My Journey to Texas to Scrapbook! (Part 3)

Well Thursday came and it was time to make my way on out to The Covered Bridge Inn to meet my new friends and scrapbook to our hearts’ content!!

I passed a couple of nice Ranches on the way out and one place that tickled me called ‘Hooves and Wheels’ !!  It was a campground that accommodates motorhomes/campers as well as the horse trailers!!  I just thought that was so clever of the owner!!  I’m sure there are many more all over the place, but my first time to see one!

But this view below is just one of the many stretches of land I saw, that, as simple as this picture is, it reminds me of the amazement I feel each time I capture glimpses of God’s handiwork all around us.  I so thank God for the privilege of taking in all the beauty of nature He so lovingly created. 

When I finally arrived at The Covered Bridge Inn, which was only about 15 minutes outside the city limits,  I stopped to thank God for my safe trip there and also to thank Him for the opportunity to enjoy this retreat, the scrapbooking I would get done and the fellowship I would enjoy with sweet ladies who share the same passion for ‘preserving memories thru the art of scrapbooking’ as I do!!

Then I finally got to officially meet in person, Pamela O’Conner, a sister Close To My Heart Consultant!!  I have followed her blog, Reflections of my Art and Soul, for a couple of years, admiring her beautiful artwork, but mostly being inspired by her faith!  I had actually shared an elevator ride with Pamela last year at our CTMH Annual Convention in Washington DC and was so excited that she spoke to me and smiled, saying she recognized me from Facebook and from me following her blog!!  Needless to say, I was tickled!

Maybe I’ll soon get to the part where we are really scrappin’!!!  After all, isn’t that what I drove 600 miles for???!!!
    
To be continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . !

My Journey to Texas to Scrapbook! (Part 2)

Part 1 just below, if you missed it!

So I got a great night’s sleep at Aunt Ruth’s even after sitting up chatting half the night!  I actually slept comfortably in my late grandma’s bed!  And her picture sat on the bedside table so I was able to smile back at her and say goodnight!

We enjoyed fresh brewed coffee with some Apricot Croissants (a first for me!) for brunch.  I actually didn’t head on out until around noon because I had to wait for my prescription refill to be transferred from the Meridian Walmart to the Longview Walmart.  Well, THAT took forEVER!!!  I had already completed what little shopping I needed to do before getting back on the road so I was simply walking around, killing time.  Decided to grab a bite in the Subway (because the sweet lady at the Pharmacy told me, once again (for the 3rd time), it would be a FEW more minutes!  Not her fault but I sure got tired of hearing that! 
** BUT as I headed back to the Pharmacy for the fourth and final time that afternoon, I ran SMACK into a classmate from home, Quitman, MS!!!  What a great coincidence!  It was awesome to see Jamie Mitchell and hear about his sweet family.  Jamie and I graduated together in 1984 and I believe the only time I’ve seen him since then was at our 10 year class reunion in 1994!  So that was a nice treat that made me forget I was irritated about having to wait on my meds!!

Needless to say, I pulled out of the Longview, TX Walmart at 4 pm, continuing my journey to Weatherford.  Before I even got back on Interstate 20, the rain began and I don’t think it slacked up for the next 3 hrs that it took me to go through Dallas and Fort Worth then my final stop in Weatherford.  That was frustrating but I simply asked God for traveling mercies and knew I had family and friends praying me through the rainy weather as well!

Though I didn’t venture out into Dallas, Fort Worth or Weatherford this trip, what I did see was amazing!  And like I said, just being back in Texas was so special to me! 

My first night in Weatherford, I enjoyed a ‘breakfast for supper’ meal at the local IHOP!  We don’t have one at home so I really enjoyed that and it was close by my suite so I got back before dark.

This was my little mini-vacation so I did nothing for a day and a half before heading out to the scrapbooking retreat, except for rest, read, relax and enjoy eating at new places!  NOW on Wednesday, I DID drive back to Fort Worth to visit one of their SIX Hobby Lobby stores!!!  Can you believe a city can have SIX of them!!!  I was in hog-heaven!  It was definitely ‘Texas-sized’, the biggest Hobby Lobby store I’ve ever been in! 

THEN I found the ‘Braum’s Ice Cream shop!!!  Oh My Goodness!!  It was awesome and my choice of the ‘Two Scoops on Waffle Cone’ for only $1.79 was Chocolate in the bottom and Buttered Pecan on top – this thing was HUGE – again, ‘Texas-sized’!  I believe that was the BEST ice cream I’ve ever had!  Of course I had to get my phone and snap a picture of it!

It’s really true what they say that, ‘Everything’s bigger in Texas’!!  Even the bananas that Aunt Ruth sent with me to snack on during my drive were bigger than usual and delicious!!

Tune in later for Part 3 . . . . . . . .

My Journey to Texas to Scrapbook! (Part 1)

From the moment I saw this sign that welcomed me back to my home state of Texas, I began smiling!  And I kept that smile my whole trip!!  I think I smiled even in my sleep! 

Just being back in Texas where I was born and spent my childhood, (and what a wonderful childhood I had) - planning a layover at my Aunt Ruth’s and Uncle Bob’s home in Longview -  then on to Weatherford, TX to enjoy meeting new friends that I would spend 4 whole days with -  working on my most passionate hobby, scrapbooking and papercrafting -  was plenty to fill my heart with excitement!  Boy that was a mouth-full !!

My first stop in Texas, after resting at the Welcome Center, was in Marshall to see Jaime!  He was working days that week on his land rig and the timing was perfect as I came up on the Marshall exit, to pick him up and enjoy some Mexican appetizers at The Jalapeno Tree!  It was such a treat to spend a little time with him and get to see his work week accommodations.

Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bob are terrific hosts.  My cousin Rita was there as well when I arrived and of course she had me rolling with laughter!  She’s hilarious!  Aunt Ruth had a delicious Pot Roast with potatoes cooked so I surely didn’t pass that up!  She and I sat up talking like teenagers until about 1:45 am!!  It was great spending time with her but we also shed some tears because just a few weeks earlier, she had lost her mama, my grandmother.  Hearts are definitely still aching at the loss felt at Grandma’s passing but we’re so blessed to know that she simply made it to Heaven before any of us did!  As I’ve said, she’s smiling as she’s now ‘Face to Face with Christ our Savior’.  That gives tremendous joy and comfort!

 

This picture was about 16 months ago of Grandma and my sweet daddy!  It was Thanksgiving day 2009 at the Johnson household!!

Stay tuned for Part 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hope for Japan - CTMH's Efforts & how YOU can help!!

Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.  With the tragedy and devastation, Close To My Heart is eager to help.  And helping has never been easier!


You can help by purchasing this adorable Hope for Japan, A-sized stamp set now through April 30th for ONLY $5 ($7.95 value) and Close To My Heart will be donating 100% (Yes, you read it right, ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!) of the profits to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts in Japan. How awesome is that?!?!  So if you want to help out and get this specially designed, gorgeous stamp set, please click on over to my website, here, to purchase.  This stamp set reminds us of how our hearts are hopeful for those who are in need. 


As Jeanette Lynton (CEO of CTMH) says, "Let's show our support and together, provide real HOPE for Japan!"


Jenn