Saturday, January 27, 2007

OK - - - Here's The Deal

I don't feel good!

My head is completely plugged up and I feel as if I'm going to cough up a lung!

To top this off, my life is so boring that I can not even come up with a good topic to blog on!

Talk to you soon - I'm going to bed!

Pastor Steve

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Dr. Kevin Bauder - Making You Think

Dr. Bauder has written some great articles regarding the Christian and theater.

Check it out:

http://www.sharperiron.org/category/features/in-the-nick-of-time/

Copy and paste into your address bar. Click on "Act 1"

Pastor Steve

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Mama Lacona's - Rockin' Good

Mama Lacona's has been a part of our family for years. I think that Mama Lacona's has even been part of the Cox family longer than I have......

I can remember as a very little kid going out to eat at Mama Lacona's. It was always a treat and if you were really fortunate you would get to see Charlie Lacona, he might even come over to your table and visit for a bit. My Dad owned his own sign business for 35 years and did lots of work for the Lacona family. Dad built the coolest sign for the restaurant, a guy holding a plate of spaghetti in one hand and a pizza in the other. This sign was a land mark when the restaurant was located on Beaver in Des Moines. A drawing of the sign is still part of their logo on their business card.

Mama Lacona's became the place where I took most of my dates in High School. Charlie always recognized me, but not remembering my name always called my "Little Roger". I always felt like a big shot and it always seemed impressed the girls I took there. I realize it's weak but in High School I didn't have a lot going for me...not that now is all that different...never mind! I'll never forget when I took Lynn there for the first time and Charlie brought a heart shaped pepperoni pizza to our table himself! Lynn was so impressed!

Ok, lets talk about the food. For years I have told my kids and anyone who would listen that "real" pizza is made on a cracker thin crust. That what I grew up eating from places like Bambi's, Babe's, Pasquali's, Bordinaro's and Russ & Abby's La Pizza House. But the very best was Mama Lacona's. Saturday evening Philip got his first taste of pizza perfection. He told me later that he had heard me talking about the quality of the pizza and thought I was just flapping my yap. Now the boy is a believer and is already asking where are we going back!

As a little kid I can remember getting the lasagna and it being very good. My brother Rick and my Mom are huge fans of the stuffed green peppers. Dad is a spaghetti man. As far as I'm concerned there is nothing on the menu that is not top notch!

Before I put a wrap on this blog I really need to mention the homemade rolls. Melt in your mouth sweet bread, freshly baked everyday and served to your table warm with real butter.

As you can probably tell, I'm a big fan of Mama Lacona's! If your in the Des Moines/Urbandale area you can't go wrong stopping for a meal at Mama Lacona's!

Mama Lacona's Italian Restaurant
2743 86th Street
Urbandale, Iowa
http://www.mamalacona.com

That is the way I see it!
Pastor Steve

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Roger & Martha Cox - 65th Wedding Anniversary

On Saturday, January 13th, we celebrated my Mom & Dad's 65th wedding anniversary!

The day began for us with a brief but intense snow storm that dropped an inch of snow over Clear Lake in about 45 minutes. This caused a change of plans and instead of going to Des Moines and having Philip and Susan follow us after their JV basketball games, Lynn and I decided to watch the games and then travel together. This proved very wise in the long run.

The celebration began with a mass at Christ the King Church, just up the street from where I grew up. I had the honor of being asked to sing "How Great Thou Art". My Dad was crying, my brother was crying and for the record .... I did NOT cry! A special thanks to Alma.

Following the mass , we drove to Urbandale to Mama Lacona's for dinner with our family and a few very good friends. A group of about 45. More about Mama Lacona's in a future post. Just before the meal my brother Roger Ira presented our parents with a pictorial family tree. (I hope to post a pic as soon as I get one.) Mom & Dad were also presented with a Papal proclamation and blessing. That was huge for them.

When we walked out of the restaurant and realized that it had been drizzling freezing rain. Everything was coated in a thin but VERY slippery coat of ice. Daniel, Maggie, Susan and Philip in one car; Lynn, Amy and I in another car. we headed off toward Ankeny for the night.

Sunday morning was not any better. Once we all got together in Ankeny we headed to brunch at Jacki & Pat's new home in Grimes. The trip was fraught with many dangers but we finally made it and the trip was very well worth the effort. Everyone was gathered together again and brunch was ON! Jacki and her crew of helpers put on a delightful meal. I could describe all of the tasty treats that were on the menu but it would not be fair to put you through the description with out the opportunity to indulge. Sorry! (hahahahahaha!)

After everyone was properly stuffed, we found our way to the family room to watch a video created by Ashlie of the story of Roger & Martha Cox. It was amazing, thank you so much Ashlie! And yes I cried, but so did everyone else.

With the threat of 6-10 inches of snow, many needed to get on the road. The Tamasi crew headed South and the Clear Lakers headed North. We left Ankeny at 2 PM and arrived in Clear Lake at 4:20 PM. A trip that normally takes an hour and a half.

It was a quick trip down and back but I would not have miss this for anything. Thanks to my Mom & Dad , a picture of faithfulness and love in a world that places very little value on such cornerstones of our culture. You are truly an example to us all! I love you!

Steven