Mr. Las Vegas

To everyone else in the world Wayne Newton might be Mr. Las Vegas. To me Richard Brooks is Mr. Las Vegas. Richard is my brother in law and the only reason I would make a trip encompassing 3500 miles in 6 days and a stay in a city I detest. 

The last time Bubba had seen his brother was 1985 and it was a very brief reunion. Prior to that his last recollection was 1968 when he was preparing for his tours of duty in Viet Nam. There was no doubt, however, when they saw one another again the recognition was immediate. Richard looks very much like their father and Bubba looks very much like their mother. 

Our visit was brief but enriching. I'm very glad to have another family member and I intend to maintain contact as best I can. I pray Richard and Bubba will continue to call one another as often as they have been these past few months. Despite the obvious differences in personality and lifestyle I believe the unconditional love and God's desire for families to love and help one another will build a relationship between them. 

Our trip, as many things in our lives, was dotted with amazing food experiences. We didn't get this plump by eating salads!   ;-)     Places that stand out in my memory starts with the Hog Wild Barbeque in Wichita, Kansas. Really great food at a really low price. Their pulled pork sandwich and spicey sauce rocked our world. We would eat there again any time. The Windmill Restaurant on I40 at the Oklahoma / Texas state line was an excellent experience as well. Their specialty, as we saw it, was home made turn over pies. This was Bubba's first apple pie of the trip and, as he claims, the very best. We enjoyed the Owl Cafe in Albuquerque, New Mexico so much we ate supper one night and breakfast the next day there as well. Their 1950's style is authentic as they've been open since and so popular you might have to wait for a booth on a week night. The buffet and Roxy's Restaurant at the Stratosphere tower were typical Vegas fair and nothing to write home about. I enjoyed the live music wandering through Roxy's but could take or leave the food. Mulligan's Sports Bar & Grill in North Las Vegas was really great, however. The food was the frosting on the cake of dining in a gambling venue with no "casino noise". In Green River, Utah we ate at the Tamarisk Restaurant. Excellent food!! I love it when you can order liver & onions in a nice restaurant and the wait staff is willing to joke with exhausted travelers. I really enjoyed that experience.  In North Platte, Nebraska we found Merrick's Ranch House by getting lost. It was a blessing, as we're getting used to, as they offered chicken livers as a dinner item!! YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did I convey just how much I enjoyed that? YUMMY!!!!!

Of course, none of these places hold a candle to Dad's kitchen. Even while working to keep themselves on the Weight Watchers plan, Dad whipped up a meal beyond compare the night before we headed South. 

Well, enough pontificating for now. Later I'll get some photos of Arkansas back on the blog and tell you more about this wonderful place and these very special people. 

More later ...........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH

forgotten link

http://soldiersangels.org/

Not ready for the big blog ............ but soon

Please check this out. Its a number of groups who do amazing things for our Soldiers. 

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

I look forward to being home for a couple days and taking the time to really expound on this amazing trip we've been on.

For now, simply know that we're experiencing some awesome things and we're on our way home.

We decided to head out from Vegas yesterday and spent the night in Green River, Utah. Not sure how far we'll get today but the goal is to cross Colorado and ultimately the Nebraska state line.

One item from yesterday before I go. If you're looking for the wonders of God's natural world and an entire state full of scenery you'll never forget, travel I15 & I70 accross Utah in mid September. I was catching flies all day yesterday and stopped just once to take a few pictures at a scenic location. The variety and color of it all was astounding. 

More later .........

PRAY OFTEN 

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH 

Love family; HATE Vegas

Have I ever told you all how I feel about Las Vegas? Likely I have so you may feel free to tune out now and back in later.   ;-)

I'm a Christain, albeit a very theologically uneducated one, so I think of Sodom and Gomorra when in Las Vegas. Driving into town on a Saturday early evening was an experience in itself as we were exhausted from three days on the road. We found the motel easily enough with the assistance of Peaches, our GPS unit, and the fact that we're staying at the Stratosphere Tower which literally towers over every other structure on the strip. We found a parking space on the 7th floor of the parking garage and fought our bags down the elevator, from one end of the casino floor to the other for check in, and back up to the 7th floor to our room. In this happy jaunt we were approached, or accosted, no less than three times by vendors attempting to suck us in to what they were offering. The gentleman at the check in desk and one of the vendors on the casino floor pointed us to the "nearest" elevator to our room which turned out to be the furthest elevator to our room. After we finally dropped our bags and located the "nearest" elevator to our room we headed back to the casino floor to find a bite to eat before sleep. I was so disappointed to find that the buffet here was twice as expensive as the buffet at the Terribles casino in Iowa where we stopped enroute, but we weren't willing to keep walking and take another option at the end of the day.

When I walk through a casino I feel depressed and out of sorts. While living in Southern California I worked in a casino for six months. I worked in the check cashing center and was front row to the desperate damage gambling can inflict on people's lives. I've seen businessmen throw every credit card they have on the counter searching for that last $50 cash to throw away in a slot machine. I've talked to the school teaching single mom who decided that moving another 25 miles from the casino would be the only thing that would keep her out of it and maintain a portion of her retirement account. I've seen people throw a temper tantrum because the ATM machines and the check cashing center refuse to give them cash from their government assistance (food stamp) cards. I've seen people return to the check cashing center regularly on a 36 to 48 hour gambling vigil with no sleep.   

I see that when I come here. I see the billboards for topless shows about female vampires and the families dragging small children through the casino where they are exposed to whatever might cross their path. I see people living the phrase "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"..... but I know it doesn't. You can't hide from the Lord and you will end up before him accounting for your choices some day. 

Enough preaching. I've made many, many bad decisions in my life. I've done things that would make most people blush or weep. I thank the Lord every day that he brought Bubba & I together and that I finally found my faith and the joy it brings to my life. I pray for those who have not yet discovered the joy that following Jesus brings. I pray for those who have not discovered the strength to make better decisions. 

Later today we go to Richard's house in North Las Vegas. I'm so anxious to meet him! Its so exciting to have a new family member after 9 years of not knowing any of Bubba's family. As best they remember they last saw one another in 1985 when Richard came home from Germany and his tour of duty there. They're brothers but barely know one another. It should be wonderful experiencing their reconnection. Bubba and I believe this is the Lord's plan; that we should come here and reunite part of his family. 

If all goes well we will spend more time with Richard tomorrow and hit the road again Tuesday morning. Will try to keep you all posted as to where we are and what we're up to. I should have a picture or two to share with you my morning. 

More later ...........

PRAY OFTEN

LIVE WELL

LAUGH OFTEN

LOVE MUCH 

Are we there yet?

I'm so tired! Who would have thought that two days on the road would poop me out so quickly. We're driving a rental car to Vegas to visit Bubba's Brother, Richard. We left home Thursday morning and spent Thursday night in Wichita. We left Wichita this morning and tonight we're in Albuquerque. We didn't bring the dog or the 5th wheel, planning to make the trip in just over a week. Mom & Dad graciously accepted baby sitting duties with mijo and we left keys for everything else just in case they need. 

First it rained and then it rained and later it rained some more. The last few hours were nothing more than sprinkles, thankfully, so the stress let up a bit.

We've enjoyed some great restaurants photo ops. Today we even stopped in Groom, Texas at the enormous cross and bronze stations. What an overwhelmingly BEAUTIFUL place. I was brought to tears through so much of it. When we pulled in it was raining and there were rain clowds in every direction. It stopped raining when we stepped out of the car and by the time I got to the cross for photo the sky opened up and the sun shone only on the cross; it was still rainy in every direction. To say I was overwheled with emotion would be a horrific understatement.

Well, Bubba is already in bed and I think I'll be jumping in soon. I'm exhausted, as much from driving in the rain as anything else.

I thank you all so much for your prayers today. I know that the love of good friends, family and our Lord is what pulled us through another glorious and emotional day.

More later .........

Yarn stores full for the trip

When I look at the cabinets I filled with yarn I am amazed at how little of the yarn, cotton and thread I purchased new. I would bet only 15% of the cache you see came from the store. And, this collection doesn't include the two steamer trunks full of machine yarn and crafting supplies I put in storage!

Between the generosity of Mom, the folks at church and my finds at estate auctions, I am pretty much set for crochet materials for a long time. I will still look at every second hand store and flea market, to keep my cabinet stocked, but won't have any serious need or room to store it until I get busy.

Mijo has decided, since we removed the sofa from the 5th wheel, that he needs to hang out behind Bubba's recliner. I don't like this much for a couple reasons and do need that area to store a couple little things so we decided to offer him a more typical solution ........ a crate. He had never experienced one before but seems to have taken to it real well. He likes to be out of the line of traffic, be able to keep us in sight and to be covered to some degree. Today I even through a blanket over him in the crate because its cool and rainy and he was shivering.



More later ........

PRAY OFTEN
LIVE WELL
LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH