Lifelong friendships

Keith Wang and I have been friends, at least in letters, since I was just a kid.  He was a young boy in Taiwan , wanting to learn English and I was a young girl in America that was willing to write letters.  Keith's sister and my cousin, Marilee, were college roommates and so the letters began. I have had the opportunity to get together with  Keith and his wife Julie many times over the years amidst raising children, moves, jobs and the busyness of life.  Now that life is a little slower, we are very grateful for time to connect, visit, play and reminisce.

Keith and Julie have just recently moved to Naples, Florida where we spent an afternoon at the Naples Botanical Gardens complete with a tribute to Elton John after dark.

High adventure the next day included handling and close encounters with alligators, dangerous snake sightings while riding on an air boat.   I didn't realize that this was on my bucket list.

Snake....dead or alive???

It looks like I was in the drivers seat and I was (for the picture).

That evening we got to do one of my favorite things which was go to the beach to see the sun set.

What a wonderful weekend with good friends enjoying beautiful sights, warm conversations, great food and the joy of celebrating life together.  Thanks  to you Keith and Julie!!

The dreams we dream

If you know John at all, you know that he loves cars, ice cream and me (not necessarily in that order). And I do believe that he eats, sleeps, dreams about and lives for cars. He loves to tell a story about sitting by the open window at 8 years old and listening to cars drive by the house.  He says he could tell what make of car it was by the sound of the engine.  He loves cars and he especially loves old cars.












So this week, after a lengthy search,  he bought a 1970 red convertible GTO.  I have long teased him  that the other woman was a car.  At least now I know what she looks like.

Christmas 2012

When I was a child, Christmas eve and Christmas day was all about family and  spending time together, Christmas eve service at church with those special music songs and cookies. When there are little ones in the family it is just like going back to those childhood christmases.  John and I traveled back to NC and spend time with Chip, Elissa, Celia and Lily before the holiday.  Jumping on the trampoline with the girls was hysterically funny.  And of course Elissa provided gingerbread house kits for "us" to put together. 

Are these precious sisters or what?

The Livingston family dressed for the Christmas eve service.

Then we traveled back to SC to have Christmas with Jonn, Jenna, Jack and Sam. Krista joined us Christmas day so the picture was complete.  Christmas really is all about the kids,the boys had a blast and we were so fortunate to get to be a part of their special Christmas.

And by the way, the ornament at the top is one of my favorite ornaments, painted by Krista and representative of the year that my life changed forever.  Merry Christmas to all!!!!

FLORIDA time

December in Florida is truly spectacular!! The Christmas programs for the community are so varied and there are so many, that you have to choose your favorites.  Although I did a bad job of taking pictures, we had a wonderful December.  This is a photo of the light display at the Gaylord Palms, a very exclusive hotel that we just happened to have the privilege of staying in several years ago.  We went with friends, Carol and Mike and stopped at Chick Filet for peppermint and chocolate milkshakes afterwards.

 

 We try to always attend the concert in Winter Park sponsored by the Morse Museum and we were able to make it again this year.  The Orlando Symphony plays, the Morse museum displays a collection of Tiffany glass windows.  The attendance is huge.  We went with friends Ron, Diane and Kaye and stopped for ice cream afterwards.  Do you see a theme??  We also went to hear the St Luke Episcopal Church Boys and Girls Choir.  Absolutely wonderful but no ice cream included.

And of course we had to take a dip in the hot tubs at Solivita.  Since I am the author of this blog I can include the photos of John and leave out the ones of me.  My handsome husband!!