Vacation Update

We are back on the road! When we left conference we went home with David and Linda Elms.  We have had a wonderful time!  We always enjoy being with them in their home.   Bernard and Sandy, Wendell's oldest brother and wife were there for a couple of days, and it was great being with all of them. Jimmy and Bobbie also arrived at the beginning of the week, so we've had a lot of time together just resting, visiting, and having fun!

I will tell you about this....now that it's over....but, the first night we arrived I reached down to plug my computer in, and all of a sudden a terrible pain shot through my lower back.  I almost didn't make it to the side of the bed to sit down!  I thought, "OH NO....NOT AGAIN!  All I need is just ONE MORE THING TO HAPPEN on this trip."   I had to spend the next couple of days in bed.  Linda, Sandy, and Bobbie were very caring and made sure I had everything I needed.  Of course, Wendell checked on me often.  I really could not believe this had happened. I have been moving very slowly all week, but got to enjoy being with everyone. We were really happy this did not happen on the way TO conference, or while traveling back home causing us to spend a week in a motel!!  I really didn't want to tell ya'll about it before now, but now that I'm better I don't mind you knowing.  :)

The leaves on the trees are beautiful!  Fall is definitely here, and we are enjoying the beauty.

We are now in Pigeon Forge and will enjoy being here tomorrow.  I hope to take a drive and see more of the beauty that surrounds us. 

I am unable to post any slide shows tonight.  I haven't been able to get the websites "working right".  Maybe a few pictures are better than nothing?   I will do my best to upload some pictures tomorrow night.   

I will leave you with a smile from a "little fella" that's won my heart this week.  He is Nathan and Charla Elms baby boy!

If that doesn't make your day brighter you need to check your pulse! :)  Have a GREAT Sunday!

Once Again...I'm Sorry

I wanted to get on tonight and just say, "I'm Sorry" for not posting. Because of circumstances since leaving conference I have been unable to post. Maybe I'll be able to "tomorrow". I still love you all! :)

Quick Update

I'm still ALIVE and WALKING!!! No mishaps today, and I'm having a wonderful time at conference!!!! I will post more when I get a chance. I love you all! Thank you for your prayers, love and concern, and the many laughs about my recent fall.

Travelling....Good for Your Health?

Today "had been an uneventful day".  After yesterday we needed a "break"!!  :)  We drove through more beautiful country, and noticed the further we drove the more "color" began showing up on the trees.  I love this time of year!  I didn't get a lot of pictures today, but I did quickly snap this one (with my little camera) as we were travelling at about 65 mph.  I thought it turned out rather well, since I only had a "second" to push the button!

We arrived at our hotel feeling good, and all was well UNTIL.....OH NO.....here we go again! :( Before going on with my "uneventful day", I have just one question to ask.  

Has anyone seen a "person" called "Trouble" following us?  :)  

I went down to the hotel Business Center to use the computer and printer, picked up some milk, water, and Diet Coke, and some snacks to have in case we got hungry before going to sleep.  I got back to the room without dropping it, put it down, then started unpacking.  I really was doing just fine, and then it happened!!!!!!  The bedspread was hanging on the floor, and as I turned, my toe got TANGLED UP in the corner of the bedspread.  I really was doing just fine.....until.....SLAM, BANG, OUCH.....I was thrown to the floor of the bathroom.  YES, IT HURT BAD!!!  NO, I DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!  YES, I HAD TO CRY!!!  IT HURT REALLY, REALLY BAD!!!  I THINK I will be fine in the morning when I wake up, but I am a little concerned about getting my left foot in its shoe for conference.  It hurts pretty bad, and is swelling some, but I will be JUST FINE.....I think :)

I'm beginning to think traveling might be bad for my health!  LOL!  After my blood pressure went up yesterday over my camera getting busted, and my body being slammed to the floor without giving me any warning, it just might be better for me to "sleep in" and "take it easy" for a few weeks!!!  The only problem is, I really want to see my friends and family this week, and if I don't get to I just might have a "hissy fit"!  (whatever that is)  

So, if you're reading this blog, and think I've just about "lost it", you just might be RIGHT!  :)

Oh Well...It Could Be Worse

Yesterday we left for conference! We got everything packed in the back seat and trunk
of the "little car" and headed out. Wendell was real happy when he accomplished packing the car with all our clothes for conference, AND a two week vacation afterwards! :) We had beautiful weather and enjoyed a good seven hour trip, and when it came time to stop for the night, we were ready to get some rest.

Then, the first rattle out of the box this morning, my "nose piece" on my glasses FELL OFF and went down the bathroom sink drain! Wouldn't you know it had to be on a Sunday when "eye glass doctors" are closed? As frustrating as it is to wear glasses that are digging into your nose, I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Oh well! I'll get them fixed Monday. The "digging" hasn't been too bad, but the "sliding down my nose" has been a little frustrating! :)

Most of today was cloudy and cool as we travelled the Natchez Trace in Mississippi, so I wrapped up in my "sweatshirt jacket", turned my heated seat on, rolled my window half way up, and I was warm and cozy. Even when it's a little cool we do not put the top up on the convertible. We enjoy the different temperatures, and have noticed "in town" it's usually warmer than the countryside. We love all the different "aromas" that float through the air into our car as we travel the back roads of America. Sometimes we might smell a SKUNK, but a lot of times, during this time of year, we smell the burning of wood from a bar-b-que pit, or someone who has a pile of leaves and wood burning on their property. At times, we enjoy the smell of sweet grasses along the highway, so we don't mind putting up with a few unpleasant "smells" to enjoy the beauty of nature!

Now about the part in my title that says...."it could be worse".

We arrived in Florence, Alabama this evening, unloaded the car and Wendell pushed the button to raise the top of the car. He didn't know I had put our nice Nikon camera case on the part of the car that raises so that the convertible top can come up and close! I was taking care of the luggage cart and when I turned I saw my camera case on the ground!!!! I went over and picked it up, hoping all the time the camera was okay. We didn't check until we got to the room, but when Wendell opened the case he said, "UH-OH"! I knew it was not a good sound!! When he pulled the camera out the lens was hanging loose from the camera. He tried to put it back together, but noticed the wiring had also broken inside. Needless to say it was pretty much shattered and now we're going to have to buy another LENS! He is at this moment sitting at the desk, looking on the internet to buy one. Oh me! I feel so bad about sitting it on top of the car, and he feels bad for not checking before he raised the roof for the night. He looked at me awhile ago and said, "It's nobody's fault." Isn't that sweet of him? I'm glad neither one of us "raised the roof" over the situation! LOL! Then of all things.....I went to get something out of my purse, and spilled Diet Coke on Hampton Inns WHITE comforter on the bed!!!!! But, the bad part about this is, it was on my husband's side of the bed!!! It cleaned up pretty good, so I'm not too stressed over that "mistake", but he might have to sleep between "damp sheets"! :(

After a beautiful day of traveling, with my "glasses sliding down my nose", the camera breaking, and me spilling coke on a hotel comforter....I started feeling pretty helpless, stressed out, frustrated, and many more feelings that ran through my head. While I was sitting on the couch feeling a little "down", a thought came to me..."I haven't had a bad day, I've had a GOOD DAY with several bad things that "happened"! It's how you look at "life" when things don't go the way you think they should that makes your life either worthless or worth living. After everything that happened "wrong" today, I started thinking...

I don't have a son fighting in a war on foreign soil....I have two sons "fighting in a battle for souls" at churches they pastor.

I don't have a child in prison....because they have been set free from the chains of sin.

I am not sitting in a dark room in depression....because God loves me, and I have family and friends who love me.

I don't have to worry about where my husband is tonight....because he loves me, I love him, and we love making memories together, even when we "break a camera" and we have to replace it so we can make "more memories together".

I just have to say, "God is good, and life is worth living"....even when "glasses are sliding down my nose" and "coke is spilled on the comforter"!

Just remember....It Could Be Worse!

Leaving for Conference!

After last nights events, I woke up feeling so excited!  Thank God He ANSWERS Prayer!  Today I have been preparing to leave for conference.  Believe it or not we got all our clothes in our "little car" and we are almost ready to put the suitcases in the trunk!!!!  I really think we're going to get it all in.  :)  As you know, we were going to ship our clothes ahead of us, but got a little concerned about them NOT getting to the hotel in time for us to go to church.   Or, there was that question in the back of our brains, "what if they never arrived"?  Anyway, that problem is solved since we are taking them!!!!  

We are looking forward to being gone for a little while.  I will try to keep my blogging up to date, as much as possible, and will post pictures of where we've been and what we've seen. Please breathe a prayer for us in our travels. 

I've been wondering off and on all day if any of my blogger friends are going to be there.  Maybe you could leave me a message if you're going to conference.  That would be good to know, then I can watch for you.  Maybe, just maybe I will have the opportunity to see you and talk a little, or perhaps meet a "blogging friend" for the first time!!! 

Back to "Normal"

The last two days has been filled with board meetings for my husband, and entertaining for me. After buying some new tablecloths and decorations for the tables in the "snack room", I focused on picking up the snacks for those who were "visiting" at the office.  Sis. Russo said, "This time we won't need to cook a meal for the district board", so we settled for snacks.   Today we were treated to a nice lunch at TBC prepared by Bro. and Sis. McInnis and it was very good!  

I enjoyed visiting with my friends who came with their husbands.  Donna and Diane are always so much fun to be with.

We enjoyed some "shopping" the last couple of days.  Last night we took the board members to eat a meal, and had more time to visit.  Friends, who love God, accept you for "who" you are, and have the "work of God at heart" are those you want to "keep".  I have many friends like this and I consider myself to be very BLESSED!  

We are "back to normal" for a couple of days, then we will be leaving for General Conference! We have decided not to ship our clothes TO conference, but will send them home FROM conference. I have nightmares of my clothes NOT getting to my hotel in time!!!  That would just be awful!  So, we decided it would be best to take them with us.  In sending them home they will have plenty of time to arrive before we do.  Now, I have to figure out how I'm going to get everything in my "little car"!  Oh well, it's worth the "stress" so we can drive with the top down, around the curves on the back roads of America!!!