More Pedernales Falls

Pedernales Falls

We also went to Pedernales Falls State Park while I was in town. It's gorgeous - there are these waterfalls surrounded by flat rocks that you can hike all around. There are lots of little pools and caves also. Of course, I didn't realize there wouldn't be any shade, so we both got sunburned. It was easy to get carried away and stay out for a long time.

Little Bug in a sunny spot

Just had to share a few sweet pictures of Maggie...Isn't she adorable?

She loves to find the sunny spot to lay in. Like the saying goes, "Happiness is a warm puppy."

AMOA

We went to the Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria while I was in town for Spring Break. It was so beautiful! The museum is in Clara Driscoll Sevier's house, a patron of the arts who also organized the effort to save the Alamo from being torn down. There is also a community art school on the grounds, and all the artwork in the museum is from people who have taught at the art school. PLUS, there are 12 acres of grounds surrounding a beautiful lagoon that feeds into Lake Austin that you can walk through. It's quite lovely.

Sillies

My mom would have loved these photo ops....The statues are from the grounds of the museum. Very fun! This is Jeremy and Lyndsey, our friends from Irving who came to visit us for the weekend. Jeremy is also going to chiropractic school, and Lyndsey is in the massage therapy program at Parker.

Capitol in bloom

Our friends Jeremy and Lyndsey came to visit us from Irving, and Doug took them downtown to the Capitol and the History of Texas Museum. Spring sure is beautiful, huh?

Quote

Here is a wonderful quote that makes MY life seem easier to take a lot of days...just wanted to share it with you!
~e

Now we must ask why the Savior, why came to show us the perfect example of holiness and submission to the Father, would want us to know that this suffering caused "even God, the greatest of all to tremble because of pain...and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink..."(D&C 19:18). There are at least three reasons he wanted us to know of his desire for escape, and they have a lot to do with honesty in our own prayers. To begin with, when our mortal weaknesses cause us to waver in our duties, to shrink form our responsibilities and wish we could find an easier way, we can remember that Christ also had those same feelings.Jesus wants us to understand that there is neither shame nor disgrace in feeling tired or wanting to quit or hoping to escape the challenges we encounter. Not as long, that is, as we endure to the end and continue to pray, in spite of our feelings, "nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done."

Secondly, Jesus was not denied the help for which he asked. An angel appeared , "strengthening him," helping him to remain steadfast and true to his covenants (see Luke 22:43). We should realize that when fear, discouragement or weariness is pulling us away from our duties we too can pray and receive divine assistance to remain faithful to our callings and duties. Joseph Smith counseled us to abandon our pride in those times of wavering or weakness, admit our needs and ask for help to stay faithful: "Help thy servants to say, with thy grace assisting them: thy will be done, O Lord and not ours" (D&C 109:44). We must remember that Jesus Christ had to call to his Father for help, that there is no reason for us to feel ashamed when we follow that perfect, divine example.

And finally, a third message of this sacred account is that we must be totally honest with God in our prayers. The Savior did not try to fake the garden experience. He was in agony with unfamiliar feelings of shame and guilt and punishment for sins he did not commit. To his great alarm, he found himself afraid and shrinking from his duty, looking for a way to escape (D&C 19:18). But he was honest and humble enough to tell his Father exactly how he felt. He certainly did not want to waver, so he asked for help. When a person is hurting and his commitment is weakening, he should say so in prayer. Urgent prayer. Immediate prayer. We must not allow foolish pride to try and hide our feelings from God. He already knows how we feel- and he understands. He did not condemn Jesus, nor count his wavering as sin. Rather he sent sent help to strengthen his son's resolve and keep him in the line of duty, and that is exactly what he will do for us when we are honest and submissive in prayer. Satan cannot defeat us on this battleground as long as we trust Heavenly Father enough to be open and honest in our prayers. Putting on the Armor of God Stephen A Cramer pg 76

First Hair Cut

Sherman got groomed for the first time today! Now his feet are trimmed and his belly and bum have less hair to get caught in stuff. And he's very soft!

South San Gabriel River

This river is pretty close to our house in Leander. It is really fun to go there with the dogs and let them run around. Sherman is a pretty good swimmer! There are also some dinosaur tracks in the riverbed.
Here are pictures of us!

Big Dog

Here is Cosmo! We got him three weeks ago from a farm in Buda, south of Austin. They had found him wandering the highway last summer, so they took care of him. Unfortunately, with their other big dogs it was too much, and they had to find a new home for him. He gets along really well with Sherman and Maggie, and is very gentle and sweet. We sure do love him already!