TEXAS!

Last Sunday night we headed to Texas to see my grandmother. Sterling did so well on the trip down there. He slept pretty much the entire way. However, on the way back he had gotten a stuffy nose and wasn't feeling well. So, the trip home was not so pleasant.

We arrived early Monday morning after a ten hour drive through the night. We had a wonderful visit with my grandmother who hadn't seen Sterling since he was born. She came to Alabama a few days before he was born so that she could be there for the birth. We all went to the hospital the day I was induced and she was admitted to the hospital there in Tuscaloosa right before my surgery with severe COPD. She had been a smoker for many, many years and was hospitalized for two weeks. Since she was not able to smoke during her hospital stay, she went home a FORMER smoker. Her health has improved tremendously, and we are all so proud of her! We stayed to the end of the week and, it was so great to be able to go back and visit the great state of Texas.

I grew up in East Texas. We moved the day after my thirteenth birthday, so I can still say I have lived there for over half of my life. Every time I talk about Texas, Alex makes fun of me. It is true what they say about Texan pride. I don't know what it is about us, but we are very proud of our state. Of course, it is the best state so what is there not to be proud of. Plus, I don't think any other state makes sure the children know the state bird, tree, flower, slogan, history, and song by the time they leave the first grade. And all of you that make fun of that are just jealous that you did not grow up there! :)

We were able to eat Tex-Mex while we were there. And for all of you who haven't had Mexican food in Texas, WOW are you missing out! They start you out with chips and salsa (standard, I know), then they bring out the free tortillas and butter, by the time you get your food you are barely hungry but you practically like the plate because it is so good, then they bring out some more free food - sopapias and don't forget the free soft serve ice cream cones on the way out! I can still taste it. If I could live there again one day, I think I would eat Dairy Queen for lunch everyday and Mexican for supper. DQ is not the same anywere else either by the way. I don't even eat regular food at DQ in Alabama, but in Texas, oh it is so good!