Unexpected Surprise(s)

Our drive to Big Bear was uneventful and only took us 4 1/2 hours to reach our destination. This was our unexpected surprise #1. We thought it would take longer.

Big Bear is a beautiful ski resort town in southern California that is also home to a large lake, Big Bear Lake. Being that I grew up in southern California, the OC (Orange County) if you will, I grew up going to Big Bear for church retreats, vacations, and skiing. I was excited to be going back to this very cute, quaint ski town as it had been more than a few years since I'd last been there.

Unexpected surprise #2 happened on Saturday when we got the chance to do this...


We took the chair lift up to the top of the mountain. Snow Summit is one of the ski resorts in Big Bear that is open in the summer too. You can take the chair lift up to check out the unbelievable views, have lunch, or bike down like we saw so many people do. It's crazy if you ask me but I saw first hand that it's really quite popular. Here are a few pictures of the view while we were on the chair lift...



This next picture is of Allen, Kathy, and Mary. Mary is our friend Kathy's younger sister and she has lived in Big Bear, and worked at Snow Summit, for the last 32 years. She started out as a ski instructor when she was in her 20's and now works as the Asst. Director of the ski school. Let me tell you she knows that mountain like the back of her hand which we would soon find out. At our campfire the night before, Mary asked if any of us wanted to go up the mountain on the chair lift, compliments of her and Snow Summit. Without any hesitation, we all jumped at the chance.


Our happy little group at the top of Snow Summit...


Unexpected surprise #3 came when Mary asked us if we wanted to hike back down the mountain with her, instead of taking the chair lift down. She told us it would take about an hour and that it was all down hill. Five of us took her up on the offer.

Not only was it NOT all down hill, and it took us 2 hours, not 1...but oh my goodness it was so worth it! This unexpected surprise was incredible...to think that I hiked 3 1/2 miles down a mountain is amazing. Those opportunities just don't happen for me on a weekly basis if you know what I mean. During the hike I just kept thinking how lucky I was to have this experience and how thankful I was that I was in shape enough to be able to tackle it in the first place.

I'll have to admit, today I'm a little sore...but you should see the smile on my face!

Birthday Greetings!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREN!!

Bren, I hope your special day is as special as you are to others!

Happy Birthday dear friend!!

It's Friday (Or Thursday As The Case May Be)

Since I'll be away from the computer in just a short while, I thought I'd ask you my Friday question today, so...

It's Thursday, and I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Good & Plenty. Do you love them or hate them...because I think it's either one or the other.

My friend Bren sent me a box of Good & Plenty in my birthday gift box. It was a good thing because I LOVE THEM! How about you?

Time to Relax

Monday and Tuesday were insanely busy at work. If a patient could have a complaint, a fever, an infection, numerous questions, medication issues, life threatening potassium levels, you name it...it was to be had!
But I survived and now I'm insanely happy because as of today I'm on VACATION!!

Do you see me doing the happy dance! Yes, I'm on vacation for the next 2 weeks and I'll have lots to share! We leave tomorrow for Big Bear for 4 days then head to Washington. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather and seeing the beauty of both these places this time of year.

We'll be traveling through Washington, traversing the state while looking at various areas to possibly move to in the near future. It should be a nice, relaxing road trip. The best part about this is that my son Brandon is going along with us. I'll have him all to myself for the next couple of weeks!

I'm sure I won't have computer access starting tomorrow in Big Bear so I'll be gone from the computer until Sunday night. I'll be having computer withdrawls by Sunday night that's for sure. So if I don't talk to you today, have a great weekend, and one more thing...

HAPPY FALL!!

Ribbon Swag Giveaway

My daughter Courtney wasn't here to help me with the giveaway this time so I enlisted the help of my husband Howard. Although he doesn't understand all of this "blogging stuff", he did agree to pick a winner for me.

Look at all the names in the pumpkin...50 to be exact!


Oh I'm so excited, he's picked a winner...


And look who it is...can you read it?


Congratulations MICHELLE A. Michelle is a friend that lives in Canada and I'm thrilled to be sending her the ribbon swag as a gift. I hope you enjoy it Michelle!

And a big thank you goes out to all who participated...not only do you make giveaways fun but you make each of my days more interesting, more enjoyable, and more meaningful!

52 Blessings

Today is Sunday and I am blessed!

Another favorite of mine...Above All



** The winner for the ribbon garland has been drawn. I promise I'll announce it soon. WAIT FOR IT......

What a Shock!

It was close to 10:00pm Sunday night when I decided to go get the mail. We had been gone for 4 days so I knew I'd have lots of junk mail to contend with...but amongst the pile of junk mail was a single key.

I GOT SO EXCITED because when we have a key in our mailbox, it means one thing...that we've got a package in the bigger mailbox below. I opened up the mailbox to find a large white envelope. My mind started backtracking, asking myself "hummm...what have I bought lately?" Nothing, I've ordered nothing...oh yes, except that one little eBay item!

To my complete and utter surprise, this is what I found...


One very gorgeous square beaded tablecloth, and in the most beautiful shade of pink.


With 6 equally as gorgeous matching placements and 6 beaded napkin rings.


Take a look at the bead work and the beautiful shimmery material.

If you can believe it, this is "good mail" that my friend Mandi sent my way, all the way from Australia! All I could say was "NO WAY!" This kindness and generosity, straight from the heart, is touching and unbelievable to me. Mandi, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I LOVE THE GIFTS but I especially love and appreciate that you took the time to find something special that you knew I'd love and to top it off, you knew that I'd enjoy this in my favorite color...PINK!

Thank you sweet beautiful Mandi!

About that little eBay purchase...who could resist this beauty!?! Does anybody else love tassels as much as I do?

Busy as a Bee

I have so much that I want to write about but my time has been so limited. As it is, I won't be able to get back to the computer until later tonight (I have a long day ahead of me at work.)

So please wait for me because over the next few days I want to...

* acknowledge some very generous "good mail" I've received
* show you a few fun projects that I've done
* give you a peek at some fantastic new stationary and paper goods I've purchased and then give you the information so you can get some for yourself
* acknowledge an award (from Patti) and join in on a tag (with Valerie)
* on Friday night, pick the winner of the ribbon swag giveaway
* and then last but now least, show you what's new at our house!!

Have a great day and don't forget to enter the giveaway if you haven't done so already...you've got until midnight Friday!

An Award and A Thank You

The meaning: "Prize to Personal Effort"

Last week Nancy at Olive Leaf Ministries gifted me with this award...thank you Nancy! Nancy is a talented writer and speaker who posts video devotions each Monday. Every week, I eagerly await her posts as I know I will learn something new and valuable from her teachings. If you visit Nancy, I guarantee you will feel blessed, uplifted, and loved!

Here are the rules for this award:
1. Mention the blog that gave it to you.
2. Publish these rules.
3. Share six values that are important to you and six things you do not support.
4. Grant the prize to six people.

Six values that are important to me:
1. First and foremost, God
2. God's word
3. My family and friends
4. My freedom
5. Honesty
6. Education

Six things that I do not support:
1. Dishonesty
2. Laziness
3. Evolution
4. Violence
5. Cruelty to animals of any kind!
6. Child abuse of any kind!

I pass this award on to:
1. Bren
2. Dani
3. Cindy
4. Mandi
5. Kim Sue
6. Jennifer

SPT - Arts and Crafts

Lelly's challenge this week..."your challenge is to highlight one thing per week that you have been inspired to do "because of a blogger."

I did a post just yesterday on this very subject whereas I highlighted a craft that I was inspired to do because of a blogging buddy. Scroll down if you'd like to read the entire post. It even has a GIVEAWAY at the end!

Because of a blogger, I was inspired to make this fall swag/garland out of ribbon.



I wanted to make a fall ribbon swag like this one here, but mine turned out more Halloweenish. It's ok though, I still love it. Thank you Lori for the great inspiration and thank you fellow bloggers for sharing your creativity. I'm amazed everyday by the amount of talent that blogger's have. I've found nothing but creative minds and giving hearts. Thank you all for your inspiration.

Ribbon Project Reveal and a Giveaway

We had plans for Camping Club Weekend this past weekend and our son Brandon decided he wanted to join us. It's not often that Brandon is able to get away for 4 consecutive days with his work schedule so we were thrilled that he was able to go.

Hubby drove the RV and I drove with Brandon in his truck. Brandon wanted to take his truck, I'm sure, in case it got to boring for him and he could go home. I'm glad to say that he stuck it out from Thurs-Sun, only leaving a few hours before us on Sunday. Even though there was no one there his age, I think he really had a good time. He needed to get away too.

It was great to spend some mother-son time with Brandon while driving down to Newport Beach. It takes us about 3 hours to get there so it gave us time to talk. Brandon is by no means a big talker but we were able to have some meaningful conversation.

I also took along my ribbon project and was able to finish it on the drive. Do you remember these ribbon pieces...


Well they now look like this. Isn't it cute!?! I wanted to make a fall ribbon swag/garland like this one here, but mine turned out more Halloweenish. It's ok tho, I still love it.



I bought and cut up so much ribbon that I was able to make another one on the way home yesterday. So guess what, I think it's time for a fall GIVEAWAY!! The second ribbon swag that I made would look beautiful draped on the mirror in my living room but I'd rather share it with you! Just leave a comment from now until midnight Friday and you'll be entered in this giveaway. I'll pick the winner Saturday morning. It's that easy...and I know you'll love it too!

Birthday Greetings!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM SUE!!

Hope your special day is a great one!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: What's your favorite movie of all time? Is it a classic, a comedy, a chick flick maybe?

I'll always consider Wizard of Oz my favorite. It conjures up so many good childhood memories for me. My mom would pop up a big bowl of popcorn, we'd make a "pallet" on the floor in front of the TV, and I'd watch this movie in awe. I'm still in awe whenever I see it.

At work last Halloween, I was even Glenda the Good Witch...


Other all time favorites are Terms of Endearment, The Big Chill, and Steel Magnolias.

In Rememberence

I will never forget the brutality, the fear, and the hopelessness of this day and the deep feelings of vulnerability that we had never felt before.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

And we will never forget all of the innocent, precious individuals who lost their lives on this horrific day. God Bless them all.

Happy Wednesday

I haven't posted for a couple of days so I feel the need to update you on what's been going on around here this week.

I worked Monday and Tuesday so now I'm off for the rest of the week. Working part-time is perfect. It gets me out of the house a few days each week, I'm able to help others yet I feel blessed myself because I enjoy my job so much, and it provides an extra source of income. I definitely have the best of both worlds.

Today will be a busy one. This weekend is our Camping Club weekend so we'll be getting the RV ready to head out of town tomorrow. We'll be going "down south" to Orange County for this trip so I'll also get to spend some time with my sister on this visit. We always have so much fun together. I can't wait to see what fun this weekend holds in store!

Last week I mentioned a couple of craft projects I wanted to start. I've started both but haven't finished either...but almost!

Remember the ribbon project? I've prepared all of the ribbon and I have plans of finishing it up either tonight or just taking it with me this weekend and working on it then. Either way, I'll have it done by the end of the weekend. Look at all of this beautiful ribbon ready to go...


I only have a teeny bit to go on my second project. What do you think this spells?


I just have to put one more splash of paint on my double O's and then I'm done. This was a fun little project and so easy to do. It would be cute to do this same technique on square wood blocks but with the wording TRICK OR TREAT...stacking the word TRICK on top of the blocks that say OR TREAT. How about HAPPY HALLOWEEN, HAPPY FALL, or BOO! I think I'll be looking for wood blocks soon!

** I also wanted to say that none of the crafts I do are my original idea...I'm just not that creative! When I post my finished pictures, I'll be sure and post links to where the ideas came from.

52 Blessings

Today is Sunday and I am blessed!

Lest we never forget...God is in Control!



ALSO...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATTI!!

Hope you have a wonderful wonderful day!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: For those of you that use a site meter on your blog, does it bother you when it shows that you've had lots of visitors to your blog yet you only have a handful of comments that were made!?!

Yesterday was a prime example for me: 99 visits...16 comments.

I don't know if it bummed me out or if it freaked me out.

Who are these other 73 visitors? I would have welcomed their comments.

Fall Nesting

I've got the urge...the urge to bring out my fall decorating goodies. It's just hard to do when it's still so HOT outside. Cooler weather won't hit my part of the country for at least 3-4 more weeks.

But in the meantime, how can you not get the urge to decorate for fall when you look at all of the lovely things going on over at Melissa's The Inspired Room. Melissa is hosting "Fall Nesting Week." You won't want to miss it.

Although I haven't unloaded my fall goodies yet, I did manage to do a few things around the house yesterday.



I thought this little birdie in her nest looked so sweet under this cloche. In the first picture you can also see that I've put some gourds in the jar on the counter. I'll add in some mini pumpkins too.

I have an affection for wreaths. I think I have a wreath for every holiday. I like to display them on doors, wreath hangers, and mirrors. I've put out 2 so far.



Did I mention that I love dish towels too? I always have a seasonal dish towel or two hanging from my oven door.


I've also got a few projects under my belt that I'm enjoying. Earlier in the week I bought a memory board and hung it near the kitchen. We've always had a bulletin board hanging there but I wanted an updated version. I hung the memory board but it just looked bare, it looked lonely. So I dressed it up with a black frame.


Finding the right frame was no easy task. They don't make frames in 18x20. After multiple trips to Michael's, I finally just bought a kit that I assembled myself. I like how it looks. It just added that extra little touch.

I have 2 projects that I'll do today. Here is a sneak peak at what is needed.

Project #1...lots and lots of ribbon


Project #2...6 pieces of wood, stencils, and black and white paint.


So...have you got the fall nesting urge yet!?! As for me, I'm off to do my fun fall ribbon project...and then I'll unload my goodies!