World Cup

June 30, 2010
We went to see the Eiffel Tower last night....Fabulous. We took the underground Metro to get there. The World Cup soccer game had just finished and EVERYONE here are fans. The game finished while we were underground and as we were getting off the subway riot police and dogs were EVERYWHERE getting ready to control the crowds. A group of boys/men were chanting "Spainya, Spainya" (Spain won) and shaking the subway as they got on. People in Portugal shirts were crying....holy cow it was exciting and SCARY. I am amazed at how committed these people are to soccer. As we were exiting the subway huge crowds of people were pushed up against the bars of the subway because the riot police were monitoring how many people could get on the subway at a time. crazy. They had this huge screen outside the grounds of the Eiffel Tower where thousands of people gathered to watch the World Cup....so when it was over there were people chanting and taunting Portugal fans who lost.

The Eiffel Tower is breathtaking at night. They have it "backlit" all night but 10 minutes of every hour at night these incredible twinkling lights illuminate the edifice. Magnificent to behold.

We were all hungry so we stopped and ordered omlets and the boys just had to try the escargot. It is not the escargot but the pastries that call me from every window...hope I make it home in the same clothes I came in...don't know if I will fit.

Arrived in Paris

June 30, 2010
We arrived in Paris and the taxi dropped us off at our location. What an enchanting cobblestone street. We loaded our gear in big carts and we were off to our place which was the last one on the left. It had balconies and a patio that we ate dinner on. Very quiet and private.

2009

Who can imagine what can actually happen in one year? The struggles and the triumphs are all part of this life. How we deal with each of these is the key.
I am so grateful for an incredible husband and children who have shown me this year what eternal families are all about.
Some moments in life are too sacred to share and I am grateful for friends that have been there just to sit and cry with me. Tears of heartbreak and tears of sheer joy... ah, family and friends - I am blessed.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ has opened up to me in a new light this year and I have journaled my thoughts and feelings so as not to forget what I have learned.
And now as I look forward to 2010 I am excited to move forward knowing the bounteous blessings that have been given to me.

Someone stole my costume!

When I was at the airport the other day I was stopped in my tracks...there was a picture of a woman in Carson's halloween outfit!

Memories

I am sitting here realizing that I love to check in on my daughters' blogs. It is incredible that they are old enough to be on their own. Two fabulous young women and I cherish them.



Tonight I was walking into the high school (we were going to a wrestling match) and I was walking behind Michael and Eric. I got a lump in my throught. It was so cool to see them walking in as friends and brothers and WOW - SO HANDSOME :) Soon they will be gone...how exciting to see my kids grow up.



I have been spending my days in doctor's offices. I am working on getting my neck/upper back to a point that I am not in constant pain. I have actually tried accupuncture...never thought I would get to that point. It is helping with a combination of physical therapy (again). We are trying some more things before I look at injections or surgery.

Girl's dinner

Paige had the 3 of us get together and fix a dinner together. We had so much fun! Wow was it good...made me think that we should start a restaurant. Well, maybe not - the kitchen was a disaster after we finished! We fixed a yummy chicken over pasta with and incredible sauce on top. Chrisitne also fixed a garlic, tomato sauce for some of the pasta...just like what I tasted in Italy - YUM! For dessert we had a berries and cream over puff pastry.
I am so grateful for my girls and all the fun that we have together...blessings, blessings, blessings! I look at this picture and I can't believe how old they are. What incredibly smart, talented and beautiful women they have grown up to be.

Cosmic Bowling

We went bowling and had so much fun! Cosmic bowling is when the lights are out in the bowling alley and they have the black lights on.

Michael ordered french fries with fry sauce - they were GONE in no time. And oh - I am much too humble to let anyone know who won the first game! :)