Tag: Bucket Lists

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Bus Rides, Bucket Lists & Bougainvilleas

Chocolate Castles

Well, we ate our way through Puerta Vallarta and discovered that if we lived there we would loose weight. (I know, I say that about every place I visit). Because the shrimp and lobster were so delicious and it was easier to walk than try to run to catch a taxi, we actually lost a couple of pounds on vacation. The bus rides were so rough, due to the cobblestone streets, it seemed that it shook some cellulite off my rear end. Not enough to wear a bathing suit in daylight, but enough to allow me to not come home and need to buy elastic waisted pants. So it truly was a win-win vacation. Randy loved it because the bus ride cost 15 pesos for both of us to ride which translates to less than a dollar per couple. I loved it because I bought cute little capris for $15/pair and painted blouses and silver jewelry.

It has always been on my bucket list to travel to foreign countries and get immersed in the community around me. To experience life as a local.  We discovered that there was nothing like riding the buses in Mexico to help you feel like a local. Sometimes we were the only Americans on the bus. Sometimes, we rode an hour longer than needed because we couldn’t read where the bus was headed and yet, it was delightful to sit and watch the people of the community as they got on and off the bus. I could sit there on the rusted metal seat of the bus and try to imagine what their lives were like. Were they headed home from work or school? Were they going home to a family or to an apartment alone? We encountered several locals who had moved there from the states and for various reasons decided to stay in Mexico and never left. We met Americans who had gone down to visit and decided that they liked it so much, they now lived there part of each year. As we would arrive back at our hotel, the bright color of pink bougainvillea welcomed us into a world which still separated us from the majority of folks  who worked and lived there. As we shopped in the markets, or ate in restaurants, the mood was always the same. The precious people we talked with were happy and content. They laughed with us about a wall being built and told us we had better hurry and get home or we might not be able to get over the newly built wall. One waiter/owner of a small little eatery, kidded us and told us that he had moved from Southern California because there were too many Mexicans there. (He himself was a Mexican) By the time the week was over, we felt that we had changed some of our perspectives. Yes, we are such a blessed Nation of freedoms and choices. Most of us have wonderful places to live and plenty of food on the table. We have cars to drive and too many clothes in our closets. Yet, there was a feeling around us as we walked the streets of PV that taught me that there are millions out there who are truly content with what they have. The people we encountered had a smile for us as we boarded the bus. Some of the men would get up, if there were no seats left and give them to Randy and I.  One of the young men on the bus actually helped Randy off the bus and then got back on himself. It was a joy to eat at restaurants off the beaten path. The food was truly amazing and we experienced the best flour tortillas (bar none) we had ever had. The shrimp and guacamole became a daily “must”. If you are ever in PV, you have to go to El Patron. When we talked to the owner, we were asking why his prices were so reasonable. He told us that he likes to keep it that way so the locals can afford to eat there. It was that type of attitude which seemed to flow throughout the city.

The young were waiting tables and working hard. They were so thankful to have a job. We came away feeling like they were the ones who blessed us. Their attitudes were gracious, yet gentle. They didn’t ask anything in return. Both of our hearts were warmed by not only the Tropical Sun, but by the outpouring of friendliness and gratitude of a listening ear or smile which they received most graciously!

The trip was so wonderful and we are so excited we were able to experience one of our bucket list wishes.

 

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Christmas Blessings

Chocolate Castles6 Comments

This morning as I was scrolling through my FaceBook page, several memories came across from 2012 that made me just sit back and reflect on several things. First of all, it made me miss everyone who was a part of our lives back in 2012, but also reminded me of God’s goodness, as we move from state to state. Thinking back first of all to 2010, I remembered crying all the way across the desert, as Randy’s new job was taking us to Los Angeles and what in the world was I doing moving so far away from our family and friends? It is so interesting to look back and see how God intervened and blessed us both beyond anything we could have possibly imagined. The friends that were made in CA remain to this day like family to us and was indeed some of the best years of our lives. When we moved back to Dallas, we leaned on the Lord for purpose, for comfort and for a new direction in both our lives as we entered a brand new season. That move was one of the hardest that we had ever had to do, but we were so blessed to have friends there in Texas who still loved us and still allowed us to come back into their world, even though we had been gone from theirs, for 3 1/2 years. We found out that true friendship doesn’t have to end, just because you are many miles away and that truly was something that helped us both get through a rough couple of years.

After those two years back in Dallas, we knew that the Lord was causing a “stirring” in our hearts that led us to move to Arizona. Once again, we would be starting over in a new place, with having to begin, once more, making history with new friends and searching for the place we felt God calling us to serve in church. I have to admit that there were some days that made me feel that I was getting to old to “start over” as thoughts of “can I really do this again” haunted me whenever I met a new friend. Did I have the energy to invest in new friendships? Because I am such a people person, I had that answer even before finishing the thought. Of course I had the energy to invest in friendships. Part of my survival mode when we move to different places is trying to fit in the community as quickly as possible. If neighbors don’t knock on my door to welcome me to the neighborhood, I bake something to take them and go knock on theirs. It makes the transition so much easier.  This brings me to the present. As we live in a community where many folks drive golf carts and it is a gated community, it has made it so much easier to meet people. Because of the classes and the activities which are available here, the Lord has once again, blessed us with the privilege of already feeling like this is our home. When I sat and thought how wonderful it is that there are ladies here that have already opened up their hearts to me, it just made me realize how great our God is to provide friendships, no matter the place, no matter the season. Today was filled with coming home after church, where we already know friends who we enjoy  sitting with and corporately worshiping together, before baking for a ladies open house in the morning I am having.  It makes it feel like home to stand around after church and visit with couples who end up inviting us to a Super Bowl party at their home.

All this to say that last Christmas, as we were packing to move from Dallas to Phoenix, my mind was filled with wonder; wondering if the new place would feel like home, wondering if we would be able to find a church home. Wondering if people in Arizona would be as nice and welcoming as the friends we had in Texas and California. We wondered if our hearts would stay in Texas, or California even though our home was going to be in Arizona. We wondered if we would find purpose in this new place? Would God use us where we felt led to move?  So many questions. We have lived here now almost 8 months, and we feel that we are in the place where God wants us. We have been, once again, blessed with new friendships, new dreams and even added some new things to our bucket lists.

Yes, God has continued to show us His faithfulness by bringing us blessing upon blessing. Here it is Christmas, the time to reflect on the greatest gift of all, God’s Son, who came as a baby into our world to give us eternal life, which will allow us to live in His world one day.

So much to think about, so much to give thanks for and so many blessings which continue to point us to His love, grace and faithfulness. Merry Christmas to each one who has loved us through the years and to those we have just not had the opportunity to meet yet. This week, remember to thank the One who came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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High Maintence Momma

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Truly, I do not understand why these things happen to me. I am trying to figure out if the clumsy fairy just follows me around, or am  I just that uncoordinated? The day began just like an ordinary day. We drove down to San Diego to go visit a church where we love the pastor. Since we are headed back to Texas, we have made a bucket list of things that we want to do before leaving this great state of California. Going to hear David Jeremiah was on that list. We left at 8 a.m. and drove down without incident. In fact, it was a lovely day, sunshine, cool temps and a day planned that was exciting to both of us. We knew that before we headed back to LA we would be looking for a great place to have a nice lunch. Then we would treat ourselves to Moo Creamery, our very favorite ice cream in all the world. The best toasted coconut-chocolate flaked ice cream, EVER! We leave church determined to find the best new seafood place since this would be our last time to be in San Diego for quite some time. Jason, our son calls and tells us where  should go. He tells us that they had eaten at The Fishery with his in-laws last summer and that we would like it. So off we go, after already going to a different place that we didn’t like the menu. We arrive at The Fishery and like the looks of it immediately. We enter and they quickly seat us. So far, so good.

The waitress brings us a lunch menu. I look over it and do not really see anything that catches my eye. I was in the mood for grilled seafood with baked potato and a good salad. All I was seeing were fish tacos and fish baskets with fries. Randy looked at me and knew that I was disappointed. I ask him if he thought we should ask for the dinner menu, maybe it would be different. He agreed. When the waitress came to take our order, I ask her if there was a dinner menu we could look at because we weren’t in the mood for fish and fries or fish tacos. After rolling her eyes, she went over and retrieved dinner menus for us. We looked them over and it was evident that we would be spending $30-$40 per entrée if we ordered off the dinner menu. Knowing that if I spent that much money on lunch might mean that I would go home without ice cream or possibly not being able to buy makeup for a year, I decided that I could just order off the appetizers from the lunch menu. So, our sweet little waitress, who is already getting a little huffy, comes back to take our order.  I apologized for making her bring the dinner menus, but I had found something from the lunch menu after all. I ordered a Caesar Salad and crab cakes. Randy ordered the fish tacos.

My salad comes and she places it in front of me. My eyes focus on two giant (they looked at least 3 ft long) anchovies laying over the top of my salad. Before the waitress can release the bowl, I tell her that she has got to take it away and get rid of those huge, what appears to be jumbo anchovies off my salad. Once again, the rolling of the eyes and grabs the salad back. Randy looks at me and informs me that the anchovies were not 3 ft long, but only 2″.  I inform him that he needs glasses.

My salad, without he huge fish laying on the top, is set in front of me. It now looks great. I am so hungry that I immediately pick up my knife and fork and begin to cut the lettuce. As soon as I attempt this simple feat, my hand slips and as I am trying to cut the lettuce, the knife slips out of my hand and lettuce goes flying through the air. We both just die laughing. I ask him if he thought anyone noticed. He tells me that it would be hard not to notice lettuce flying through the air and he quickly uses his foot to try to  push some of the lettuce under our table. When the waitress brings my crab cakes and his tacos, there was no way they could serve our food without stepping on lettuce. But, because I think by this time they were just trying to hurry an feed us so we would leave, they ignored the acrobatic lettuce and left it laying on the floor. We ate as fast as we could. As soon as we waked out the door, Randy told me that we had eaten there twice, the first and the last. I told him to just add it to the list of the many places that I can no longer show my face. It made me glad I am moving back to Texas where they have restaurants with peanut shells on the floor in  some of the steak places. I think we will give up fish and just eat at the steak restaurants. Hopefully my lettuce will get lost among the peanut shells.  

Daily Thoughts

Every Thing You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Mom (but have been afraid to ask)

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This past week we have spent a couple of days with some of our adult kids in San Diego. There were times that in conversation, different things about myself were said that surprised our kids. When I mentioned that we were in my “homeland” of where I was born, my daughter in law and son in law told me that they never had heard that before and asked why they didn’t know that. I told them I guess they had never ask. It was at that point that I realized that as parents of adult children, all they know about us is what we have wanted them to know or what they have imagined us to be, as parents, never just a “person”.

We were out on Sunday night on the beach with a fire pit and having a s’mores night. It was a beautiful full moon, perfect temperature,  when I realized that as we were all sitting around in these little beach chairs (I commented that I could just stay here forever when Randy whispered that we might have to, he didn’t know if he could ever get up out of that “cute little beach chair”) that we were on the same level. Not really children and parents, but just people who were enjoying each others company, sharing stories and laughing as old friends. It was truly a Hallmark moment. Each day just got better and better as we listened to each other and shared experiences from our past that told much of what and who we were, as “people”. Suddenly, we found that we actually enjoyed being around each other, even though we were family, all different ages, different seasons of life and different likes and dislikes. But it worked. We ended our time together determined to get together more often. Jason and Tracy, thank you for initiating this time and inviting all of us to share your vacation.  Jodi and Eric, even though I know it takes great effort to pack and haul little ones around and work around their nap schedules, we are so glad you made the effort.  It was pure joy for us to be together and to experience you as really nice and gracious people, not just being our  “kids”.

Over a year ago when my dad died and different people got up to give stories about what he had done for them or tell about his likes and dislikes, I realized that he was a different person that I truly didn’t know. It made me sad that I never really knew my dad, other than just the man who took care of us. He was always so quiet and never talked much, so there was a lot I didn’t ever know. So, on a lighter note, thinking that our kids might not know certain things about me that might surprise them, I thought I would just write out different things about myself.

1. Yes, I was really born in a naval hospital in San Diego, Ca and lived there until I was two and my mom moved to Corpus Christi, TX.

2. Lived in a housing project until I was 5 with mother and daddy.

3. Learned to drive sitting on my dads lap when I was 10.

4. Said a really bad word (without knowing what it meant) when I was in 4th grade and was sent to the principles office. Only time in my life I was sent to the Principle.

5. Always wanted to be a flight attendant or movie star, but wouldn’t have traded being a mom for anything in the world.

6. Love to sit and read or play Candy Crush for hours, but guilt sets in and doesn’t allow me to do that for over an hour.

7. Still dream about having that special day when we would be able to get all 5 of our kids together with their families for a trip and have those pictures taken of the whole family with everyone wearing kaki pants and white shirts, standing at the edge of the water on the beach.

8. One of the most things I am proud of in my life (besides our kids and grandkids) is that I have almost competed a book to be published.

9. My bucket list includes:

1. Taking a cooking class in Italy

2. Going on a river boat cruise through Europe

3. Seeing all our grandkids loving Christ and serving Him.

4. One day having one of our grandchildren blow me a kiss or wink at me while they are playing an athletic event or the stage before they perform their skill.

5. Learning Zumba

6. Leading someone to Christ

7. Having our kids all present for a Christmas Eve service

8. Take acting lessons

9. Be in a commercial

10. That all our kids and kids-in-laws would know how much we truly love them and want the best for them.

My favorite color is shades of yellow, green and blue.

My favorite shows are The Middle and AGT

All time favorite movie is Pretty Woman

I love to name my cars, to give them a little personality

My favorite candy is Ethyl M and Dove

I don’t like to have my nails done, but like how it makes them look.

Would rather go out to eat than eat at home, but since I write a cooking blog, I make myself cook things other than desserts of which I love to make.

Love writing more than shopping

Going adventuring to different places or restaurants with Randy.

Would move every two years to a different house.

Love meeting people and getting to know them.

I enjoy and love my life and feel so blessed.

To each of our kids, I love you and enjoy being with you. Thank you for the grace you extend to us “oldies” and for letting us share different parts of your lives. Gives me lots of laughs and material for the blog.  Remember that when you are with me, what happens doesn’t stay just between us…it goes on Chocolate Castles! This sweet memory might have been a little less “sweet” had it been longer than a couple of days, but in my perfect little imaginary world, I like to think it would have just gotten better each day.

Daily Thoughts

Grandson’s Imagination Leads to a New Blog

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This past weekend, our kids from Phoenix came to visit since they had a holiday on Monday. Jaden, the 11 yr old came with a story he had written for school. That was our dinner entertainment one night, listening to his story, which was absolutely great. The imagination of this young man amazed us all and humor, well, let’s just say that we were all loving the laughter and smiles that the story brought. He wanted to know if he could post it on my blog, when I suggested that he form his own blog. That way, he could put the story or if he decided to make it a series, he would be able to post them whenever he wanted. Thus, http://www.myfictionallife.com was born……He ask me if I would post and share this new blog site and of course, being the cool, great grandmother I am, I am doing just that. Where did the years of Sesame Street and Pippa Pig go and when did Jaden get old enough to be able to write about a time machine which takes him back to Roman days, with gladiators; which is where the time machine took him. As I pondered this question, I thought to myself, “self, where does the time go such as when I didn’t need support bras or pantyhose, or “did I really live during a time when there was no QVC or microwave ovens?”The answer; time just goes. No one exactly how or  when it happens, but it does. The times that we think will be there forever, they go faster and faster. My point today is this…..write down special memories because even though you might think you will remember everything special, with that wonderful memory of yours, that also goes….trust me on this. So take note of special times that come along. Enjoy it when that 3 yr old grandson sleeps between you and lays his feet and legs over your face. Listen, really listen to the stories that your grandchildren  and children make up, (unless they are in their 30’s, then you might seriously think about getting help for them) it is just so incredible to listen to their imagination.  At our age, our imagination only involves thinking about a whole night sleeping without having to get up to go to the bathroom, or trying to imagine what I use to look like before I had to use 3 layers of makeup to cover up lines. On crazy days, I do imagine winning the grand prize on Wheel of Fortune, but that is only when I feel really bold and “out there”.

So if you are so inclined to “go wild” and show those grandkids they are not the only ones with an imagination, write a story about something crazy you did when you were their age, or get out pictures of the “younger years” and share memories with them. They might just surprise you and ask a question or two before running off to the computer or TV, well…..at least you can “imagine” them being interested……

Use one night a month for you and your spouse to sit and write down some dreams and talk about things that you both enjoyed before you had to be home to catch the 6:00 news. Randy and I make a special night each January to have special snacks and make a bucket list of things that we want to do in the new year. We do NOT, not EVER, list “get more exercise” or “eat healthier” as those don’t sound like fun, so we don’t list them, plus we know that the next year, we would not be able to check them off our list. So we plan day trips, or vacation places, or name something that we would like to begin. We are taking our Omega 3’s religiously so we will be able to remember the fun plans that we have made, but just in case we do forget, we have written them down….we don’t want our imaginations to get bored this year. We are determined to let 2013 be a year of at least completing half of our yearly bucket list. If we don’t make that goal, we will just change the yearly list to say 2014 and start over. After all, at our age, we will probably forget what or where our imaginations took us.