Beholding Beauty!

Annie arrived Monday evening from Ohio and we spent the first few days of our week hanging out in Morro Bay.  We indulged in my Great Aunt Iva's baking (oh my land can she cook!) and had a wonderful time walking the beach and chasing the seagulls. 

 On Thursday we headed out in the rental car for King's Canyon & Sequoia National Park which is home to the largest trees on earth.  The largest Sequoia is "General Sherman" which is 2,200 years old, weighs 1,385 tons and has a circumference 103 feet!  This tree is nestled in a forest of other Sequoia trees that were absolutely amazing to behold!

 

While traveling through the park, we came across 6 black bears and one 6-point buck who tip-toed away as soon as we got the camera out to take the shot.  

 

2259 Miles and Then Some...

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!

Breathtaking & Inspiring

Our travels out west have been a spectacular display of Creation that has often left us without words to accurately describe the beauty that has surrounded us.  It has truely been a display of glory!  Rather than go into great detail, let me just share a few of those images.  

Bryce Canyon (Utah)

 

 

 Garden of the gods (Colorado)

 Red Canyon (Utah)

11 Down, 41 States to Go

Based on my title, you might actually think that I have 41 more states to travel to...but actually, this represents the number of states families I know have adopted children from Kazakhstan!  In the amount of time I have been working in Kazakhstan, we have had the privilege of dealing with over 30 adoptive families from 11 states.  

This past week my parents and I got to visit with another adoptive family as we passed through Denver, CO.  Unfortunately their two older daughters were not home when I took this picture but it was still great to see the kids in their home.  What a blessing to see so many lives touched by the joy of adoption!  My only wish is that I could travel and see everyone who has adopted!

Russ & Wendy with adopted children, Julia and Jack

Meeting Up with Family

My parents and I are continuing our journey out to California.  In a stop over in Colorado for a few days I got to see my great Uncle Phil & Aunt Mary.  I had not seen them for at least 16 years and a lot has certainly changed since then!  It was great to catch up with them and it also gave them an opportunity to get to know me better as well.  I found too that we have a lot in common and I also got an opportunity to learn more about my family.  


From there it was on to see one of my mom's cousins, Patty and her husband Sid.  Patty especially relayed some stories of my mom growing up that were good to hear.  Nothing like getting the "inside scoop" from someone who was there!

The next day we got to spend the evening with another cousin, Jeff, his wife Tara and their daughter Jacquelynne.  Along the way, it has been wonderful to see family and to reconnect with everyone!

 

The Challenge Continued...

The challenge continues as I have made it one of my goals to ride and drive as many things as possible while I am in the states.  

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).  

Not as powerful but substantially larger is the RV.  At 35' long and an additional 10' or more with the Mustang in tow it definitely has proven to be the biggest challenge of them all. 

Not Just Coincidence

I don't believe it is a coincidence when we meet people.  Our lives are intertwined and we impact the lives of those around us ~ hopefully for the better.  When we touch another person's life, we are blessed and better for it.  

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!

Christmas in September

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! 
 

"Spoiled Princess"...and I am not talking about the dog

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!

 

The Challenge

Now that I have been home for a few weeks, and after having the privilege of driving my dad's Mustang for a few days, I have concluded that one of my goals for this time in the states is to ride and drive everything I possibly can.  So, that means if I just so happen to be visiting you and you have something interesting or fun to drive...I might ask you for the keys!  Thanks to some awesome friends I have driven a John Deer Gator, riden a horse, got to drive a '95 Corvette and a Mini Cooper!  So stay tuned in to see what else I might get my hands on while on furlough.