Dave meets Elvis???

I was out late one night in the little town of Quinlan, TX. It had been a long day and I was feeling hungry. Being that it was Quinlan, TX and because I was broke I had my choice of Arby's or McDonalds. There were no Chipotle's in Quinlan.... I decided to go with Arby's because the beef n' chedder sandwich was bring out a hunger, a hunger that I hadn't felt in years..... Anyway, I drove up to the local Arby's and found it to be a walk - in only! Agghhhh! OK, I am still feeling that hunger that you only get for those potato cakes so I went on in to hang with the locals..... As I walk in I smelled the grease and oil of the fryer that hadn't been changed since "41" was President. I thought twice before I ordered.... Would it be good? Would it be as wonderful as the last time? Would it be reheated for the fifth time in a week? OK.... I can do this! So I walked up and said "hi" to the girl at the counter who was missing a few teeth but she did have that metal thing in her tongue.... Good thing that Arby's meat is soft! She talked to me and her voice made a slight "clicking" sound that reminded me of the train station telegraph office at Disneyland...... Oh, back to the story! So I ordered "give me a beef n' chedder, potato cakes and a diet coke, I need to watch my studly figure". She smiled and said "you're not from around here are ya".... I smiled and said "no I'm not young lady" partly because I wanted my food to be right and because I knew that she didn't have a car..... She came back with my food and I grabbed a big hand full of Arby Sauce and went out the door into the night. As I got to the car a big old Cadillac from the 1970's drove up out of nowhere. This is the kind of caddy that is longer then most houses with rims and head light covers! The car comes to a slow stop and the door opens. Amongst the coke bottles and cheeseburger wrappers falling out a tough looking man with red hair emerged from the car. Then the passenger door opens and with a large belch a man empties into the shadows.... A voice I knew from somewhere says "Red, y'all go in there and get me some food, I feel something coming on". The red haired man says "no problem boss" and the voice says "thank you, thank you very much.... Then the voice steps out of the shadows and I saw that it was The King, The King of Rock n' Roll Elvis Presley! Wow, I've seen Santa Clause but this..... in Quinlan! He looked at me a with a curled lip and ketchup dripping down his chin said "what you looking at son, McDonalds is closed and I need something for the road and I don't like the pansy sandwiches that Jared makes at Subway". With that he did a karate chop in the air to overstate his dislikes for Subway. For once in my life I was speechless and just stared. Finally I was able to ask for a quick autograph and picture and then Elvis and Red hoped back into the car and drove off into the night. Before he left he reminded me to treat my "Mommababy" right unlike the way that he had treated Cilla. I asked him where he lived now that Graceland is a museum? He said that he traveled the good ol' USA fighting crime where ever it may be.... Finally I asked him how he could be alive and he said that he believed in only there things... God, Country and Elvis......

You go Elvis....

2007

2007 Year in Review

Here's a quick run down of the slide show photos and what we did this year.

1. We got some snow last winter. Not much, but enough to make a little tiny snowman and close the office a couple of days (mostly due to ice).

2. Dave's work van was covered with snow a couple of days. Didn't make for an enjoyable work day!

3. This is all but one of my nieces. The Joneses to the left & The Graybills to the right. Love 'em lots!!

4. Dave on the far right & his teaching partner Jeff on the left. These are the kids that were in his primary class at church. He is still teaching but they had kids move in and had to split the class.

5. Liz's brother Steve brought his family out for a visit and we met up with them at the Fort Worth Stock Yards. The Nelsons came too. These boys are cute - especially the big one!!

6. Natalie Brown! She turned 16 this year, I remember when she was born.

7. Tyler Brown showing off his big coin from the place where money is made!

8. Dave's sister Jenafer & her husband David came to visit after we met up with them in Oklahoma. It was just a short 24 hour vistit but we took them to Texas Land & Cattle for lunch.

9. Dave enjoyed showing Jen & David around Dallas for the day before meeting up with Liz for lunch.

10. We finally get a house and great neighbors and then they get transfered and move to Denver. We miss them, but we had an excuss to go to Texas Land & Cattle the night before they left!

11. Liz was director of the church girls camp this summer - 5 hot days, a very windy night, one pool, a day at the lake, food, skeet shooting & 30 teenage girls! What a week! Creshel is the president of the organization.

12. We visited my parents community pool a few times in the summer. The kids loved playing with Uncle Dave.

13. We visited Louisiana and yes we really saw alligators.

14. We toured the Tabasco Factory and spent lots in the country store! We even bought a gallon jug of Tabasco sauce. It is our inspiration piece for redesigning our kitchen someday.

15. Dave's best friend Brad and his family. We used to live across the street from them. Now we live 6hrs away.

16. The Howard boys helped Dave remove a fence post. JR loved the sledgehammer!!

17. Dave taught JR how to make a really tasty steak!!

18. We celebrated 11 years in Oklahoma this past September. We found a place called Pops! Hundreds of different soda pop flavors.

19. Dave met "Elvis" at the Plano Balloon Festival about a mile from our house.

20. Liz is getting old - 39. We celebrated at BJs Pizza.

21. Joel helped Aunt Liz celebrate her birthday and eat her potatoe wedges!!

22. Dave and his little friend Abby at the LDS Dallas Temple. Our friends, the Maloufs, were sealed as a family.

What a year! It was a good one, but did not turn out the way we had hoped and dreamed. Our dreams are now in the hands of CPS and we just wait. We hope & pray that 2008 is our year and our family will be complete!

Merry Christmas
The Andersons!!

Waiting & Waiting....

That seems to be the theme of our life. Just Waiting. No phone call yet. Dave has emailed and received no response. He called and was told they will get to us when they get to us. Don't you just love the government. We are trying to be positive and determined. At times I just want to give up. Oh how I'd take the 20 hours of labor. It would have been so much easier.

November is National Adoption Month. The govenor of Texas, Rick Perry, has his little political letter - http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/editorials/editorial-20071030/view - it sounded good, so I emailed him and told him how much Dave & I would love to open our home this holiday season. I tried to stay postitive and just told him like it was. If the process wasn't so long and the people so rude maybe there would be more homes open to the kids.

We painted our living room, hall and entry! We're putting up crown molding on Saturday. It looks great. We painted a tan/beige color. It seems so cozy and warm compared to the stark white walls. I sure wish someone would come and visit us! We'd love to show off our little home and the Dallas area! We still love it here. We are still doing the same ol' thing. And just waiting...

Just trying out the Slide Show option!