A Good Book this Christmas

I would recommend a good book for this season is The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren. I enjoy reading Rick's stuff because he has a special way of making things simple, plain and profound. I am enjoying this book now and will be reading portions of it aloud when our family gathers together this Christmas. Grab a copy for yourself, for your family or for a friend. It will appeal to anyone... regardless their spiritual beliefs and will help readers grow in their understanding of what God did for us at Christmas.

Enjoy this read.

We Have Hope

Getting back into a routine flow was not easy after Daddy passed away. I feel like just in the last week or so clearer thinking is beginning to return. All that I read and hear from others is that it takes from 3 to 6 months to resurface after a loved one dies.

Thanksgiving was a sweet time with our family... Diann's brother Larry and our children. Diann's dad passed away at age 78 on Thanksgiving Day last year. My dad died on October 18 at age 79.

God is so good just to walk close with me and give me comfort through reading his words in the scriptures and talking with him in prayer. I have felt his closeness and love in newer and deeper ways. Our whole family has become even closer going through such losses together.

Hope in God and the future he promises in the Bible gives me great comfort. The promise of life that continues into eternity is an amazing experience to look forward to. I can only read of it and imagine being reunited with grandparents, parents and others who followed Christ in this world.

My prayer from my college days was and still remains, "Lord let me live for you and help others to know and follow you." Thanks for reading.

Listen before you vote!

Does God's Word tell us who to vote for? If it did would you listen? Before you vote, if you haven't already, then take time to listen to this message by Ed Young Jr. I'll admit that he's a little bit over the top sometimes but he makes a really strong case. He's definitely an entertaining communicator and will keep your attention!:
Politicked - Rock the Vote from Fellowship Church on Vimeo.

Pray for my mom and dad

Over the last month or so we have been adjusting to the news that my dad, Troy Cotton, has lung cancer. The doctors have said he has between one and two months.

Daddy has been fighting Alzheimer's for the past 8 years. The news of cancer stirs up mixed feelings. We wish for long life and as many days together as possible, but dad never wanted to conclude his days in a nursing home with no memory.

So we are waiting and giving thanks for God's perfect plan and that God is the only One who knows the number of our days... His plan is best.
...All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalm 139:16-17

Daddy and mom have been married 54 years and daddy's 79th birthday is tomorrow... October 1st. Pray for mom as she waits on dad... day to day and as we all wait for his graduation to a perfect home in heaven and new body.

Daddy with the youngest grandchild ...Caroline.

Meme with Catherine and Diann














"Pop" sitting around the table with five grandkids ... waiting for some of Meme's great cooking.

After the Storm - Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike came through Houston during the night hours of September 12, 2008 on into the morning hours of September 13. Here's how close the storm the storm damage came to our house. This pine tree trunk snapped about 40 up and fell toward our house... missing by this much from coming in our living room or bedroom!

This oak uprooted and fell toward the corner of the house... wedging on another pine and only touching on the roof and bending our gutter.

This oak snapped off about 30 feet high and fell toward our house... missing and hitting our side fence.

This type of debris and limbs covered our entire yard, the streets and neighborhood.

We gave thanks for how God protected us and our home. We it was light enought to see this damage for the first time... Diann burst into tears... I just said, "thank you Lord."

Even though the mess was extensive, we were so blessed by getting out and working with our neighbors... helping each other cut trees and haul limbs... we grew closer friendships and we encouraged by every one's positive spirit.

Would I stay through the next storm? Probably not... this was my first and hopefully my last hurricane up close.

Behind on blogging

I have been sidetracked in so many other activities... can't believe it's been this long since I logged in my thoughts and experiences. I have some catching up to do.