belated HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Well, I would be remiss if I did not make a Thanksgiving post...so Happy Thanksgiving!

I for one have much to be thankful for and due to the line of work my MiB is in I for one am so very thankful for freedom. I am also thankful for a risen Savior who cares about every detail of my life. I am thankful for family and friends who are scattered all over the world as well. I hope you took the time to be thankful and to tell at least one person if not more that you are thankful for them and why.

We had a great dinner with 18 around the table this year. The food was plentiful and the naps, football watching, guitar hero, dominos that followed along with snacking on leftovers and eating the pies throughout the afternoon was awesome. I am going to need to be back in the gym after the eating frenzy that took place!

I am thankful I have a place to live even though I prefer to no longer be a homeowner...yes, the house is still for sale and hopefully there is a buyer in our near future.

Lunch in Beverly Hills LA

For lunch today we walked from our hotel to Rodeo Drive and surrounding area, it was a beautiful day! We also went into Neiman-Marcus, incredible sight to see the shopping going on there.
Oh my, we found the neatest little cafe with food that was just super YUMMY! The choices were vast but we ate light because we knew we wanted to indulge in cupcakes and yogurt later. MiB ordered the caprese and I the #2 brushchetta. Both wonderful and we shared!

Then we indulged in the cupcakes. MiB had the coconut and thought it was heavy in a good way and very good! I had the seasonal pumpkin and it did not disappoint! I was a bit leary since they were $3.25 each; however as a treat it was worth it but not something we would indulge in very often due to the price! We are too cheap :)

And last but not least we tracked down the yogurt. I had the pomegranate with toppings of fresh pomegranate, fresh blueberries that were just huge and coconut, it was so good, MiB tried the pinkberry smoothie. It was good, but I think he would choose the yogurt cup with toppings if he went again. This was very, very yummy stuff and I want to go again!

Psst....there are two more cupcakes in the box for a late night treat, one dark chocolate and one milk chocolate. :)

Dinner with "the bird"

In our line of work it is very often that you meet people who have a huge impact on your life or the life of your spouse which then makes an impression on you as well. Then you never see these folks again, not so in this particular case. "The bird" has managed to let us fly in and out of her life through the years, I like to think we have become part of her flock...she may not think that is so cool as we can be the type to pull out our feathers at the most inopportune time...but she still likes us for the most part!

Anywho, last evening after negotiating some pretty rough LA traffic which is way worse then DC we made our way to dinner at her place where as always she treated us and provided us with much humor from her daily life. I can say I don't think there is ever a dull moment with the bird, she is constantly meeting the need, challenging the masses and taking care of those in blue, she is truly a rare breed. We have known this all along and that is why Man In Blue takes any and every opportunity to sit in her presence...he says he tries to take in as much as he can as she is still one of the sane ones out there. One who knows what we should be doing, and more importantly how we should be doing it! She is so no nonsense!

Since MiB didn't cook dinner we had him cleanup!!! :)

He needed supervision and she was certainly the one for the job!

Another enjoyable evening as our time in LA draws to a close. We have the big fancy smancy shindig tonight, then back to the heartland.

Thursday Thoughts

WOW, what a week!

• I like the California weather.

But would it get old?

• Cheesecake Factory is yummy!

I am gaining weight this week, no doubt.

• The military has been pretty darn good to us!

Some have moved way more then we have

• I don't really like meeting new people..

Though...I have made some new friends this week!

• I enjoy sleeping in my own bed...

It is nice to have someone else make your bed once in awhile

LA Activities!

We went to the Griffith Observatory for a special military event where Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr sang Up, Up and Away.

The lights of Hollywood behind us...you could clearly see the Hollywood sign but it was too dark to show in the picture.

The lights of the city below were a spectacular site! It was a neat evening we were treated to a planitarium show and also several local celebs attended like Rick Schroder, Ernie Hudson and Pamela Hayden are the ones I remember, not the A list but celebs nonetheless!

Getting to Los Angeles

Our flight to LA...we had to be up at o'dark 30 and then off to LA via Denver...

Finally made it to LA...got the shuttle to pick up the rental car and we are off on our adventure! Met up with an old friend to have lunch and then off to do a little exploring.

In California!

Slow to update but we are in California and having a blast...I hope to get some pictures up soon, but the internet is slow and hard to get at.

It's lovely and sunny and we are definitely being wined and dined and feeling like pampered special VIPs. We even saw Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr sing Up, Up and Away and also saw Rick Schroder from NYPD Blue and Silver Spoons at this shindig last night.

Gotta run!

Friday Flashback

CROSSPOINT Christian Sports Camp - Judson College, Marion, AL - 2003

Surprising LilBlue at the dining hall...a big hug for mom!

Smiles all around, we missed her, she missed us!

We drove out mid-week to check on our camper; she was doing great but it was still good to get our hands on her for some hugs!

Play along on Friday Foto Fiesta with Carrie and the gang! It's FREE!

Thursday Thoughts

The weather is dreary today, but...

I WON!!!! I am a winner over at CandidCarrie's!
I finally found black pumps for our California trip.
My hubby cut his own hair today so I did not have to.
I still need brown casual shoes but not for the trip, so it's okay.
Christmas shopping for nieces/nephews will be done tomorrow.

THE shoes that will do...

Today...

• I did laundry
• Went to Mom's in Touch
• Did more laundry
• Made a pumpkin spice cake
• Did more laundry
• Made an Aldi run
• Did more laundry
• Made chili

Today is cold and rainy...I did not want to do much, still have dinner to serve and then off to our LifeGroup meeting, I do not enjoy getting out in the cold but it will be good to fellowship with others. We are wrapping up our study of Daniel. Not sure where we will venture next. No matter it's all good!

Missouri Weekend

Happy Birthday Dad!

We road tripped to MO this weekend to celebrate my dad's 78th birthday! We enjoyed one of his favorite meals of steak fingers, mashed potatoes w/milk gravy, corn and yeast rolls, then we dug into a fabulous selection of birthday treats ranging from German chocolate cake to brownies to angel food cake with or without ice cream! It was a another great family gathering!

After the partying the girls bluetoothed with the help of Bryan...

And without the help of Bryan!

On our way home today we were able to stop in Kansas to visit with a dear family friend who will be celebrating his 95th birthday on Wednesday; it was a most precious visit in which we laughed and cried throughout the afternoon.

Friday Flashback

On Mission in Croatia-2004

At the battered women's shelter delivering goodies of clothes, shoes, toys and the most popular goodies, gum and candy. The children were also awestruck by the digital camera with the option to "see" the picture as on the screen as soon as it was taken.

A great memory to help keep us in check on how good we have it.

Playing with Carrie again; so can you follow the link!

Thursday Thoughts

You can be full of joy or not...
There are two or more sides to each story!
Time can pass extremely quickly or drag by very slowly.
Happiest and saddest of times can happen in the airport.

And did you know, I really, really like things made with pumpkin...muffins, soup, cookies, bread, cheescake, etc!

Over, but is it really?

I think not...now more then ever we should pray for our new President and his family. Call upon the Lord to work in this man's life to see the need for God to be intertwined in the leadership of our country. We are a nation at war, we are a nation that relishes in freedom, we are a nation of wealth, we are a great nation, however, we are a nation that needs God.

I think the following verse says it much better then I can...

My desire is, first of all, that you will make requests and prayers and give praise for all men; For kings and all those in authority; so that we may have a calm and quiet life in all fear of God and serious behaviour. This is good and pleasing in the eyes of God our Saviour; Whose desire is that all men may have salvation and come to the knowledge of what is true. I Timothy 2:1-4

I am glad I know who holds my future, for I know not what my earthly future holds...

MY day :)

My Man in Blue spent the day with ME!!! We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, then did some shopping and got drinks at QT and did more shopping and hanging out.

Then we went to Olive Garden for dinner...

The food was really pretty good and the dessert was AWESOME good, chocolato gelato and pumpkin cheesecake.

I did not eat the gelato, only tasted it, but I did eat the cheesecake....YUMMMY! And I have chicken scampi leftover from my dinner for lunch tomorrow. It was a great day, with great weather, spent with a great man! Thank you MiB! 143...and LilBlue, thanks for joining us for dinner!

Candid Carrie: Velveeta-Licious Giveaway

Oh, Carrie, I did it!

I love velveeta, I love blue dishes and I think you are the bomb!!!!

GO VOTE

Your vote DOES count so I certainly hope you have voted or are voting today!!!!

Tomorrow's "to DO" list...

If you are like me I start to think of those things I need to do tomorrow as today comes to a close...it is still mid-afternoon here, but I am thinking of my "to do" list for tomorrow. And while I have already voted maybe you have not, so please put it on your "to do" list for tomorrow and follow through.

The lines may be long, the workers may or may not smile, the parking could be horrendous, the weather may or may not be pleasant but please, please, please make it a point to vote. You vote will count, it does count and it does matter so again, I ask you to make it a point to vote.

Thank you! Enjoy your evening!

She was framed!

Kohl's had a big sale today...I like Kohl's...we went to the sale and found frames for all of Lil'Blues senior pictures. It was a very productive day at Kohl's.

Did I happen to mention it took three trips to make this a successful productive day? Well, it did, but it is completed now so no worries! Now they just need to be wrapped and delivered, which will be another day!