A Cowboy

Few cowboys ever owned much.

The primary reward of being a cowboy

was the pleasure of living a cowboy's life.

Unknown

We lost a real cowboy when we lost Leslie Amadore Hencratt at age 76 on April 12, 2012, and I lost my "Unc".  Uncle Les was really my mom's cousin, but we called him Unc.  He and Aunt Leora could not have children, so my brother and I gladly filled in.  I must say, looking back, we were sooooooo spoiled rotten by Unc and Aunt Leora.  At the time, I didn't realize how spoiled we were; I just felt very loved and knew I could get away with ANYTHING and get ANYTHING I wanted.

So the Hencratt family and friends gathered in Cottonwood last week to say our final good-bye to our brother, cousin, uncle, and friend.  Our long-time family friend, Dan Woolery, did an excellent job officiating.  Unc was laid to rest in the Cottonwood Community Cemetery next to his sister and mom and dad. I laughed  to myself because there were more people at the service WITH cowboy hats on than without.  Of course, after the service, in true Hencratt family fashion, we went to the Cottonwood Community Center for a huge potluck!  Even in tough times, there's nothing you can't eat your way out of!  :0)

Unc was born in Red Bluff and moved to Cottonwood when he was a little boy.  He grew up on a ranch and spent 40 years working as a ranch hand on two different ranches (same owner) in Shingletown and in Goose Lake.  He always grew a HUGE garden and hunted.  He lived a very simple life with few modern conveniences.  As the quote above says, Unc's pleasure was living a cowboy's life.  A few years ago, losing his eyesight forced him to "retire".  He loved the land and animals and took great care of both.

He also loved ME with all his heart!  Unc called me "Judy Ann" from the day I was born.  When I was little, I would ask him, "Why do you call me Judy Ann?"  He would smile (which he rarely did) and say, "Cause that's your name!"  He introduced me to Rocky Mountain Oysters when I was very young.  Boy could Unc fry up a skillet full of Rocky Mountain Oysters, and whenever he did, he always saved some for me.  By the time I was old enough to realize what they were, I LOVED them.  If you don't know what Rocky Mountain Oysters are, you can look it up on Wikipedia.  So many memories floating through my mind; too numerous to share!

A rare smile...Didn't see those too often

Unc was a quiet man!  I once read this quote about cowboys:  "Cowboys talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much."  That was my Uncle Les!

Oh how I will miss him!  

A "Sock" and No Shoes

I absolutely LOVE the fun things Redding Christian High School has for the students. Each month the Student Council plans a great activity for fun and fellowship! On March 9th they had a Sock Hop! (I know, I'm soooo far behind in blogging).  They had sooooo much fun! Dressing Up.Eating.Dancing. = FUN!

Jeff, Hannah and Lyle

The senior class members that attended the Sock Hop

Then on April 10th, Redding Christian School sponsored "One Day Without Shoes" through Toms Shoes. The whole school was invited to participate. When you arrived at school, you "checked" your shoes in at the office and got them back at the end of the day. The purpose of this activity was to experience what children in other parts of the world experience -- having no shoes to wear! It was a cold and rainy day, so the kids REALLY got a feel for what it is like for less fortunate children. T-shirts were available for sale, and the proceeds went to purchasing Toms Shoes. The elementary students were given a coloring page so they could design their own Toms Shoe. 

Leaving for the DR

Lyle left on Sunday with a group of 25 kids and 4 adults from Redding Neighborhood Church to go to the Dominican Republic on a Missions Trip. They drove to San Francisco, flew to Miami Florida, and on to the DR. On the agenda for the week...cement work, cement work, and more cement work!!! He won't be home until Monday, April 9th.

They are meeting up with David and Aleah who moved to the DR in January. They, along with another missionary couple, will be heading up teams that come to the DR for various work projects. Aleah is the daughter of one of my good friends.

David and Aleah have been posting a picture everyday on their blog. Nice to see Lyle in their picture last night:

This is what David wrote on their blog: "They’re finally here! It’s only been two and a half months but it feels like we’ve been getting ready for teams forever. And finally our first team. I couldn’t think of a better group to have for our first team. The High School Ministry from our home church Neighborhood Church in Redding, CA.

I’m writing all of this a little late because it’s been pedal to the metal since they arrived. The group arrived 15 minutes early, at about 8:15 pm local time. We then loaded the bus and went to Rick and Tammie’s for a quick dinner of empenadas. During dinner we gave a brief orientation and welcome. Then we took the group to the hotel they’re staying at for the week.

Aleah used her spanish that she’s learned in the last two months to check everyone in at the hotel. I’m so proud of her. Seriously, I was surprised.

There will be a lot more to come this week. I’ll do my best to keep up. We start off tomorrow at 7am with prayer and breakfast and then it’s off to work. We’ll be at two construction sites. We’ll be working building a school and a church. It’s going to be a good week."

P.S. Will be VERY weird to have Easter without my two children!! :0(

P.S.S. Lyle shouldn't get separated from the group or lost with that bright orange sweatshirt! LOL

J.R. from Dallas...

I think Lyle could play J.R. from Dallas!

Meet Me In St. Louis

Last week Lyle played the role of Mr. Smith in Meet Me In St. Louis. It was bittersweet because it was Lyle's last performance at Redding Christian School; his final RCS bow. Lyle has participated in many musicals and dramas in his RCS days:

Fall Musicals
School House Rock
Anne of Green Gables
Alice in Wonderland
Music Man
Beauty and the Beast
Oliver
White Christmas


Spring Dramas
The Wind in the Willows
Gooney Bird Greene
The Prince and the Pauper
Our Hearts Were Young and Gay
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Meet Me in St. Louis

Oh how grateful I am for Redding Christian School and their fantastic fine arts program. It has allowed kids like Lyle, who are not interested in sports, to have an opportunity to grow their artistic abilities, social skills, and self-esteem. I'm so thankful for Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Henry who believed in Lyle and helped awaken his passion for drama and theatre. I cannot say enough about those two ladies. They spend countless hours after school and on weekends working with the students for these various productions. But, it goes further. They LOVE each student and care about them deeply, both on the stage and off stage.

There were nine seniors in this production. Quoting from the program, "From the 'small stage' of elementary Christian programs, all-school musicals, and class chapels, to the bright lights of the Cascade Theatre, and in all the drama in between (on and off stage), this unforgettable group of seniors have entertained and endeared thousands with their joy, their enthusiasm, and their incredible talent." Here's a picture of those seniors with Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Henry...

Thank you to all of you who came to see the play -- Kim, Susie, Gramz, Paige, Ross, Donnel, Travis, Aunt Monda, Mrs. Kinnier, Anne, and whoever else I forgot. Thank you, Donnel, for bringing Lyle flowers!!!!! You sweetie!!!!!

Some other pictures:

Now graduation is right around the corner! I'm excited to see the great and mighty things God has planned for "Act II" of Lyle's life.

Dishin' Up The Details

“We have to talk. You are going to freak out!” Bob announced when I arrived home from the Enterprise Starship Variety Hour on Friday, February 24th. We couldn’t “talk” until Lyle went to bed, and it was Friday night so he was staying up late. Finally at 11:30, I insisted he go to bed since I couldn’t stand it one more minute. Of course, being the pessimist I am (and not thinking it had to do with Hilary and Ethan), my mind was reeling with all kinds of “worst case scenarios”.

Ethan and Hilary had come to Redding late that afternoon for a quick trip to the doctor (unfortunately), dinner with us and then they drove straight back to the coast. While Hilary was in the bathroom, Ethan told Bob he would like to talk to us next weekend about asking Hilary to marry him. Bob told me this later that night and anxiously awaited my reaction. I had two emotions: relief that it wasn’t one of my “worst case scenarios” and then total SHOCK! I thought the plan was always to wait until they had graduated. Well, plans change! :0)

The next weekend, the kids were coming for a Jones Family Reunion. We talked with Ethan while Hilary was in the shower and getting ready. Side note: Guess I finally found a reason to be thankful that Hilary takes the longggggeeeeesssssttttt showers in the world! Even though Ethan did not have a goat to offer us (inside joke), we still said yes.


On Saturday, March 10th, Ethan and Hilary hiked to Canyon Creek Falls in Trinity County. When they arrived at the falls, Ethan sang to Hilary and they slow danced (I know! Pretty romantic! Way to go, Ethan!). Afterwards, he pulled the ring box out of his backpack and got down on one knee and proposed. Side note from me: Hiking four miles uphill is not my idea of fun, but Ethan and Hilary LOVE it!

Flat rock overlooking the falls where he proposed:

The ring...

The happy couple...


When they arrived back at Ethan’s parent’s house, Hilary immediately called her brother (since we already knew) and then us, Gramz, and Uncle Wes. The rest of the phone calls were made when they came to Redding on Wednesday and had cell phone reception.

I promised Hilary I wouldn’t tell anyone until Wednesday night (after they had told some more people). Can you believe I was able to keep a secret from February 24th to March 14th? I am pretty proud of myself! It was killing Bob not to tell anyone, so when he went to get his haircut, he told the barber. Figured he was pretty safe! :0)

So, my daughter is engaged. I am a “Mother of the Bride”. I am experiencing all kinds of emotions: excited, thrilled, panic over the cost and work of a wedding, and of course, a little twinge of sadness because this was just yesterday (wasn’t it??????)…

Yes!

Hilary said "Yes!"

More details to follow!