I don't usually do this, but....

So, I'm sitting at Coco's having soup with my friend, Kathy, when a man walks in with his wife and 2 little girls.

Our waitress (Kathy's daughter) says "That's Brock (Christopher Rich) from REBA". Then, we heard him talk in that cute Texas accent.

He and his wife were real nice talking to everyone, SOOOOO of course I went over and asked if he'd take a pic with me when he was done with his dinner.... I really DON'T do this to people, NORMALLY.... ESPECIALLY when they are with their families. But by this time the whole restaurant knew who he was, and he was talking to everyone.

Anyway, when he was done, he came to our table and said "Scoot over, let's take a picture!!" Well, it came out great, but stupid me DIDN'T SAVE IT!!! So he took ANOTHER one with me on the way out!! LOL!!



Joann

Horrible Tragedy

I guess most of you have heard on the news that a horrible tragedy has happened in my little community. I've received some e-mails regarding the Christmas Tragedy in Covina, California.

Since I'm off work right now for the season, I haven't heard if these kids belong to my school district, but chances are, they do. There are several kids left without parents, the death toll is up to 10 people killed there... all adults (different news stations say 9 people, I'm not really sure yet, they're still searching.)

Anyway, I wanted to ask that you all please keep the surviving family in your prayers, such a horrible thing to happen on Christmas will, I'm sure, ruin Christmas for these kids for the rest of their lives.

Thank you very much, I appreciate all your well wishes for this family.

God Bless,
Joann

Forgiveness

I like to think that when we get to Heaven, we'll see the opposite sides of all the injustices that have taken place in the world (or at least the ones that affect us in our lives) so that we can forgive completely and live in Heaven with pure and loving hearts.

When I get angry or hurt with someone, and I feel that what they've done is purposeful, I have a hard time forgiving.... SOOOO, I wasn't planning on spending Christmas with my family this year.... but I did, and all went well.

It's the season of forgiveness, right!! A time when you're supposed to put things aside and remember the actual reason for the season. It's hard, I know... but it makes your life so much richer when you can find a way to do that.

I think I talked myself into just letting go of it all, and enjoying Christmas!! I forgave, even when I wasn't asked for forgiveness, or nobody cared if I forgave... I did, because otherwise, it would have ruined Christmas for my son and for me!!

I also forgave the neighbor who was giving me a hard time with the parking situation a few months back.... she got her way so it was easy for her to come bring a Christmas present to us, it was harder for me to accept it, and offer her some tamales I'd made... but I guess it's much easier to live in peace than in anger, huh?!?!

Hey, 'tis the season, right!!

I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas, and will enjoy a blessed New Year!! Be careful and stay safe!!

Joann

Merry Christmas to all

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful, blessed New Year!!! May you enjoy the love of family during the holiday season!!

Always,
Joann

I added a new song to my playlist for the season. I know that you've all heard this song, but just in case you've never really listened to the words of the song..... (as recorded by Stevie Wonder, and many others)

"Someday At Christmas"

Someday at Christmas men won't be boys
Playing with bombs like kids play with toys
One warm December our hearts will see
A world where men are free.

Someday at Christmas there'll be no war
When we have learned what Christmas is for
When we have found what life's really worth
There'll be peace on earth.

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime.

Someday at Christmas we'll see a land
With no hungry children, no empty hand
One happy morning people will share
A world where people care.

Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears
All men are equal and no men have fears,
For one shining moment my heart ran away
From our world today.

Someday all our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime.

Someday at Christmas man will not fail
Hate will be gone and love will prevail
Someday a new world that we can start
With hope in every heart.

Maybe not in time for you and me
But someday at Christmastime,
Someday at Christmastime.

Too Many Friends???

Can anyone really have too many friends?? I LOVE having lots of friends, I love spending time with them and sharing meals with them, and during the holidays people want to spend MORE time together and just enjoy each other's company, and of course, EAT MORE!!!!!

I haven't stopped eating in weeks and I see no end in sight. EVERY NIGHT there's another dinner invitation, EVERY DAY there's a brunch or a lunch, every weekend there's a party!! People EVERYWHERE are offering me baked goodies and even tamales, already!!! I SWEAR I could FEEL my butt growing!!!

I'm so scared!!! I think I'm going to POP soon.... and the END of the Holiday Season is STILL THREE WHOLE WEEKS AWAY!!!!!!

Another friend invited me to dinner tonight, I graciously declined with every intention of going to the gym... well, the intentions were there!! But then i got home, and... well, it's COLD outside... (ok, maybe not the kind of cold YOU are dealing with, it's 54 degrees out, but STILL!!)

Well, tomorrow night I'll hit the gym for sure!! = ) Oh wait, tomorrow night I'm meeting a friend for coffee!! One can never have too many friends!!

Joann

My Thanksgiving weekend

My Thanksgiving was wonderful, spent with family and lots of good food. This is a pic of my mom and me.



I went to the mountains with some girlfriends, four women in a huge cabin for an entire 3 day weekend.... and we had a BLAST (and ALOT of wine!)

We each brought a meal to prepare and share, mine was Saturday morning breakfast. I made scrambled eggs with onion, garlic, red/green bell peppers; bacon; a potato and cheese casserole; diced cantaloupe/honeydew melon; yogurt; cinnamon rolls; OJ, and coffee (with bailey's... LOL!!!) Can you imagine... all that food for just four women... not big women either (well, maybe ONE {she says blushing}). We did have just a bit of leftovers, but not much!

We went on a hike... I actually CLIMBED a pretty good size dirt hill !!!!! We met a beautiful (and VERY FRIENDLY) black cat named Tuna Breath!!

We watched movies and played games like Scrabble and Uno... and mainly just laughed ALOT (and even cried, just a little) all weekend long!!

This was us enjoying the cool mountain air on one of the many deck around the cabin! The girl with the BIG smile on bottom is Roseann, it was her 50th that we were celebrating, her birthday was on Thanksgiving day!!