Celebrating Bud Lueck... an amazing man, father and husband

It is hard to believe that a year has past... it seems like only yesterday my phone rang to let me know that one of the most amazing men, fathers, and husbands I have ever known had won his battle with cancer and gone on to celebrate with Jesus... leaving us here to mourn and CELEBRATE his life. Bud was the man you knew as a friend within the first moments in his presence. He was a big bear of a guy with a laugh that filled the room and arms that could hug like none other.

When I moved to Walla Walla, WA in July of 1997 to be the Youth Pastor at Pioneer UMC, his beautiful daughter's Brandy and Toni were in my youth group... and their family became my family. Holiday's would be spent together, trips would be taken together, snow would be played in and laughter and tears shared. They would trust me to take their eldest Nashville to look at the music world... their youngest on a mission trip to Jamaica... they would celebrate and cry with me as I followed my call to Texas. They would count me as family when their daughters married two of the most amazing men and make sure I was there to share in their days.... and ask me to be as family on the day we celebrated Bud's life...

In time spent just how we would do all those years before- but this time with the added addition of some special lil ones, we took a stroll- shared some memories- walked in our thoughts-- and looked for Grandpa Bud's yellow plane with JP... it was a very special day... so today, as I do every day when I see my blue rising star that has been placed in honor of Bud... I pause and remember a man who's integrity is something we should all strive to have, who's love of family was awe inspiring, who loved his wife as every man should and who never met a stranger...

we love and miss you Bud... your finger prints are upon us!


































The road of life is never easy... but the road of life is paved with people that will leave finger prints upon us for life!
Thank you Jesus for all those you have brought across my path- their finger prints rest upon me...upon my heart

My Jack-man is 5 months old!

Jack may be 5 months now.. but these were taken well over a month ago as we got ready to celebrate his mom's 30th (shh don't tell her we told you) birthday... His dad and him came over to show off their matchy matchy duds... lookin' pretty spiffy eh! Jack is the cute one.. Matt ... well he is Jacks lucky daddy... and these are just a few from our time together...

....Jack has discovered his voice... he started to let me know just what he thought of the big fun flash on my camera... he has this thing for lights...too cute!
....every time the flash went away... he got a lil more upset... doesn't help dad woke him from a nap to play photo shoot...
...these next two I took a few days before the Camo shots... Jack and I got to spend the day together and well he scores a lil extra camera time thanks to a very bias Aunt Liz who just happens to think he might be the cutest lil man to cross her path as of late...

The Cross....

a symbol of faith... hope....love... truth... and the price paid for all....
enjoy... and remember!
Lizzy

Gates.. gates.... and MORE gates...

"But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." Matthew 7:14
I've always had a thing for gates... I would say it is mostly because of the scripture quoted above... there is something about them... they can let someone in or keep someone out... they can be made of many things. They can be simple or complex. You can lock them or keep them open... either way... there is just something... something about gates....

Stained Glass... old art... new inspiration.....

last fall I spent months working in the hill country... living at a little camp. Nestled among the camp is a beautiful and peaceful little chapel. Inside the walls, lit only by the afternoon sun, shaded by the trees... I found the following stained glass of saints.. the identities of the saints are important to some, but to me it is the art that is alive...
enjoy!!!
Lizzy