A True Friend is a Treasure

Sometimes in life God gives us angels to walk alongside us. I have been blessed for over 20 years to have a special friend Peggy who came into my life and the life of my children and husband at the right time in the right place. She will never fully know how special she is to our entire family but we were blessed to have had her for four days in April for a visit. We walked, visited the Biblical Gardens in Auburn, lunch at Aweful Annie's, had dinners with the kids and even learned what scatological was at a play on the Delta King - Sorry Peggy that was a raunchy play.

Is it a cake or is it Katie - Happy 22 Birthday Katie!

What do you get a young lady who needs everything? - Hey why not bake a life size cake of her! Megan came up with this great idea for her sister and it took us about three days to make enough cakes and icing to pull this off. After masses amounts of eggs, cake mix, power sugar, butter and vanilla this cake came to life. I think Katie was quite surprised. Her task after the reveal was to take the entire body home with her. It looked like she was carrying a stretcher with a person on it to her car!
Even though out little girl is a young woman now, we are glad we can still have fun with her. We pray for God's will in her life and hope that He will guide her in making good decisions for the future. Love ya Katie!

Relax, Revitalize and Refresh your spirit at the Ocean

When life seems to be zipping by and it is time to slow down to relax, refresh and revitalize the body , mind and spirit there is nothing more therapeutic than a trip to the ocean. How fortunate we are in California that it is a short drive away from where we live. Larry and I decided to get away for a weekend retreat to Carmel in our new Hyundai Santa Fe. Time alone with no phones, computers or interruptions to read, walk along the ocean, go wine tasting and eat fantastic food was just what we both needed. The drive to Carmel was just as beautiful with rolling green hills and open countryside. We stayed at a beautiful resort called the Carmel Valley Ranch Inn. Secluded in the hills of Carmel Valley we discovered an area of Carmel that we had not visited before. We ate at a wonderful restaurant in the Carmel Valley Village called the Village Fish House that served fresh seafood in an intimate setting and we sampled wine from a number of wineries in the Carmel Valley region.
We walked along the main streets of downtown Carmel taking in all the cute shops and drinking hot chocolate and chai tea lattes then headed to the beach to breath in the amazing salt air. We drove along the coast were there were just the most adorable storybook cottage like homes - most likely worth millions overlooking the ocean. We then drove to Monterrey for a day of walking on the bike/walking trail along the ocean and taking in the Harbor sea lions basking in the sun and playing in the ocean. What a fantastic sight. On the drive home we stopped at the Old San Juan Bautista which means "Saint John the Baptist". This mission was founded in 1797. The historic town is very quaint. After taking in the mission we stopped at the local bakery for cookies and fresh baked pumpkin and raisin bread to take home.
A short but wonderfully relaxing and refreshing weekend.

Getting Older Isn't So Bad

When I count my many blessings of family, friends and the life experiences I have had I realize that getting older isn't so bad. I have had a full week of being treated to dinner at Crush 29 by my dear friends Amy and Gretchen, seeing my niece Colleen from Seattle in San Francisco ,having dinner at Max's, shopping and spending the night in San Francisco and spending the day at the beach with my daughter and granddaughter. Larry bought me beautiful roses and we went to see Australia the movie which was a wonderful movie, celebrating with my work collegues and the weekend has more opportunities to be outside enjoying the sunshine, walking with my great walking friend Janet and spending time with Katie, Megan, Larry, Josh and Isabelle.

I Hope you will Always Dance

Birthdays have a way of making me reflect on the past and appreciate exactly where my life is now. On my birthday I had the wonderful experience of spending the day with my daughter Megan and my grandaughter Isabelle. Watching my first born dance on the beach with her first born was truly magical and beautiful. I hope as I grow old my daughters will always dance on the beach and enjoy life with their children as I have with mine.
Snapfish:Photo:Video

Merry Christmas and to all a Good Night

Our family startedcelebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, December 21st at our church, FOPC, where Pastor Kirk portrayed the Shepperd boy in the fields where the angel of God came and spoke to them. It was a captivating and very thought provoking presentation of the Christmas story. Then we attended Bayside Church where Megan and Josh are members. The evening service was filled with amazing music by Lincoln Brewster and the Bayside band including snow falling from the ceiling! The message of Jesus' birth was beautiful. Having the week off work helped in getting those last minute gifts, wrapping, spending time with little Isabelle and catching up with friends. Christmas eve day Donna and Al came over from Angwin and we enjoyed the afternoon visiting and then the Christmas Eve service at FOPC where we lite candles and sang Silent Night. It is always a spiritually moving experiences. Complete with a full orchestra and choir and a church lite with only the light of hundreds of candles is such a beautiful sight. What a wonderful reminder that Jesus is the light of the world.
Christmas morning was filled with the smells of Starbucks Christmas blend coffee, fresh fruit, breads and egg dishes and of course the Meyer woman running around in our crazy pajamas. Some traditions can never die. Christmas through the eyes of a Child is magical. Watchning Isabelle in awe of lights and gifts was such a joy. Basically she would have been happy with just the boxes. I have included some pictures of the day. God Bless and we look forward to seeing everyone in 2009! Have a Healthy Joyful Holiday.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Merry Christmas