Christmas in Florida

Right after our Christmas in Texas, we took off for another Christmas in Florida. Joni's kids were spending Christmas at their dad's house in Boca and we decided to leave Texas a week early so that we could also see them.

We had a great time... beaching, kayaking, playing tennis and just being together.

One day was spent at our RV park, Ocean Resorts. Joni borrowed a few kayaks from friends and we spent a few hours out on the intercoastal. There are many dolphin and manatee out in the intercoastal waters and usually many are spotted. We looked hard, but were disappointed that we did not spot any. I guess everyone will have to just come back and try in again.

We also spent some time on the tennis courts for a family round robin. We rotated in and out after each game and played for about an hour. It was a lot of fun. Jim and Barbara did not bring any tennis shoes with them so they played barefoot. Our court surface is artifical turf with a layer of sand over it, tons of sand. It's a great surface and easy on the joints (for old people!!!!) See Delton playing on the sandy court (picture taken on another day). Unfortunately we forgot the camera and don't have any pictures to show.

Another day was spent at the Fort Lauderdale beach. Joni has been to that beach many many times, as her parents have lived in Coral Springs (about 35 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale) since about 1982 and her grandparents retired there when she was a little girl. It was very crowded, but good for people watching. As you can see, there was hardly a spot to put your blanket down. See the "Where's Ken???" picture? Remember - Where's Waldo? Well, Ken is hidden in this picture. Can you find him?
The boys and Barbara were all staying at Joni's ex-husband's, (Ron), house in Boca Raton. There's no room in a motorhome for overnight guests! (See us all sitting in the den. Delton and Ron were sitting off to the side and didn't get into the group picture). Ron was kind enough to invite us to his house for diner one night. We had a very nice time. Ron and his girlfriend, Lynn, cooked a gourmet meal for all of us. Lynn's son was also there.

Christmas in Texas

We had an early Christmas with the Delton's half of the family this year, celebrating on 12/20 and 12/21. Christmas was held at Steve and Christie's home in Lake Kiowa.

Most were able to come, but we were missing Larry and Linda this year and some of the grandchildren. As you can see, we are a large family family and we all enjoy being together.

Pictured are: Delton and his brothers (Larry missing), our family with the Ken Bradley family and Chris Wells, all the sisters-in-law (Linda missing), and all the grandchildren. Delton's Mom Josie, is included in all the pictures.

We had a great time. Christie was most gracious as she opened her house to all of us, even after having had surgery the week before. Thanks Christie!

And now it's on to Florida for Christmas with Joni's half of the family. Good bye Texas!

Journey to Bethehem 2008

Another Christmas Season! We participated in our annual Christmas presentation of "Journey to Bethlehem" at our church in Grapevine. Again we played the part of beggers, loitering outside the village, begging for food as people entered the gates.

See Joni and Toni loitering outside the village with the camels.

It's an actual journey where the people who come to see the presentation join a biblical family and take the journey with them. They come along many encounters on their way. The journey, which takes about 45 minutes, starts inside the church and then goes outside onto the church grounds.

An Angel appears (Jeff plays the angel). All those entering the village must pay their taxes and be counted in the census. They see the 3 Kings along the journey. They try to spend the night at the Inn, but there is no room.

Inside the village, merchants try to sell products to those who enter. Meat is cooked over a fire for sale in the village. There are many animals involved, camels, donkeys, sheep, lamas, alpackas, goats, horses, and more.

If you haven't taken the Journey yet, make plans now for next year. It's something you don't want to miss!

Home For A While

After a whirlwind year around the western U.S., we headed back to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

We stayed at the Vineyards RV Campground on Grapevine Lake, only 10 miles from our house (the one that we sold). Being on the lake is a priorty for Joni - she loves that kayaking!

Becky and Gary Sublette came out one day for some grilling and we ended up doing some karaoke. Joni and Becky took the house down!

She got to go kayaking with some special friends from Trophy Club. Mary Jane Mulaski brought her kayak to the lake and left it there for the length of our stay. That made it easier to come out for some kayaking fun and not having to haul the kayak each time See Joni and Mary Jane getting ready for a float.

Kathy and Skip came out to the lake also for some grilling and kayaking. (See Skip and Kathy in the kayaks).

Larry and Kathy Lehrmann joined us for a campfire and grill out. It was alittle cool that evening but the fire kept us toasty warm.

We were"home" for 2 months and enjoyed every minute of it. There's no place like home.

Joni Visits Jim and Barbara

On Joni's way back to Texas from New Hamphire, she decided to stop in NYC to visit her son, Jim, and his wife, Barbara.

A bike ride through the Bronx was scheduled for that same weekend, so we rode in it. There were a few thousand bike riders which took part. We started near the new Yankee Stadium (pictured) and rode about 30 miles around the Bronx, riding through some areas we wouldn't have gone through without the safety of many riders and a police escort. We took the subway to get to the starting point and then again to get back to Manhatten.

It was a very chilly day with morning temperatures in the 40's and warmed only into the 50's, but it was a great day for a ride. You can see how chilly Jim was.....doesn't he look cold? Pictured is the highway which went to the George Washington Bridge with the sign for the exit.

Joni also got to visit with Barbara's parents, June and Joe. Joe gets alot of kidding these days, as he is actually "Joe and Plumber". His name is really Joe and he is really a plumber. Go Joe!!!!! Pictured are all of us in Jim and Barabara's apartment.

Joni Visits New Hamphire

After our year long trip throughout the west, we were finally back in Texas. But, Joni wasn't there long before she went to New Hamphire to visit her Mom and brother. Leaving Delton behind, she flew to New Hamphire for a few days.

Mom is doing great. She seems happy and healthy and has just completed her first year in New Hamphire, having moved there from Florida last year.

It was a beautiful time of the year to visit the northeast. The leaves were full of color and the temperatures were ideal. Pictured is Mom in her backyard at the Spruce Wood Inn, where she lives. Also pictured is Mom with some of her friends in the lounge at SpruceWood. There are many nice people there and Mom has made some nice friends.

Joni also enjoyed visiting with her brother, Rich, and his wife, Adele, their son, Justin, and his girlfriend, Amanda. They have a mutual interest in motorcycles. Harley's in particular. Pictured is the group getting ready for a ride. Be Careful!
It's nice for Mom to be close to family, as Rich and Adele live only a few miles from her.

Ken and Ann Montgomery

While we were visiting the Doty's, they told us that Ken and Ann Montgomery were also living in the area. Ken was our music minister at First Baptist Trophy Club and has directed some of our elaborate Christmas and Easter pagents. They only lived a few minutes away from Delton's son, Chris, so we decided to give them a call.
We spent 2 evenings with them. The first one was a visit to their house. The second one was for diner at their house and tour of their church. They have a lovely home. They live there with their 2 girls, Hannah and Sarah and 2 dogs and a cat. We remember when Hannah was born, in the midst of one of our pageants at FBC Trophy Club.

Ken is the Worship Minister for First Baptist in Bentonville, Arkansas. The church is beautiful, as you can see in the pictures. There are many very talented people in their choir and orchester. Ken gave us a few CDs of their pageants to listen to. They sounded very professional. Ken and Ann love their church and life in Arkansas.

We loved visiting with them. If anyone from Trophy Club is in the Branson area, they would love to see you.

Roy Rogers, Jr. Show

All of us "boomers" remember Roy Rogers as one of our favorite cowboys - "King of the Cowboys". Even Joni, being from New York, watched Roy and Dale and was a big fan. She went to the Roy and Dale Rodeo at Madison Square Garden in New York City, many times.

After going to the Roy Rogers, Jr. show at Silver Dollar City, we decided we also wanted to go to the Roy Rogers Museum and live show at the Happy Trails Theater in Branson. It was well worth it. It brought back many childhood memories for both of us.

The Live Show featured Roy Rogers, Jr. (See Roy, Jr. singing in the black shirt.) He sang lots of Roy's songs and spoke about what life was like being the son of Roy and Dale. He had some funny stories to tell, but what came across most was the quality of family life they lived. Roy and Dale had 9 kids, both natural and adopted, and he mentioned many times how much love there was between all of them.

Also joining the show was Roy and Dale's Grandson, Dustin Roy Rogers, seen on stage with his dad, Roy, Jr. Dustin looks alot like Roy!. After the show we got to meet both of them. (See us with Roy, Jr. on left - now wearing a red shirt - and Dustin next to Delton)

We went to the museum where we got to see photos, memorabilia, home movies, guns, costumes and Trigger, Buttermilk, Nellybell the Jeep (see picture), Bullet , and much more. Trigger, Buttermilk and Bullet were all stuffed - the real deal - (see photos) .

The car that they rode in the Pasadena parade was about as "cowboy" as you can get. Check it out! Gun door handles inside and out, guns everywhere, saddle console, bullets decorations lining the seats and lots more.

As I close this story about our trip to the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum and Show - all I can say is: HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!