I am home from my mom's and our annual Thanksgiving feast and overeating contest. I think I won this year! If being officially miserable and unable to even consider eating anything is a sign of the gluttony award...I get it.
We were down a few participants this year...only had 14 at the table, but I'm sure we could have fed several more, as is the usual occurance.
Just before hubby and I left, my sister was relating a story about how when things were much leaner for her and her man, he would get her to count her blessings and to articulate the things she was thankful for...I thought I would steal that and make my list this year.
I am thankful for:
*living in a country where I can voice my opinions about things without fear of retribution
*my mom still being alive and well and able to live on her own
*my loving husband who puts up with all my crap, and still thinks I'm a "good woman"
*my three wonderful sons, two precious daughter-in-laws, a daughter-in-law to be, and six, count 'em, six grandchildren (yours, mine, ours-but ALL mine!)
*my amazing sister and her husband (too many things to list on this list, but I shall post about her another time)
*my brother and his wife and family
*my sister-in-law who thinks my childdren and grandchildren are wonderful
*my brother-in-law and his wife and daughter
*a host of friends who just love me and put up with all my stuff
*having a relationship with the Lord Jesus that just amazes me daily...oh how He loves me and forgives me!
Not a comprehensive list, but one that makes me realize that I, too, have so much, and that when it is all said and done at the end of the day, my needs are few, my blessings are bountiful, and my wants are all just that...wants. May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Back in the USA!
After a perfectly marvelous trip, with the small glitch of a cancelled flight we had no notice of, I made it home last night from our cruise of the Western Med, tour of Barcelona, and ministry trip to the Canary Islands. Whew! I may need a couple of "robe days" to recover!
If anyone is considering a cruise, I highly recommend the Norwegian Gem...we were treated like royalty and I don't think a came across one surly crew member while we were onboard. The food was great, a creme brulee with chocolate ganache that I would kill for...and I don't even really like creme brulee! We took tours of Malta, Pompeii, Rome, Florence and Monaco and all were extremely interesting and well organized. I need to go back to Rome and Florence, though...just not enough time to see everything in a 3-4 hour tour, of course.
Barcelona was amazing. I was all geared up to use my Spanish when I realized we were in Cataluna-where they speak Catalan, a mixture of Spanish and French, which is totally out of my range! I could read some menus, but even the street signs stumped me! But the city was fantastic. We bought 2 day passes on a tour bus line and spent the first day riding all over the city looking at amazing architecture and hearing little snippets about museums, etc. The second day we used our pass to get to the Museum of the History of the City in the Bare Gotica. It was a museum unlike anything I have ever been in. It is built on the site of some of the Roman ruins of the original city. You go down an elevator which shows you "2008" as your beginning floor and "5 BC" as your destination! Our trip to Pompeii was helpful in understanding some of the architectural elements found there. We got to spend a few evenings with our friend, Felix, from Texas A&M, who is studying there for this semester. He had lots of great ideas for places to visit and wonderful restaurant recommendations.
The Canary Islands are a group of 7 islands, I think. I never really got it straight in my mind...we landed on Gran Canaria and spent one day at the airport waiting to fly on to Las Palmas...that is another story altogether. Our time in Las Palmas was so special. Michael and our friends Doug and Rita and Lanny ministered to a conference of pastors from all of the Canary Islands. I was the designated prayer!
We were scheduled to fly out of Gran Canaria at 11:30 pm on Sunday night. One of the participants in the conference arranged for us to be picked up at the airport Sunday morning about 10:00 am when we arrived from Las Palmas and we were entertained royally! We had a great tour of the island, some of which we were sorry to say, we did while sleeping! We ate at a restaurant that is carved out of the side of a mountain...it is a CAVE. Great food and fellowship. Then the guys spoke at 2 church meetings before we left...Our hosts took us to the airport about 10:15 and left us. We walked into the airport and discovered, to our amazement, that there was NO flight to Barcelona that night. After discussions with airport information, crew chiefs, etc. we got hotel rooms, then returned to fly to Madrid, then Barcelona, missing our connections to New York and home.
I have always wanted to go to Madrid, but I really would have liked to have seen more than the airport! Following the extremely hard work of an American Airlines agent in Barcelona, we were booked on the flight home for Tuesday. Doug, Rita and I were disappointed that we would not be home in time to vote, but were glad to get home. Michael had voted absentee before he left the states, and he was going on to Munich and Florence before returning...he's going to be tired, I think.
So, after all of this, I got home last night around 11:00, tired, facing a mountain of laundry and several little things that must be done before I get back on the road to retrieve the Queen from her vacation with my Mom. I think it is time for a rest!
If anyone is considering a cruise, I highly recommend the Norwegian Gem...we were treated like royalty and I don't think a came across one surly crew member while we were onboard. The food was great, a creme brulee with chocolate ganache that I would kill for...and I don't even really like creme brulee! We took tours of Malta, Pompeii, Rome, Florence and Monaco and all were extremely interesting and well organized. I need to go back to Rome and Florence, though...just not enough time to see everything in a 3-4 hour tour, of course.
Barcelona was amazing. I was all geared up to use my Spanish when I realized we were in Cataluna-where they speak Catalan, a mixture of Spanish and French, which is totally out of my range! I could read some menus, but even the street signs stumped me! But the city was fantastic. We bought 2 day passes on a tour bus line and spent the first day riding all over the city looking at amazing architecture and hearing little snippets about museums, etc. The second day we used our pass to get to the Museum of the History of the City in the Bare Gotica. It was a museum unlike anything I have ever been in. It is built on the site of some of the Roman ruins of the original city. You go down an elevator which shows you "2008" as your beginning floor and "5 BC" as your destination! Our trip to Pompeii was helpful in understanding some of the architectural elements found there. We got to spend a few evenings with our friend, Felix, from Texas A&M, who is studying there for this semester. He had lots of great ideas for places to visit and wonderful restaurant recommendations.
The Canary Islands are a group of 7 islands, I think. I never really got it straight in my mind...we landed on Gran Canaria and spent one day at the airport waiting to fly on to Las Palmas...that is another story altogether. Our time in Las Palmas was so special. Michael and our friends Doug and Rita and Lanny ministered to a conference of pastors from all of the Canary Islands. I was the designated prayer!
We were scheduled to fly out of Gran Canaria at 11:30 pm on Sunday night. One of the participants in the conference arranged for us to be picked up at the airport Sunday morning about 10:00 am when we arrived from Las Palmas and we were entertained royally! We had a great tour of the island, some of which we were sorry to say, we did while sleeping! We ate at a restaurant that is carved out of the side of a mountain...it is a CAVE. Great food and fellowship. Then the guys spoke at 2 church meetings before we left...Our hosts took us to the airport about 10:15 and left us. We walked into the airport and discovered, to our amazement, that there was NO flight to Barcelona that night. After discussions with airport information, crew chiefs, etc. we got hotel rooms, then returned to fly to Madrid, then Barcelona, missing our connections to New York and home.
I have always wanted to go to Madrid, but I really would have liked to have seen more than the airport! Following the extremely hard work of an American Airlines agent in Barcelona, we were booked on the flight home for Tuesday. Doug, Rita and I were disappointed that we would not be home in time to vote, but were glad to get home. Michael had voted absentee before he left the states, and he was going on to Munich and Florence before returning...he's going to be tired, I think.
So, after all of this, I got home last night around 11:00, tired, facing a mountain of laundry and several little things that must be done before I get back on the road to retrieve the Queen from her vacation with my Mom. I think it is time for a rest!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Barcelona Bound
I will post this, then begin wending my way to the airport to head for Barcelona, Spain. I am so excited, I haven't slept much for the last two nights. I hope the persons on either side of me on the flight to Barcelona aren't too bothered by my snoring!
I'm meeting the bearded one at the docks in Barcelona where we will be getting on a cruise ship-our first!- with our best friends in the world for a Western Meditteranean Cruise. Watch out Italy, here we come! Then we will be going to the Canary Islands for a conference after the cruise.
I probably won't be posting while I'm away, but will be keeping a journal to update everyone on our adventures. Hasta luego! Dios les bendiga.
I'm meeting the bearded one at the docks in Barcelona where we will be getting on a cruise ship-our first!- with our best friends in the world for a Western Meditteranean Cruise. Watch out Italy, here we come! Then we will be going to the Canary Islands for a conference after the cruise.
I probably won't be posting while I'm away, but will be keeping a journal to update everyone on our adventures. Hasta luego! Dios les bendiga.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Preparing to Travel
I now have 9 days until I fly to Spain and board a cruise ship...I had my "practice pack drill" last night and was able to get all my clothes and stuff into one bag and was under the weight limit! Ha! TBH scoffed at me when I said I could do it. But now, after further deliberations, I have decided to go ahead and bite the bullet and take another bag to check.
Why, you might ask? Well, I did forget one or two things in my initial pack drill...nightgowns, a book or two that will be required on the trip. Also, although I will be gone for 17 days, total, TBH will be leaving on Friday and will meet me in Spain, and will stay after I'm flying Texas bound for another week. He thinks he might need me to bring him a thing or two! I'm sure I will be bringing home more than a thing or two!
I am flying to and from Spain with our good friends who are taking the cruise with us. I don't think I would be afraid to travel alone, but it will be much more enjoyable during the 3 hour layover in NYC to have them there!
Now, the big question is, can we get TBH packed up and out the door by 1:00 pm Friday? He needs to check in at the airport by 2:10...I'm sure we'll make it, just not too sure of how much sleep we'll get Thursday night! The clock is ticking!
Why, you might ask? Well, I did forget one or two things in my initial pack drill...nightgowns, a book or two that will be required on the trip. Also, although I will be gone for 17 days, total, TBH will be leaving on Friday and will meet me in Spain, and will stay after I'm flying Texas bound for another week. He thinks he might need me to bring him a thing or two! I'm sure I will be bringing home more than a thing or two!
I am flying to and from Spain with our good friends who are taking the cruise with us. I don't think I would be afraid to travel alone, but it will be much more enjoyable during the 3 hour layover in NYC to have them there!
Now, the big question is, can we get TBH packed up and out the door by 1:00 pm Friday? He needs to check in at the airport by 2:10...I'm sure we'll make it, just not too sure of how much sleep we'll get Thursday night! The clock is ticking!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
MemServ
My family has a rather unique sense of humor, especially concerning death and funerals. When my father passed away, he was cremated and had left instructions to have his ashes spread over his favorite golf holes. It was December, and Mom wasn't up to golfing then...although Dad would have been out no matter the temperature or conditions.
Consequently, Dad's remains were stored in the hall closet until spring. One day, my Mom saw my sister standing in the door of the closet, just looking into it. She asked her, "What are you doing?" My sister replied, rather testily I might add, "I'm talking to Dad!", shut the door and came back to the den.
We also are prone to making bad jokes and laughing inappropriately at such things as funerals...a classic line is from some movie my children quote, "We put the FUN in funeral." I don't think we have ever gotten as hysterical as Mary Tyler Moore did in the episode about Chuckles the Clown, but it has been close.
All of this drivel to say that the memorial service (memserv) for our dear friend was held last Saturday. It was so well done, I hope that everyone who attended was as blessed as I was. There were memory boards of her life displayed, from birth until just a couple of months before her passing. Her family had examples of her handwork-quilts, afghans, dresses, cross stitch-displayed. It was magnificent.
Her children were there, of course, and her grandchildren, and all of us who had been her "other" children. It was good to see so many of those people who had been blessed by her life. This was a wonderful memserv! I think she would have loved it!
Consequently, Dad's remains were stored in the hall closet until spring. One day, my Mom saw my sister standing in the door of the closet, just looking into it. She asked her, "What are you doing?" My sister replied, rather testily I might add, "I'm talking to Dad!", shut the door and came back to the den.
We also are prone to making bad jokes and laughing inappropriately at such things as funerals...a classic line is from some movie my children quote, "We put the FUN in funeral." I don't think we have ever gotten as hysterical as Mary Tyler Moore did in the episode about Chuckles the Clown, but it has been close.
All of this drivel to say that the memorial service (memserv) for our dear friend was held last Saturday. It was so well done, I hope that everyone who attended was as blessed as I was. There were memory boards of her life displayed, from birth until just a couple of months before her passing. Her family had examples of her handwork-quilts, afghans, dresses, cross stitch-displayed. It was magnificent.
Her children were there, of course, and her grandchildren, and all of us who had been her "other" children. It was good to see so many of those people who had been blessed by her life. This was a wonderful memserv! I think she would have loved it!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
New Beginnings
Our middle son has become engaged! Yee haw! He took his father with him to pick out a ring and to lend moral support...dad has pretty amazing taste in rings, as anyone who has seen my wedding band knows, but I digress.
Middle son was planning to wait until next month's hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque to pop the question while soaring up in the air in a balloon, but I think the ring was burning a hole in his pocket, so he talked to her father last week and asked her last Thursday. Then he didn't even call to let us know what she said, I had to call him Friday to see how it went.
I tell you, sometimes my boys do not get how important these things are to their momma! His reply to my question was, I wouldn't have asked her if I didn't think she was going to say yes...I didn't know that did I? Huh? Oh well.
Anyway, now the diet begins in earnest. I wonder if I can lose 90 pounds before the big day? Do you think there are enough Spanx products to hold all my parts in place? I'm not entirely sure! We've been told that it will be at least a year, but I have doubts about that...we shall see. The saga begins.
Middle son was planning to wait until next month's hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque to pop the question while soaring up in the air in a balloon, but I think the ring was burning a hole in his pocket, so he talked to her father last week and asked her last Thursday. Then he didn't even call to let us know what she said, I had to call him Friday to see how it went.
I tell you, sometimes my boys do not get how important these things are to their momma! His reply to my question was, I wouldn't have asked her if I didn't think she was going to say yes...I didn't know that did I? Huh? Oh well.
Anyway, now the diet begins in earnest. I wonder if I can lose 90 pounds before the big day? Do you think there are enough Spanx products to hold all my parts in place? I'm not entirely sure! We've been told that it will be at least a year, but I have doubts about that...we shall see. The saga begins.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Grandma Helicopter
Some of you know the parenting workshop Love and Logic, right? I thought my helicopter had been grounded, but I guess it won't be permanently so til I pass on! Oldest son and wife had to go to Ohio last week for a family emergency...oldest grandson was in the area with his mom. How to get said grandson home to school, and who would supervise stepgranddaughter while mom is gone? Helicopter Grandma, of course! Long story short, hubby arranged for our friend who has a private plane to fly us to Oklahoma where we were met by another friend's daughter. A real help since the ancient Volvo is no longer roadworthy. Got to oldest son's home and had three great days with the grands. I was even able to volunteer at the grandson's school for 3 days...something I have never been able to do. Not working does have advantages! Everything went well in Ohio and all are home again.
Helicoptering is exhausting, though. I am still trying to catch up on my sleep, get back in my exercise routine and get the house back in order. But my sweet hubby did something for me that I am so proud of...he cleaned out the garage enough to put my car inside. We have never, in 34 years of marriage, had a car inside the garage. Wow! His thinking was that we need to replace the Volvo, so he would clean out a space, in faith, for our new car! Anyway, the Volvo is enjoying the pampering.
Helicoptering is exhausting, though. I am still trying to catch up on my sleep, get back in my exercise routine and get the house back in order. But my sweet hubby did something for me that I am so proud of...he cleaned out the garage enough to put my car inside. We have never, in 34 years of marriage, had a car inside the garage. Wow! His thinking was that we need to replace the Volvo, so he would clean out a space, in faith, for our new car! Anyway, the Volvo is enjoying the pampering.
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