Fiery West Texas Morning

I want to introduce you all (or y'all, which I contend is perfectly good English vocabulary) to my friend Debby Armerding.  She's graciously offered to help me out here on the blog, since my summer is swallowing me up whole with swim lessons, family trips, vacation Bible school, and all sorts of other kid-related activities.  Here's a little of her background:

Debby grew up on a ranch outside of Valentine, TX.  She says, "I loved the ranch and everything about it – with two brothers who only rarely treated me differently because I was a girl.  I had a blast growing up in that beautiful, wide-open and quiet place."  She has a master's from Wheaton, where she met her husband, Jonathan – a classical violinist and orchestra teacher. With him, the West Texas rancher’s daughter encountered a whole new world of classical music and city living. They have two sons and a lovely daughter-in-law, all of whom now live over 1000 miles away.  "I miss them every day, but I am so proud of the lives they are making for themselves."

"It has been a good life," she says, "The country girl in me will always remain, but slowly I am learning to accept life as it is, rather than what I think I want it to be. God is gracious every day, and I am learning to be thankful for those daily acts of grace."

I love Debby's attitude, encouraging spirit, and the way she looks at life, both literally and visually.  Read on for her first post...

One late September morning while visiting my family’s ranch in West Texas I woke and sensed a pink glow to the morning light coming in the window. Being the early bird I am, I had to go outside and see.

The sky seemed to be on fire! I ran back inside and got my camera (just a little point and shoot) and snapped this picture. Then I stood on the patio and watched the sun come up between Livermore and Sawtooth mountains. It was spectacular, but in all its glorious color that seemed to be shouting “Wake up, world!”, the silence around me was deafening.

Birds were singing their morning songs, and there were some subtle sounds from the barn and pens. But I was reminded of why I love being in the country – the day begins so gently here. It is as if we are all allowed to ease into wakefulness. Even the sun takes its sweet time revealing itself, albeit with a preview as marvelous as this.

Another quiet day on the ranch – with a fiery beginning!