The Top 5 Reasons We Will Return To San Antonio, Texas!

#5. San Antonio River Walk

It's just cool & that's all there is to it.



#4 The Alamo

Because we were having such a good time....
we forgot to go and see it.

Maybe Next Time.



#3. MiTierra Cafe & Bakery

You can find it at the Market Place.
The food is WAY BETTER than the food I had IN MEXICO,
they have a kickin' Mariachi Band, AND they are open 24-7
....Oh and THE most beautiful Christmas decor I have EVER seen.




#2. The San Antonio Opera

An amazing group of people.
A gifted symphony and a 100 man/woman chorus.
This group managed to pull off CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
with no sets, no props, no costumes, and no theatrics.

It was amazing.

And ANDREA BOCELLI.

My wonderful husband had us sitting so close I could have kissed the man.
Had it not been for security..I would have.

When he walked onto the stage the room exploded..5 seconds later you could have heard a pin drop.

During his 2nd curtain call, the maestro led Andrea to a Grand Piano where he sat alone, played, and sang Ave' Maria to a sold out crowd.

I started to cry when he played the first note and stopped when he played the last.

It was something I will never forget.

I would have posted pictures, but my camera was stolen....long story...Don't ask...




And the #1 Reason we will return to San Antonio is

Rachel & Dan !

We met up with Dan & Rachel for brunch.

The most precious couple of people you will EVER meet!

Rachel is as beautiful and graceful as a ballerina.
Five minutes after I met her, I felt like I had known her for years.
Intelligent,Vibrant , Charismatic and she did not make one joke about the
amount of green tea I drink.
I could just hang out with her all day.....Maybe when we meet up in Tennessee,
we'll do just that.

Then there is Dan........
Tall, Handsome, Smart, Charming, Athletic, a Wonderfully
Quirky Sense of Humor, a Christian, Crazy About his Family,
AND the dude is sportin' some SERIOUS ink.................
If that ain't awesome- I don't know what is.

They were truly the highlight of our trip.

So there you have it folks... The Top 5 Reasons We Will Return To San Antonio, Texas!

I can't wait to go back.

Peace.

My Baby turns 15 next Sunday......

Which basically means Stacy & I have 36 months left to make sure
he leaves here the kind of man his wife has prayed for
and his children will look up to.

He is not far from that now.

If I had a dollar for all the times someone told us what a fine boy he was, Stacy could have retired a long time ago.

He is my "right hand" around here, the "man of the house" when his Daddy is gone, and "the boss" when we are both gone.

He has more responsibility (on a daily basis) than most boys see in a years time.

He has one little sister who lives to aggravate him, 2 little sisters who love to jump from behind doors and scare him, and a little brother who will not go to sleep unless he is in the room, and who knows how many more brothers & sisters on the way.

He might shake his head, grit his teeth, or sigh every now & then, but he never complains....even on the days he really should.

He is wonderful in spite of me and all of my mistakes.

I love my Little Big Man.

I wish I had 10 more just like him.

Peace.

Last Chance !

THE VERY LAST DAY!!!!! Raffle will end at 11:59 p.m.(Friday)!

TO CHINA FOR OWEN! click

Over $2500 worth of prizes and all you have to do is make a $10 donation to Owen's adoption fund and your name will be added to the list.

The drawing will be held & video'd on Saturday! click

This sweet family is also donating 20% of the money raised to a wonderful organization that provides grants for families adopting Special Needs children from China.

So your $10 donation will go A LONG WAY toward the needs of these little ones.

So take a few minutes, pop on over and make a donation!

You might just win something BIG....just not the Camera...cause that one is mine! ;)

Peace.

This CHRISTMAS give the Gift of HOPE

This Christmas, instead of exchanging gifts that will wind up in the bottom of a drawer ,closet, or toy box-
Why not purchase a gift that will change a life?

World Vision's Christmas Gift Catalog is filled with wonderful gifts that will do just that.

$15 will purchase a Share of an Alpaca for a family.

$25 will provide $350 worth of Basics for an American child living in poverty.

$30 will purchase 5 ducks to provide a family with protein- rich eggs and extra eggs & ducklings that they can sell to pay for school tuition and medicines.

$50 will provide $250 worth of food and aid for a child in Africa.


$50 will buy a share of a Dairy Cow for a family.


$75 will provide $1,010 worth of Clothing and Shoes for an orphan or families with multiple children.


$100 dollars will buy a Share in a Clean Water Well in Africa,
a Share of a School being built in Rwanda, or provide Safety for a formerly Exploited child from impoverished Cambodian communities.

$127 will purchase an Orphan Care Package that includes food, clothing, blankets, and school supplies for children who have lost parents to AIDS.

OR

You can donate to THE ELISON PROJECT - A Non-profit 501(c)3 Organization dedicated to providing financial grants for the purpose of assisting in the adoption of Special Needs Children from China. Every single person who makes a donation is giving a child the Gift of a Family .

OR

If you have a really big family....You can do both.

So.......Before you drop the "big bucks" on Toys, Sweaters, DVD's, and Gift Cards-
Drop by World Vision & The Elison Project and take a look around, buy a few things, leave a donation or two.....

You will be Blessed , You will be a Blessing, and I promise you that these gifts won't wind up in Aunt Martha's Garage Sale.

Peace.

COOL POST From CHELLEY

I swiped this from Chelley, my "Sista Down Unda".
I just thought it was so much fun.

I have done All but 32...31 -after next week. We are going to see the ALAMO.

Go down the list and see what you come up with.

Thanks for the fun, Chelley! You Rock!

** OK, Rebecca..I went back and answered them...JUST FOR YOU. :)


Have you?

Bold the things you’ve done and will admit to:


1. Started your own blog-YES

2. Slept under the stars- YES

3. Played in a band- YES.. Well I sang..Is that the same?

4. Visited Hawaii- NO

5. Watched a meteor shower- YES

6. Given more than you can afford to charity- YES

7. Been to Disneyland/world- YES

8. Climbed a mountain- YES

9. Held a praying mantis- YES

10. Sang a solo - YES

11. Bungee jumped- NO

12. Visited Paris- NO

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea- YES

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch- YES

15. Adopted a child - YES

16. Had food poisoning- YES

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- NO

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France- NO

20. Slept on an overnight train- NO

21. Had a pillow fight- YES

22. Hitch hiked- YES

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill- YES

24. Built a snow fort- YES

25. Held a lamb- YES

26. Gone skinny dipping- YES (Sorry Dad!)

27. Run a Marathon- NO

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice- NO

29. Seen a total eclipse- YES..I think it was a total, because I thought it would be darker.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset- YES

31. Hit a home run- YES

32. Been on a cruise- YES

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person- NO

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors- YES

35. Seen an Amish community- YES

36. Taught yourself a new language- YES

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied- YES

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person- NO

39. Gone rock climbing- YES

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David- NO not in person

41. Sung karaoke- YES

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt- NO

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant- YES

44. Visited Africa- NO

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight- YES

46. Been transported in an ambulance- YES...but I was actually working

47. Had your portrait painted- YES

48. Gone deep sea fishing- YES

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person- NO

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris- NO

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling- YES

52. Kissed in the rain- YES

53. Played in the mud- YES

54. Gone to a drive-in theater- NO

55. Been in a movie- NO

56. Visited the Great Wall of China- YES

57. Started a business- YES

58. Taken a martial arts class- YES

59. Visited Russia- NO

60. Served at a soup kitchen- YES

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies- NO

62. Gone whale watching- NO

63. Gotten flowers for no reason- YES

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma- YES

65. Gone sky diving- NO

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp- NO

67. Bounced a check- YES..then my Daddy taught me to balance my account.

68. Flown in a helicopter- NO

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy- YES

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial- YES

71. Eaten Caviar- YES

72. Pieced a quilt- YES

73. Stood in Times Square- NO

74. Toured the Everglades- NO

75. Been fired from a job- YES

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London- NO

77. Broken a bone- YES

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle- YES

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person- YES

80. Published a book- NO , Never published....

81. Visited the Vatican- NO

82. Bought a brand new car- YES

83. Walked in Jerusalem- NO

84. Had your picture in the newspaper- YES

85. Read the entire Bible- NO

86. Visited the White House- YES

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- YES

88. Had chickenpox- YES

89. Saved someone’s life- YES a victim of a car accident. I also worked in an ER..so we kinda did it everyday.

90. Sat on a jury- NO

91. Met someone famous- YES

92. Joined a book club- YES

93. Lost a loved one- YES

94. Had a baby- YES

95. Seen the Alamo in person- NO, but i am going next week.

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake- NO But Chelley walked in it! That is just cool to me.

97. Been involved in a law suit- YES..a patients family sued the hospital after he died in the ICU. we were all listed in the paperwork.

98. Owned a cell phone- YES

99. Been stung by a bee- YES

100. Paddled a Canoe- YES

I have also done about a THOUSAND things that I WILL NOT admit to...Unless someone flat out asks me.....So there you go........

Now It's Your Turn.



Peace.

A few of the *300* pictures I took

Disney Pics

Disney Pics

Fun Was Had By All!

I had to find a few pictures that captured a few of the best moments we had.
we had 8 kids and I LOVED every minute of it. There is nothing better than sharing in the memories of a child. Anyone that tells you differently is SELLING you something!
I missed you all. I wondered what you were doing and if you had made progress in your "growing of family".

I am glad to be home!

Peace.