It has been a blessed and wonderful few weeks that Jeff has been home. As much as Nathan appears to be a mamma's-boy, he longs for daddy.
Our pre-Christmas celebrations started with lots of birthday gatherings with friends and family. Here is an overview of all the special times that I enjoyed over the holidays...
Lunch with Stephanie and Lori at The Egg Plantation (www.eggplantation.com), lunch with Jessica at Abbey Lane Cafe (www.abbeylanecafe.com), both meals exceptional!
Mid week, I was semi-surprised by other dear friends of mine, Kirsten, who spear-headed the evening plans, along with Janine and Tisha for a dinner together at our local El Torito. Yum! This was the first time in a long time that I can remember that I ate so much...mostly chips and salsa, but I practically had to be rolled home! It was great time that all 4 of us were together. Kirsten and Tisha have been great friends for years and Janine and I are great friends. Kirsten and I became good friends through Janine in the last couple of years, and I am now walking weekly and getting to be good friends with Tisha (who is also a good friend of Janine's). The three of them have been in the same Saturday night church group for several years. Tisha also used to tutor me when I was in elementary school, and Tisha's family and Jeff's family spent many years growing up together. It's amazing how the Lord brings good friends in and out of our lives at very specific times. He has blessed me with a plethora of amazing women who influence me to be the best wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend.
Continuing on the count down to Christmas yet soaking in the blessings of friendships, my mother-in-law brought the kids and I lunch mid-week and some yummy specialty drinks along with a very special birthday gift.
She had a picture of Emily and Nathan (that Jeff took this summer in Shaver) made into a woven throw. It cannot be described in it's beauty (I may post a picture soon). Jeff's younger cousin has them made, and so I have to give him props for his part of the leg-work. I LOVE the blanket and appreciate the time and thoughtfulness in getting it and giving it.
The week continued with dinner with Mike and Katie (Jeff's brother and wife) along with other friends in common, Matt and Jamie. The following day, another dear friend, Vanessa, spent the morning with me. It was a great time to catch up and spend some at-home time with her and hear all the ways that the Lord has worked in our lives since the last time we were together.
A special request to my mom, for my birthday (which she made come to fruition) was that I could have the weekend home with Jeff.
I took the kids to her on Friday afternoon, and Jeff and I started our weekend together. He came home earlier than expected with gifts and flowers.
{Earlier in the week we backed out of some group plans to have dinner in Beverly Hills and opted to stay local and quiet.} We went to Claim Jumper for dinner and then did some window shopping to walk off some of the food we had been consuming all week!
Saturday we woke to a peaceful and leisurely time together. For a late lunch we met up with some friends, Mike and Jill from El Centro. They suggested trying a place that Mike was introduced to when he worked in LA, Mario's Seafood, its Peruvian food. Located near Melrose/Vine.
Now, when someone calls and invites you to have lunch, for your birthday, and offers a "great eats" place, but can't describe what it's like but only by, "Don't let the dirty floor and smell throw you off"; I can only say, I was a bit misleading in my ‘grateful’ response to join them. I was excited to spend time with them both, so I tried to prepare myself.
As we were driving on our way, the 4 of us were catching up on the last year since we had seen them last (we stayed on their boat for a night last Thanksgiving, 07). All I could think about was what was to come. How could I continue to respond to everyone else’s excitement so negatively?
As we get closer, the streets got a bit questionable, and when Mike pointed out where he was taking us, my stomach dropped. Oh! How was it that I agreed so politely to this experience?
As we stepped over drainage and trash in the street, and walked by overflowing bins of trash (with some guy picking through it). Mike eagerly opened the strip mall door to a small, not-so-familiar aroma, deli type environment. My stomach sank as I inhaled the smells of spices and food that I had not known. Would I be sick? Do I still don a fake and courteous smile?
I tried to focus on the upswing, he liked it, she liked it, it was busy at 2 pm and we had to wait for 20 mins for a table (outside with the other oh-so-familiar city smell). The food turn-over had to be a good thing. Right? Right. I glanced at the window and saw it had received a restaurant rating of "B".
Our name was called. As we were seated, Jill passed everyone hand sanitizer...was she trying to make it better? We all had a good laugh. I looked over the menu, Mike said with a chuckle, "I can't guarantee anything but, #27".
The description was as follows, "Sauteed shrimp with onions, tomatoes, and French fries." (I can't for the life of me recall what the title of what I ordered was.
"OK' I said. 'After all, I am familiar with all of those ingredients."
We ordered 3, #27's and of course, Jeff goes for the #14 (he LOVES this 'adventure'). Jill pass the hand sanitizer again....As our plates were set before us, I looked at the big pile of shrimp, onions, tomato wedges, and French fries (ALL tossed together) piled high next to a perfect dome of white rice.
I took my first bite...
People!! It had to be the best (first-time) Peruvian food I have ever had! We all were in heaven eating great food, laughing, and sharing memories with one another. It truly was delicious, and I will indeed return.
Thanks, Mike and Jill for yet another great time!! You both are a pleasure to be with and a blessing to have in our lives.
So, next time we go, we will take some friends and I will confidently say, "I can't guarantee anything but, #27".
Between lunch and the upcoming dinner date we had set with other great friends, we returned the boots that Jeff got me for my birthday (beutiful but not so comfortable) at Nordstrom's and took our money and went shopping at The Rack. Fun!!
We joined our friends, Curtis and Vicki, and Peter and Pamela for an Italian feast! Peter and Pamela are frequent patrons to this Northridge eatery, Angelo's (Mason/Devonshire).
This outside of Italy had to be the BEST and most authentic Italian food I have eaten! Peter ordered a platter of good eats for us all to nosh on. By the time we ordered dinner, I was so full! I ended up getting an Italian salad, caprese (sliced mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, basil, and olive oil).
Both these 2 resaraunts were a a great find and gems in their own rights.
After dinner, Peter invited us back to his house where he served shot glasses of the purest unfiltered olive oil I have ever seen or may ever see. Peter's family lives in Greece and he just returned from a working visit there. He and his family own an olive farm where they harvest olives and make oil. He brought back several gallons of the oil, some filtered and some not. When He returned home with his oil, he went and bought some great looking bottles at Cost Plus and filled them. He sent us home with a large beautiful bottle filled with the raw oil, along with Pamela's home made Baklava. Thanks Pamela and Peter for a wonderful evening.
The following morning, Sunday, (my birthday)...my dearest friend, Barb came for breakfast. The three of us went to The Way Station in Old Town Newhall. (I think I need my stomach pumped!)
We came back to the house and had coffee and chatted together until 3:30! It was a wonderful relaxing way to spend my time that day.
At 4pm, the coach turned back to the pumpkin, we were headed off to my parents where Emily and Nathan were waiting along with Bub, Toby, Max, Lucy, and G/G Seal. We had a wonderful dinner of BBQ lamb sandwiches on garlic cheese bread (from The Bear Pit). Another MUST eat place.
It was a wonderful time.
The kids enjoyed their time with YaYa, but maybe not as much as I had eating my way to my birthday!
:-)
Love you all very much, and thank you for making this year a very special and memorable one.
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