Family Fun & Worship

After returning to Buda from Sabine Pass, we found that our trailer repairs had been accomplished to our satisfaction. We pulled across the road from the dealer and registered at a campground for the weekend. It was time to gear up for the last day of the Austin Fair and Rodeo. It was a beautiful, sunny, fun-filled day. Our daughter, Stephanie Gillette, her husband, Steve, and Jack, 12, Lucie, 10, and Lincoln, 8 accompanied us.

Junk food at the fair is always special, even to grandparents. We saw a cow getting milked by machine, a fancy roper, a monkey riding a border collie, and a sway-backed horse named Glory who could dance and do many other tricks. We passed up the freak show! The livestock auction was fun, and the youth who had worked so hard to raise and groom their animals were rewarded with some extra large checks. Steve took the boys on a spinning bucket ride while Lucie and her mom played it safe with the old folks.

All of us loved the thrill of the rodeo! It was a big deal with many champion cowboys participating. Those bronco-busting, calf-roping, bull-riding guys were crazies, but they all miraculously survived. The grand finale included a concert by Neil McCoy.
The next afternoon, we attended church with the Gillettes at River Stone Community Church. Jack is the drummer in the praise band. The music was loud and rocky with unfamiliar lyrics projected on the screen. Gloria was once spotted holding a finger in her ear: Jerry thought the volume was just right. The band and pastor wore jeans. The preacher even had a hammer loop, but hey, Jesus was a carpenter. The message was Biblical and well delivered. The “on your feet” praise music lasted a long time, and we were asking ourselves, “When can we sit?” Maybe that was why everyone but us was so young. Things have certainly come a long way since “Little Brown Church in the Wildwood.” We felt like real old timers, but the young members made us welcome. They probably had the respirators ready just in case! We are delighted that Stephanie’s family is active in all facets of this evangelistic, storefront church. Steve’s construction skills are much in demand as the church continues to improve and beautify its old downtown building on a limited budget.