Christmas Vacation

Joe and I spent the Christmas holiday traveling. It was just the two of us and we really had fun being together and visiting with family and friends.

We were gone for 11 days and we traveled 2500 miles.

We traveled through mountains (and blizzards)

to the desert and then to the ocean.

We drove

and drove

and drove some more

until we were just exhausted.

But it was so worth it. We had a blast!!

We went from one weather extreme . . .

. . . to another


We saw beautiful scenery



and fabulous sunsets (you know how I love sunsets!)


We stayed in fun hotels



And pigged out on scrumptious food (Sorry I don't have any pics of the actual food - I was too busy enjoying it!!)

We saw some of our favorite people and did a lot of fun things.

Stay tuned for more posts of what we did while we were gone.

Who is your Role Model?

Try this - it's really neat . . .

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL???

(Don't look ahead at the answers)
1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9

2) Multiply by 3 then

3) Add 3, then again Multiply by 3 (I'll wait while you get your calculator....)

4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number. . .

5) Add those digits together

Now Scroll down ..............
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> Now with that number see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below :
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> 1. Einstein
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> 2. Oprah Winfrey
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> 5. Bill Gates
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> 6. Gandhi
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> 7. Brad Pitt
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> 8. Hitler
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> 9. Carol Gneiting
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> 10. Barack Obama

 

I know . . . . I just have that effect on people . . . . what can I say?

. . . . one day you too can be like me.... :0) 

Believe it!

PS.  OK!!!  Stop picking different numbers.

 I AM YOUR IDOL, I KNOW IT. . . JUST ACCEPT IT !!!!!!

. . . just kidding!

Pictures from our Christmas vacation coming soon.

Keep watching!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

A Light Unto All: A Christmas Gift

Here is the Christmas story told through missionaries from 25 countries. This is a must-see video clip that will move you; it will move anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and wants to feel the spirit of the season. Share this one as much as possible.  

If you want to add it to your blog you can go HERE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

(Make sure to pause my music below first.)

Holiday Eating Tips

I saw this on my friend Kathys blog and I thought it was pretty funny.

I hope this will help everyone enjoy a guilt free holiday.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving fudge.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-oholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. STOP! Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's! You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Holiday cookies, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each! Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day??

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming:

"WOO HOO what a ride!"

Enjoy your holiday munching!!!

Let's not forget those who keep our country secure

Lets start this wonderful holiday season right by remembering those who are ensuring us the freedom to be able to continue to celebrate these sacred holidays. At this time of "giving" please take a moment to write a few words of thanks on a Christmas card and send it to a soldier who has paid the price of sacrificing for you, us, and all of the blessed people in this great country.  

As you do so, you might also think about the sacrifice our Father in Heaven made by sending His only begotten Son to the world, and for the sacrifice He made through his atonement to allow us the blessings and opportunities we enjoy through the gospel today.  

Send your card to:

A recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C.  20307-5001

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,

And to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,

No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the mantle, just boots filled with sand,

On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,

A sober thought came into my mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary,

I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone

Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,

Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?

Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,

Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world the children would play,

And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,

Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, 

On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,

"Santa don't cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,

My life is my God, my Country, my Corps."

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,

I couldn't control it , I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still

And we both shivered from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave on the cold, dark night,

This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,

Whispered, "Carry on Santa, It's Christmas day.  All is secure."

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right,

"Merry Christmas my friend and to all - a good night."  

- Author unknown

old and achy

I've had a muscle in my back that has been hurting for days.


Lifting and hauling hundreds of books while working this week at the college bookstore for "end of the semester text book buy-back" probably didn't help it any either. 

Actually I know it made it worse. (Ohhh. . . my aching back!! Sorry I did this to you. . . to me. . . to US!!)

And it's amazing how something like this can make a person become so CRANKY!! (Sorry family!)

Joe keeps looking at me saying "Are you ok?" NO. . .  I'm not ok! and why do you keep asking me that when I told you already my back hurts! ( OK. . . so I didn't really say that but I thought it?) 

So, PLEASE. . . don't ask me again. . . 

PLEASE. . . just give me a back rub!! 

Pretty Please!!! . . . don't make me beg!

. . . some chocolate & flowers would be nice to!! . . . and maybe breakfast in bed!  . . . saturday AND sunday?!?!  (thats not asking for too much - is it?)

Ok. . . I admit it!!  Let me correct my blog post title --- old, achy AND grouchy! . . . needy is a good word too!

Maybe one of these would help!! 


Well, thank goodness. . . book buy-back is over, it's the weekend, I've taken my Ibuprofin, rubbed Ben Gay on my back, and now . . .  I'm going to bed!  Wake me up on Monday!!! (maybe I'll be smiling again!!  :))

Good Message for Christmas

Joe and I listened to this book on tape as we drove to Montana for Thanksgiving. It is really good and helped get us in the mood for the season. So if you are looking for a touching story to read I would suggest this one.

In all the hustle and bustle . . .

. . . Let's not forget the true reason of the season.

Let's get this holiday PARTY started!!

And what better way to do that than with Joe and I becoming CHRISTMAS ELVES!!! As you can see we have been working on learning some new dances (and we are even thinking of trying out for the next season of Dancing with the Stars.) 

Let us know what you think of our sweet moves?

I know this went around last year but these dances are different.  Have fun "elving" (is that a word?) yourselves and your family too by going HERE. 

Anyway we also want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy this holiday season.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

32 years and headed to eternity!

It started with two . . .



. . . And then they were one!




After 32 years. . .



. . . Look what we've become!









We're still having fun




And Joe, you're still the one! Happy Anniversary! Love ya lots!