justThelma– I know I shouldn’t call him that, but come on– doesn’t he just look like you could fit Wes into your pocket?

DELIVERED– OK, the ‘chowder’ comment got me! Sounds like you got it figured out, though.

themema– We will happily bail you out of anything, anytime. Including jail. It was so good to finally have a few just-sit-around-and-talk times with you… Glad you are home safe and sound.

swerchon– 1200???!! Dang girl, you were serious! Glad you got to hear Gloria’s devotionals, that’s always one of Russ’ favorite parts of the cruise.

DELIVERED– Still not sure, and he has a WHOLE LOT of different kinds of black shirts.

GRITS– I am looking through my pix now to see if I left out anything interesting… And wasn’t that Twitter thing hilarious?

jonny– Oooh, jonny, I’m praying that Mac thing comes thru for you! We’re solid Mac family around here, so user-friendly. And trust me, I laughed my whoop-bottom off on MOST of those comments! (I’ll never figure out how you do as much typing as you do as well as you do it on a little phone keyboard!)

johnboyFL– Hey john– drank all of those Mountain Dews yet?!

trishARKANSAS– I think that handbasket to hell is probably really roomy. Though I don’t plan on ever finding out for sure! (How did your message go?)

bettywoodward and rachelbaker–(Hello again!)

MommaLloyd— Yep, I remember that 2002 Alaskan cruise and exactly where we were standing when I met you for the first time! I didn’t know then that the whole family would end up being adopted, or I would have tried harder to make a better first impression, like maybe bribing you with chocolate or something. Thankfully you adopted us anyway!

Sheena– I’m telling you, that video is gonna be gorgeous!

When you make those fig preserves, you may add some strawberry jello to the mixture and out will come strawberry preserves. Figs will adapt to any fruit like that.

I’m assuming you are gonna put that other mixture over cream cheese and serve with crackers. Yum (I bet I got in on this one late…oops)

When you take that ferry from Atlantic City to Lews, be sure and go into that restaurant on the dock and have a huge cinnamon bun with your coffee. Then mosey on down to Ocean City, Maryland, to Phillips Crab House and have a couple of their fabulous crab cakes. They serve two kinds there…get the more expensive, it will be worth it. Down by the docks here is a store called Quackers. They have the cutest things in there. Then go back to Rehoboth Beach and spend a week or two….my old stomping grounds. Can you tell I’m homesick?

Gracious, I went to Alaska on 2002 and it was a perfect vacation….but Russ and the other artists worked themselvles to death. I don’t think I have ever been to a more beautiful place…a picture card scene at every glance. I remember meeting the four Taffs in a shop in one of the ports. I knew right then that I had to adopt them. Of course, this was no fly-by-the-night kind of decision. I had been considering this for years.

I don’t “tweet” and FaceBook doesn’t seem to work for me, so I’m awfully glad you, Tori, come and hang out here once in awhile….’cause I loves you. Welcome Home, Sweetheart.

Ok, ya’ll, carry on. Next project coming up next week – pickled okra. Yummmmmmmmm!

Love you, Tori, and your good date.

I think thyping should be the next word that goes into the Websters dictionary,

Lord I ask that you grant jonnie this request. You have blessed him with open doors that most of us could ever dream of and he could use this for your glory. In Jesus name. Amen

Jonnie that is great news!! Now we can hear more from you.

Tori how roomy is it in a handbasket. I don’t think hell is in the middle of New Mexico. It could be in the middle of Delhi though.

so ya say russ was buying himself a manbag ehhh….i mean a murse…..

ya know i have a major complaint. so ive bought 45 20oz mountain dews this week it seems and the bottles say 1 in 8 win a free 20oz wheres the justice. i mean my math skills arent the best but 1 in 8 is not 1 in 45 LMAO

I just saw where senator kennedy has passed away. such a sad day for us lonely democrats. he was a great man and politician.

And for those it may concern, when they’re not there to nag anymore you may like it even less than you do the nagging now. Two words come to mind. 1. Count. 2. Blessings.

OK Tori, give. Which Say it!s in the last blog made you almost pee your pants from laughing so hard?? Some of us worked our whoop-bottoms off keeping it as on-the-edge entertaining, life enriching as possible, which included trying to get people to laugh as if their lives depended on it!! Sooo… … …

Delivered, I too am jealous but unlike you, I’ll likely never get in on one of the get-togethers but hopefully you will (an age & financial thing). Did the jelly jell yet? Fig preserves yet? Are you suddenly on the domestic old-time cooking kick or are you always like that?

Great cruise EVER !!!!

I had a lot of firsts here; My 1st cruise, my 1st time seeing the Gaithers together, my 1st time to Alaska and yup folks 1st time meeting Tori – can it get any better???

Tori I enjoyed our chats tremendously and wished we had more time. Great song (He Touched Me – who knew – tee hee).

I also enjoyed the daily “devotionals” wow Gloria is a dynamic “communicator” what must that be like to talk to her and Mark in one of their deep conversations WOW (fly on the wall envy).

Needless to say (oh well I guess I’m saying it) but the concerts were awesome – great worship !!! Russ was quite emotional at one of the last concerts when he sang “Why Me Lord” – this moved me and touched my heart – Russ you are so precious.

As Tori noted the Homecoming taping was spectacular (can’t wait for the video to actually see the concert – I was off to the right hand side of where Mark was sitting). Actually being there there are a lot of things to look at; the beautiful scenery, the concert, and our fellow passengers a lot to take in – even in 4 hours – the video will be a reminder and keep-sake of the trip – can’t wait.

Loved your snaps Tori – I actually took 1,200 snaps (thank God they are digial instead of film).

I’m still having trouble getting used to the 3 hours time difference – my sleeping is still off. It was also hard going back to work today – reality kicking in big time.

Susan (aka – swerchon) hobbling on one leg (can’t figure out why other leg is still hurting

Tori, it was great to have a little time with you, and thanks for bailing me out….. twice. When I got to the taping, even tho I had priority seating, every seat appeared to be filled and I got turned away from the priority section. Russ happened to be behind me, and said, “Oh, she is with me.” I got thru, and when someone else tried to turn me back, I pointed to a bench which formed the second row, and said, Russ told me to sit here….. and I sat down… dead center of the stage. Four hours on a bench with no back rest, but it was worth every second of it and I would stay longer

On the last night, I left my purse in the dining hall, and when I was allowed in to retrieve it the next morning, everything was in tack… except $300 was gone. The kind soul left me $11, hardly enough to survive with a granddaughter for 3 days in Seattle. I sat down and tried to figure out how to get myself out of this predicument, and guess whose name came to mind. When I knocked on the door of Tori and Russ suite, Tori greeted me with a hug and said she was so glad I came to tell them goodbye. I said that I was not there to tell them goodbye, I was there to beg. Thank, Tori and Russ for the cash loan. I plan to go up this afternoon and apply for a Walmart greeter position. l o l .

LindaB – I do the SAME thing b4 i go on a trip – even if it is just for the weekend – clean like a lunatic! I know I will return tired, hungry and lazy, so i change sheets, do all laundry, pre-cook a frozen casserole, empty all garbage, scrub tub/toilet, vacuum. CRAZY!!!!!!! But, then I don’t dread the anticipated mess at home, which dampens the whole trip from the beginning.

Today was first day of school – it has been awesome – no tears so far! I am in love w/ 27 new kids!
Johnnie

So. Welcome back, Tori! Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time on the cruise.

Loving the pictures also. And I literally LOL at “The Pocket Tenor”! What a cutie.

I love the shot of you and Russ. That’s a great-looking couple right there!

And that glacier ice! Such a gorgeous blue!

Can’t wait to see more pics. After you get your house back in order again, of course. Oh no, wait! That never really happens when you have a husband or kids, does it? LOL

Is it possible to fit any more exclamation marks into one comment?!?!

I’M SO SORRY! How could I ever leave you out?!

(That’s what I get for scrolling up and down while I’m trying to dip my chocolate chip cookie in my mug of milk…)

Glad you wondered about the blue ice, because it always fascinates me– it looks just like a Slush Puppy! And yes, I will definitely remind Russ he needs to check in over at GC.

LOL

johnboyFL– Yeah, I’ve had a few of those Godiva chocolate morning-afters myself…

shannannorman– Hey everybody, this is Shannon! She’s gonna marry Madison Easter and she’s ridiculously pretty! Also? Sweet as a bunny. Welcome, girl.

Silver Hair Fans– ‘Bergy bits’, I love that! Russ kind of leaves a trail of coffee spills wherever he goes– especially on his shirt.

delightedbroad– SO glad you delurked while I was gone! Welcome!

bettyrwoodward– Hey, how was your holiday anyway? Love to see pictures! (And love from Russ, too.)

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63– Your stream of consciousness sounds frighteningly similar to mine– I have no trouble following you! Can’t wait to hear the pepper jelly final results.

auburn60– Yeah, I think Madi would have loved the idea of you coming to join the party!

rachelbaker– Hey Rachel!

trishARKANSAS– Thank you sweetie, it’s good to be back.

LindaB– Why oh why didn’t I get just a tiny bit of that cleaning/organizing gene in my DNA? I’ll try to get photos of the paintings– I got two wolf ones for Char, a whale for Madi and a bird one for me.

rockin’robyn– I have a bit of a tendency towards seasickness myself, but this time I didn’t have even a twinge, thank goodness!

Oh!, I would love to do a cruise but I’m scared to spend the money cause I’m afraid I’ll get sea-sick and spend the whole cruise and my money in bed.

I spent a week on the Jersey shore and got a taste of the cruise life – taking the Delaware ferry from Cape May to Lewes…. I didn’t mind the boat ride. In fact I sooooo enjoyed it. How does that compare? (on a much smaller scale of course)

Great to know that you are back and all is well.

Coming home to a housekeeping disaster is awful! I know I’m weird, but before going on vacation, I absolutely KILL MYSELF cleaning everything up——-better than I do any other time——so that I won’t walk back into chaos. I hate it that much! It makes me so depressed on the way home to know I’m walking into the Poseiden Adventure that I actually don’t want to go home. So, I clean and clean—-even closets and junk drawers—– before I leave so I can look forward to going home and opening the closet door and having NOTHING fall out! Yes, I AM weird, aren’t I? But all the rest of the time, clutter doesn’t bother me that much…..I just close my eyes.

I am very interested in the pictures you bought? Would you, if you don’t mind, take a picture of them??? I’d love to see them!

Shannon, welcome and congrats on your engagement!

And Alyson, Dear……you haven’t lost your touch at all! You are still quite touched!

And Tori, please note: I was not involved in any of the flirting, or discussions of taking Coke from machines, or anything. I’m rather bummed that Linda managed to keep stuff stirred up EVEN WITHOUT MY HELP. Makes me feel I might have lost my touch.

If you solve the ‘bringing the dishes downstairs’ dilemma please tell me how. That is my biggest ‘nagging’ issue around here. Every one suddenly loses the use of their hands when coming downstairs. And their sense of balance, judging from the handprints on the walls.

Welcome Shannon and congrats! Jump right in.

Can hardly wait for the video and hearing Russ’s song, as well as all the artists & scenery.

We know you have a lot to do, but keep us entertained & updated whenever you can spare a moment. Give Russ our love and tell him to start posting over in the GC. :o)

WELCOME HOME!

that could explain the trouble i was having getting into my swim trunks. thank goodness i dont have to wear a two piece. LOL

im so glad yall had a good trip. i sure hope yall can go on the hawaii trip. thats one id love to do. but as i had blogged earlier that will be a very expensive cruise and airfare is going to be astronomical. but im hoping to go.

the pictures are absolutely amazing. ive always loved going to alaska been many times. always something different to see each time. no whale pics??? surely yall saw some??

i see yall went to catch-a-chicken….what did ya think??? i like it there.

thank goodness madi kept us entertained on facebook while you were gone….i tried to get her to lets make prank phone calls but someone busted my bubble and had to bring up caller ID….technology sux…LOL

Tell Russ I have that very same Starbucks personal cup.

My husband and I were all set to go on the Alaska cruise last year but had to cancel at the last minute. Maybe one of these days!

So glad you’re back from all your travels and had the opportunity to do it all.