Road trip Part II

After traveling down the Oregon and California coasts in our rented motorhome, we arrived in Santa Cruz about the same time as my sister and her kids....they were also on spring break.  My nephews came from Cal Poly along with a sweet girl named Julia.  We like her, S.P.!!!!  My sister and hubs rented a BEAUTIFUL beach house, with two master bedrooms.  A treat for sure after being in the motorhome for four days!

My sister had meals planned and so we just relaxed.  The weather forecast was rain, but we had beautiful sunny days.  God answered some prayers. We spent a day at the "Boardwalk". Fun to sit on the beach.......the kids (and Darrell!!) played volleyball. The boys actually did a little boogey boarding even tho the water was pretty chilly.  A great day

We had Darrell take some family pictures on the beach that evening.  During that adventure, THIS happened:

Little man's shirt said "will you be my auntie" and Kris dropped on his knee.  We are all so excited.  We love this girl and are thrilled to have her as our second daughter.  Well done Kris, you did good.  Aren't their faces just priceless??
Next day we spent some time at Capitola.  Such a fun little village on the beach.  We had to head out that day, on to Becky's B & B.  We spent two nights there.  Kris got to golf so he was happy, Brett got to wake board so he was happy.

I had a visit from my college roommate Jan.  We spent 4 years together at good ol Dordt College.  We had a great conversation, she knows just what to say.  You need to plan a visit up here Miss Jan!

We planned to leave California on Sunday.  My niece had a playoff soccer game so they were taking off for that.  After church and brunch our family all piled into the motorhome again.  This time we drove straight up I-5 and we decided to drive straight through.  Les drove California, Kris drove Oregon (he AGAIN got the winding pass...) and Brett drove Washington.  Topped off the trip with breakfast at the Hilltop.

How did Les do? He did great! His speech continues to deteriorate, but the boys were such a great help when they needed to be.  He does isolate himself a bit more because it's difficult to be a part of group conversations.  Les was also pretty tired the few days after we got home, but he kept saying "what a great trip". It truly was. Thanks to some of our friends who dropped off goodie baskets before we left - Lu, Rick & Pam, Barry & Doris, Dale & Gina, Dan & Kara - we loved it all!  I STILL don't know who the flower fairy is that filled my window boxes while we were gone..... Thank you to Lori and Emily for feeding us when we got back!  Thank you to our hosts, Darrell & Becky.  Thank you Sean, Mitch and Jenae for sharing your spring break with us! Thank you to our great kids and spouses for being such great travelers.  Thanks for the memories!!

Road Trip!

We decided to take a road trip. We bounced around some ideas for a family trip and this is what we came up with.  Gotta tell ya, when your kids are older and you take a family trip, you let the kids make some of the decisions and then there can be no complaining!!!  And as Clark Griswold said, "Why aren't we flying? Because getting there is half the fun.  You know that".  (From the movie "Vacation")  HA!!

Heading out to pick up Hannah!

We rented a motorhome and the 7 of us were off!!  Hannah (Kris' girlfriend) had a dental hygiene board in Seattle so we picked her up there.  She was ready to get out of town! (AND BY THE WAY SHE PASSED THIS VERY DIFFICULT BOARD!  So proud of her)  First night we had reservations in Cannon Beach and we made it by 10.  Thank goodness for Kris and his late night driving.  Right to bed!  Next morning was beautiful so we took a stroll on that magnificent beach.

On the road again......we made a stop at Tillamook cheese factory at lunch time.  Our second night was right on the beach at Coos Bay.  Again, an amazing beach.  Our little man Kaden was such a trooper!  He just hung out in his car seat..... Slept all night, eats every four hours, life is good!

Third day was a big day.  Lots of driving but the scenery is just so amazing.  I never get tired of looking at the coast.  Our God made a beautiful creation for us to enjoy!  All the guys took turns driving.  We detoured through the California redwoods.  Such big trees.  Northern California is such beautiful country, and not very many towns.  We stayed at a KOA in Willits, California and it poured that night!!!  We had had beautiful weather so couldn't really complain, but it was a dreary morning that next morning.

Wednesday was our destination day - Santa Cruz beach.  My sister Becky & family had rented a beach house there and we were joining them.  Our drive took us right downtown San Francisco, over the Golden Gate bridge.  What an adventure! and then we had traffic.....  Kind of a bummer after traveling down the beautiful coast, but we survived (with Les driving!)  We arrived at the beach house and hooked up with my sister and family.  What a beautiful place to spend two nights!!  Part II of this road trip coming soon........

Sisters and Brother Visits!!

We love visitors!  And we have had alot!  So so fun.  We have been very busy over here.

First visitors were my sister, husband and daughter from the Oakland area.  They were here the FIRST weekend of the snow.  So crazy on the first of March.  On Friday we all had gone for a long walk, out for coffee, etc.  Saturday the snow started so us girls went sledding over on the school hill.  We made a super cute snow man (we just forgot to make it level!!)   And the snow just kept on coming.........NO CHURCH on Sunday.  Are you kidding?  That happens like once every ten years here.  My niece was ecstatic, being a California girl and all.  More of us went sledding out on Barnhart hill.  Even baby Kaden went sledding for the first time!

Meeting Kaden!!

Jenae and Becky

 At this point my California brother-in-law was getting a little worried about driving in the snow to Seattle (no I am NOT calling him a sissy lala......) but once they were through Bellingham they were just fine.  Thanks for the visit and WE WILL SEE YOU SOON ;)

Next up:  Les' older sister Linda and baby brother Gawin.  They are both Minnesooooota people so came from 20 degrees BELOW that morning.  Linda has been here before, Gawin has not.  They were picked up in Seattle by Les and niece Emily; they had lunch on the Seattle waterfront and toured Pike's Market.  The very next day we headed to Friday Harbor.  We had a beautiful sunny day.  They also had trips up to Mt. Baker and out to Birch Bay.  The weather was amazing!  We ran out of time before we could complete everything on their "to do" list, but we did a pretty good job.  We'll finish that list next time.......

 

One night we had Corby and Scott, their wives and their kids over for dinner (oops, supper for those midwest people).  Corby and Scott both went to school in Minnesota in Gawin's town and Gawin kinda took them under his wing and "took care of them" while out there.  They had some fun reminiscing to do!  Scott - you missed the picture!  A very fun evening.

Corby, Les, Kris, Gawin

Linda and Gawin were here for a week.  Goodbyes are pretty hard these days, but this one wasn't TOO bad because Linda's son in Montana is getting married on Labor Day and we will meet up with them there.  We loved having them here.

We are taking a break from visitors - our family of 7 has a big adventure planned for next week, so stay tuned for that blog!  And please pray for safe travels for us!

Too Many Goodbyes

We have been to TOO MANY funerals lately.  The first one was for a member of our church - a sudden death.  Les and I were both blindsided by how hard it was to sit through the service - maybe since it was in our church, our pastor, a guy a little older than us........ We walked (ran, more like) outside afterwards and burst into tears.  Very hard.  The second service was for Marty, one of my dad's best friends.  I went with my parents, who flew up from Arizona for the service.  This also was difficult! but it was nice to be there with my parents.  A hard loss for my mom and dad.

The third was for my Aunt Nan a week later.  She lived in Seattle.  She had a tough going in her younger years, but through that started Seadrunar, a rehab for drugs and alcohol in Seattle.  Her and her husband ran this program and grew it into what it is today; along with a recycling center for the patients to work at.  Aunt Nan was the next above my dad, and now my dad is the only sibling left.  The service was so great, Aunt Nan was honored and represented well by her family.  She was so much fun, so dedicated to helping others; she will be missed by many.  My younger brother and I with our uncle and cousins:

Recently our town lost Don Smith, a man loved by many.  He was married to my cousin Nyla.  Again, a sudden illness and now his loved ones will miss him so much!!  My dad had coffee with Don on weekday mornings - Don liked to call my dad "cuz" since he married Nyla.  Another friend my dad has lost.

Another recent, difficult loss for us was our neighbor, friend and fellow church member, Ken.  Ken also had ALS.  His ALS developed in his limbs first, and the disease progressed rather quickly over the past year.  Since we are dealing with ALS, this is so personal to us and so difficult to watch.  His wife Jan walked over the other day just to give us hugs - she knows.  I had some of their girls in youth group several years ago - they are all so special to me.  The service was so well thought out and so personal - very emotional for Les and I. 

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.....The Lord will fulfill (His purpose) for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever."  Psalm 138:7-8

Jesus Calling

"Continue on this path with Me, enjoying My presence even in adversity.  I am always before you, as well as alongside you.  See Me beckoning to you: 'come, follow Me'.  The One who goes ahead of you, opening up the way, is the same One who stays close and never let's go of your hand.  I am not subject to limitations of time or space.  I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf.  That is why your best efforts are trusting Me and living close to Me."

"Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me"
Psalm 63:7-8

Sunshine break

Les and I headed for some warm weather last week.  My parents are in Palm Springs so we decided to spend a week with them.  85 degrees? Yes please!!  We left in freezing rain; we landed in Palm Springs at noon and we were sitting by the pool by one.

Les was quite content to just lay in the sun and read his John Grisham book.  I think there were several snoozes in there also!!  He is having an increasingly difficult time talking so prefers to spend time alone.  We went on a couple morning hikes.  We went up Indian canyon where there are some natural springs and Palm trees where the Indians used to go and hang out in the summers.  Pretty cool.  It was hot tho so we couldn't go as far up in the rocks as we would have liked. Les AND my dad both did great hiking!

My Iowa sister and hubs flew in the end of our week so we could overlap a few days.  They left -16 degrees behind!!  So good to hang with them.  We have some cousins hanging out in Arizona so they drove over and spent one night in Palm Springs.  We had a valentine dinner all together.  So. Much. Fun.  And laugh!!!!  Oh my, good for the soul.  Les and my cousin's hubs Jody have always gotten along; they go way back to a hunting trip in the early eighties (which would be a whole new blog!!).

 The six of us had a LONG breakfast the next day before they headed back to the desert.  A little hard to say goodbye, but we hope to visit their eastern Washington farm this spring.  The final day with my sister we did a little shopping and just hanging out.  Sure wish some of our family lived closer, especially now, but I know if we need them they will come.  A little harder to say goodbye these days to precious family.

We are working on a project in the basement so Les is busy with that.  He has had a few odd jobs to do for people which has been great.  He misses going to work. He might have some part time driving jobs coming up; he's been asked to wire a shop.  All good things!! And we are grateful for them.

Please pray for patience for both of us as Les gets harder to understand.  It's frustrating!!  Les ran across this verse a couple of different times this week:  "Therefore do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all"  II Corinthians 4:16-17

No more hunting!!

Hunting season is over.  The boys are sad.  I'm sad - I like those quiet Saturday mornings!  It was a good year.  Les spent alot of time this past summer building a new duck blind.  He launched it this fall - and it floats!!

 

INDOOR PLUMBING!

 

Thanks to the hunting buddies - Rolf, Luuk, Steve, Gunnar.  AND to the Tinklenberg boys for the great breakfasts!!  Hank loves that cold water - he did good.