A very good morning to you from sunny but cool Las Vegas, NV. I'm sitting on a sun-porch (balcony) of my room overlooking the Spring Mountains. I have often been out looking at the Spring Mountains and Red Rock Canyon as the sun came up. I was the commander of the 99th Security Forces Group at Nellis Air Force Base from 1997 to 1999 and it was my habit to be up and walking the track about 0530. I'd walk my seven miles and then head home, and get ready to go to work. It wasn't so much that I enjoyed being out there and doing all that walking but it was more of a situation that if I can do it, I expect all 770 of my airmen to do it too. Leadership by example. But today --- it is great to just sit here on my rear end, have my cup of Starbucks coffee and enjoy life.

I apologize for skipping yesterday's blog but we were a bit busy. We caught the 0800 shuttle from the hotel to the airport in Nashville in plenty of time to get through security and then hurry up and wait. (I have a lot of practice in that particular skill set.) The flight out was full and it was occasionally  bumpy. Our aircraft was one of the newer models that has just a tad bit more room between the seats and it made all the difference in the world for comfort. We got in to Las Vegas around 1400 and as soon as we got our car we headed out here to Green Valley, a suburb of Henderson, NV. Frankly, you can't tell where one city ends and another begins out here any more. When we first started coming to Vegas, there was a distance and divide between Las Vegas and Henderson and none of the surrounding "mini-towns" and suburbs existed. My how all of that has changed. We stopped at P.F. Chang's for lunch and then came on over to the Green Valley Resort. We have stayed here often. Our room was free for the three nights we will be here but they offered us an upgrade to a mini-suite with a nice balcony for $30.00 a night. We took it, and sitting out here this morning to do my blog, --- it was worth every penny. We'll stay here for three nights and then move to the Venetian/Palazzo Resort complex where we will spend four night (again comped) and wait for Heather & John and the kids to join us. I know there is a race for Lauren this weekend in Vegas but I still don't know for sure if she is racing or not. Twenty year old women sometimes change their minds!!!!!  Heck, I can't keep Ms. Kate and her sister on a single track, so who knows.

I have no idea what we are going to do today. What are not going to do  is sit around the casino and play slot machines all day. It would be a beautiful day to drive out to Red Rock Canyon, or Valley of Fire State Park, or maybe drive around Lake Mead. We aren't big into shopping although I have no doubt that at some point on this trip, we will find ourselves at a Coach outlet. She will go in, --- I'll just "hold my spot".

Sitting here looking at the mountains and the palm trees swaying in the breeze, it is a natural thing to turn to God and focus on the life full of blessings I have been given. God's grace extends from the heaven's to the heart. It fills you up with wonder and joy, This being the Christmas season makes it even more obvious. I hope your day is full of blessing too. Take time to enjoy them and to give thanks to God for them. Peace.