Sweet Home Arizona

What a long day it has been today!! We are home minus three suitcases that will hopefully be delivered tomorrow. We left the hotel at 7:00 a.m. (12:00 a.m. Arizona time) and got to the airport and the long lines going through customs.

Over the last several years, I have gone to several family functions from Georgia, to Idaho, to San Jose and Modesto, California only to run in to a student, parent, or former student from our school. Today, in line with us for our flight to Philadelphia was half of the Gilbert High School Band. I knew that they were going to be in Dublin for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, but didn't realize they were staying the week. So here we are in Dublin and I get a big hug from a former student and see another former student and his dad. I also talked to a couple of teachers that I know. I guess I can't go anywhere!!

From Dublin we flew to Philadelphia and had to go through Customs there. What a pain!!! Anyway, we got through and had very little time before we had to fly to Baltimore on one of those very small jets. We got to Baltimore just in time to get on the plane to Phoenix. I am sure that is why all of our luggage didn't get here!! The flight to Phoenix was long and we got here around 7:15. I sat next to a lady who is writing children's books. We talked a lot about this topic and she showed me a couple of her books on her computer. She is going to donate some of the books to our school as they have to do with fire and burn prevention.

By the time we got the report taken care of for the luggage and got home, it was almost 9:00. The pugs were so excited, especially my little black girl pug, Blanca. She cried and cried!! That is why I love dogs and their unconditional love.

Cameron had drawn welcome home with a shamrock on the carport. It was a bit hard to see, but I will look at it tomorrow. He was asleep, but woke up long enough to give us a big hug.

For those of you in Arizona if you ever need a good travel person, I would recommend Gina from www.grcruisesandtours.com. Other than the lost luggage, everything went so great. Thank you, Gina!!

It is good to be home, especially after such a great week. I am going to continue to do this blog. I am not sure what about yet. I have had so much fun with this. I appreciate the comments and the many emails I have gotten about it. I decided to post two pictures that I found on a website from my very favorite place on earth, the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona. The picture of the water is what we call the bathtub. It is about a mile hike from our cabin. The only way you can get to it is by walking as there is no road, just a trail. The other picture is the entrance to Cave Creek in the Chiricahuas where our cabin is. My reason for putting these up is that I am very thankful to my great grandparents for coming to Arizona. It is a great place to live!