natalie seemed to baptize Gianna...taking after Aunt Weeza!)

(Hayden was clearly overwhelmed by all of the excitement.)

rainy day plan

-Curling up with Hayden, a blanket and a book and listening to rain pouring down (in Belfast "bucketin") outside.

-Watching my dear friend Ruth's wedding in Belfast online via a live stream. It was so wonderful to be able to be a part of it all the way in Texas.

-Sitting in my favorite coffee haunt reading a favorite missiologist's book* and thinking that I'd really like to preach soon. A few minutes later, the pastor at a nearby church called, asking me to supply preach and serve communion for him in a couple of weeks. What fun.

__________

*Transforming Mission by David Bosch.