Well, this last week I had the chance to drive a great little VW Bug and then on Thanksgiving, I was able to dig some dirt with my brother's John Deere front loader / backhoe. We had a good time digging a hole just to fill it in later. It was definitely some fun equipment to operate!
got a text exclaiming how amazing the sunset was along with a few pictures to enjoy (top left). I had to stop and soak in the amazing colors as well and with the camera close by, was able to send back a shot from my own viewpoint (bottom right). What a joy to share the beauty of Creation! When was the last time you enjoyed a good sunset?
One of the wonderful aspects of being home is being able to visit family and friends and gain a glimpse into the lives of those I care about but have not seen in awhile. Arriving in Ohio was the first time for me to see Annie's new place in the country and to meet her new friends. She definitely lives in the country in a quaint two-story old farm house that is nestled next to a horse farm. This view is from her back yard! A few days after my arrival she had invited some friends over for a bonefire and a time of singing. Unfortunately it rained that day which put a damper on the outdoor activities but we still ended up having a great time together inside. What a joy to finally meet the people I have been hearing about for such a long time!
Annie and I continued our time in California by visiting Yosemite National Park. What an amazing place to see and experience! It seemed that every turn we experienced breath-taking views of Creation from huge mountains of stone, crystal clear streams and so many variety of trees. 
In 16 days my parents and I managed to travel over 2200 miles in the RV to arrive in Morro Bay, California. We have been able to see some amazing landscapes from the plains of Kansas, to the mountains in Colorado and the deserts and ocean in California. We arrived earlier in the week in San Bernardino, CA (home of the first McDonalds and the entrance to Route 66) to visit with my Aunt Judy and enjoyed getting to know others with the Victory Knoll Sisters who minister in the area. From there it was on to visit my great aunt and uncle at their home in Morro Bay where we got to hang out on the beach!
Adding to my list is my nephews Honda Twinstar 200cc motorcycle, just like the one I drive when I was in High School. Moving on to something significantly more powerful and substantial in size was my brother's C5 Corvette. I can see why it is his pride and joy and you can't beat the 28+ MPG these days. Hmm...I am needing a car to drive in Muncie...wonder if I should ask? (just kidding Mark). 
Last year the team and I had the privilege of meeting Patty who was adopting from a local orphanage. It was a long process and often times very discouraging, especially being away from her family in Missouri who were anxiously awaiting her return with 18-month-old "Anna Faith". Over the weeks we got to spend time together during team activities such as 4th of July or just help out with basic supplies such as a bucket to give Anna a bath in or a crib for sleeping. Simple blessings that mean a lot to the giver...and the recipient. They safely returned home and we have stayed in touch with an occasional photo or short story. 
So, when my parents told me that we would be traveling close to where they live, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet Jimmy, Patty's husband and of course see Anna and Patty again. We were able to touch base and made arrangements this last Sunday to get together at a restaurant near where we were camping. What a wonderful opportunity to catch up on stories, talk about our shared experiences in Kazakhstan and mostly how our lives are abundantly blessed. For my parents, it was another opportunity to connect with the work I am doing and for me, it was such a joy to see Anna enjoying a life filled with hope and a future. And although by the world's standards Patty & Jimmy had made such a sacrifice to bring her home...to them, she is one of the greatest blessings of their lives. I am the one blessed to have shared in the experiences and to have them as friends!
This past week I traveled from Muncie to Lafayette to meet up with my parents for our journey to California in the C.O.W. ("Condo On Wheels"). My brother Mark, his wife Pam and 4 kids - Wesley, Alec, Bri and Clare live in Lafayette so we got a chance to spend a few days with them. It had been almost 3 years since I had seen them last and it was evident in how much everyone had grown! As a treat I got to cook them some Kazakh food and then some Thai food the following evening. I think everyone found it a new adventure for their tastebuds! We celebrated Alec's 16th birthday and then had Christmas since we won't be seeing each other in December. We had a great visit, laughed a lot, enjoyed how our lives have changed and for me it was a good reminder on the importance of family! 
You know, dads have a way of making their daughters feel pretty special and I must say, my dad certainly went above and beyond spoiling me when he let me borrow his 40th Anniversary Edition Mach I Mustang for a few days. I was trying to figure out how to get to Muncie and then to Lafayette where I would meet up with my parents to head out to California. Since the Mustang would be hauled behind the RV it seemed like a logical solution to my "transportation" issue. So on a whim I inquired and low and behold....dad thought it was a great idea! Dad and I did go for a driving test to make sure I could handle it okay (whew, I passed) and I was off to Muncie! No worries, I only got up to 90 a few times and only when passing. I returned it safely to dad this last week who I think was relieved to see it was in good shape!
Because of the direction I was traveling it remained daylight the entire time. Culture shock began as I looked out the window to see the city of Chicago below me with its towering skyscrapers and never ending streets of houses and businesses. I got to passport control and was sure I would miss my bus as I looked at the 150+ people waiting in line to get through. However, after a few minutes of waiting a woman came over and pointed to a sign that US citizens were supposed to be in a different line ~ whew! What looked to be a 2-hour wait turned out to be only 15 minutes. I then got to the area to pick up my luggage only to discover that it didn’t make it on our plane and would be sent to my house a few days later. Found my bus and headed out for the remaining 3-hours of my long day. 
.JPG)
There is a favorite spot (yes, another one) about 45 min. outside of town. A 15 min drive on a dirt road winds back through the mountains to an open clearing next to a small stream ~ a perfect spot to set up camp. We got everything unloaded and set up just in time for Nadezhda and I to head up the hill to watch the sunset. At the top we sat on the rocks and reflected on life, friendship and the blessings of our lives. We marveled at the beauty that was a welcomed feast for our eyes after so many busy weeks of work and just "doing life". As we talked we felt a light sprinkle on our faces and noticed darker clouds to the east. We climbed higher to the next ridge to get a better view of the sunset. As we reached the top we turned back to see where we had been and saw a complete rainbow! It was definitely a sight to behold and we enjoyed giving thanks for the faithfulness it represents. 
.JPG)
