Thanksgiving

I have to say I had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. It wasn't unlike other years - but there was something simply peaceful about it.

The Sunday prior we had dinner with my side of the family - the whole gang was there, even cousin Mike (my "brother" you might say). Then, Tuesday night we headed out to spend the rest of the week with my hubbie's side of the family in the desert of Indio. Oooo....ahhhh - Indio.

For those who've never had the pleasure of visiting this fine town, let me tell you - it's a trip.

Here's a portion of the week from my perspective, a la my little dynamo of a camera, the Olympus 790 SW.

Above: first night's camp fire...and the burning Sobe bottle full of gasoline.


Hubbie making a clay bowl that later fell apart in the fire. :(


Hubbie doing "my job," as my father-in-law put it, helping put up the canopy in front of the RV.






Above (L-R): "Doomer" Joey and brother-in-law Kip.


Above: aunt Jan and father-in-law Brian enjoying the morning warmth.


Spot on observation of how much of the early part of the day is spent in the desert.


Above: Brian nearly takes off the arm of a family member's guest while learning how to drive the "Toad." He "forgot" to ask how to stop. :)


Above: This is how we cook the Thanksgiving Day birds (turkeys, that is) - over coals in the ground.


Above: this is the "Toad" pre-mud pit.


Above: this is hubbie, post-mud pit retrieval of the aforementioned Toad.


Above: me with the new comer pup - Salton.





I just love this one.




Above: See, turkey really can be cooked in the ground.

Here begins our post-Thanksgiving Day journey into town for lunch...


Above: this is where we made it past the security check point with people ridding in the truck bed. It was a close call - luckily the ol' "just lay down" technique worked.







And this is the part of the trip where Justin's truck broke down (we won't say who left the headlights on).





Above: Matt trying to electrocute Max with the jumper cables.



On the road again...heading home.

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Knott's Berry Farm

Just went to Knott's with the Smith family this past weekend. Every year the "Farm" gives free entry and guest pass admission to Vets. So father Smith invited us and the Doomer's to go with on Saturday.

Had a lot of fun hanging out with everyone and capturing the day with my Olympus Stylus 720SW.

Check it out! :)









Late night rapids:





Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Wedding Tip or Trick of the Week

Plans

Tonight I re-learned that plans change. And sometimes there's absolutely nothing we can do about it.

A free evening often leads me to wander to the local coffee hang out (with free wi-fi). So like other nights with no plans in mind, I wandered.

I arrived to the perfect setting: an only moderately full room, soft soulful music playing in the background and one of the prime seating arrangements wide open with my name on it. Perfect.

To preserve my area of solace I set down my rather large purse to mark my territory.

While I was in line ordering my favorite regular, non-fat, no sugar added mocha drink, two older gentlemen walked in and staked claim at the two unoccupied chairs in my area. They did not take the hint my large purse was so desperately trying to make - leave me alone. The message was lost in translation.

Despite the inconvenience, I must say, as soon as I got over my issues I relaxed and enjoyed listening to their conversation (sitting near one another at the same table is fair game for eaves dropping).

Plans are funny things. We can quickly, and often without awareness become so attached to them. And possibly without good reason.

My husband is Mr. Adaptable. He lives interruption, because to him it's only an invitation into an unexpected adventure. What a fun way to look at things.

Wedding days can often get interrupted with the uninvited (guest, detail, last minute decision or change). The best thing you can do in the moment of intrusion is take a deep breath, let it out and smile - not because you have to be excited about the change - rather because if you let it the unexpected can become an adventure.

Let the beginning of your biggest adventure yet be one of excited anticipation and flexibility. You won't regret it.



(posted from mobile)

It's the little things...

Today I had a God sighting. It was in a little thing.

Right now it's the middle of the month right before pay days and it's always a little snugger after paying rent. But nearly every Thursday my hubbie takes me out to coffee at my favorite place, It's A Grind, because I thoroughly enjoy it and it's our day off together.

This morning, not so much different than any other Thursday, we walked in to be greeted by a friendly barista. Rifling through my purse to find my money ('cause hubbie left his wallet at home) I ran across an old gift card. Assuming it most likely had $0.35 or some nominal amount on it, I took a chance and asked her to ring it through to see what was left.

As she waited to find out, I recalled almost tossing out that gift card a few months back. But hating to throw away money ($0.35 is still money people) I held on to it.

Hubbie said, "Okay, so what's the balance due?" to which the friendly barista replied, "Nothing! And you have a $16 balance on the card."

After a loooonnnnnggg week and a few hard days, it was such a blessing to have that little gift bestowed to me. I felt God smiling on me as I realized it was Him who gave me a free regular iced coffee, non-fat with no sugar added this morning.

And to be honest, amidst the difficulties this week, this wasn't the first hug I've received in the past few days.

I am blessed...

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Personal Project: November 2008

American Dream

Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith

Wedding Tip or Trick of the Week

It Never Hurts to Ask

I grew up in a home where the idea, "It never hurts to ask," prevailed. It was just common place to ask for what was desired.

Oddly enough, many time it resulted in actually getting what we wanted. Not in a selfish yucky way - but in a sincere request resulting in a sincere delivery of what was asked.

Now, it wasn't full proof - I did learn that as well - but more often than not it turned out positively, even if the answer was no.

In my younger years I often asked, "What if?" (also prevalent in my home growing up), but what I've learned more recently is if you're going to ask, "What if?" and let it stop you from moving in a direction that might otherwise be healthy or just enjoyable you need to answer that question.

Q: "What if I ask for a discount and the vendor says no?"
A: "They may say no - if they do then at least I'll have tried!" :)

That's the goal.

So, what does all this have to do with wedding planning? Take a chance, ask for what you really want. As my dad used to say, "Ask and you just might receive."


Blessings,
Christine Lee Smith