my heart is hurting and i just do not have many words to say, for once. i am glad that he's finally free.

here are some of James' own words or verses he gave to me through letters many years ago that seem to be appropriate now:

"Remember to thank God for His Son, and every good and bad thing in your life."

"Psalm 62:8 - Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

"God is good, so love him."

and from his favorite Psalm:

"As for man, his days are like grass;

as a flower of the field so he flourishes.

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,

and its place acknowledges it no longer.

But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,

and his righteousness to children's children,

to those who keep His covenant and remember His precepts to do them."

-Psalm 103:15-18

summer reading list and boulder pics

so, i realize that summer is almost over (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!) but i still haven't posted about my summer reading.

intriguing quote from the book i'm currently reading (Brideshead Revisted - Evelyn Waugh):

"'Sometimes,' said Julia, 'I feel the past and the future pressing so hard on either side that there's no room for the present at all.'"

that really stuck out to me. i think i can identify with that. but that could be entire post on its own.

ok, here's the stack of summer reading:

the first stack are the books i've already read or am in the process of reading. the other two stacks are the books that i still have to read before school starts on august 9! don't think i'm going to make it!

also, here's some pics from our lovely trip to boulder, co for the buchheister family reunion. we have these every 5 years and there are descendants from my grandfather (dale buchheister) and all of his siblings(there were 12 siblings total!!!), so it's kind of a big deal. there were 110 people at the reunion this year, which is fewer than have been at previous reunions, if that gives you an idea. pretty amazing.

1. the ernie buchheisters playing on pearl street

2. hiking with kirk, my sis and bro, and some of the "cousins" (2nd cousins, a few times removed or something)

3. overlooking boulder from the not-quite-but-close-enough-to-the-top

4. theresa, me, and liz (my 1st cousin). theresa cannot be trusted with a gravy boat.

5 and 6. some of the dale buchheisters (not my brother dale, my grandfather dale) including my grandmother mary ruth, dad's brothers john and mike and their families and my family. dad's sister dalene and her family had already left by this point. confusing yet??

i'm really glad for these reunions and love my big family. it makes me sad that we can only all gather every five years but there are just so many of us and it's hard to get together in one place.