Steven and I celebrated my Birthday yesterday in our California-like-spot… Rockwall Texas. The drive was amazing, we listened to all our old favorite songs. The weather was perfect! While we were eating, the near by fountain sprayed us with mist every once in a while, so we pretended it was an ocean breeze. The food was perfectly vegan and delicious. We walked for a long time taking beautiful pictures. I took a spectacular shot of Steven, it belongs on the cover of a Ralph Lauren Catalog- very regal- very handsome! We took a “silly” picture and it was my idea- very surprising. It got pretty hot at around 4pm and so we laid down under a shady tree and talked for another long while. It was a magical day (Thank you, my darling)!

I got a beautiful bouquet of tulips (my favorite), a pirate speed-boat and a super sweet card. It says:

Take joy in the music of life.
They’s playing your Song.
Happy Birthday!

Two options for seating were offered, “lawn” or “tables”. Steven “the genious” got us lawn tickets and we got to sit front and center in front of more than 10,000 people. We really had the best seats (grass) in the house. We laid out our old La Jolla beach towels and enjoyed fun snacks and drinks.

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra did the fabulous concert. All patriotic marches and good ol’ American classics like Yankee Doodle Dandy. The grand finale was performed by a soloist, a young soprano who sang God Bless America, a huge flag unfolded in the back as she sang and the spectacular fireworks began. We had the time of our lives.

This was taken by Sergeant C. P. Devos of the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 or 1918. Benbrook was a training camp during World War I. There are more old Benbrook pictures from Deseronto Archives on flickr.

According to the latest Zillow Real Estate Market Reports, home values in Benbrook increased 20.0% in the first quarter of 2009, compared to the first quarter of 2008. Nationally, home values decreased 14.2% during this same period.

Downright amazing for a recession! I clicked through to their market report and saw this (warm is up, cool is down). It’s very interesting to me that every city on the Fort Worth side saw appreciation while every city on the Dallas side saw a loss. And guess which city of all saw the biggest gain? Yep, Benbrook!

I have high hopes for Benbrook. If all goes well during the next five years we’ll have a redesigned main boulevard with landscaping and utilities underground (standard in California but rare here) and some “big box” stores. I also just read in the paper that they are building 10 – 35 acre ranch estates on the south shore of Benbrook Lake. That’s not technically in Benbrook (it’s nowhere) but I think having bazillionaires nearby helps with all things.

There’s also Benbrook Town Center (to my San Diego people, think Otay Ranch Town Center with Dutch architecture) but I don’t think this is possible until the economy is doing really well again. It sure would be cool though.

We visited Grandbury. Lucy loved it! The weather has been fun to say the least. We’ve had 25 degree days all the way to sunny 80 degree days, with thunderstorms and rain in between. You gotta love Texas weather, not a dull moment. God is Good and has given us many blessings. Happy 2009!

Been a long time fan and had never heard them LIVE. It all started with Italian for dinner. The concert was 3 hours long. My baby-love also got me 2 CDS. Great Splurge! We have been listening non-stop.

These guys are not your average celebrities, although they are incredibly talented and very successful. Every song they write turns into a hit and all churches in American sings their songs. Nevertheless the guys are not the stars of the show, the STAR is JESUS. They make that very clear.

All three of them are pastors, husbands and fathers. And on the side they manage to travel around the world and usher millions into the presence of the KING.

The icing on the cake was that our good friends from the Seminary, Merrie and Andy were there. We left the concert together and grabbed some coffee. Got back at midnight, right before the Corolla turns into a pumpkin.

The concert was a glimpse of HEAVEN. It was loud, it was joyous, it was fun, it was majestic…..it was all about Jesus.

Thank you Santa Baby, for a beautiful Christmas gift. You went all out!