Sunday Funday - Favorite Thanksgiving Memory

My favorite Thanksgiving memory is Thanksgiving 1977. My dad had retired from the Navy, for the first time, in 1975, and we moved to Colorado. Home for both my mom and dad. In 1977 we went to Burlington, Colorado, which is about three hours from where we lived in Aurora, Colorado. My dad's parents owned a little motel at the end of town, and going there was always a ton of fun. My dad is the oldest of five siblings. His younger sisters and their families were always there which made it fun and crazy. As you can see from the picture. Two of my aunt's are in the picture. The young gals with long dark hair by the window are my Aunt Bev and Aunt Marie. I'm next to my Aunt Bev, she's in the pink long sleeved shirt.
Since my grandparents owned a motel, part of the fun besides being with all the crazy family was helping in the motel office and helping my gramma clean the rooms of the motel.
I think a lot of the fun of being there was the relaxed atmosphere. As an adult looking back this was the beauty of being a kid. No responsibilities, no stress, just pure fun! I'd go back in a heartbeat. I miss my grandparents, who have left this world for the beauty of heaven, and my Aunt Bev is now gone as well. I thank God for these memories, they remind me to never take anything for granted and to treasure everyone God places in my life.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We did, instead of cooking my folks, and us went out to Cracker Barrel. It was the first time I've ever gone out to eat on Thanksgiving.

I'd love to hear about your favorite Thanksgiving memory. Please tell me about it in the comments.

Sunday Funday - Favorite Holiday Desert

Happy Sunday before Thanksgiving! Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just four days away? It seems like the days just go quicker and quicker!

In thinking about Thanksgiving we were talking about our favorite holiday desert and thought it would be a great idea to share it, and the recipe if we have it.

My favorite is my Gramma Newberry's pumpkin pie.

Since my dad was in the Navy we weren't in Colorado for a lot of holidays, but the ones we were there are some of my favorites. I wish I had the recipe to share but I don't.

What is your favorite holiday desert? Let me know in the comments.

I hope you have an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving!

Sunday Funday . . .Books That Sparked My Love for Reading

I've been reading for as long as I can remember. My mom tells me that she was reading to me, like she did everyday. I was about three, and I kept asking what each word was so she decided that it was time to teach me. The first book I remember reading was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I would take a stack of books to bed with me at nighttime and when my mom told me to go lay down and take a nap. A few of my favorites were Miss Suzy which I just saw was a series. I may have to get the set for my grandkids. The Cookie Tree , Never Tease a Weasel and The Wonderful World's of Disney books. My bed was pretty crowded, making it hard to sleep, which was and still is the point.

I read my first chapter book when I was in second grade, Ramona the Pest, I read the entire series, laughing the entire time.

Two very influential books that not only shaped my reading, but shaped my thoughts on real life are To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby.

My fourth grade teacher gave me a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird as a going away gift when my dad retired from the Navy in 1975. She wrote on the inside, For Andrea, the reader who devours the written word . . . I believe that is what it said, I haven't been able to find my copy, which means it probably got lost in a move.

I read The Great Gatsby as a Jr. in high school and fell in love with the 1920's time period. Once I saw the movie with Robert Redford, the original, I think I liked the movie better than the book because of him. I think. . . .

Please tell me in the comments what books sparked your love of reading!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Sunday Funday - My Five Most Important Things

A group of bloggers got together to come up with something for our blog that isn't book related. I know, sacrilege, huh?! 😊😊

We decided on the name Sunday Funday, because it is the last day of the weekend, the last day for any fun. Each week we'll chose a topic and all share on it. We'd love to hear from you, so comment your thoughts.

This weeks chosen topic is the five most important things to me besides people, the Bible, Jesus, and pets. Mainly because those are pretty much a given, and they are very important to me.

When I first heard this topic I was completely stumped, but then a light bulb went on. My first one is a person, but I don't have an ongoing relationship with her, and won't again until heaven.

Her name is Angelina Frances Pampolina - Lozano, and fifty-two years ago she was fourteen and pregnant. She'd been sexually assaulted told her mother who didn't believe her. The sexual assault happened again and she found herself pregnant. Her mother wanted her to have the family doctor abort the baby to save the family the embarrassment of an unwed mother. At the tender age of fourteen she told her mother no, she had no idea what wheels that would spin in motion. When she told her mother no to an abortion, she was saying yes to my parents.


Angelina Frances Pampolina - Lozano is my birth mother. Her courage to say no, and love of me to give my parents a baby, created our family. So, my first three most important things are courage, love, and family.











Technology is another important thing for me. Not only does FaceTime give me the opportunity to stay in contact with my kids and grandkids, it allowed me to locate information about my birth family and know my Italian/Cajun French heritage. My fourth important thing is technology.

Stories are a very important thing for me. Which is why I review books. Stories are not only an escape, they seem to both encourage, and bring a healing to my heart that I'm not usually aware I need. Fifth important thing is stories.

I am, however, not done.

Last week's topic was my go to playlist when I'm having a hard day. Music is very important to me. My mood dictates what I listen to. Sixth important thing is music.

Without saying people, I am going to say relationships. For me relationships are a soothing balm to my soul. As someone who, because of an illness, and my own choice, am unable to take myself where I want to go, and on the days that are really hard relationships keep me going. Seventh important thing is relationships.


I am someone who needs truth. After living in a marriage full of lies, truth is the top thing on my list about anything. I don't handle liars well and truth will probably always be a the utmost important thing for me.

Rounding it out at an even eight, my most important things are . . .

Courage
Love
Family 
Technology
Stories
Music
Relationships
Truth

I would love to hear what your most important things are that don't include people, the Bible, Jesus, and pets. Please answer in the comment section.