Louise and Brian's Wedding

Our niece, Louise Dolby and Brian Schultze got married in Stanford Memorial Church on March 19, 2011. What a beautiful wedding and festive celebration it was! Despite torrential downpours throughout their wedding day, the bride and groom stayed poised and jubilant through all of the activities of the day. I wrote a poem as part of our wedding gift to them and was honored that they chose to have it read as part of their ceremony! As our first blog post of 2011 (finally!), I share it with you. Enjoy!

LOVE UNFOLDS

A seed of love was planted in our hearts long ago

Tiny, Fragile, Buried

The elements of life seemed to threaten, not encourage, the seed to grow

Pain, Hurt, Loss

Deep within the darkness, something stirred within

Longing, Knowing, Hoping

The tears of life had moistened the soil against the skin

Softening, Breaking, Opening

And love sprouted with new growth, in new green

Joy, Life, Laughter

Transcending all that it had known, the light was seen

Vision, Adventure, Possibilities

Reaching skyward toward the light, a fresh breeze blows

Awakening, Igniting, Uplifting

And the flower slowly, elegantly unfolds. The heart knows.

Life has called forth life

Love has called forth love.

Texas Furniture Maker Show 2010

At long last I post photos and award winners at the 2010 Texas Furniture Makers Show in Kerrville, TX. The show was held at The Kerr Arts and Cultural Center - www.kacckerrville.com and is an annual event each November/December. If you missed this year's show, below are some highlights. If you were able to attend and/or participate, you will enjoy re-visiting these outstanding entries. First, we ask you to indulge us in some shameless self-promotion - Rex won Best Traditional Furniture for his Demi-Lune Table made out of quilted maple. For more of Rex's work, visit http://www.rexwhitecustomfurniture.com/.

First Place Overall - Best of Show - went to Jim Wallace of Cedar Park, TX for his Tapestry Table (below):

Second Place Overall went to Alton Bowman of Flower Mound, TX for his Writing Desk (below):

Third Place Overall went to Danny Kamerath of Dallas, TX for his Martin Hall Table (below):

Other outstanding entries are below by such excellent furniture artists as Lou Quallenberg of Llano, TX; Barry Bradley of Fredericksburg, TX; Lee Burns of Kerrville, TX and Phillip Sell of Wimberley, TX.

Sunset

Sunset

A couple sits nearby

They parked in handicapped parking.

Age has kissed them

silence has gripped them.

They sit and sip and quietly watch the water, the sunset.

Their days of party and passion are past.

Now they settle into a rhythm of breathing and being

together.

He cuts her food as she watches

gently feeding her the nourishment she needs

to carry on.

She sips through a straw, her water or wine...

not far removed from my days, my life.

"Irresistible" plays in my ear.

There was a day when these two knew the meaning of that word.

And they still do.

Taking their love to another place, another time.

"Irresistible" and "Unforgettable"

they will always be.

Life's Landscape

The Landscape of My Life

As I sat on an airplane bound for California to visit my mother, looking at the landscape below, I contemplated the landscape of my life. How does my life appear? Does it appear more like the rugged mountains with their dramatic ups and downs, sharp edges, yet breathtaking vistas? Or, is it more the flat valley with waving grasses, blustery winds and straight, predictable lines. Perhaps it is a seashore with its changing tides, rolling waves, life above and life below the surface. Or, the gently rolling hills, seasonally changing from green to brown and back again - nothing dramatic but lovely, flowing, peaceful. I suppose my life has been a bit of all of these terrains - a traveler along life's pathway enjoying the beauty of each, navigating the challenges of each.

Where I feel most alive and most connected is at the seashore. Perhaps it is the mystery of the deep - the sense that there is much still to be explored below the surface. I am awed by the power of the sea, the colors of the sea, the beauty of the sea. It reminds me that I am not in control and at any time it could come and sweep me into its depths. Yet it mesmerizes me, hypnotizes me, enchants me. I desire to discover more of its mystery.

I will continue my quest across the landscape of life - discovering my own heights, depths, steep climbs and quiet valleys - carving and molding the landscape of my soul.

Website, too!

Rex White Custom Furniture! www.rexwhitecustomfurniture.com/awards.html



The silence you have heard from our blog over the past two months has been deafening! We could use the excuse that we have been busy, but that is a worn out excuse and only partially true. We will do our best to remedy this situation over coming months for those in the big world out there who may be listening.



To fill the void, I refer you to Rex's website to view and enjoy the visual delights of his fine custom furniture. Perhaps this will reach you at that precise moment you are looking for that special custom item for your home. Don't delay, contact him today at rex@rexwhitecustomfurniture



More "dove tales" and "dove tails" will follow soon.

The Quest

THE QUEST

Like bringing a knife to a gunfight,

I find I am unprepared and ill-equipped

For the challenge and battle of this life.

Does anyone come truly prepared?

Does anyone really know what to prepare for?

My heart is wrapped with a thin veil of protection.

My soul boldly marches through dangerous

Battlefields, nakedly on its own quest

Exposed to the arrows of pain and sorrow,

Disappointment and failure.

Each wound is but an opening through which

Light can be seen.

And at the end of soul's quest

The veil over my heart will be lifted and

Find it is surrounded by love.

Living Water

Today marks the observance of Maundy Thursday within the Christian church. Many churches commemorate the Lord's Last Supper with His disciples and His "command" (Maundy means command) that his disciples "love one another." Additionally, many churches conduct services of foot-washing, following Jesus' humble example of washing the feet of the disciples - an act of service, love and humility. We are reminded to relate to each another with these qualities, placing ourselves at the feet of one another both literally and figuratively. The church I attend, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, TX (www.stbarnabasfbg) also holds an all-night vigil this night "in the garden with Jesus," remembering the time that He went away to pray to His Father that "this cup might pass from me." Throughout the night, people take turns praying "with Jesus," symbolizing that He will not be alone on this last night of His life. Take a moment to reflect on the meaning and power of the events of this day with the words of this poem:

LIVING WATER

Warm tears slowly find their way down my cheek and drip from my chin.

The brokenness of my heart, the pain of love pours forth and spills around me.

The sweet fragrance of this love and the saltiness of my tears mingle on my tongue.

How can something so painful, smell so sweet?

How does the sorrow of life bring out its flavor?

Oh God, hold my wounded heart within your healing hands.

Fill the broken places with the salve of your loving tears.

Show me how this vessel can still be useful

To pour out to others your living water.