Here are a few photos of the family that were taken this past weekend. Rob is a bit camera-shy, so there aren't any pictures of him, but I got a few of the girls and even some of Jordan!
This beautiful spider web was draped from the overhang of my house, just beyond my back yard gate. I love the way it sparkled in the afternoon sun.
We had such a good time wandering through the paths and examining different plants, despite the stifling humidity. Of course, I took tons of photos--I couldn't with so many great subjects!
These orchids look like their markings had been painted on . . .
. . . while this orchid was a cross between a giraffe and a fairy with wings! 
This was one of the most interesting plants. Both the pink and the purple blooms came out of a single plant. 
The water lilies were just breathtaking---they were in every hue and so peaceful. 
. . . and there were even a few critters.
Look at these birds taking a bath---isn't the one on the right the cutest thing?!?!
I was fascinated by all the patterns and textures in the garden.
I've wanted a pair from quite a while and finally placed my order a week or so ago.
Toms provides a pair of shoes for a needy child with every purchase, so it's a great cause, too. I slipped them on and, oh my, they are so comfortable!!! 
I know what I'll be we The only problem is that I received not one pair, but two pairs instead. 
I don't know what happened in the order process, but it looks like I'll be making a phone call in the morning. 
And then there are real chickens. I don't see chickens very often around here, but on my first mission trip to Mexico, I discovered there are chickens everywhere there. At first I thought it was for the eggs. I later discovered that most of them are there for cock-fighting--which is considered a "sport" there.
I've only been to this particular center once and that was about 10 years ago. Back then, I remember getting directions from a co-worker. They went something like this: "turn right at the oil rig and go down until you see a couch on the side of the road (there will be a dog sitting on the couch). Turn at the first road to the right after the couch. " This morning, I discovered that you still turn right at the oil rig, 
but Nancy Navigator (a name Dan dubbed my GPS system recently) actually gave me street names, too. The roads were completely paved this time 
and the center had grown to include 4 classrooms and nice playground.
A big storm was blowing in, but it was so nice to sit for a few minutes with the windows down, overlooking the lake. As a teenager, I used to swim at this same location (it was kind of creepy to swim in even back then).
And just FYI: Caddo Lake was the site of the first off-shore oil well ever to be drilled
The first step is to select tiles, beads, charms and lay out a tentative pattern. 
Breaking the tiles proved a great way to work out a few frustrations and stress.
Then, we covered the crosses with mastic---a sticky adhesive used in laying tile . . .
. . . and set about pressing the bits of tiles and marbles into the mastic. 
Each cross was so unique and pretty. 
Here's mine---I used a charm with tiny bird eggs pictured for the center and then arranged 
and re-arranged until I was satisfied. 
It will be a couple of days before everything is completely dry, but now I can't wait to hang my cross and begin another project---I've always wanted to tile the top of that little wood table out in the carport.
