What a Week it Was! Installment #2

Monday Morning: Isaac's family woke at Grandma's house and we spent the morning getting ready for a trip to Corona del Mar and a bonfire with the Martin Clan! Here Sofia and Jolie get familiar with Grandma's patio...
After loading up in two vans, we drove to Corona...first stop Big Corona!



It was a nostalgic journey to Corona for Fred and our kids, Fred because he had spent much time at Big Corona and the Wedge growing up in Costa Mesa...and we took our kids there when they were growing a number of times. It was wonderful to see the next generation of little ones race to the ocean and put their toes in the big Pacific! Next post: Little Corona!

40 Easter Sundays...and Counting!

Freddy's family...
The Hollywood Bowl
40 Years Together...
This is our 40th year since we met in 1968. I told Fred today I wish I'd had the sense to get a decent camera somehow when our kids were little and take an annual picture of them each Easter! Instead I've been spending days and nights in my studio trying to sort through the years between 1977 and 1984. It doesn't mean anything to anyone but me, of course, but I can tell you this is a tough assignment. The pictures are faded, there are no dates, and they're all mixed up. So here I am so many years later putting this puzzle piece together! I've now gotten to the point where I'm able to sort by years in a couple of shoe boxes...some of it is so vague in my memory, but I'm doing the best I can. And there are still little stacks piled and spread out on the tables in the garage. But even with the time it's taking, and the poor quality of our photos, every one is a piece of my memory, and every memory is so precious and a treasure.

Today we went to the Hollywood Bowl for Easter Sunrise Service with Freddy's family--this means everyone had to get up and leave the house by 4:30 a.m. I can tell you that Freddy's kids are so great--they did it without one word of complaint! But we had a ball, really. It was a sentimental journey for me as I remembered going to the Bowl in 1965 with my church youth group for a similar Easter Sunrise Service. But then we had to dress up--high heels, dresses, hats, gloves. I remember being freezing cold and very tired on the drive home.

We went to my folks right after the service and I made a yummy brunch for them and then we met up with Freddy's family again for our regular church service--then we went back to my folks to visit a bit with my brother Tim's family, and then we went to the Sportman's Lodge--another sentimental journey--my high school prom was held there in 1968!
I am so thankful for the hope of the resurrection and that it makes a difference today in my heart and in my life. And because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Happy Easter loves!

What a Week it Was! Installment #1

Surprise for Cel was the little ones all brought their blankies hand made by "Aunti-Cel" and Emie, as her grandkids call her, and surrounded her with her beautiful handwork!
Sofia and her castle cake by Grandma and Aunt Judi
Emmy in front, Brooke, Garret, Jolie, and Andrew--meeting new new cousins!!
Ladies in waiting Penny and Lydia helping Queen Sophia in the castle bounce house!
Emily swinging in Cel's kid-friendly backyard
Isaac's and Annie's families made the journey during Isaac's spring break in Alaska to come down and have a week of vacation. We filled every minute with activity, relaxing, and chasing the kids! I'm going to post a little at a time to show the highlights! The first event was "soup night" at Cel and Mike's. They rolled out the red carpet for all and the food was fabulous and everyone had a great time visiting and reminiscing. It was an opportunity to meet Rob and Tatiana's new baby Andrew and his grandmother from Russia, Annie's new baby Garrett, and Isaac's new baby Jolie. and all the extended family who could come to the event and we celebrated Sophia's third birthday. It was a "Noble Knights and Fair Maidens" party and all the kids came dressed at knights or princesses. Sophia was thrilled--she'd never had a big birthday party before and was delighted. They're gone back home and there's a quiet empty place, but we know we will be together again as a family soon...

Friends forever...

Scenes from a trip to Siloam Springs Arkansas!
For Judy's birthday, I took a trip to Arkansas to see their new life since moving from Texas to AR. We had three days to pack it all in and we had such a nice time. I flew into Tulsa and Bob and Judy picked me up and we drove home to their house. There had been an ice storm and the trees and bushes were covered in a layer of ice. Eerie and dangerous as we sometimes thought we fall on the slick surfaces. The town of S.Springs is quaint and seems thriving with Tyson Foods and John Brown University there. I loved seeing the town and reminiscing from a short visit there year's ago with Rueb and Reta. The next day we drove to Eureka Springs a town full of old Victorian homes, an old railroad station, and artisons and shopping. On our way out of the area and back to S. Springs, we drove through the battlefield of Pea Ridge--what a neat experience, it was cold and getting dark, but the most interesting part was that the actual battle took place at the exact time of year so picturing what it must have been like was so moving.

Judy and I always have such a good time together--we reminisce, laugh, sometimes cry, and always thank God for our friendship. We never push, never anything but an okay space for sharing our hearts with one another. The one that has lasted through thick and thin, over time, and in spite of great distances. What a wonderful blessing, this friendship of ours--now over 41 years in the making.

God is so good, and I thank Him for every remembrance of my friend...

Happy birthday to Sophia!!

Our little Alaska darling is three! She is sweet, pretty, a GREAT big sister, and a good little girl for her Mama and Papa. In just FOUR days we'll be together with hugs and birthday surprises! Hurry up "Sophunny!" Grandma and Pop-pop are waiting!