Austin is a Beautiful Place!

I think Austin is a beautiful place.
The weather has been perfect; nice and warm (but low humidity)
with lots and lots of sunshine.

We took the little kids to Zilker Park this morning
to play on the playground.
Jackson calls this playground the "train playground"
because there is a children's train that runs around the park
that is really fun to ride ...

Jackson is on an old fire engine at the playground ...

Karis really LOVES to swing AND
she is saying, "Cheese" for me as I take her picture ...
little ham!
We were hoping to ride the train today, but it was not to be!
There were some mechanical problems with it
and it was being worked on, but it was not going to run today ...
Jackson likes to pretend he is the engineer
and pretends to pull on the whistle ...
he really, really likes trains!
(Grandpa Jones is largely responsible for this,
but not totally; because Sabrina loves trains too)
Sabrina bought some seeds and Jackson fed the pigeons ...
Good grief! Do you think they were hungry?!?
Jackson was zipping around chasing the pigeons
about 50 mph and wiped out, scraping his knee in the gravel ...
See the owie on his cute little knee? :(
Here's mom wiping away the gravel and dirt
from the wound, with Karis keeping a careful watch
on the whole procedure ...
Zilker Park is very near downtown Austin.
Barton Creek runs right through it ...

We walked along the creek and watched the birds

and the rapids ...

and just took in the beauty of God's creation ...

"...I am the LORD your God, who teaches you
what is good and leads you along the paths you should follow.
Oh, that you had listened to my commands!
Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
and righteousness rolling like waves."
ISAIAH 48:17b-18

There is a heron right there in the middle
of the picture -- kind of small and difficult to see
(my friend Judy will see it, I'm sure)

After Livie came home from school,
Andrew took us out into the hill country
and over to The Oasis
on Lake Travis
to have some appetizers ...
The Oasis is in the process of rebuilding
after a lightning strike caused fire
and extensive damage to the restaurant ...

Isn't Olivia such a beautiful girl?
And here's our cutie pie, Karis, sweetly
saying "Cheese" for another picture ...

We ordered a round of nachos and
chips and salsa.
We drank soda and soaked in the beauty all around us!

The Oasis sits on the top of a 400 ft hillside
overlooking Lake Travis ...
There are some really fine-looking mansions
surrounding the lake ...
which are fun to look at and be reminded that
the LORD is preparing a place for us ...
a beautiful place WHERE HE LIVES
and so it will be more beautiful than we can ever imagine ...

I think it's pretty nice of Him to have made
places on earth for us to get just a glimpse of what
He is preparing for those who love Him!
On the ride home, Jackson and Karis
grabbed hands ...
I'm not going to lie and tell you that these two
little kiddos always get along and love each other ...
but they are being taught share their toys
and their space and their lives ...
a hard job for parents!
(Isaiah 55:12)
"May the LORD bless and protect you ...
May the LORD's face radiate with you because of you.
May He be gracious towards you
and show you his favor
and give you His peace."
Numbers 6:24-26

(these are two wall hanging/pictures in the Rauch house)

We had a candlelight dinner
later in the evening.
We had prepared our meal ahead of time and just
had to pop it in the oven and cook it for 30 minutes!

Andrew led us in prayer.
I love to listen to Andrew pray.
He is one of the most humble Christians I know.
I have tried to remember his exact words, but I can't!
I just love how he always remembers to confess his
sin and the sins of his family -- and to ask forgiveness,
and for the ability to forgive those who have wronged him ...
Thanks, Lord, for a really beautiful day in Austin!