Arizona '09 Part 1

Hello all! Are you in countdown mode? Only 5 days until Christmas! That's right, only FIVE days. I am looking forward to celebrating the birth of our Savior with family in Pennsylvania. I was blessed to see my parents who live in Arizona, earlier this month. That was a present in itself! After being back in winter-y NY for a week now, I still haven't shared any of my trip with you. But then again, I have been back to work, shopping, crafting, trying to decorate the house a bit. I'm sure you can understand that!

So, here is part 1 of my trip to AZ, starting with the flight. This may not seem very interesting or even important, but I actually enjoy flying. I used to love it when I was younger. There's just something about being up in the clouds on a sunny morning, removed from the world below, watching earth get smaller and smaller until all you see is a sea of clouds. I have been on many flights and I still always want to capture the clouds (click on the photos to see up close, it's way better!).


At one point it looked like a cloud carpet. A friend once said "Doesn't it look like the softest stuff you've ever seen? It makes you want to wrap yourself up in it and take a nap." All too true. "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds." Psalm 36:5

The whole concept of flying still boggles my mind. I know, I know, there's aerodynamics, physics, Newton's laws, and a whole lot of other scientific reasons why planes fly. But it's still amazing. It just is. You know what else is amazing? Being able to watch HGTV at 30,000 feet, especially when you don't have cable at home!


I must say, I was glued to every house-hunting, remodel and decorating show there was. One right after the next. THIS was a great start to my vacation.

You know what else I like about flying? Airplane food. Call me crazy, but nothing gets me more excited in air, than the moment the flight attendants roll the cart down the aisle with mini-size bags of pretzels, soda, water or juice. Better yet, my flight served lunch! Unbeknown to me. Thumbs up for Continental Airlines. I didn't think airlines served meals for free anymore. (Although, I guess it's not really "free" since I bought a ticket and paid to check my luggage. But it still felt free.)


I dined on a cheeseburger (which was quite good), salad and M&M's for dessert. I considered saving my M&M's for later, but decided they must be eaten immediately. Typical.

So I was flying along, watching TV and enjoying snacks, ready for a week of relaxation and warm weather. The longest stretch of my flight was about 5 hours, so I was anxious to arrive, stretch my legs and see my family. As the plane neared Phoenix around sunset, the mountains looked incredible. It is a sight to see, miles of mountains, fading into a sky of pinks and purples. "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Psalm 90:2

When I arrived, we headed to P.F. Chang's China Bistro for dinner. This was my first time at the much acclaimed restaurant, and it did not disappoint. Delicious! Here we are (there's really only one of me, but this is what it would look like if I had a twin). Do you think I look more like my Mom or Dad?


So much to say, so little time! More to come in part 2.