Top 10 List

I have found over the past three+ years that driving to and from California is always an adventure, always the unexpected happens and there are always funny moments that I want to remember.  So, here's my top ten list for this trip...

1.  Driving with a somewhat newly licensed teen on the highway is nerve-wracking funny.  Boys think that every car passing them wants to race and heaven forbid if said person is over the age of 60 (hurts his heart to be passed by Grandpa!).  Thank goodness for cruise control to keep this boy in check.

2.  On the same subject of teenage drivers, Cole thinks the right lane is for "Grandpas" but the left lane (used for passing ONLY) makes him feel like Jeff Gordon (who?).

3.  Loved when we walked into the Cracker Barrel in Flagstaff, Arizona to return my book on tape and the cashier, Chadd says, "I recognize this young man right here.  I see you all the time in here."  Cole and I are looking around to see who he is talking about and he's talking about Cole!  I started laughing but Cole said, "Well, Chadd, I haven't ever met you before but it's great to see you, too!"  I had to run to the ladies' room.

4.  Playing the game "20 Questions" with Cole is NEVER a good idea.  He becomes irate when I can't remember if he answered "yes" or "no" to my question of whether the item was electronic or not.  Obviously, I need to remind him that my short-term memory is shot since I gave birth to him and his brother.  Plus, who picks a "door knob" as their object?!  Then, he was upset because the particular item I was thinking about was a bottle of wine and he guessed it in two questions.  Sheesh.

5.  Evil birds follow me for our entire trip and choose our car (out of hundreds) to perch on while we are stopped to get gas, go potty or just to stretch our legs.  Cole doesn't help by laughing.

6.  I really love to wear my bedazzled Razorback shirt when we stop for the night in Texas.

7.  I love to watch the stares that Cole receives when he walks through the lobby of a hotel, a restaurant or even in the parking lot of a gas station.  He is totally oblivious that girls are swooning (hope we can keep it that way ;))!

8.    I love staying at hotels that allow dogs so I can get my smooch on!

9.  I love the sign at the hotel in Kingman, Arizona that welcomes pets but NO CHICKENS!  Woot!

10.  As soon as we arrived in Barstow, CA the traffic changed to five lanes, someone honked at me (probably because I was not driving 90) and I got cut off in traffic.  Welcome to California!

We're settled in to our apartment that we will call home for the next three weeks, and Cole already has an audition for today and then off to set beginning Wednesday.  I am so thankful for a safe trip and making memories.

The beautiful sunrise as we departed Little Rock.

We finally stopped at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX.

An awesome sky in New Mexico.

"God saved you by His special favor when you believed.  And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."
~Ephesians 2:8-10

ALWAYS A Change to Our Schedule

I must admit that sometimes I am very envious of people who can do the following:

1.  Plan a trip

2.  Go on said trip with everything occurring as planned.

In the Ewing house, there has NEVER, I repeat NEVER been a trip where at least one hiccup (usually more) did not occur.  This latest trip is no exception.

All along, the plan has been for Spencer, Cole and I to go to Los Angeles for three weeks so that Cole could  be on set and Spencer could visit three college campuses.  But yesterday, we received news that Spencer has several appointments coming up that can not be rescheduled so we he made the decision to stay in Little Rock.  In my heart, I know it is the right decision but my heart is also screaming.  Yes, I know it is only three weeks but I have spent so much time with him since we came home in May that I don't want to spend any more time apart.  So, he made the decision and I cried.  Not just cried, but bawled.  At work.  On my lunch break.  And scared customers.  Sigh, it wasn't pretty.

Packing will commence tonight and Cole and I will leave early tomorrow morning so that we can arrive in LA at a decent hour on Sunday.

I am hoping that our trip goes without a hitch and that Spencer has lots of invitations to do fun things while we are gone.

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today."

~Matthew 7:34

Senior Moments

As I get older, I notice I have more and more "senior" moments.  For instance, not remembering where I leave my glasses (hence the reason I buy 10 at a time at Dollar Tree), or my phone (I am usually shouting through the house to anyone, "Someone call my phone so I can find it!") or sometimes, my children (don't ask!).  Sometimes I think there is something really wrong with me and then my mom reminds me that we just have a lot going on; I hope she is right and not just trying to be sweet.

However, my senior moments lately have revolved around a senior in high school and a senior citizen.

I am reminded each day that Spencer is indeed a senior in high school by the various activities that are currently underway; college tours, ACT and SAT testing and senior pictures.  Last week, we met Levi Miller at the Clinton Presidential Library for Spencer's senior pictures.  I stood in the background and enjoyed their easy camaraderie and talk of all things sports while I held the extra change of clothes and did my best to keep my emotions in check.  Although I did tear up a couple of times, I refrained from displaying my full-on ugly cry or from drinking from my flask.  My mom would have been proud.

I can't wait to see the pictures because I know they are going to be AWESOME!

As many of you already know, my Gigi (grandmother) has been in the hospital following an aortic valve replacement and while this is a serious surgery, it becomes even more so if you are 90+.  Like everything else she does in life, she has handled it like a trooper and with poise and grace.  She has astounded the doctors at her recovery and impressed her physical therapists and occupational therapists during her stay at Baptist Rehab.  We are hopeful that she will be able to come home on Friday and while I know that she is ready, we want to make sure that she is medically ready.  Now, if only we could hog tie her to her glider in her living room to make sure that she doesn't do too much too soon.

Love, love, love this Godly woman.

This week, we are preparing for our return to Los Angeles as Cole goes back on set to film a few more episodes of ______________ (I'm mean, aren't I!!!).  As soon as I get the "all clear" from Cole's agent or manager, I will announce it officially.  ;)  In the meantime, Cole has been super busy with school, working and hanging out with his friends before we leave.  We are planning on being in LA for three weeks and I am hoping we don't have to extend our stay because I really just want to be home for the holidays, get our house sold and then all move to LA together.  Is that too much to ask?

As we prepare to leave Friday, my anxiety level increases exponentially each day but I am determined to take each day one minute at a time until we are safely ensconced in our apartment in LA.  Today's devotional was a great reminder for God's plan...

"If we had no need, no one would ever know of God's supply.  If we had no hurt, no one would know of His comfort.  If we had no disease, no one would know of His healing.  He is revealed as a Redeemer and Rescuer only when we need redemption and rescuing  Our need highlights who He is."

The One Year Worship the King Devotional

by Chris Tiegreen