Fall enters softly as the Welcomed Raindrops

Fall 2013 comes sweetly over our very precious little valley and hillside.

Open your doors to a morning touched by dew and destiny through the eyes of the GateWay.

 The little bur oaks we planted have offered a few acorns this year, and we are in hopes of more next year as they send their roots deep into this porous soil.

 The sunsets on days offering rain are spectacular... Texas skies are incomparable in our view.

 Lantana will always attract the swallowtails just before the monarchs migrate through.

 Cattle in the grassy valley will always be one of our greatest indicators of truth when it comes to storms over the area. Our one little longhorn is glad to have the company of 44 Farm's young heifers for a while before they are all moved to a more lush field across the way.

 Horsemint is one of our favorite end of season beauties. They send their purple spires Heavenward as if royally praising the ONE WHO gives these latter rains always available here from September through October. We do thank the Father from Whom all good and perfect gifts are given.

 The bounty offered here is not only that of a tangible quality... more often than not it is the kind that no amount of money could buy. It is the peace that comes from hearts settled on truth and absolutely sure of the place one holds in the scheme of the universe. The identity of the ONE WHO made all things and called them "good". 

May you know and feel the richness of the season.

May you be blessed as the season of Thanksgiving and Nativity touch your soul with Peace that passes understanding of these often chaotic times in which we are living. The true meaning of "peace" is "the authority to come against the one who creates chaos"... 

May you know that you know that you know.... exactly who you are and what is TRUTH.

Shalom friends and yet to be friends.

Spring brings so many welcome sights and so many return guests!

 This year the wildflowers of TEXAS are incredible and even if my well meaning husband wants to grate up all my poppies from the drive area, the few blue bonnets and the hard to start Indian paintbrush are making a debut in many of our cottage locales!

 At sunset, the native Texas redbuds are still our reliable rosy glow on these lovely Spring evenings.

 Round up of the 44 Farms bulls is done on horseback... this year using Jag, the new and amazing mare.

 For our quick turn arounds, I have 2 awesome helpers with broom and vacuum! So fun to have family cottages and family share time. We even get to leave chocolate bunny surprises for our Easter guests... Hope they especially enjoyed the hand written notes of the little ladies who love surprises!

 Fossil hunts, scavenger hunts, sandpile digging and just plain ole country fun are always happening somewhere around these cottages of ours.

 Flowers on the ground our in the pond are too lovely for words!!! so many new kinds! and if anyone wants the most incredible sight ever... go over to the adjacent Buffalo Gap Cemetery where Forrest and Mabel Reynolds have planted blue bonnets for years... the entire area is covered!!! Even if our unique and wonderful Forrest is no longer with us... there is an ocean of blue that has become his legacy!

Easter has many traditions at our home.... hope each of you have your own as well.

One of the best gifts we give our families is a Godly heritage that reveals the hearts of love for the ONE WHO made us and called us to His family!

Happy Springtime friends.... join us sometime soon!

Spring at the GateWay 2011 means rainbows and redbuds!

 As the Winter retreats, the redbuds bring in Spring!

 The GateWay into Abilene and BG... may appear in the misty distance, but our guest will always find CLARITY as they enjoy the peace and calm of the cottages!

 We love the notes our "friends" leave us... it confirms our hearts as to the purpose of our places.

 God's promises are timeless and we feel His touch over this entire place we get to call.....

HOME! WELCOME FRIENDS!!!

What do birthdays and Romance have in common?....Kidnapping and Survival Man weekend

The Howell lady had the plot well in motion by the time it was too late for her "victim" to back out..... It was a kidnapping of the most romantic kind for this young couple with a 5 year old and a toddler left with loving relatives as they stole away for a weekend made for two!

Glad we could assist in your conspiracy:)

This time of year brings all the "zipper spiders" out in full yellow and black regalia. Yes, we consider these good creatures as they capture unwanted flies and grasshoppers making quick work of the nuisance insects. Here is a quick lesson on arachnid culture via an unlucky grasshopper venturing too close to a waiting web. (NO WE ARE NOT SPIDER lovers, but these are an exception as they do not sting or bite... they merely capture bad insects and make lovely webs)... I must say we did have to rescue a wayward praying mantis from our Charlotte.

Lizards are hatching out at the sandbox.... what fun to catch and RELEASE the little guys.

This fine October day brought families out for 2 little guy's SURVIVAL MAN birthday party.

A scavenger hunt, turning messy water into clean water, and certainly the requisite cupcakes with MOUNDS of sugary icing made this a day worth remembering.

Even the Dads didn't want to leave.... they stayed for the whole deal. I wonder if it was the kids just being kids in the country... or the cupcakes???

So what do birthdays and romance have in common?

THEY shared a weekend at the GateWay and what a great weekend it was!

Summer 2010 Weddings Farris and Jones

July of 2010 brought a wedding from our down the road neighbors....

Congratulations all the Farris's family! Katelyn, you were lovely!

What a great way to christen your family's new home here on Lemons Gap,

A WEDDING in your front yard with guests at our cottages.

Then, another wedding bridging the countries of Holland and the USA!

Hunter Jones and Marloes Mout.... congratulations!

All the friends from Kansas City and IHOP were such a breeze of joy in our homes and in our worship time on Sunday morning.

The wedding at Logston was lovely even though the temperatures soared again into the 100's after a rehearsal night where rain poured so unexpectedly in August in TEXAS!

Brand Jones... your family is increasing exponentially!

We welcomed several guests from Holland in both cottages.

Our deer, many with twins, welcomed our guests as well.

Jack Rabbits made our Dutch feel a true taste of Texas.

You are all welcome again, should you ever consider a stop in Texas.

Congratulations to Ino on his engagement here on this trip.

Opa... yes, it is HOT here and I will try to learn what 100 degrees Fahrenheit is in Celsius:)

It was a good week you spent here in our cottages.

We pray blessings over both these new marriages and we thank God for new friends from around the world!

GOD IS GOOD!

Poppies and Roses... SPRING treasures

We had a family of 6 lovely ladies at our cottages recently.....
They knew how to do it up right! Courtney booked the cottage for her mom, sisters and a pretty little 18 month old to enjoy a girl's weekend right in the middle of GateWay's Spring glory!
Not only did they get to enjoy incredible weather, and the pretty flowers, but they also set up to really indulge themselves with our massage therapist (who came the cottage) and our gourmet chef who prepared their meal as they sat outside with the breezes and good conversation to make their stay perfectly memorable.
(Please check out their own words on our VRBO comment page)
I always get great help with the watering tasks this time of year....
with much of the water going on the helpers as in the pots:)
Thank you ladies for your kind words and the wonderful way you regarded our home as yours!
WE LOVE guests like you.....welcome back any time!

Words are more than Words at the GateWay:)

One thing that you will always find WORDS!!!!

We here at the GateWay believe that Words have power...

We greet you with our guest book,

Our FYI page,

AND.... a "caution" about some of the
not so friendly inhabitants of the area:)

AKA... rattlesnakes (especially as they come out of winter hibernation about this time of year)

HENCE... the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup.

One of our favorite promises rests above the kitchen table nook...

As you come through the gate of our 2 bedroom, or the 1 bedroom, we pray that your cares drop from your shoulders and that the rest you choose will be found in this special place we call
GateWay GetaWay....

.... oh yes....

not only do we leave you words of blessing...

SOMETIMES,

we have guests who reciprocate!

Thanks Odessa friends.... We hope to see you again!

Late January and February Rains fill ALL the tanks and make WILDFLOWERS ready to SPRING FORTH!

AS Troy looks over our newly overflowing tanks... he says "Carla, this is water for years in this place!"
I agree.... the tanks we've just dug have all been filled to overflowing with these late January, early February rains over Texas. MOST unusual rain pattern!
WE even found a waterfall in the prayer chapel tank... simply the heavy runoff from our rain drenched Texas land.
The muddy road is hopefully going to be replaced with the grasses and wildflowers the grandchildren planted on the new East property tank. We are praying it holds water as we believe this is one of our most valuable resources and gifts from a loving GOD!
All the wildlife will be loving this spot!!! it is their favorite watering hole, and now it is again filled!