A Little Pizza Heaven is a family/Christ owned and operated restaurant, located in beautiful Riverside, Texas. They started out in a little building down the road and have grown into the local place to go for great food and fellowship. Everyone has their favorites. The Princess Mama (TPM) loves their hamburgers. They grind their own meat and pack a burger that will keep you full for hours!! Unless we split it, TPM has to get a to go box! My absolute favorite is the Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich. This is some of the thickest bacon that I have EVER seen and it will delight your taste buds! That's a promise!! And did I mention that their french fries are out of this world?! No?! Their french fries are OUT OF THIS WORLD! Bugsy likes his pizza with a little bit of everything on it... so... 12/13/2010

I just sold this multi level, waterfront home in Lakeside Village on beautiful Lake Livingston! Thank you David Markham. This is the second home that we have sold together on Chestnut Bend this year! The last one was my listing and his sale. This one was his listing and my sale!  Together we have been a winning combination! Happy Buyers and Happy Sellers! Today I am thankful for the wonderful buyers and sellers that the Father sends to me! If you are looking for Lake Livingston Waterfront Homes For Sale, give me a call! Joni knows Lake Livingston! 11/19/2010

  I started the 'Be Thankful Challenge' a few days after the first of November, but when you start is not important, its the finishing that matters. So if you are just now hearing about this, jump on board! The challenge is to post something that you are thankful for, once a day, until Thanksgiving. No word limit, no photo requirement. The only requirement is that you be thankful! The prize, a joyful heart.  Today I am thankful for the wonderful people that God has brought into my life through church. A lot of people say... I love my church family and they are talking about the people that they go to church with at a particular church.  When I say church family... I am talking about my brothers and sisters in Christ. I would need pages and pages to include everyone's photo... this is ju... 11/08/2010

Community Thanksgiving Dinner Sunday November 21, 2010 3:00 PM   Bring your favorite side dishes And help set up from 2:30 – 3:00 PM. There will be a brief song service and then you will have a chance to share a blessing in your life before the meal.   Yep! You read it correctly! Riverside, Texas holds an annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Volunteer Fire Department on the Sunday before Thanksgiving at 3 pm.   Riverside has a population of only 425 people but the event draws folks from communities outside the city limit lines! Last year we had folks from San Jacinto County (Lakeside Village, Oakwood Village, and Waterwood). There were a bunch of Thomas Lake Road people (aka FM 3454) and we may have even had a few friends from Dodge and Trintiy come and join us! That’s people fro... 10/30/2010

  Costume Hallelujah Party Riverside, Texas  Make plans to bring your entire family to attend the annual Hallelujah party at Riverside Baptist Church on Saturday, October 30th, from 4 to 6 pm. There will be lots of games, face painting and MORE for kids up to the 6th grade. Bring the WHOLE family because the older kids have just as much fun “assisting” as the younger ones do! There will also be hot dogs on the grill and even a hay ride!   Games Include: ·        Treat Walk ·        Coke Ring Toss ·        Duck Pond ·        Dart Balloon Pop ·        Nerf Darts ·        Soft Shell Gun Target ·        Cork Gun Shooting ·        Mini Golf ·        Twister ·        Bean Bag Throw (Several Varieties)   Participation in each game will earn the child  a piece of candy or treat! EVERYONE is a  ... 10/28/2010

  Riverside, Texas Christmas Parade Saturday December 18, 2010 11am   The Riverside Lake Livingston Area Chamber of  Commerce and the Riverside Area Lions Club will host the annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 18th, 2010 at 12 noon. There is no charge for you to enter the parade.   Santa will be there with toys!     Some of last years participants were:   The Riverside Area Lions Club Riverside Baptist Riverside Methodist Church Riverside Bank U-Bug-Me Pest Control Joni Staples, REALTOR®    Even Smokey the Bear came!   Volunteers from the Walker County Citizens on Patrol helped control traffic and the Walker County Sheriff’s Department even stopped traffic on State Highway 19 to allow us to pass safely.  Children lined up along the parade route and gathered up candy that was b... 10/27/2010

  Today is the day to turn in our posts for the “Proof that I can Blog About Anything Contest” and here I am, at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate – Anderson Properties in sunny Riverside, Texas.   In order to follow the rules of the contest, I need a kitchen sink. No problem! We have a kitchen AND a kitchen sink. When I go to see what I can find underneath the sink (camera in hand), our Managing Broker comes out of his office to see what I am up to. Of course, I find this very amusing! ☺ I simply tell him that I have been challenged to write a post about kitchen sinks. He asks no further questions, just turns and goes back into his office. Now I am REALLY amused! ☺ ☺ I know that he sees me as having two heads and green skin!  Anyway…. What I found when I opened the cabinet was Joan’... 10/18/2010

Clockwise from Top Left Corner: John Newton at the piano - Brother Jim's baby brother. Pastor of First Baptist Alta Loma. John will be leading our Fall Bible Conference starting (tomorrow) Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm. Claudia Loofs presents Brother Jim with a little "help" for his romantic, anniversary vacation!  Patricia and the Broyles Chapel Choir bring the house down! :O)  Paulette and Jerry backing up Billie Allen Jerry Allen sang Thank You for Giving to the Lord Billie Allen sang songs that were inspired directly from some of Br. Jim's Sunday sermons! VERY COOL! Brother Ural Massey, Pastor of Broyles Chapel (Riverside, TX) brought the message! And BOY did he! Beth Moss, Minister of Music at Riverside Baptist Church sang Faces. Terry Lyne Moore - Jim & Ruby's ... 10/17/2010

Welcome to beautiful Green Rich Shores on Lake Livingston. Located at the northern end of Walker County and tucked in between Trinity County and San Jacinto County. Green Rich Shores is near Carolina Creek for great fishing and the Trinity River for great wake boarding or jet skiing! If you just want to hang out in the water with the neighbors, Green Rich Shores is just a 20 minute boat ride from Lake Livingston's Most fun hang out-- The Honey Hole!    Regardless of what you like to do on the lake, there always comes a time that you've got to go home and Green Rich Shores is a great place to call home. Take a Sunday drive out to Green Rich Shores and just stop and say a few words to the neighbors. Ask them if they like where they live and if the neighbors are friendly. You don't have t... 10/09/2010

This darling 3/2/2 sold to a young man, a few years out of high school. That is so cool to me! He got a GREAT interest rate and is one of the blessed few who can say that they are homeowners at such a young age! My great friend, Gary Werner, was the selling agent (THANK YOU!) and Lorri Lehman from First National Bank of Huntsville was their mortgage specialist! Happy Buyers and Happy Seller's! Life is Good! 10/01/2010

Welcome to Carolina Cove on beautiful Lake Livingston. I lived in this wonderful community for 13 years and LOVED every minute of it. So why did we move? The house out grew us. Once we were "empty-nesters", we couldn't see the purpose of heating, cooling, maintaining and paying taxes on a home we didn't need. So... we sold "The Big House" and bought 2 acres directly on the Trinity River.  This was only after we lost 2 other small houses to other buyers while we were getting ourselves emotionally ready to sell. EVERYONE wants to live in Carolina Cove. It was an emotional thing for both my husband and me. The subdivision is small and we lived on "The Circle" In the photo above, the circle is across the water. It's an island and every home is waterfront except for 3 that are in the center... 09/30/2010

Hey guys! Meet my husband, Rick. a.k.a. The Bug Man or "Bugsy".  Its so funny, ever since I became addicted to facebook, everyone calls Rick "Bugsy". That's because when I write about him, I call him that. I love nicknames and have them for those closest to me. As you know, my mom is The Princess Mama (TPM), our managing broker is Fearless Leader and his wife is Miniature Fearless Leader. These goofy little names stick. People remember them! So why am I writing about it on active rain? Because I think its important to "name" your listings. If you have a cedar house on stilts in the middle of the woods, why not call it The Tree House. Do you have one that's kind of plain Jane on the outside but awesome on the inside? Call it your Cream Puff! Sounds silly, huh? You wouldn't believe how m... 09/27/2010

Shhh... We are supposed to be silent. This shot of the Trinity River is in Riverside, Texas. The river fills Lake Livingston. This little area is one of Texas' best kept secrets! YIKES! The secret is OUT! :O) If you are buying or selling on Lake Livingston, give me a  call! Joni knows Lake Livingston! 09/25/2010

The Texas Department of Health is offering FLU SHOTS  Oral doses will be available for babies and small children. Friday, October 15th, 2010 from 1:00 to 6:00 PM. a $20.00 Donation is Suggested However NO ONE will be turned away for lack of funds! Located at: 2359 FM 980 Riverside, Texas 77367 From the parking lot, enter under the covered walkway and go through the doors to your left. There will be friendly faces there to sign you up and then the shots will be administered down in the fellowship hall. If you have any questions, just call (936) 594-6992. 09/23/2010

Riverside Baptist Church Hallelujah Party A Safe Alternative to Halloween Saturday, October 30th, 2010 4:00 - 6:00 PM For children 6th grade and under Free Hot Dogs, Games, Candy Hay Ride There will be face painting, fingernail painting for the girls, games, hot dogs and a hay ride. Kids of all ages will be there. The Riverside Baptist youth will work most of the games.  Each child will receive candy and small prizes for participating.  As you can see by the photos, even the parents join in on the costume fun!   This is a community event. There is no need to be a member of the church to attend the festivities!  Halloween in Riverside, Texas  =  F U N ! 09/22/2010

Over the hills and through the woods, to the Father's house we go! Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week. If I were not traveling, I would be going to Faith Bible Institute this morning from 9-12. FBI is a 3 year bible study that takes you through the Bible in chronological order. Its AWESOME. I am on my last semester and will graduate in December. After FBI I would go to the office until time for supper. Around 5:30 I would leave and go pick up The Princess Mama and head to the church for some great home cookin' and bible study with the family.  Our church is a LITTLE bigger than the one in this photo but the thing I love about the small size is the family that we have become. If you have not found that family, please visit one of our local churches. It's not about the deno... 09/08/2010

I love the mixture of the red and purple in this picture! It reminds me of the Red Hat Society! I started a group 8 years ago this October. We call ourselves the "Ladies of the Lake." I was only 40 then and was considered a mere princess. You see, I did not have enough "on the job training" yet to RULE. You must be 50 to reign. So... I have 2 more years and THEN I am expecting a HUGE party! I have already picked out my tiara! The very best part is getting to wear the gorgeous red hat with the giant purple feather! You're never too old to play dress up! I can't wait! :O)  Until then, I will just have to suffer through the pink and purple.  Don't get me wrong... I take full advantage of being "The Princess." After all... My Father IS the King of Kings! EVERY single on of these ladies liv... 09/07/2010

Wow! It never ceases to amaze me the amount of folks that show up for the annual Labor Day BBQ at the Thomas Lake Road Volunteer Fire Department. Other fire departments have been known to contact ours and ask us "HOW do you get so much participation from such a small community?" The answer is... we have the greatest neighbors on the face of this earth!     I didn't count the number of attendees or how many to go plates were sold. I did tally up the auction and in a neighborhood of only around 500 homes, they brought in over $2000.00 in cakes and small merchandise items! This IS NOT including the BBQ. The auction item that brought in the most amount of money was Joan Harvey's home made chocolate candy jar for $225.00. The buyer got off cheap. I have seen it go for over $400.00!     I lef... 09/05/2010

FM 3454 - AKA: Thomas Lake Road This was the way home for me for over 12 years. When we sold our home in Carolina Cove is was bittersweet. The home had out grown us. There we were in this two story house with rooms that we NEVER even used. Were we keeping the house to "keep up with the Jones" or did we really need it?  We knew that we didn't NEED it. There was a certain amount of comfort there. We loved our neighbors. So much so that we have traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Mexico with them. If we moved, there was no way on Earth that the new neighbors could be half as good. A 2 acre tract of land that sits directly on the Trinity River came on the market. We bought it. Our house in Carolina Cove sold to a family from Seattle. This was 3 years ago. I have to say that the new... 09/05/2010

  Thomas Lake Road aka: FM 3454 Lake Livingston's Best Kept Secret    If you're looking for some something to do this Labor Day weekend, take a short drive to Riverside, Texas and visit the Thomas Lake Road area. There are about 500 homes off of FM 3454 and several great subdivisions.   You will find no other greater neighbors in the world. This weekend they are doing a fundraiser for the Thomas Lake Road VFD. So Sunday afternoon would be the perfect time to check out the neighborhoods AND the neighbors. The BBQ is from 11-2 with a cake auction at 12:30. What better way is there to find out if you will like the people that you live around than to see them in action?   FM 980   From Riverside at SH 19 to FM 3454 (Thomas Lake Road) is 4 miles. Almost EVERY street on your left will take yo... 09/04/2010