Happy Birthday Parker

Wednesday got started off with Brenda getting her hair done at Gina’s salon. It looks really good (of course it looked good before she went too). I guess Gina must have caught my cold as she woke up not feeling too well. Later that evening we enjoyed a dinner of leftover spaghetti that was followed by that excellent homemade Key Lime pie Nicole made Tuesday night. Since Gina wasn’t feeling too well we just called it an early night.

Thursday morning found Gina feeling even worse and a doctor visit was in order. While I took Gina to the doctor, John and Brenda drove out to Cabala’s. After Gina received two shots and two prescriptions we all met back up at our house and sat outside in our garden swinging and chatting.

Brenda, John and Gina enjoying a beautiful day outside

We all left the house around 6:45 to meet up with Parker & Ashley so we could celebrate Parker’s birthday at one of his favorite restaurant, Chimes East. We were joined by his parents Phil & Wanda along with Nicole. After enjoying a wonderful meal we sung Happy Birthday and watched Parker open his gifts.

Happy 27th Birthday Parker, We Love You

Parker is quite happy with two cakes

We're getting ready for some cake

Parker's first gift was a toy stethoscope

He did get a real stethoscope too 

(Parker is in Medical School too)

Phil, Wanda, Parker, and Ashley

We then ate some fantastic strawberry cake and tiramisu (an Italian cake). John commented that we all would need the desert just to lose some weight after all this food we have been eating. We finally said goodbye to everyone and headed back home. Another wonderful day spent with family and friends.


I believe most of our fellow RV’ers are now situated where they intend to spend the holidays. If not, we wish everyone safe travels as they head toward their holiday location. Especially, Mike and Janna as they avoid snow while they make their way to Arkansas to spend the holidays with Janna’s family.

Congratulations to Mom and Pop's for selling their lot in Retama Village.  We love and miss you guys!!!


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Enjoying The Holidays With Family and Friends

It’s hard to believe we have been back at our stick and brick house for three and a half weeks. Gina has been busy decorating the house for Christmas while I have been sick with a cold. I guess I’m having trouble with all this cold weather down here when it should be warm. We have finished most of our doctor visits and now are focused on Christmas and spending time with family and friends.

Here are a few pictures to show everyone what we have been up to.

Our Main Christmas Tree

This is our Family Tree

This is our American Military Tree

Nativity Scene on our Sofa table

Watching my sister conduct her childrens choir program

Ryan, Stephen, Ashley, Parker, Dana & Rickey enjoying Sunday lunch with us

Happy Birthday Uncle Jim

Saturday night Ashley and Parker flew in from Granada and Gina cooked lasagna for their arrival. We had a great get together at Parker’s parents house.

Ashley & Parker arrive back home

Ashley & Parker

Our get together celebrating Ashley & Parker coming home

John & Brenda, Our Special friends from Canada

Monday, John & Brenda, our friends from Canada arrived here in their beautiful motorhome around noon. We enjoyed a light lunch of cheese and crackers while getting caught up with our happenings. Gina decided to cook spaghetti for dinner. We waited for Ashley & Parker and Nicole to arrive so we could all enjoy a wonderful dinner with family and friends. Our children were excited to finally meet some of our friends from the RVing world that we talk so much about. Dinner was great and Ashley made homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Except for the cold weather you couldn’t ask for a better or more exciting day than spending it with family and friends.

Tuesday found Brenda and Gina out shopping before she took Brenda to our family doctor for a little relief of the pain in her knee. While they were gone John and I did a little shopping of our own. First we headed to Camping World and while we were there we walked through a bunch of motorhomes. I was quite surprised that I didn't care for any of the floorplans. Well, I guess I'll have to keep what I have. From there we stopped at our local Bass Pro store. We didn't buy anything but John thought Bass Pro did a great job of capturing the decor of south Louisiana. Once we finally made it back home I got started on cooking some chicken and smoked turkey so it would be ready for Gina to cook up some of her chicken & sausage gumbo. We were having another big get together tonight. Dana & Rickey, my sister and BIL, Brandi, who has a special place in our heart, and of course Nicole, our daughter were coming for dinner. While Nicole was here she made a Key Lime pie which will be for Wednesday.

As you can see we are really glad to be home for the holidays and spending time with our family and friends makes it all the more special.



Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Our First Week Back in Louisiana

Wow, what a first week we have had being back at home. It seems like we haven’t stopped to smell the roses. We have spent a lot of time with family, which has been great. Of course, our first order of business has been doctor appointments. Our first appointments were with our primary care manager on Monday. Then on Tuesday I went to see an orthopedic doctor for my shoulder. After a few x-rays he decided to give me a shot of steroid into my shoulder. It’s feeling a little better but I’m still experiencing a little pain that he said would be there for a while. Wednesday found us preparing for our Thanksgiving feast all day.

Thanksgiving Day found all of our family at our house enjoying a wonderful meal while we all reflected back on the blessing we have enjoyed this past year. Our Father has humbled us and our lives have been so enriched by all the wonderful people He has placed in our lives this year. They have made this past year unbelievably wonderful and we consider them all part of our family. As such, we hope everyone enjoyed a Happy Thanksgiving.

Rickey holding Addison & Dana, with two of their sons Ryan, and Steven

Me & Gina with Nicole & Shane

Thursday evening found Gina and Dana making their shopping plans for our annual Black Friday morning shopping trip together. We have done this together for the past fourteen years minus last year when we were in South Texas.  We left our house at 3:15 in the morning heading to the mall for those great doorbuster sales.

While the girls shopped Rickey stood in line to check out

Somewhere in there I took a little nap while the girls shopped

We made our way through all of the stores and finally decided it was time to head home around eleven o’clock. However, Rickey and I decided that we needed a little man shopping.  So our final destination was Home Depot.  Once we made it back home it was a meal of leftovers before we all settled down to watch the Iron Bowl as Auburn took on Alabama. After the game was over we said goodnight to Dana & Rickey and called it a day.

Saturday found us sleeping in with the only plans today was having Nicole & Shane and Gina & I going over to my sister’s house to eat hot fried turkey sandwiches while watching LSU football. Even though the game didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to we still had a great time.

Hopefully, now that this festive week is over Gina and I can slow down a little. We both have some projects that we need to get started on. So between now and Christmas, it will be our goal to get those accomplished.

Mom & Pop's will be leaving South Texas tomorrow as they head toward Arizona to spend the winter in their new home. Safe Travels Mom & Pop's and we'll be right behind y'all after Christmas.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.