A Nice Getaway

French Lick, Indiana. I'd never been there, but thought it was some golf place, at least I know my friend's husband used to go with his buddies there to golf. When Jay and I were trying to come up with a not-too-far getaway spot, we decided to check out French Lick. (Bonus, you go through Louisville to get there, so an excuse to stop and see the most beautiful grandbaby in the world!)

So, Friday night we took off for Louisville and stopped at the Fasciottos to have dinner with Rach/Sylvain/Jordan (I made vegetable lasagne and took it along, and it was pretty pretty darn good, thank you.) We got to spend time with the Nugget and got to do the "bedtime thing" with her since mommy and daddy took off to see a movie. We spent the night at the Hampton Inn near by, then headed to French Lick Saturday morning, about an hour away. The town of French Lick is the pits, but the resort, which sits right along the main road (not up on a hill away from the ugly city) was simply beautiful. It's made up of 2 hotels, French Lick Hotel and West Baden Hotel. Since F-L hotel has a casino, we opted to stay at West Baden thinking it would be more quiet. Good idea! West Baden was simply gorgeous! By far the prettiest hotel and room I'd ever stayed in.

Since we got there early, we started out by walking around F-L hotel and cruised through the shops (where I bought an awesome coat - 60% off!). This hotel was built in 1845, and all the great old time stars visited there over the years. Back then, they came by train and horse and buggy, coming for the mineral spring water. Ten years later they built the West Baden, connected by a trolley. There are wonderful pictures in the lobby of the shambles WB had become by the 1990s. It was bought by a wealthy family and $500 million renovation took place and restored it to it's glory around 1997. It really is something to see.

Then we went to the casino (added about 5 years ago) and low and behold, they had video roulette!! It was so much fun! Only $2 minimum, and no one shoving you or smoking in your face. We had a ball and even won a little money. There's also a spa, bowling ally, indoor and outdoor pools, hiking trails, horseback riding, and in the summer all kinds of kidsfest things. And there's golf, but $350 to play, according to the shuttle driver.

Then we headed to the other hotel to check in and it was spectacular. The rotunda in the main lobby was so impressive. We had dinner at their restaurant, Sinclairs', and I had the best salmon of my life. We went back and gambled a bit more, as shuttles take you back and forth all night. Won a little more money, then called it a night.

Sunday morning we checked out and went to Mass at a tiny little Catholic church right down the road. The priest was the best! The parish was obviously very poor, but what a dynamic priest at the helm. It was a great ending to such a great weekend. If it weren't so expensive, it would be a wonderful place to take the whole family.

A Dear Friend, Gone too Soon

On Sunday, my friend Renotta King, passed away after almost 2 years of fighting cancer.  She was only 49, and a recent grandmother of 2 babies.  She was one of the most God-fearing women I've ever known, and I will miss her so much.

Even though she had to quit work more than a year ago, I looked forward to our visits, emails and calls.  She was one of the first people to befriend me when I started at Children's Hospital, and it was obvious from the start that her faith was huge.  She and her family (she had 4 children) spent 3 years in Peru doing missionary work, and only came back when she had a heart condition that needed to be kept in check.  Her husband, a minister, was committed to serving the Lord, and they lived a modest life.  They had nothing, and wanted nothing.  Even though they owned next to nothing, she told me once that it was so freeing to have no real possessions, and to owe nothing to anyone.  They lived above a funeral home, helping out when there were services there to offset the rent. 

When I worry about worldy possessions, how will we affort this or that, how will we ever retire, I stop and think of Renotta and try to put it all in perspective.  She had total trust in God, and I want more of that.  When she was diagnosed with cancer, she would often come in after doctor visits, and with a big smile on her face say "well, we didn't get good news"; she never, ever complained, ever.  She was in so much pain and suffering, but never let it change her attitude about life.  We are here as a gift from God, and we leave when God sees fit.  Her huge church congregation, friends and family all are a testiment to the lives she touched.  There are tons of postings on facebook about how remarkable she was, and she truly was.  Memorials are being requested to build a church in Peru in her honor, which is so fitting. 

I will always, always strive to be even a little bit like Renotta.  She was truly an angel walking among us, and will be so, so missed.  I'll never forget her.