Vacation Time

This week, we are enjoying a few days in Colorado. It has been absolutely beautiful weather and we are enjoying all the gorgeous scenery! I am always so impressed with how God made such a beautiful world! I'll never understand how someone could say "there is no God". When I get home I will add some pictures to my blog so you can see where we have been. Of course, pictures never tell how gorgeous it really is, but I must say I have some good ones, thanks to my iPhone 4. I have been very pleased at how good the pictures have turned out while using the camera on my phone. (I'm not advertising for Apple, but... :-)

I hope you are having a great week! Cast all your care on the Lord, because He cares for you!

Relaxing Day

Today was one of those days we did exactly what we wanted to do...which wasn't much! Being on vacation is suppose to be that way. You're suppose to "wake up when you WANT to", "go to bed when you WANT to", "eat what you WANT to and when you WANT to"! LOL! That's exactly how we do vacation. If you don't WANT to do anything, don't! Whatever makes you happy and helps you RELAX...do it, or... don't do it! That's my "philosophy for a great vacation"!

I have been reading a book, my sister Karla told me about, and it has been so good for my mind. The book is written by: Joyce Meyer and the Title is: "Eat the cookie...buy the Shoes". I'm sure I don't have to say it, but just for the record, "I don't agree with everything in the book, but I do agree with the concept." So many people live under a "cloud of guilt" and they need to "lighten up and enjoy life". You cannot go back and change what's already happened, but you can go forward and have a life full of JOY!

You know...it's good to go on vacation! I've had people tell me they "never go on vacation because they don't have the time or the money". You don't have to have a lot of money to go on vacation. You can find something that will bring you relaxation just about anywhere. What do you ENJOY? Where are some places close to home, or maybe in your city/town that you feel peaceful when you visit? I think you understand what I'm saying. You really NEED to take time off and enjoy letting your mind rest! We get so caught up with "life" and the pressure sometimes overwhelms us. EVERYONE needs a break from it all. When you decide to go on vacation try not to plan every second so full that you don't have time to stop and rest! Sometimes it's good to "do nothing"! If you don't now "how"...then learn "how" by DOING NOTHING!

Well, I guess that's my sermon for this Saturday evening. I think I could teach a good Sunday lesson on this subject! Come to think of it...I HAVE taught on "making memories and enjoying life". Maybe "I" should have written that book!

Have a great Sunday!

My Birthday Celebration Day

When I woke up today I picked up my phone and saw that I had two missed calls from very dear friends calling to wish me a Happy Birthday. I called them back and had a wonderful time talking to them. They have been a part of my life for 26 years and have been loyal, dependable, caring and loving all those years. Thank you, "dear friends" for calling me today!

I then went to my Facebook and saw that I had 80 plus messages from friends and family!!!! For the last two days I had been receiving many Birthday Wishes, so when I saw so many more people who had written, I was totally overwhelmed. The messages have still been coming in this evening and my heart is full and running over! I am blessed to have you all in my life and I count it a privilege to be called "your friend"! Thank you for all of the beautiful, heartfelt words you shared with me today. I loved hearing from people from coast to coast, from foreign soil, and from a dear friend from Prince Edward Island, Canada. I also received text messages, and email wishes from dear friends and family! As I said last night....I AM BLESSED!

I have also talked to our children, and heard the sweet voices of my granddaughters. They made me SO HAPPY! The sweet voices of Jonathan and Brenda, Andrew and Mandy, and all four of my granddaughters is "music to my ears".

This morning my husband turned over in bed, whispered "happy birthday", gave me a sweet kiss, and turned over and went back to sleep! YES! I was so excited that he was actually "sleeping in". That in itself was a wonderful "birthday present" to ME! After we decided to get up and get dressed we took another drive. This time we went to the City of Coronado and saw the beautiful Hotel del Coronado. The grounds are meticulously cared for and the flowers are gorgeous.This picture was taken across the street from Hotel del Coronado.After leaving there we drove across the Silver Strand to the border of California and Mexico. It was quite a drive and we enjoyed seeing all the sights. We saw an RV area on the beach and I was wishing I had a motor home! It would be so much fun to camp there for a few nights. Maybe someday the Lord will allow us to have another one! (got a little sidetracked...sorry :) We drove on and when we got close to the border it was "bumper to bumper" traffic going across the border into Mexico. I don't know if that is a "normal" day or just the weekend traffic, but I wondered why there was so many people wanting to go across. So many questions....not enough answers!

We drove back to San Diego, then on to find a Foster's Freeze! My husband had already researched the whereabouts of one and took us right to it. I have so many memories at Foster's Freeze from when I was a little girl, so anytime I am in California I find the nearest one and go get me an Orange Freeze. Oh, they are so DELICIOUS! They taste like a 50/50 ice cream bar and Foster's Freeze is the only place I know that make them so delicious! After all these years they are still the same. I must go back in time: When I was a tiny, little girl I remember Mother giving me a bath, putting me in my pajamas, and taking me to the car to go for a ride. Daddy would get in the car and start driving. We drove through Fresno, sometimes through the park, and then on to Foster's Freeze to get an ice cream cone. Those were the BEST ice cream cones I had ever eaten! We never went home until the last drop was eaten and by the time we arrived home it was time for bed. I loved crawling under the covers and letting the "window cooler" blow across the foot of my bed, and I loved "hunkering down" in the soft covers. Those nights were like heaven to this "little girl". So, now you know why I love Foster's Freeze!

To top off my "birthday celebration" I chose to go to Tio Leo's to eat. We thought about going to a restaurant that overlooked the bay to watch the sunset, but loving California Mexican food like we do, I chose to go eat at this "home-grown restaurant" here in San Diego. It was delicious!I can truthfully and honestly say, "today I didn't worry about diet"! :)

It has been a lovely birthday! How could I ask for anything greater? Great family, great friends, great food, and all of this has been given to me by my GREAT GOD!

Today Is My Birthday

Today is my birthday and I'm with my husband in beautiful San Diego! We have been having a wonderful vacation and enjoying the ocean scenes, and all the gorgeous flowers that grow so effortlessly in this city. Today we went out to LaJolla Cove to enjoy the sunset. The weather has been so beautiful since we arrived. It's been in the middle to upper 60's! At times I have had to put on a jacket. I'm just not use to the "chill" that comes off of the ocean, but I'm enjoying it!There is so much to say about "where I am at this time in my life".

I am so blessed... that "my children walk with the Lord".

I am blessed... to have FOUR gorgeous granddaughters!

I am blessed to have two awesome "daughters-in-law" who chose to marry my two incredible sons!

I am blessed... to have my loving husband, whom I have loved since I was 12 years old! We have now been married 37 years! I think we're just starting to "fall in love"! LOL! Loving him has been my JOY, and going through this life with him has been wonderful! I am blessed... to have my sisters, Ronda and Karla. They are wonderful sisters! I love being with them anytime we can be together...and I love their husbands and families, too. We laugh a lot when we're together, and just have FUN!

And, I am blessed... to have my friends. They mean the world to me!!! They are "there" with me through my sorrows and joys. God gave them to me, and I love having them in my life!

God has been so GOOD to me! I have nothing to complain about, and everything to be "thankful for". HE is the reason I have such a lovely life.

I am blessed and I am so thankful that I know HIM!

We will be here for awhile longer, and each day I am going to enjoy it to the fullest!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I am blessed....

HOME From California

We had an awesome time seeing friends and family in California, but I am happy to be home! Back to my computer, my roads, my car... I'm sure you've got the picture. Thank the Lord for good flights! I was really happy to get my feet back on the ground. The flights were fine (a little bumpy at times) but I did okay.

I have downloaded all my pictures tonight, and will be blogging about our trip as soon as I get the chance. But, for now...I think I'm going to bed!

Taking A Minute to Touch Base

Oh my! I have been missing my blog and all my friends out there who say they read it. :)

We've been having a great time visiting friends and family. We hadn't been to California in a long time, so God blessed us with this trip. He knows just what we need, and I'm so glad He provided a way for us to come. We have been to San Jose, Hollister, Fresno, Rialto, and South Pasadena. We will be going home soon, and I will blog about it all when I get there. It will take a few days to write about it , and posting pictures will definitely take a while. I have taken about 500 pictures to this point!!! I won't post them all, but will post enough for you to "get the picture" of what we've been up to.

I have started missing "home". Texas is definitely my "home" since I have been there longer than anywhere in my life, but it's been really nice visiting my "roots" once again.

Tomorrow we will be in church with Bernard and Sandy Elms and we are looking forward to it. I love being here with them! They are some of the most awesome people you will ever meet!

Well, I will be talking to ya'll later. I trust you will all have a great day tomorrow!

I'll Be Back

A lot of ya'll know, but just in case you're wondering why I'm not "posting" here on my blog...I am on vacation! We are having a wonderful time! When I get back home I will write about it.

I trust ya'll are doing wonderful! When you wake up in the morning remember to REJOICE IN THE LORD, for he is doing great things and is worthy to be praised!

My Mind's On Vacation

While I was getting dressed this morning my mind decided to go on vacation! When I realized where it was going, I thought I would tag along. My mind, body, soul and spirit feels very refreshed since I went along with my mind. :) If you can't be on vacation today, go ahead and allow your mind to take you places that mean a whole lot more than getting in the car and driving to a destination! God is good to all of us! Enjoy your "travels" today!

As A Child - Teenager

Home

Music always playing from the stereo in the living room.

Dinner prepared by my beautiful Mother.

Taco's, grilled cheese, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, corn bread, beans, chicken fried steak, cream gravy, ummmm.....good!

Mother singing as she works around the house.

Daddy's voice as he prays over the meal.

Keith's voice, singing, laughing.

Ronda and her naturally curly brown hair that made bouncy curls.

Karla as a baby when she "invaded" my 13 year, 10 month world! (We always said I was 14 yrs. old when she was born. It was easier that way.)

Evangelists, visiting ministers and wives staying with us in our house.

Sitting around the table talking, laughing, and then getting serious as Daddy talked about Heaven.

Daddy grilling steaks, Mother preparing the salad, baked potatoes, and vegetables.

Ice Cream Freezer whirring in the kitchen.

Singing around the piano.

Practicing with Keith and Mother to sing a new song in church.

Coming home from school and seeing a letter from my boy friend, Wendell!!!! :)

Sometimes a Sunday Lunch with tuna sandwiches, chips, dip, pickles, Dr. Pepper, Sweet tea.

Sunday afternoon nap time!

So many memories I can't put them all in this one post......

As a Mom

Becoming a Mom!

Holding my babies in my arms.

All the sweet baby years - the first cry, the first tooth, the first crawl, the first pulling up at the table, the first smile, the first laugh, the first look straight into my eyes. (and so much more)

Jonathan and Andrew playing in the living room.

Wendell pestering them in line at the grocery store.

Tasha - our sweet poodle who loved to play "hide and seek".

Taking a trip to the lake with our boat.

Boys water skiing!

Eating sandwiches on the boat with chips, dip, Cokes, Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke, Nutter-butter cookies, and Pecan Sandies.

Grilling outside as the boys swam in the pool.

Eating by the poolside at the patio table.

Snow skiing trips!

Music coming from the boys rooms.

Games from the game room.

Andrew saying, "Hi Mom!"

Jonathan playing the drums in his room.

Talking with the boys after Dad went to bed was my "together time" with them. Loved it!

Picking them up at school and asking how things went and knowing they were alright!

Seeing them receive the Holy Ghost and being baptized in Jesus Name!

Meeting their lovely, beautiful girlfriends, who turned into being their wives!

Sitting in their wedding's thinking how blessed we were to be adding such lovely girls to our family.

Hearing them preach the word of God under the anointing of the Holy Ghost.

Hearing their saints call them "Pastor".

Ahhhhh....life has been good....and God has been GREAT to me!

Soul's Vacation

Heaven

Jesus

Loved Ones

No sin

No sickness

No death

No tears

Rest

Peace

No more worry

My Hope

Forever in His presence with my family and friends!

In Memory of Mother - Branson!

For those of you who knew my Mother well, you will remember at times she would mention Herkimer and Cecil in Branson, then sit and giggle a little while. She loved Herkimer! I had a chance to take a picture with him and Cecil tonight. Ronda and Karla, I wish ya'll would have been with me!

Wendell was talking to Herkimer and I stepped back to take a picture. When I did Herkimer noticed what I was doing, and "posed" with Wendell! After I took the picture Herkimer asked, "Could you tell which one was ME?" He's one of the funniest comedians I've ever seen. Herkimer has been "making people laugh" for 40 years here in Branson.Cecil, Herkimer's son, joined him when he was a little boy making it "twice the fun" ! He is hilarious and refers to himself as a "trained idiot"! We visited Uptown Cafe today and ate a delicious hamburger!Uptown Cafe holds special memories for us from when the boys were teenagers. We came to Branson with Bob, Donna, and Kyron Myre. One day we went to this cafe and Donna and Jonathan had a contest to see who could drink their Coke the fastest. After a lot of laughing and fun, Jonathan won! Of course, Donna says he stuffed her straw with paper! It's a wonder she didn't suck it down her throat and choke! LOL!

Wendell walked out of the cafe "full and happy" once again! :)Oh the memories flood my mind tonight. We've had so much fun through the years with friends and family.

Many years ago we had a couple "family vacations" here in Branson with Daddy, Mother, Karla, Keith, Ginger, Carmen, Shara, Ryan, Wendell, Me, Jonathan, Andrew, Nathan, Ronda, Nathaniel, and Danelle. We rented a place for all of us to stay on Table Rock Lake and had a blast! I'm so glad we made memories as we were "growing up", and continued to "have fun and make memories" even after we were "grown and married"! Karla was the only one left to get married, so she was like the "big sister cousin" to all the "little cousins". What fun!

Vacation Continues

I was "ordered" by a friend to post some of my pictures from our trip, so I guess I better do it! LOL! Really, I haven't taken a lot of different pictures this time. I've tried to capture the beauty of where we've been, but there is no way to show you all the colors on the trees. Here are just a few pictures of where we've been.

I love old barns! I don't know what it is, but they are so intriquing to me.

. Most of the pictures were taken from the car as we drove along the "back roads". Sometimes I only had a "split second" to take it, because there would be a telephone pole, or wires invading the beauty. This little white house looked so inviting as we passed by. I wonder if there was a grandma inside cooking dinner? Here is a "tabacco barn". If you look close enough you can see tobacco leaves hanging inside.
We were driving along and all of a sudden this Amish horse and buggy was there! I almost missed the picture!One thing I've always loved about this part of the country are the "fall arrangements" in the yards. This was at a "town square" in a small town we were driving through.I loved this one at Pigeon Forge! LOL!Give a "hungry man" a fried chicken dinner and you make him happy! We were at the Old Mill Restaurant and it was a delicious home cooked meal! I had the pork chops. I must say I have never had better!Give me an ice cream cone, and you make me as happy as the "hungry man"! LOL!While we were in Pigeon Forge we went to the Comedy Barn. When "Slim Chance" started juggling and telling his jokes Wendell laughed and laughed!!! I love to see him lost in laughter.The "story teller" is hilarious, also! He is very "quick witted" and had us laughing again.It does you good to spend an evening laughing. As they said before the show started, "you will feel better when you leave tonight, because you will be laughing". We definitely felt better!

We went on a "scenic route" and there was so much traffic that to drive the "whole loop" it would have taken 2-3 hours, so we took a "cut through road".We are now in Branson, but realized after we arrived that this week is when they are preparing to open for the Christmas season. Some of the shows are closed until Saturday night, which will be their first showing, but we will be on our way to home. We really don't mind not being here, because we are getting ready to be home.

What a Week!

Greetings to all my wonderful blogging friends and family!  I have missed you this past week.  

Last Thursday I packed up and headed to Dallas, by myself, to go to the Texas Spanish Ladies Conference.  I was there for Thursday nights service and had a good time.  I had "my own" interpreter to help me know what was being said, and then when I "greeted the ladies" Sis. Navarro interpreted for me.  That was my first time to need an interpreter while I was speaking.  It was quite different!  About the time I was getting on a "roll", I had to stop and let her interpret what I had just said.  I'm glad I didn't lose my "train of thought"!  The presence of the Lord was there, and I loved watching the ladies as they worshipped the Lord in the dance.  It was beautiful!  Sis. Lola Garcia had a group to sing and it was great! I thoroughly enjoyed their music and beautiful voices as they sung about "God coming to ALL nations".
 After service I was invited to spend time with them.  I had so much fun listening to the Bro. and Sis. Leal, Sis. Navarro, Sis. Garcia, and some others talk about the different "dialects" of spanish.  LOL!  They told some great stories about "using a wrong word" and it was hilarious.  They also said sometimes they have to figure out what another Spanish person is saying, because they might speak differently than them.  I couldn't believe THEY could get mixed up in their own language!  So, I told them I had thought about learning spanish, but I decided I would just let them interpret for me from now on.  I'm sure if they get mixed up with each other, then I was just about "hopeless" to learn it. At least, that's what "dear" Sis. Ojeda told me one time!!!!  LOL!  

Friday morning I headed to Wichita Falls!  I had an appointment and, I was really homesick to see my kids and grandkids.  It was the first time I had spent the night with Andrew and Mandy in their home.  I never had any occassion to before we moved away, so it was a real treat to be there with them and the girls.  Andrew and Alayna's birthdays are coming up so I took the opportunity to go ahead and give Andrew his gift, and to buy Alayna a new bicycle.

She loved it, even though she got really frustrated trying to balance.  :(  Poor thing!  I told them to take it back if she wasn't comfortable with it.  Of course, being the "parents", Andrew and Mandy said, "No, she will learn to ride it!"  I'm sure she will.  She's a determined little girl when it comes to "learning and doing".  I love watching as she "grits her teeth" and "makes up her mind" to "DO IT"! 

Of course, little Ashlyn Kate is an absolute DOLL!  She wanted a BIG BOUNCY BALL, so she got one! There is no way you can resist those big eyes of hers!

I enjoyed seeing Justin and Lindsay...in the Wal-Mart parking lot, and getting to visit with Gene, Karla, Greg Henry, Trevon, Jeremy, and Rebecca at Logan's.  It was nice being "home" for a few hours.  Saturday morning rolled around all too soon!  

On my way out of town I decided to go by the cemetary to "visit" Daddy and Mother.  It was Mother's birthday (76) and I just wanted to drop by.  I'm glad I did, even though I was very emotional for several hours afterwards.  It did me good to stop and "remember".I saw Bro. Dutton at a grave waiting for a family to arrive for a loved ones burial, but I don't think he saw me.  He was very busy taking care of everything and it wasn't an appropriate time to stop and "chat", so, all the way from Lufkin...HELLO BRO. DUTTON! :)  

I arrived back home to my sweet husband and have been busy ever since, but I'm glad to be HOME to him!  

Sunday morning and night, Bro. Elms preached for Bro. and Sis. Smith here in Hudson.  They are such wonderful people and we can't hardly quit talking when we're with them.  :)  I didn't get to go Sunday morning, but was told he preached a wonderful message.  I'm sure he did! Then, Sunday night I got to be there.  It was great being with the "family of God in Hudson", and with friends once again.  I got to meet Dedie Cooley's mother.I've heard Dedie talk about her through the years, and I can say "now I know where Dedie gets her spunk"!!  LOL!  

Tomorrow is the beginning of Texas District Board Meetings.  I've been busy preparing for them so they will have some food while they are here.  :)  We are also planning on leaving for conference at the end of this week, so I've got a lot to do!!!  After conference we plan on being gone another two weeks to get some rest and relaxation.  We are "shipping" our clothes to conference, so we can drive our convertible.  We will travel with the top down on "country roads"!  I can't wait!  Wendell has been planning the roads we'll take, and reserving our rooms along the way to conference.  I love watching him as he plans a trip. That's part of the fun for me.  I think he enjoys the planning almost as much as he enjoys the vacation!  

My "Mini" Vacation On Hwy. 175

Today was one of those days I decided to "go on vacation".  With all the terrible happenings with "IKE" I just wanted to clear my mind.  I have a dear friend who said to me one day, "You know, sometimes I imagine myself being on vacation when I'm going around taking care of things."  I laughed and answered, "I do the SAME thing!"  Maybe I'm crazy, and I probably am a little , but sometimes "enough is enough".  

Last Thursday I left for the Minister's Wives Retreat.  With Hurrican IKE coming in I hated to leave my husband, but he told me he would be okay, and that he was going to drive the motorhome to Quitman, TX,  since we would be preaching there on Sunday.  I was to meet him there on Saturday.  He left Lufkin and 45 minutes later the motorhome was broken down on the side of the road!  He was out looking things over, wondering what he was going to do, "the hurricane was coming, he had no car, I was in Arlington for the retreat", and from out of no where it seemed, a man walked up and said, "Sir, I have an RV pad over at my house.  My son bought my trailer and has taken it, so you can use my cement pad for as long as you need to."  Talk about a blessing!  God sent that man and we were so thankful to have a safe place to park our "home". It's the only thing we have to live in at this time, so we sure didn't need anything happening to IT!  Wendell then called Bro. Rhoades, a WONDERFUL friend and asked him if he could come pick him up.  He did, and a little while later Wendell was back to "square one", Lufkin!  :(  

Now, what were we going to do?  The storm was coming, and I would have to travel in it on Saturday to meet Wendell.  The way it was looking it was going to be terrible, and I couldn't bring myself to drive in that kind of storm.  Wendell got in his car and came on to Dallas and we were together once again! We hated to cancel the weekend with the Clark's but they definitely understood.    

Then, we received word from Bro. Rhoades that the storm had hit, and the power was out all over Lufkin.  Now, we had a problem for sure.  Where were we going to live since we were putting the motorhome in the shop when we returned, and the power was out in the apartment we would live in on the camp ground?  The answer:  We will stay in a hotel until we can get power on, or the motorhome back.  So, that is where I am again tonight.  Thank the Lord I'm not out on the street!   

Needless to say, after hearing all of this, and hearing about all the devastation to the gulf coast of Texas, and receiving reports from friends who are going through much more than I was, I decided to take a "mini vacation" today.  Wendell left early so he could get a tow truck to meet him and pick up the motorhome, so I was going to travel by myself. 

When I walked out of the motel in Dallas, the weather was perfect!  It was 76 degrees and not a cloud in the sky!  I decided right then to put the top down on my convertible and travel! It was lovely!

Yes, I took my own picture! I think I was travelling about 55-60 miles an hour! :) As I drove down Hwy. 175 I saw a "gated community" that I had always wanted to drive into. This time the gate was OPEN, so I drove through it and saw some beautiful homes sitting beside a lake. I dreamed about how awesome it would be to have a house "right there" so close to the water. The kids could come and we could picnic out on a deck.  We would have a boat, and all the "lake toys" to enjoy.  Of course, I knew I would not ever live in a place like that, but there's no sin in dreaming, is there?  I had to take a picture or two to show my husband where I'd gone on vacation today. :)

I kept driving and dreaming, and remembering the trips we had made in a convertible. The plains of Texas,and rolling hills of Oklahoma. Cattle and horses grazing in the fields, and new born colts frolicking near by. Then I was reminded of the white steeples of churches that speckled the country side on Prince Edward Island. There were so many beautiful, old churches as we traveled through cities back East and I wanted to stop and take pictures of everyone of them. Today I couldn't resist, and pulled off
to take this picture.If churches and steeples could talk I wonder what stories would they tell? As I travelled I saw this old home that someone has lovingly taken care of, and thought about the little wooden houses I'd seen on the back roads of Maryland when we were lost!We were so far out in the country that we ran out of paved road. There were no shoulders on the side of the road, and the cows were almost sticking their heads in the car! LOL!  I'm so glad we got lost, because I will never forget the beauty that surrounded us. 

Oh, I dreamed! I dreamed about driving through Pennsylvania and the Amish country, Niagara Falls and the power I felt as I stood watching the water crash over the rocks! I could imagine what it was going to be like in Heaven when the saints start worshiping and praising God. When I was there I felt God in a powerful way, and I stood in awe of Him! 

I travelled to Prince Edward Island and saw the red sands and fishing villages, lighthouses and lobster boats. Yes, I remembered and enjoyed the beauty that surrounded us while we were there. The quaint towns and beautiful flowers were so tranquil. 

I travelled to New York City and thought about seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time, and going to Brooklyn Tabernacle to hear the choir sing.  Colorado, the Hill Country of Texas and the bluebonnets in the Spring.  Canada, Lake Louise, glaciers, and mountains of majesty. Glacier National Park and Going to the Sun Road, Yellowstone National Park and seeing Old Faithful as she spewed her hot, steamy water up from the earth, just one more time!

I've been beautiful places and have enjoyed each one. As I enjoyed them and remembered I thought of AMERICA. My Home, My Freedom, My Country, and was thankful to be living in the greatest country on earth. Then, I prayed! I prayed for our President, George W. Bush, and his lovely wife, Laura. I prayed God would be with him as he leads our country through perilous times. I prayed for his strength and wisdom. I knew his heart must be broken to see the devastation of our state as he toured the gulf coast today, and I knew he would pray for the men and women, boys and girls, and grieve for them.   I prayed for the people who have lost so much, and saw with my own eyes just one example of what a storm can do.Then I was "home". Home once again to my husband, my town, and my "hotel". I was thankful, happy and refreshed! I enjoyed my vacation today, and just think....I did all of this on my way from Dallas to Lufkin on Hwy. 175.