Ten on Tuesday

Ten Things I Love About Texas:


1. My family and my roots...both are in Texas.


2. Watching a big ole thunderstorm roll in.


3. The food...barbecue beef brisket, tex-mex, Mrs. Bairds powdered sugar donuts, plain Doritos, Donut Stop donuts, Taco Villa...


4. Walking in stores (and restaurants) and hearing country music playing.


5. Men in cowboy hats (especially old cattlemen that I've grown up around) and boots.


6. People who pull to the side of the road to let you pass.


7. Wide roads with shoulders.


8. Aggieland and Aggies..from the inside looking out you cannot explain it, from the outside looking in you cannot understand it.


9. West Texas people...those who are blatantly honest - mean what they say and say what they mean and will stand by you through anything.


10. All my exes live in Texas...hee, hee (Jerry actually added this one)!

Green Thumbs and Gardens...

We attempted a garden this last fall with some success, learned some things (I have never had a green thumb, but my good friend Libby told me to keep on trying anyway), then called Stone (couldn't do it without him) once again to come help us get our summer garden ready. We have had a bountiful summer crop, and it has been so exciting for the kiddos...here is our first harvesting session back in June:

We have had cucumbers and green beans running out of our ears! And our tomatoes and squash are now producing well too!

We wer all very excited as you can see. The kids have eaten more fresh veggies than ever because they grew them and picked them themselves!

Anyone who knows Asher, knows that, before long, he's got to take a break for a snack...

Kenzie's Macon Noise

Wow! I tried to start catching up on my blog at the end of school and had started writing about our spring, when...my computer crashed, so I lost all of my pics. Well, Kenzie asked when I was going to write about her ball season, so here it is...

Kenzie loves softball...I mean, she looovvves it! She had prayed for God to give her an opportunity to play travel ball, so when she got the opportunity to try out, then made it, she was soooo excited! She played on the Macon Noise this spring. She came such a long way in her hitting and she dominated left field. I was so proud of her!

She had the best experience with the best coaches - truly a team of men who coached with integrity, love, and grace - all the while with a very competitive edge. I could not have asked for better as a mom. We were so blessed to be a part of this team - great girls, great parents, fabulous coaches!

We had a rough start as we were a very young team; Kenzie was the second oldest girl on the team! In our first few tournaments, we played whatever games we were guaranteed, then went home...then slowly, we began to win a few games each time.

Then, for our last tournament, we lost our first game, then we played five games in a row with no break in between (98 degrees, mind you), because we were WINNING! We didn't win the tournament, but we came in third and I was so proud of our girls! They were elated! As a matter of fact, one of the umpires for that tourney caught us at the end of the day and said, "You know I had my doubts about your little team when I first saw you, but I have never seen a team with such heart and determination...it was a treat to watch them play and win today!"

The best thing for me was seeing Kenzie grow through all of this. She learned about being a part of a team, about doing your best and playing your hardest, even without success for a while.

She had an incredible time and never once complained...she loved it and can't wait for some more NOISE this fall!

Fun at the Freeman Farm

The 4th of July has always been a big holiday in my family. Growing up, it was my sister's birthday, so it was extra special -family picnics, church picnics, fireworks, birthday cake.

When Jerry and I first married, it was a special time for all of the Dingmores to gather at the lake with family since we were all scattered at Christmas. We would camp at the lake for a couple of days, and great family times were had.

Then, in Wichita Falls (where we pastored for 9 years), there was a huge air force base there, Sheppard AFB, and during that time of getting to know, doing life with and worshipping with the men and women of our military, made me prouder than ever to be an American, and gave the celebration an entirely new meaning. They were family.

When we moved to GA, there was not a community celebration really, we spent one at Lake Tobo, a couple of sweet ones at a family picnic with friends, and one watching fireworks at the "club", but nothing stuck...until a few years ago when my friend Lucy asked us to come to the family farm for their gathering on the 3rd to cook the pig for their celebration on the 4th.

We had no idea what a tradition it would become. Now, our whole family looks forward to it every year...the family gathers at Granny and Grandaddy Freeman's farmhouse to cook the pig, and for my non-Georgia readers, yes, it is an entire pig stretched out on a grill-like pit in the ground. A fire must be kept going to the side of it so that coals can be continually heaped into the pig pit throughout the night. Meanwhile, the kids are gloriously entertained by playing with the goats, rabbits, donkeys and chickens at the farm, or swinging on a rope in the barn, or playing a giant game of Hide-n-Go Seek with all the kids from 16 years old - 5 years old, or visiting by the fire, or riding 4-wheelers...it really doesn't matter, it's family and it's simple, good, clean FUN!

The cooking of the pig takes 12-16 hours depending on the pig's size, and it has to be flipped half way through...so the Dingmores stay until the flipping, which usually takes place about 1:00-2:00 AM. It is quite a procedure to watch for this Texas girl!

I guess I got to rattling on, and I'm not sure if this makes sense. I'm just full of gratitude for what we celebrate today and for how God has always provided "family" for me when I needed it, no matter where I am.

Good intentions

What is it that they say about good intentions? Hmmm...

Well, I had good intentions of getting back into blogging...then my computer crashed, and all of my pictures are on a disk instead of being in my computer, but at least they're not lost...so I will attempt again to catch up on life in the Dingmore household. I do have a new computer, so that is a good thing...except I don't adapt to change so well sometimes, and I'm still "adapting" to my new computer. I know it's faster and better, but it doesn't work just how I want it to. Okay, okay, I know, it's technology - it's got to change.

Kenzie had a fun spring/summer season with the Noise. I will post pics soon.

Colton has one more tournament with the Storm. Asher got to play one game with the All Stars (he was thrilled).

We leave Monday for camp for a week, then home for the weekend...then finally home to Texas for two weeks. Whoop! We will miss Daddy, but so ready to get home and be with family and friends that we don't see enough!

Will try to catch up on some more summer events over the weekend...