BID #2 Travel the Mediterranean

There are so many places I would love to visit inmylife. This is only one of them. What a gorgeous area of the world rich with ancient culture. Culture dating back to the time of Christ. The Apostle Paul traveled around this area after the death of Christ preaching the gospel throughout the known western world. Stadiums, museums, churches, art...there is so much to see, and then, there are also the beaches! Wow! What wonderfully blue water with gorgeous white sands and loads of privacy. Sunshine all year round and delicious food too. What can't you enjoy?

Texas RoadHouse Sunday Surprise

As my family and I were breaking our fast this afternoon at Texas Roadhouse Grill, that Elder Holland and his WHOLE family (mother, wife, kids, and grandkids) were in the booth and tables behind us eating.They appeared to be celebrating his mother's birthday. My mom died when I tried to sneak a cell phone pic, so sorry, I don't have proof, but my word is as good as a picture! It was awesome.He was sitting at the little kids table and growling to make them laugh. He was eating ice cream and sharing it with the little kids. He was in his standard suit and tie! LOL. He paid with his credit card and after he signed the slip he handed it to the guy and said, "Thank you, buddy." As we left, I overheard one of the hostesses say to the server, "So you got to meet Elder Holland, huh?" And he just said, "Yep!" Awesome.

I couldn't ask for more!

I had an amazing Independence Day! I feel so blessed to be able to live in America and be able to enjoy the freedoms that we have and, so often, take for granted. We didn't do anything really amazing to celebrate, but I just felt so happy to be able to enjoy such simple things.
1. Yesterday morning I woke up and said to Mom, "Will you go get some pancakes with me?" Kelly, Mom, and I went to Golden Corral and ate more than we needed to and went home full. How many people in this world can only wish for a meal like that? And we left food on our plates because we were stuffed.
2. We went to Wal Mart to get some extra things for our family barbeque we were going to have. Hot dogs, dessert, and lots of extras. All right there in one store. Plenty for anyone who needs it and we had the money in our pockets.
3. We spent the day getting the house and yard ready for the family to come. I feel blessed that we have a home that we can celebrate in with friends and family. A nice yard to relax in and feel the blessings of living in a beautiful, free country. Even when it has to be cleaned and the water fountain breaks, causing stress.
4.We had a barbeque dinner with the family (except Michael and Natalie, who are at her family's reunion, and Will, who had to work). Again, there was more than enough food for everyone to get more than their fill. We are blessed to be able to live so close together and see each other pretty much when ever we want to. We spent the night eating, relaxing, laughing, and swooning over a brand new baby, who other than a bout with jaundice, was born perfectly healthy to loving parents in a clean hospital, by means of quality medical attention and with care and supplies necessary to start out strong and healthy.





5. We were able to see much of the fireworks show from all the way across town. We sat on our front lawn and watched neighborhood children setting off fireworks late into the evening, beautiful reminders of our fight for independence over 200 years ago. "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there."

I am so grateful to live in this country and to be able to feel God's protection over His promised land.


God Bless The USA
by Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!!!!

When I was a kid, we used to all pack in the car and drive over to Thrifty Drug and Discount (Thrify's as we called it) and get an ice cream cone. Anywhere we lived in the LA area, we had a Thrifty's and they had this awesome ice cream counter with at least 20 flavors. When I was little, I loved the Rainbow Sherbet. Then as I grew older I enjoyed the Cookies and Creme, but then when we were allowed 2 scoops, I usually got Chocolate Malted Krunch and Mint n Chip (Mom always sent us in and that was her signature combo as well, but she always added the request, ". . . in a cup with a spoon.") When I was only 6 and we lived in Agoura, I remember a single scoop being only 10 or 15 cents and as time passed, the highest I remember the single scoop was about 70 cents. Rite Aid bought out Thrifty's before I graduated high school, but they kept the ice cream counter and still serve it.
Tonight I was eating a bowl of ice cream and wishing that the Rite Aid here had an ice cream counter of Thrifty's ice cream, but it is all just a piece of post WW2 California nostalgia that is going the way of the dime store and the soda fountain.


Check out this video of an awesome old ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S679-gvdGqQ