Mind Doodles

Happy Birthday Cheesecake Factory!

So today the Cheesecake Factory is 30 DELICIOUS years old!  In honor of this special day, they offered cheesecake for $1.50 a slice--the price they charged in 1978.  

Never being one to miss a celebration, I worked it into my schedule.  My friend, Pam, my daughter, Courtney, and I headed to America's favorite dessert spot to splurge!

So many choices! 

Pam and I settled on the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake.  

Courtney chose the Kahlua Cocoa Chocolate Cheesecake.

And, of course, a beverage to help wash it down!

A great afternoon snack.  

The cheesecake= $1.50   

My coffee = $3.95  

Courtney and Pam's smoothies = $5.95.

Next time, we'll order water.

Happy Birthday and Yum Yum!

What I Did On My Summer Vacation. . .

Here are some of my thoughts from my recent trip to Washington D.C.

• We have the most awesome capitol city in the world!  There are so many great things to do and a huge majority of them are free! 
• Our Turningpointe students rock!  They were put into so many uncomfortable situations where they were stretched way beyond their expectations.  Whether they were meeting and feeding the homeless or hanging out with alzheimers patients, they were totally ALL IN!   
• I LOVE LOVE LOVE ethnic food--pretty much anytime, anywhere. I love an adventure. 
• I really enjoy public transportation--even the bus rides were great.  It's nice to let someone else deal with the traffic--just sit back and relax.  
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are good--but not worth 6 hours in the emergency room.  (Bailey slipped and fell running in for a hot one.  Diagnosis--broken hand) 
• My favorite monument in the city is still the Einstein monument.  Check out our students in the pictures below hanging out with Al. 
• Many times during the week, I found myself wishing that my family was experiencing it all right along side of me. 
• I'm so thankful that I am part of a church community that cares so much about serving others that we encourage our kids to do the same. 
• I don't really like sleeping on cots.  I know--it's better than the floor--but, not really. 
• Kids are kids wherever you go.  
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Home

I'm back.

I'm beat.

Loved being with the kids.

Adults, too.

So tired--that's all I can say right now.

Heading to the Nation's Capitol

Tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m., I'm heading to D.C.  I get to join a group of our Turningpointe students and some other leaders from Crosspointe serve the people of our nation's capitol.  We will be working in some homeless shelters, hanging out at the Boys and Girls Club of Washington and just making ourselves available for whatever God wants to do.  I'm looking forward to seeing what that is!  These kids going are a really great bunch.  It will be fun just getting to know them better.  

So, I probably won't be blogging for the next week.  I'll be leaving my Mac at home.  (My kids are thrilled about that!)  But, you can find out what's up by checking out Eddie's blog here.  See you in a week!

21 Years and Going Strong

Today is our anniversary. Number 21. It's really hard to believe that it's been that long. 21 years ago today, we were in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sharing our special day with all of our close friends and family. Then, off to Boston for our honeymoon.

Alot has happened in 21 years. We've faced some tough times together and we've had some pretty wonderful times together as well. All I can say is, I'm glad that it's Greg that I'm heading into the future with. For 21 years, he's been solid as a rock. I know that I'm safe with him.

Correction

Kelsey pointed out that the Burger Place in the last post was called Tootie's not Tootsie's.  Okay--that makes more sense now.  

Sites along the way

We got back from our road trip late last night. It was a looooong trip home over the mountains, but enjoyable none the less. 

We saw a few funny signs on our trip:

Lying Lee's Used Cars

Are you kidding me?  There are people who would buy from this guy?

Cowboy Church

Now, I'm from Oklahoma and I've seen cowboys.  

I must say I haven't seen many in the eastern part of the country.  

This might have been the "Wanna Be a Cowboy" Church

Blue Ridge Kung Fu

Redneck + Martial Arts = Real bad stuff

Tootie's Burgers

Sounds like White Castle to me.

This was Courtney's favorite one.

Bizzie's Restaurant--Congratulations to Sarah Hodge the Gas Winner

Maybe Sarah needs to go to Tootie's for her burgers and gas.

WARNING!  Driver may flip a booger.

This guy was totally committed.  

This was no convenience-store-rack bumper sticker. 

No, this guy put each of these letters individually on the back of his beater pick up truck.

Road Trip:Destination-Grayson Kentucky

My daughters and I are on a road trip.  It started as a crazy idea and now. . . here we are.  We combined a college visit with a trip to see "the boyfriend".  

Several of our students from Crosspointe are working with Don Smith, our media pastor at Kentucky Christian University this summer.  They are working as the production team for a student ministry conference called Summer in the Son.  They've been up here since school got out.  It has been amazing to see how these guys work together to put on huge productions--each doing his own part.  I have been so impressed with all of them--not just with what they have done, but with how they have changed and grown. And, I am so impressed with the way that Don has poured into these guys.  He has really invested so much into their lives in just a few short weeks--not to mention, shared his wisdom and skills in putting on a top notch production.  It has really been so much fun to watch them in their element.  

Tomorrow morning we leave for Milligan College in Johnson City, Tennessee.  Then, it's back to Cary North Carolina some time late tomorrow night.  It's been good to be with the girls, but, we have missed Greg.  It's only been a few days, but all three of us miss him when we are gone.  

Here are a few pictures of the guys doing their "work". . . dream job.

Aaron Pelsue--the girls' favorite band.

Welcome Home--Surprise!

I worked on cleaning out a closet all day long.  It's a closet in our office that is filled with all sorts of things: sewing, scrapbooking, office supplies, etc.  I had a lot of sorting to do.  I really only got a tip of the iceberg done.  I had bags and stacks in several different areas.  I stopped this evening--because we had plans to go to our friends, the Mangines, for dinner.  I thought I'd get back to it when we got home. 

We left our dog, Toby, at home with his houseguest, Ziggy Loomis.  Apparently, they got a little bored, because this is what was waiting for us when we got home.

GUESS WHO???

Vacation--Ahhhhh!

So, it's summertime and that means--vacation!  Well, at least for those of you who aren't in year-round school. When I was growing up, we spent our vacation times traveling to visit family.  In fact, I only remember one trip "just for fun" and that was in the middle of a family visit.  (Of course, maybe I'm forgetting something.  My mom says I have selective memory).  We went to  Six Flags over Georgia while we were in Georgia visiting my Granny.  I remember getting a brand new pair of "denim" Keds sneakers.  They sat at the top of my closet in a box awaiting vacation time.  I also have a couple of other memories of that trip:  the goats at the petting zoo tried to eat my shirt, we stayed in a hotel with carpet on the walls and sometime during the day, I wet my pants.  

We've been fortunate enough to take several vacations in the past 21 years of our marriage.  Some with kids, some without.  

Here are my top five:

5.  Amish Country--Pennsylvania.  My first summer off as a teacher, my mom and I got in the car and drove to the most beautiful farm country in the world.  We stayed in Lancaster Pennsylvania and had a great time exploring and eating throughout Amish country.  It was great.  (Greg had to work so he stayed at home.)

4.  Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Many of the years since moving to North Carolina, we have spent a week at the beach with our good friends, the Larsons.  We soak up the sun, READ alot, play in the water a little and eat the most wonderful food.  It's a family tradition our children have loved.  Since our friends moved away, there's a very evident hole in our calendars and our hearts. 

3.  Sunninghill, England.  Okay, what's not to love about England?  Castles, Cottages, Red Phone Booths, Pubs, Quaint Villages, and Cream Tea!!!!!  (I could live on cream tea!)  Everything in England is older than our entire country!  It just blows my mind.  I loved shopping in the antique stores--now those are real antiques. 

2.  The Colorado Rockies.  We've been twice as a family.  Once during the winter for a ski trip to Keystone Mountain.  AWESOME! Once during the summer for hiking and geocaching in Leadville, Colorado. (LOVED that one too!) Both times we were with my brother and his family.  They're just a blast to be with so that's just icing on the cake.

1.  Disney World.  We've been twice, once when our kids were young. . . once when they were teenagers.  I loved both times and I'd go again tomorrow.  I guess that's why I'm in Children's Ministry--there is no place I'd rather be.  

So, what about you?  What are your top five?  Maybe you'll give us some ideas for the future.