Stress....Then De-Stress....We're Goin' On A Cruise!

You know how things are just getting more and more stressful by the day....Well we are definately feeling the stress just as everyone else is out there. So I decided to get the heck out of town with my hubby and our friends (and now family) Larry and Denise Holloway. But of course before you can de-stress there always has to be more "STRESS". Kim was out of town back East the whole week......I was afraid he wouldn't make it back because of snow storms....He makes it back on Thursday and goes to work all day Friday only to have to do more business for AAC and I was ready to strangle him!!! Then when we finally get on the road and on our way, of course....Here we are missing the turn off to our ship!!! The ship is just on the right .....in that water that we're just about to go over!!!! See the bridge we're going to go over????

















So we made it to our ship.....And as you can see Kim is now in vacation mode. He has just de-stressed. That's what I'm talkin' about!!! VACATION !!!! Everybody needs to just de-stress every so often....


















And then when you get your first towel character on the foot of your bed......Then you know it's going to be ok......

Chocolate Feast!!!!

There was even a table for Kim (who is diabetic). Actually the sugar-free desserts were actually pretty good!

Norwegian Cruise line had a chocolaholic buffet one night. Of course I had to attend this one!! This sign is all in chocolate!

They really had some beautiful ice statues. This one was of a horse.

Here are some Chocolate Dolphins. I really wanted to eat at least the top two dolphins but I controlled myself.






This was not even half of what they had!! I don't think I want to see any chocolate for a while!!! Just Kidding of course!!!

Having a Great Time In Mexico.....

I had to take these pictures of Larry & Denise. They were just having too much fun!!!! The band was playing a song for Larry that was a New Orleans tune. He felt right at home.

Here's the one and only shot I got of Mazatlan. The rest of them came out too fuzzy. Sorry.

Michelle & Denise are posing with "The Office Rambo" here in Cabo San Lucas. Michelle had us meet her here at the "Office" and she had tables and chairs waiting for us on the beach. And she also treated us to the best margaritas in town! We had the most fun on this beach! Thanks Michelle!!!!

Cruising......

We had a great time with Denise & Larry Holloway! Here we were relaxing in one of the lounges on one of the late nights. Can you tell that they are having fun!!!

I caught this shot of Denise and Larry on the back of the ferry boat on the way to Cabo. See our ship in the backround!

















This is a beautiful Cove that we go to when we visit Puerto Valerta. It just looks so peaceful. I could so live there!

The beach was just perfect there the day we were in Puerto Valerta. The temperature was in the 80's. Couldn't of asked for better weather especially since we heard that it was raining for 4 days at home and it was freezing enough to put snow on the Ortega mountains! Good timing for a cruise, don't you think?

WHO IS THAT GIRL????

Well Girls....I have never in my life had hair as straight as this!!! I haven't put a blow dryer or curling iron to this hair in about 15 years!!! But because of the curiosity of all of my friends I decided to let my friend and the best hair dresser in the world (not to mention the most patient), Valerie Casares flat iron it today when she came by to revive my color. Is she good or what!!! I haven't ran my fingers through my hair in decades!!!

I know I'll only keep it for a few days, just to shock everyone and because of the fact that there is NO WAY that I would ever take this much time to work on my hair in one day!!! But I want your opinions, ok. Good or Bad!!! Be honest!!!! Straight or Curly???? Do I look older???

I actually have to go out and buy a brush, I don't own one!!!

A Place for Inspiration......

Here are some pictures that I keep for inspiration....

















These are just some supplies for my stained glass/dirty job workshop....





















This is a night light that I made with scrap glass...
















I recently was introduced to making junk jewelry by my friend Tina and was inspired to make one myself. This is a necklace made of sentimental items from my past. It contains a watch face that was given to me by my grandfather when I was about four or five years old. I remember him tying a ribbon on watch and then he put it on my wrist. I don't think it ever worked but I cherish it.




The necklace also has a ring that I had made at Knott's Berry Farm when I was 16 years old and dating Kim. It says "Kim" on it. Also, my first earing is on the necklace, and a silver dutch shoe that was given to me a long time ago.......Lots of Memories.
I guess I should call this my Memory Necklace....

My Stained Glass Workshop...

I have a room in my garage that I have taken over as my stained glass/dirty jobs workshop. It has two large work benches that I am able to do my stain glass work and I also love to do wood working. This pathetic looking rose is the very first piece I made when I attended a stained glass class several years ago. It is sentimental to me. I recently decided to decorate this area because I have so many pretty things that I want to start making things with so why not decorate with them while they are taking up the space anyway!

I also recently went to a yard sale and purchased a box full of old bottles for $3.00 so the Ja Ja Sisterhood Crafters can someday do a class for the bottle stoppers and we can decorate them.....We are waiting for Tina to direct us!!!! O.K. Tina, it's on you now!!!!

This is a cement vase that says Kim and Donna on it. My husband actually made this for me in his art class when we were dating in highschool. That was 35 years ago!!!! I'M NOT THAT OLD!!!!!

I'm Sick and Bored !!!!!!

We had such a wonderful time at the circuit assembly this weekend with all of our friends and family.














And then I started getting that sore throat that I've been resisting for the last two weeks....you know the one that everyone has gotten and then it turns into a full blown flu!!!!



Oh yes, I got it and I got it good!!!
I've been in bed since Monday. Fever, Ears Aching, Chest feeling like someone is sitting on it, Cough... you name it... I've got it!!!!
I HATE GETTING SICK!!!!!









Now, I'm at the boredom part. Well enough to get out of bed and go into the other room but not well enough to go out..... Did I mention I HATE GETTING SICK!!!!.......

Reflections of the many District Conventions...

Kim and I have been to many District Conventions in the 32 years that we have been married not to mention all of the ones attended during our courtship. But one that stands out with us is the Special Assemby that we attended three years ago in Frankfurt, Germany. In preparation for our International Convention that is coming up in June 2009 I thought that it would be fun to think of the gifts that we could give to the many delegates that will be coming to our convention. As you scroll down this blog you will be able to get some ideas of gifts that were given to us at the convention in Germany and share some wonderful pictures of our trip to the convention. You could just feel the love that was there and how we had a taste of what life will be like in our new paradise with our many brothers and sisters. I hope that this will inspire all of you. And remember it is not the gift that counts it is the thought behind it......

What Can We Make????

No matter what we decide to make, it doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate. It's the thought behind the gift that counts. The important thing is to let these friends know how much we appreciate that they are here with us! This was written on the back of a picture of two sisters that came to the convention.
We receive a lot of little bags of candy that had a ribbon attached to it with a card of the person who handed it to me. Also, small tins containing mints and on the tin contained the name of the brother and sister.

Here's a creative idea, a package of seeds was given to me with a sticker picture and the name of the congregation that they attended. Very creative and useful.

Here's a beautiful bookmark made by a Japanese sister.

And why not get our children involved! Here is a beautiful bookmark that was handed to me by a young german brother. He was so proud to let me know that he made it himself. I will cherish this especially since it was handmade. I love it!!