Especially for NATHANIEL!!!

I had a wonderful time on my trip to California!! My family has this "thing" about surprising each other - it's always so much fun! (you should ask Linda about the time Mother and Daddy surprised her in North Carolina - that story is priceless!!) Ronda's face when she saw Linda & me tells the whole story.

When I flew in on Wednesday, Nathaniel picked me up and we had about 3 hours to waste until Linda flew in. So... we ate at Cheesecake Factory, drove around San Jose seeing neat places to live downtown, went to Best Buy, drove by the "Shark Tank" (which I asked if it was an aquarium for sharks - LOL! It's actually the venue where the San Jose Sharks play hockey!!), went to a car dealership, and I don't remember what else. We had a great time. It's been a while since I've gotten to spend any time with 'than, so it was really fun.

After the surprise on Wednesday night, we stayed up LATE!! Does that shock anyone? We had to get in every moment together that we could. 

Thursday we went to San Jose and met Bobbie and Nanci at Santana Row for lunch, shopping and ice cream (we always HAVE to get ice cream in remembrance of Mother). 

Again, it was a LATE night - I think this was the night that Linda and Ronda outlasted ME!! That doesn't happen often, but I went to bed!

Friday - Ronda, Linda and I stayed home in our robes until time to get ready for the party. It was a fun, relaxing day. Just before the party, we met Uncle C.W., Aunt Gloria and Valere at Foster's Freeze (this was especially for Linda). Yum-yum!

Friday night was the wonderful party for Ronda.  

Many kind words were spoken of her. Nathan and others wanted us to kind of "roast" Ronda, but we discovered she is just un-roast-able (is that a word?). In fact, Nathan ended up being the one "roasted". LOL! Of course, we may pick on Nathan, but we all know who to call when we want someone to pray for a need in our lives!!!

Saturday we were able to spend some time with Jimmy & Bobbie Shoemake, Randy & Sharon Keyes and Jonathan Shoemake. It was FUN and enjoyable. FUN, FUN, FUN!! These are lifelong friends of my family. The Shoemakes and Keyes were part of my family even before I was!!!

Sunday was a wonderful time with the Pentecostal Church of Hollister. 

What an incredible church family! 

I loved the service, I loved their worship and I loved hearing Nathan preach! (can't wait for him to preach in Pflugerville!)

One of the things I enjoyed so much in service was getting to see Nathaniel and Danelle in their respective roles at the church.

I'm so proud of them and who they have become. They are awesome people (and Matt, too)!!!

Sunday evening we met up with Gary and Patricia, Matt and Danelle at a barbecue place. Good food, good fun, good friends, good family!!

Monday, I came home after eating an awesome cheeseburger at In-N-Out!!! My husband and boys always have something to welcome me home - this time I came home to this sign and a clean house. I have the best three men in my life a girl could ask for!!

To see and read more - from maybe a different perspective - visit my sisters' blogs: Linda and Ronda.