We arrived home August 9th, and Nirvanna and the kids left our car in the airport as they left when we were arriving. Thank you Nirvanna, Esprit & Ame for taking care of Bella and the house. Sorry you had some plumbing problems but glad Mario (our handyman) was there to bail you out. Hehe. Sorry that Bella ate your IPhone cord. Must of had peanut butter or something on it. Hehe. Thanks JD for allowing us to steal your family for 6 weeks. I hope it was as much a blessing for you as it was for us knowing Bella & our house were in good hands. I am so sorry to hear about the robbery of your home that took place after you got home. I guess you should consider coming here to live as we feel much safer here than in the states. Hehe.
Bella sure misses you guys. For the first two weeks she kept looking for you to come through the front gate. But now she knows you aren't returning and has returned to loving us again. Hehe. Know that you folks are welcome to come again to this safe environment. Hehe.
Faye & I at Casa Hogar Orphanage
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Napa, no wine before its time
Here we are once again in Napa as we slowly digress towards the Sacramento Airport. Kathy and Ted aren't home as usual. We let ourselves in because they have told me where to find the key. After a day or so they call me and tell me they are heading home from Oklahoma and would arrive in about three days. I couldn't believe it, they left the refrigerator absolutely empty. Some hosts. Just kidding, Kathy was afraid the food may get spoiled so she protected us from poisoning ourselves. But Napa is known for fine food and drink so we knew we would just have to go out to dinner and then go to a grocery store to replenish their larder. And Ted only left one beer in the frig. But Ted makes up for it in other ways as his ministry is to cart all our belongings and others to the many churches & missionaries throughout Mexico in his truck and trailer and won't even take gas money for his efforts. What a couple of saints they are. Kathy is a massage therapist and obviously gave both Faye and I hands on treatment to our ailing bodies. See I told you God blesses His workers.
Well after a few days it was time to sort all the stuff for Ted to take and for us to prepare for our journey home. So I got Ted up a 4 am for our trip to Sacramento airport. What a saint. On the way their Ted said I should figure out what kind of a used car I need to replace ours in PV. As you folks know our old 1999 Ford Explorer is starting to fade away as the cobblestone streets take their toll. We have received some seed money on our travels and now its time (if the Lord says so) to start looking for a car. Unfortunately, used cars are expensive in Mexico and it is required that we have a Mexican plated car due to our visa. So we are trying to find the best way to get a newer car and Ted is willing to help us through some of his contacts in the states. So we will see and will keep you all posted on our efforts.
Well after a few days it was time to sort all the stuff for Ted to take and for us to prepare for our journey home. So I got Ted up a 4 am for our trip to Sacramento airport. What a saint. On the way their Ted said I should figure out what kind of a used car I need to replace ours in PV. As you folks know our old 1999 Ford Explorer is starting to fade away as the cobblestone streets take their toll. We have received some seed money on our travels and now its time (if the Lord says so) to start looking for a car. Unfortunately, used cars are expensive in Mexico and it is required that we have a Mexican plated car due to our visa. So we are trying to find the best way to get a newer car and Ted is willing to help us through some of his contacts in the states. So we will see and will keep you all posted on our efforts.
Heading down hill
Our border is a lot more difficult to cross than going into Canada. But at least they didn't make me take my shoes off and fondle me at the border. Maybe they wouldn't even have stopped me if I hadn't put that funny towel on my head. Hehe. Just kidding.
Now the very long 9 hour trip to Roger & Clerese's home in Bend, Oregon. You remember the Five Star (5*) recreational storage shed for their motor home? They were waiting with libations and a wonderful and welcome smile as these weary travelers crawled out of the car. We were just plain beat. I guess it is a sign we are no longer as young as we think we are. Early to bed and off early in the morning for our long drive to Alameda to rest overnight for our presentation the next morning. Golly it is so great to once again be winding our trip down as the old horses look to return to their barn in PV.
Now the presentation at two services at our church which went quite well as they were eager to receive two of their own back in the fold. After the services we were made welcome to a prepared lunch where we were able to bring the members an update on all the Lord is doing in PV. Then after many fond farewells and hugs back to Alameda. Our dear friends in Alameda have always been there for us for over 30 or more years. Sharon is one excellent cook and baker and oh my pants are getting tighter & tighter. Ed & Sharon Glennen
would let us move in probably if they had any additional room but they already provide a home for Ed's mom and sister so I guess we will just have to put that thought on hold. Hehe. Sharon took her very long time girlfriend (Faye) under tow and shopped her until she dropped. Well now the time is getting short and the car is loaded for Napa. More to follow.
Now the very long 9 hour trip to Roger & Clerese's home in Bend, Oregon. You remember the Five Star (5*) recreational storage shed for their motor home? They were waiting with libations and a wonderful and welcome smile as these weary travelers crawled out of the car. We were just plain beat. I guess it is a sign we are no longer as young as we think we are. Early to bed and off early in the morning for our long drive to Alameda to rest overnight for our presentation the next morning. Golly it is so great to once again be winding our trip down as the old horses look to return to their barn in PV.
Now the presentation at two services at our church which went quite well as they were eager to receive two of their own back in the fold. After the services we were made welcome to a prepared lunch where we were able to bring the members an update on all the Lord is doing in PV. Then after many fond farewells and hugs back to Alameda. Our dear friends in Alameda have always been there for us for over 30 or more years. Sharon is one excellent cook and baker and oh my pants are getting tighter & tighter. Ed & Sharon Glennen
would let us move in probably if they had any additional room but they already provide a home for Ed's mom and sister so I guess we will just have to put that thought on hold. Hehe. Sharon took her very long time girlfriend (Faye) under tow and shopped her until she dropped. Well now the time is getting short and the car is loaded for Napa. More to follow.
Still catching up
Well after Garry & Karen Gregorius in Arlington, Washington pampered & then stuffed us at the Space Needle the next day we set off for Canada and points north.
It was very easy to cross the border because Americans are not considered terrorists yet. Hehe. We traveled up to Langley Canada and stayed with Jake & Jeanette Petkau who have also helped us many times teaching at the Casa Hogar Orphanage. They treated us like royalty whom you know we are not. But that was also true of everyone we stayed with on our travels. I encourage everyone to become a missionary as the Lord surely knows how to bless His workers. You will not be disappointed. Jake & I were really able to further a manly relationship as we both enjoyed following the stock market etc. And Jake is also a great cook. An Jeanette is just sweet as the as all get out. They took us up to Grouse Mountain on a tram and we really enjoyed the different shows with raptors and also saw a grizzly bear and what a view of Vancouver. Then to a fine Greek restaurant. Remember I lost 10 pounds before leaving PV. Well now I am staying away from the scales and I will let you know the outcome when I return to PV.
Then we meet with Esther Fluevog who spent the whole day showing us around Granville Island in Vancouver. They have a very large Farmers Market with all kinds of things i.e. antiques, food and various other tempting things. Then she took us to her home in Langley where we spent hours playing Mexican Train with Esther and her son Stephen. Remember Esther is the sweet young lady that almost always arrives at our home on Thanksgiving to help us serve and cater to our guests for the feast. Well now time is drawing short as we need to be back in Castro Valley, California for our church presentation on July 31st. and we need to head downhill so to speak from Canada. More to follow.
It was very easy to cross the border because Americans are not considered terrorists yet. Hehe. We traveled up to Langley Canada and stayed with Jake & Jeanette Petkau who have also helped us many times teaching at the Casa Hogar Orphanage. They treated us like royalty whom you know we are not. But that was also true of everyone we stayed with on our travels. I encourage everyone to become a missionary as the Lord surely knows how to bless His workers. You will not be disappointed. Jake & I were really able to further a manly relationship as we both enjoyed following the stock market etc. And Jake is also a great cook. An Jeanette is just sweet as the as all get out. They took us up to Grouse Mountain on a tram and we really enjoyed the different shows with raptors and also saw a grizzly bear and what a view of Vancouver. Then to a fine Greek restaurant. Remember I lost 10 pounds before leaving PV. Well now I am staying away from the scales and I will let you know the outcome when I return to PV.
Then we meet with Esther Fluevog who spent the whole day showing us around Granville Island in Vancouver. They have a very large Farmers Market with all kinds of things i.e. antiques, food and various other tempting things. Then she took us to her home in Langley where we spent hours playing Mexican Train with Esther and her son Stephen. Remember Esther is the sweet young lady that almost always arrives at our home on Thanksgiving to help us serve and cater to our guests for the feast. Well now time is drawing short as we need to be back in Castro Valley, California for our church presentation on July 31st. and we need to head downhill so to speak from Canada. More to follow.
It's about time I reported in
We are alive and well and feel very special as our family and friends are so supportive in the Lords ministry and our travels. I am sorry it has taken me so long to update the blog. Let me begin.
Well I flew out to visit my oldest daughter Rebecca, her husband Paul and Derrick & Scott my wonderful grandchildren. Got up at 3:30 am for a flight at 6:10 am. I am a very earlier riser as you all know but that was a little to early. Especially for my dear friend Ed who had to drive me to the Oakland airport. Finally off to the first stop in Phoenix. I was very concerned as USAir only gave me 20 minutes to go from my arriving plane to the departing plane. I didn't even have time for a Starbucks. But made it with probably 10 minutes to spare as the gate was right next door to the arrival area. It was so hot in Phoenix !06 degrees. Boarded the plane and then sat at the gate for 1 hour and 40 minutes because a fan needed to be replaced on the fan. It was hot and terribly uncomfortable. Our stewardess was terribly rude and all of us complained about her attitude. Then we finally left for Charlotte. We arrived in Charlotte and had to sit on the plane for 40 minutes as another plane was loding at our gate. Well obviously I missed my connection to Syracuse. I had to then find an WIFI to try to let my daughter & grandson know. Went to the USAir service desk with the whole plane load of passengers who had to now make new connecting flights. What a mess. Finally got new tickets but had an additional 4 hours to wait for my flight. Now mind you my poor daughter and grandson had to travel 1 1/2 hours from Watertown, NY to get to Syracuse and now I was over 6 hours late for arrival. Finally arrived in Syracuse about 11:30 pm and got to bed at 1:15 am. My daughter and grandson went to the movies and had dinner. They saw three films while waiting. Needless to say I will be writing a very strong letter to USAir. When you have been up from 3:30 am to 1:15 am and sitting it is extremely difficult to fall asleep and really didn't sleep until about 2 am. It took me two days to recover
But it was truly worth it as it had been 8 years since i had seen my daughter and the family. I want to especially thank my family for the most wonderful time together. Especially my grandson Scott for giving up his room and bed. My daughter & I had special time together as the boys were in summer school and Paul was working. Rebecca gave me excursions to the Army Base where Paul works, the Saint Lawrence Seaway were we entered into Canada by boat, and a wonderful train ride in a small town called Old Forge. We also visited a very old cemetery & battlefield from the American Revolution. Got to see my grandsons practice for the upcoming football season. It was just a very blessed time. Rebecca and Paul also promised to come and visit us in Puerto Vallarta. We are very excited about that upcoming visit as they have never been to Puerto Vallarta.. Left for the return trip to Alameda on July 13th. and fortunately did not have two many issues returning.
July 14th we heading to Bend, Oregon to visit our dear friends Roger & Clerese we work with at the AGAPE Home for Abused Girls in Puerto Vallarta. Once again they allowed us to stay in their 5 star Motor Home garage. I mean it is really upscale big flat screen TV with Fox News, modern kitchen and bathroom and set in a beautiful wooded lot with visiting deer. Even took a trip up the Deschutes River on their pontoon boat. God put on a beautiful rain and lightening storm which dropped 1 1/2 inches of rain in about 1 1/2 hours.
Then on to Portland and our yearly visit with Dan & Susan on their beautiful floating home on the Colombia River. Boy, we are getting spoiled. But we must have brought the rainy season north from PV with us. But that is why everything is so green here in the north. They took us to lunch up the river. We then met with Jim & Jeanie their friends that had visited us in PV. & played Mexican Train until the wee hours.
Off to Arlington, WA. & a visit with old, old friends we met when we first started His Will, His Way Ministry in Puerto Vallarta. Garry & Karen helped us at the School of Champions & The Escuela of Laguna del Valle many years ago. Karen told us it was summer in Arlington & I asked her how she knew that and she said she was sure because if it gets over 80 degrees its summer. Then she said they have had 78 minutes of summer so far. Hehe. Yes it has been very cloudy and rainy since we crossed the border at Oregon.
Well I flew out to visit my oldest daughter Rebecca, her husband Paul and Derrick & Scott my wonderful grandchildren. Got up at 3:30 am for a flight at 6:10 am. I am a very earlier riser as you all know but that was a little to early. Especially for my dear friend Ed who had to drive me to the Oakland airport. Finally off to the first stop in Phoenix. I was very concerned as USAir only gave me 20 minutes to go from my arriving plane to the departing plane. I didn't even have time for a Starbucks. But made it with probably 10 minutes to spare as the gate was right next door to the arrival area. It was so hot in Phoenix !06 degrees. Boarded the plane and then sat at the gate for 1 hour and 40 minutes because a fan needed to be replaced on the fan. It was hot and terribly uncomfortable. Our stewardess was terribly rude and all of us complained about her attitude. Then we finally left for Charlotte. We arrived in Charlotte and had to sit on the plane for 40 minutes as another plane was loding at our gate. Well obviously I missed my connection to Syracuse. I had to then find an WIFI to try to let my daughter & grandson know. Went to the USAir service desk with the whole plane load of passengers who had to now make new connecting flights. What a mess. Finally got new tickets but had an additional 4 hours to wait for my flight. Now mind you my poor daughter and grandson had to travel 1 1/2 hours from Watertown, NY to get to Syracuse and now I was over 6 hours late for arrival. Finally arrived in Syracuse about 11:30 pm and got to bed at 1:15 am. My daughter and grandson went to the movies and had dinner. They saw three films while waiting. Needless to say I will be writing a very strong letter to USAir. When you have been up from 3:30 am to 1:15 am and sitting it is extremely difficult to fall asleep and really didn't sleep until about 2 am. It took me two days to recover
But it was truly worth it as it had been 8 years since i had seen my daughter and the family. I want to especially thank my family for the most wonderful time together. Especially my grandson Scott for giving up his room and bed. My daughter & I had special time together as the boys were in summer school and Paul was working. Rebecca gave me excursions to the Army Base where Paul works, the Saint Lawrence Seaway were we entered into Canada by boat, and a wonderful train ride in a small town called Old Forge. We also visited a very old cemetery & battlefield from the American Revolution. Got to see my grandsons practice for the upcoming football season. It was just a very blessed time. Rebecca and Paul also promised to come and visit us in Puerto Vallarta. We are very excited about that upcoming visit as they have never been to Puerto Vallarta.. Left for the return trip to Alameda on July 13th. and fortunately did not have two many issues returning.
July 14th we heading to Bend, Oregon to visit our dear friends Roger & Clerese we work with at the AGAPE Home for Abused Girls in Puerto Vallarta. Once again they allowed us to stay in their 5 star Motor Home garage. I mean it is really upscale big flat screen TV with Fox News, modern kitchen and bathroom and set in a beautiful wooded lot with visiting deer. Even took a trip up the Deschutes River on their pontoon boat. God put on a beautiful rain and lightening storm which dropped 1 1/2 inches of rain in about 1 1/2 hours.
Then on to Portland and our yearly visit with Dan & Susan on their beautiful floating home on the Colombia River. Boy, we are getting spoiled. But we must have brought the rainy season north from PV with us. But that is why everything is so green here in the north. They took us to lunch up the river. We then met with Jim & Jeanie their friends that had visited us in PV. & played Mexican Train until the wee hours.
Off to Arlington, WA. & a visit with old, old friends we met when we first started His Will, His Way Ministry in Puerto Vallarta. Garry & Karen helped us at the School of Champions & The Escuela of Laguna del Valle many years ago. Karen told us it was summer in Arlington & I asked her how she knew that and she said she was sure because if it gets over 80 degrees its summer. Then she said they have had 78 minutes of summer so far. Hehe. Yes it has been very cloudy and rainy since we crossed the border at Oregon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)