January 25, 2009 - Happy Birthday, Elaine!

It was a cold birthday...high being 25 degrees. We drove to Branson and went to church. The sermon was good, people friendly, and Branson spirit refreshing. Then to Bob Evans. We shared a delicious chicken dinner topped off with yummy calorie filled Hershey-bar Cake alamode. The servers all came with banging pans to sing...fun! Next, to the new LANDING MALL. We had not been there. Walking in freezing outside weather looking at all the new stores and attractions was a cool experience! The Mall was in the planning stages when we lived there in 2001 and now what a reality with convention center, huge Hilton Hotel plus all the stores. Getting back to the car was "heaven." We hurried on home stopping at Wal-Mart to stock up on food since a big ice/snow/hail storm is coming soon. I enjoyed calls from all the kids and Joyce and had such fun with Benny...what a beautiful tribute card he wrote for me (I accept every word as true, ha!) In the evening we listened to a YTB message,snacked, and played Liverpool (surprise). Yes, it was a great day...different since no kids were able to come out but wonderful. (Steve is in Boise with the girls, Kathy was in Ok. City with Julie's cheerleading competition and the others are in far away places. The phone calls were GREAT and I'm thankful.