California Cooks

OUR CHARLOTTE VISIT

2010-07-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

We got to visit Charlotte to look for a place to live and were there 3.5 days. It took half that time to find a condo and get the rental process started. We spent the rest of the time looking around, attending events, eating and visiting with old and new friends.

Before we left we both had explored the Charlotte area online with parameters of where we wanted to live in mind. First, we found the Vineyard of North Carolina in north Charlotte on the south end of Lake Norman. Did someone say "lake"? We thought, "A condo on the lake? Why not?" That gave a general location to look; we like being close to the church.

Next, we enlisted the services of Bonnie Colberg (the Vineyard pastor's wife) to find a rental house/condo for us while Dave looked at what was available online. When we arrived, Bonnie had several places for us to look at and we decided on one by the end of the first morning. However, when we placed our application, we were told it had just been approved for rental to another applicant. Bummer!! Double bummer!!!

Not to be deterred, we went back and looked at the others we had previewed with Bonnie, located and looked at some Dave had found on Craig's list, and simply drove around the lake area where FOR RENT signs might be found. We even made calls on FOR SALE signs to see if someone would rent to us.

Having gone online to look for bed & breakfasts to stay in, I became enamored with the town of Davidson. It is very similar to Liberty (MO): a college town, lots of history yet progressing well with the new century. Bonnie had found a condo in Davidson but it was on a much smaller cove of the lake that is separated from the larger lake by the freeway. She wasn't sure we would like that. However, we liked the location and, after previewing it,decided this was a much better location and property for us. It is quieter and the condo has 3 bedrooms instead of just 2. That will provide a guest room AND an office for my business! God told me that He had a place better than the one we missed out on, and He surely did!

We explored Davidson all we could: drove around several areas, attended a "concert on the green" Thursday night and walked around the Farmer's Market on Saturday. It is a very charming town and seems very family oriented. We hope it is a great place to have our family visit.

On Saturday afternoon we looked up on the GPS the location of the Vineyard's Servant Evangelism outing and just showed up to help. Everyone was quite welcoming and there was room on the pontoon boat to accompany them. Two boats and 20 of us went to give out cold water bottles to people on the lake. It was lots of fun and, as always, rewarding.

Sunday we attended the Vineyard to worship with our new friends and felt very much "at home". Wherever the family of God is, there is connection and community. It was great! We had met and talked with Susan Weakley, a woman whose family was also "newbies" in the church and she invited us to lunch with her and 2 of her kids. Her husband flies for a living and he was gone on this Sunday, Father's Day, and we were without kids so we merged for lunch and became good friends. They are presently in Latvia picking up their newest child,8.5 yr old Lianna, who is in an orphanage there.

We left the Charlotte airport about 5:30 p.m. which was 1.5 hrs late. However, the pilot broke the speed limit and got us to Atlanta (barely) in time to make our connection to San Francisco. We got home late but were quite pleased with our trip and--eventually--with the outcome (didn't find out that we were approved to rent the condo until Tuesday).

God had already been to Charlotte on our behalf and then placed in our hearts the desire to start the next stage of our life in that region. The church is a growing body with a missionary's heart. We look forward to what He has for us to do here and ask you to join in our prayers for His will to be done in us.

Getting Ready To Move

2010-06-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

So it looks like things are finally coming together. We put 'for sale' signs on the Mercedes and the van last week and a couple that was out walking around the neighborhood called to inquire about it. They will take it to have a mechanic determine how much repairs will cost. The guy said the price was good and we will probably split the cost of repairs.

Since we have to cut back on the volume of "stuff" we take, we're leaving the refrigerator and laundry. Our landlady said she would buy it from us! Praise the Lord! That will help so much. We also need to sell the outdoor furniture and a lot of smaller things so we'll have a garage sale this weekend and a yard sale next weekend if we still need to get rid of more stuff. One thing that is definitely different here in California is that they hold those sales on Sunday also. We can open after church... ;o}

Last weekend we went to Pasadena and got some debt paid off. Wonderful feeling! That will help when I am taking care of Kristi and the boys for several weeks. Am also looking at working as a Virtual Assistant. I hve found 3 websites that should help me find some part-time work at least.

Well, we are going to Charlotte on a house-hunting trip June 17-20 and we are both pretty pumped for it. Dave checked the Vineyard website and found out that the wife part of the pastoral team is a Keller Williams realtor. That is the company we worked for as realtors in Kansas City. She is going to take us to see some rentals when we get there. Hope to go see the NASCAR track, eat some North Carolina bar-b-q and look around the city some. We'll come back and load up the truck to leave Modesto on Wed, July 14 and hope to be in KC for the weekend. Then, it will be another 2 days on to Charlotte. Of course, all this depends on whether Kristi carries the twins that long.

Kristi's due date was originally August 17--then they found out that there are twins coming. Therefore, the date has changed to a range--the date the doctors prefer they do not come before, July 6, and the date they will take them by if they get too big, July 20. Hope to be there before then! She wants to have them naturally but...she may end up having a Caesarean. That could be a long and arduous recovery. The big brothers, Ben, who is 3 and Gabe, who is 15 mos., still want and need her attention let alone the new babies, whose names are still be to chosen. We all, including her in-laws, I'm sure, will be stretched thin.

Hope to have some good news on the housing (and maybe the baby) front by the time I post again.

GRANDPARENTS TWICE AT THE SAME TIME

2010-03-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

Kristi is mid-way through her 3rd pregnancy and went yesterday to find out what the sex of the baby is so they can plan names. Their blog even had a "guess what the sex of the baby is" on it. Well, the doctor blew everyone out of the water by telling them baby #3 is a boy...and so is baby #4. She is carrying identical twin boys! My mom was a fraternal twin and two of her sisters had fraternal twins so it runs in the Shaw family. However, it always takes one by surprise.

Kristi measures 26 weeks at this 19.5 weeks point. We all should have thought something other than, "It must be a BIG kid!" The doctors will either induce her or take them Caesarean between weeks 34 and 36 which moves the due date from mid-August to mid-July. Guess I'll be leaving California a month earlier than I planned...and possibly earlier if she has to go to bedrest. I hope she doesn't have to for Ben and Gabe's sakes. But I'm willing to go and can get ready.

We recently were looking at family descendants. My mom did a lot of work on the Walkers and Shaws which she documented very well. It has been neglected since a while before she died. Wayne has said he would like to keep it up so that would be good. Kristi is looking at the Cook/Dodd side of her family and found a lot of work already done. It looks like the Cooks came from John Cook who was a resident of Chatham county, North Carolina. Some migrated through Hopkins County, Kentucky, to Boone County, Missouri. There is good documentation on that. I think someone should add the Octive Cook downline to the history. Bob might go talk with Aunt Margaret (Dad Bob's sister)so we don't lose it.

The reason Kristi was looking was to find some possibilities for names for the newest addition. Now she needs 2 names (4 total) to add to Benjamin David and Gabriel Stephen. As long as they aren't Jacob and Esau!

Well, we are gearing up to move again this coming week. Are going to ask the new landlady if we can take some stuff over early so it doesn't get lost. Still have to do the taxes and don't want that misplaced. Think the IRS wouldn't accept that as a reason to postpone turning them in.

Reports are that Mom (Elsie) is doing OK. She still hasn't gotten used to the idea that she has a roommate and sometimes ends up in Helen's clothes or using her stuff. The staff said she was standing in the middle of the hall at 2:00 a.m. with 2 sacks full of stuff saying she was "going home". Now people will believe us!

Life has been more than full this year! On the stress Richter scale we have been at the top and it's only March. As long as it slows down soon, maybe we won't age so quickly.

Well, we're off to do errands, wash the car and generally rest off-and-on today. Pray for us!

Virginia Trip

2010-03-17T18:51:00.000-07:00

We got to go to see the boys for their (very close together) birthdays. Gabe turned 1 on March 16, the day I left; Ben will be 3 on April 1.

Dave found a "Lightning McQueen" Power Wheels car here and had to jump through 72 "hoops" to get it on the airplane to take to Ben. However, he did it and it was worth the unveiling hoopla! Ben kept saying over and over, "It's a race car!" and his face was so cute. Matt tried to sit Gabe in it and Ben started to cry and tell Gabe not to eat it! (Gabe is putting everything in his mouth now...) Quite hilarious from our point of view. Gabe got a "Tow-Mater" push/sit-and-ride scooter. It would have been a great photo opp if we could have gotten them to sit still.

I got an eye infection somehow and, by the time I got home, had blossomed a sinus infection too. The foliage was just blooming out there and I'm sure the different plants got to me. Whatever--I'm on meds now so I hope to pull out of it soon. After all, as discussed in the last post, we have to move again in a couple of weeks!

Homeless again...

2010-03-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

Well, the condo we found got sold and we got 30 notice. Actually, it was a pending sale when we signed the lease--which was not disclosed to us--and they actually wanted us to move out by March 15. We had just gotten all our stuff over there by March 4! I'm so upset and overwhelmed. We can't unpack any more than we have so we live out of boxes and have to start looking for a place all over again!

Then Dave got the final word that we will move to Maryland August 1. That area is pretty foreign to us so we're not sure where we want to be and where we'll end up. Finding a place to live for the next 4 months is going to be "tricky" I'm afraid. However, God knew it was coming so He must have the next place ready for us. Wish it was a little more obvious. I find this is a great lemonade opportunity!

A New Season

2010-02-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

It feels like we have become empty nesters all over again! The role of caregiver to an adult parent is a tenuous situation--giving orders, holding the line for responsibility and/or change and keeping tabs on her/him is so unnatural. Our culture doesn't give enough respect to the elderly but, given the opportunity to have authority over them puts a child under an emotional strain.

We are parents and know the problems all parents experience: pride, disappointment; new life, early death; when to push and when hands-off is best. But we are ill equipped to know when and how to prod a stubborn parent to eat or good to bed when tired. Being stubborn from a child is normal; defiance from a parent, well, could raise the ugly head of revenge in the child. That's a lot of responsibility for anyone to have!

Today Dave's mom was ushered back to Kansas City to join an Alzheimer's Unit of others who need more specialized care than can be given by a child and other family. We dropped Mom and Nancy at the Sacramento airport and left to return home to pack for our move. However, upon encouragement from Nancy, we decided to give our freedom a test. We turned around and went to the IKEA store, IHOP, McDonald's and Home Depot--never giving a thought to going home in case Mom needed us or was acting out with the hired caregiver. I'm afraid I acted selfishly and even childishly; however, the emotional freedom was heady.

I don't understand it but I did experience again that same feeling I did when the last child went to college. My life is my life again! But there is a nagging thought, "Is that true?" And, in truth, I realize that it is just another change. We still have those whose lives we touch everyday. So, because God is in charge of our lives, we desire that our lives will be a conduit for His love to reach more people than just our family. We are not in charge of our lives whether raising children, taking care of elderly parents, or visiting our neighbors.

Found a Home!

2010-02-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

Well, the house hunting did turn up something definitely acceptable! We looked at 6 places last weekend and I looked at one during the week. It came down to where I would feel most comfortable for the times I am by myself. That turned out to be a 2 bedroom, 1 1-1/2 bath, 2 story condo in the middle of Modesto. It seems that most of the residents are older so no big partying in the complex. I think there will be a feeling of safety and comfort. It will be a real challenge to pack lots of "stuff" away that I have had, at least, available.

We're going to have to store lots of stuff including some of Mom's furniture. That will definitely be useful and we'll truck it back to the Midwest later in the year. Kelli and Nancy will be here over "President's weekend" helping to sort and pack. It is always easier to pack away or give away someone else's stuff so I'm hoping they will do that for me.

Well, the Lord did come through with a great place to live and, hopefully, give me strength to get it all packed so we can move in the 26th. For some reason, I seem to have difficulty getting the body in gear and, since the mind isn't in gear either, there's nothing to do, right? Oh well, there may be only this move and the last one to the East. Next time, I may pay someone to pack for me ;o} .

If I have the energy, I'll post again after the move...

The Family Split-Up

2010-02-05T19:44:00.000-08:00

Well, the time has come for us to split up. Mom is going back to Kansas City after a long two years in California. Her disease has progressed to point that we really can't care for her like she needs. With both of us working and Dave out of town all week, we just found that she needs more interaction with people.

For the past couple of months we have had a lady (sometimes accompanied by her boyfriend) come to spend 2-3 hrs in the afternoon with Mom. A benefit was that Cathy wanted to learn to cook so, she also cooked dinner for us all. I planned the meals, shopped and provided the recipes and she had dinner ready when I got home. I loved it!

Now, one week of the status quo left and it's kind of scary that it has arrived so quickly! Knowing an event is coming and being prepared for it are SO different. Come to think of it, that's the way it all started. 1) We found out Mom was out of money and we had 2 weeks to move her. 2) We found the perfect house. 3) Our friends helped us move in on Saturday and 4) Mom arrived on Tuesday.

The next new abode can be found just as quickly and end up just as perfect. The Lord told me it would be a stressful time but He thought we were equal to the challenge. We looked at a 3-bdrm duplex today. The master was barely big enough to hold our (king size) bed! It is all on the same level though. A good thing for old people... We will go tomorrow to look at other places and get started packing -- again.

We both really love the house we've been in--the layout, the pool, the yard, the fruit trees, the roses--but know the Lord will provide something good as a replacement. The kids will probably come one last time this spring before we leave California for the Eastern environs. It would be great to have a place big enough for them to stay with us.

In a way this change is sad. Mom has changed so much over these 2 years and I think that has been one of the sources of our difficulties with her. The (mental) person she has become is not the person she used to be. And, we have found that those disappointed expectations are such a part of living together and put a heavy strain on our relationship.

We are all on the threshold of a new season in our lives and what it holds is yet to be seen! Scary and thrilling all at the same time; I want it to be over so we know the outcome yet also know the need to go through it--ups and downs--so we can TOTALLY enjoy the end. I'll let you know how it works out...

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

2009-11-30T13:21:00.000-08:00

Dave asked me what I was thankful for this year so I listed the many blessings God has given us and was truly feeling blessed! You might have thought I was crazy if you could have seen us. At the time we were sitting in our Corvette, infamous for breaking down on trips, that had broken down...again. We were sitting on the side of Highway 1 just south of Big Sur having just coasted backwards about 100 yards to a turnout. We were just a couple hundred yards from the ocean but it wasn't to be seen. It was Thanksgiving Day, 2009, and we had just finished our very non-traditional dinner--a burrito--a large, delicious burrito. Sitting in a broken down dream car in the middle of nowhere means you are in a place of total dependence. We talked; we walked. Dave fumed some, but, in all, it was rather relaxing. Having faith in God's goodness is believing without seeing--right where we were sitting. Maybe we'll never see what the reason for not making it to see our friends in L.A., but, even if we don't, there's no doubt that God has shown us favor this year. A burrito for Thanksgiving dinner is not that bad.

Dave finally called AAA but had difficulty with a dispatcher who didn't know her directions. She wanted to know if we were "before or after" Santa Cruz. Then, THEN, the Supervisor couldn't find Big Sur on the Goggle map. About 5:00 p.m., just as the sun was going down, the tow truck arrived. It was no big deal, really...we had been in the same spot before.

After we arrived at my sister, Judy's, house in Santa Cruz, we helped them eat Thanksgiving leftovers. So, we got our dinner after all. The next day we borrowed a car and went to see the Pinnacles National Monument close to Soledad, CA. You'll see the pictures of them below to remind you that our planet was NOT an accident! This park is mainly for hiking, condor watching and/or rock climbing. Thought about our pastor in K.C., Fred Herron, he is a rock climber. We, fortunately, are not; but we can appreciate the beauty of them.
There was a 4.3 mile trail that we "strolled" along for about a half mile. We were going about that far or until the camera batteries died--both of which happened at the same time. The sky was intermittently cloudy and, it had rained a little just as we arrived, so our underlying goal was not to get caught on the trail in the rain. Just as we got in the car the sprinkles started again. Favor...?...!

We decided to drive back through Carmel to Santa Cruz via the Carmel Valley Drive. It took us 1.5 hrs to go 37 miles but we explored a beautiful valley with trees turned yellow, orange and red, along a low, slow river, winding up the side of the Coastal Mountains then over and down them to Carmel-By-The-Sea. We left the almost arid valley and abruptly entered into a rain forest with the rain falling gently. See the rainbow? We could see it completely from side to side and it had almost become a double. Within 100 miles such diversity was exhilerating!

My nieces were driving home to Sacramento Friday night so we bummed a ride. We sneaked into the house, slept in our own bed and crept out the next morning to see what else was out there for us to see. The car headed south toward Visalia--about 2 hrs. away. The day was beautiful! The sun was shining brilliantly, however, we were headed to the only portion of the state without sun. In fact there was a big dark cloud that covered the whole area! It didn't seem too brilliant on our part. However, even the clouds can be beautiful when God leads us!

We wound our way through the Sierra Nevada foothills to the entrance of Sequoia National Park under a dark sky. The Ranger told us that we needed to have tire chains in the car in case the weather deteriorated--which he said was only 16 miles away. We pushed upward and in and out of the switchback curves, left and right and in and out (getting woozy yet?). Dave had to open the sun roof to get some fresh air ...and he was driving! Then we hit fog and I mean we barely could see the road ahead of us. You know how it feels to be isolated in that dense, almost palpable whiteness. Which also causes the fear that someone will intrude on that peaceful solitude ... maybe even violently. The Lord kept us going through and we finally came out on top--literally--of the fog. As you can see below, you could almost imagine that we were in Heaven looking down on Earth when it was "without form".

We stopped at about 7,000 feet (altitude) and hiked about .5 mile from the parking lot which was a steep slope down about 241 feet (altitude) in that short distance. This was all to see the-- HUGE is the only adjective that comes to mind--(well, maybe COLOSSAL too) General Sherman tree. Such beauty! We headed back up the path. However thin air, aging bodies and minds that think we're still in our 30's were working against us. Determination and practicality kicked in and we made it. Yea!!!! (Dave went out this morning to walk to increase his stamina. ;o})

There was some snow (the reason for the clouds) and the temperature was about 32 degrees. Lots of people had put on their chains because they don't know how to drive in snow. However, the worst of it looked like a Kansas City residential street that has been plowed after a snow--barely enough to know it had happened. Personally, I was glad that John Q. Public had their chains on!

We got down off the mountain about 4:00 p.m. but it was too late in the day and the wrong season to go on to see King's Canyon National Park. Maybe we'll get that done yet. We stopped for soup and chili at Marie Calendar's and drove home under a clear, star-studded sky. A great weekend!

Sunday we stayed home from church (I know...!) and devoted some time to Grandmother to celebrate her birthday. We took her to Kohl's just after they opened so the crowds were be less and before she got tired. She looked at lots of watches (thanks to Bob & Debi) and wanted one that had lots of "bling". Dave talked her out of the sparkling ones and she finally settled on one that has a pretty gold (stretch) band and a crystal that has magnification. Now she can see what time it is and the date too! Don't ask me why, but it is important for her to know this.

That evening we then went to Cool Hand Luke's about a block from our house for dinner. They are always saturating the air with abundantly fragrant odors so we went to partake of the food to see it was as good as it smelled. It was outstanding! Grandmother did try to take the stage with her dramatics but kept our heads and Dave only had to "walk himself" once.

We are thankful for a restful weekend wherein I didn't overdo with holiday cooking and Dave didn't take so many naps that he couldn't sleep at night. Life can again be entered into with gusto!

The couple that has been coming to stay a couple of days with Grandmother, John and Cathy, has stepped up their hours to 4 days a week. Also, Cathy wants to learn how to cook so she is fixing dinner for us the 4 nights they are at the house. I make out a menu and tell her where the recipes are and oila! I can relax when I get home. It is so helpful! It forces me to look ahead, to compile a grocery list and to relate to people after a day of relating... which could be the most difficult thing for me.

Hope you have been rejuvenated by the holiday and remembering what it is all about. May God continue to bless you with His love!

2009-11-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

Well, we had quite a night last night! I was in the kitchen and had just called Mom to come to the table for dinner. All of a sudden she called out my name and I turned just in time to see her go down behind the couch. When I got to her, she was bleeding and moaning. The doctors later kept asking if she had lost consciousness but I don't think she did. Anyway, she had a laceration down the middle of her forehead where she had hit the bookcase. I was able to get a good bandage to hold it together until someone could figure out how bad it was.

I moved the couch and tried to get her to stand up but I couldn't budge her. If it hadn't been a difficult situation, I could have laughed at her. She rolled to her stomach and laid there with her face in the carpet and her arms beside her saying, what do I do now? I was able to get her to her knees and holding on to the couch when someone knocked at the door. What terrible timimg! (However, I think that it helped Mom get up because she didn't want to be seen on the floor.)

Well, it turned out that the person at the door was the son of our neighbor, but I saw him as an angel. He had come to remind us that our sprinkler (which was broken by the gardener) was shooting into his parents' yard. We talked a minute and just as he was leaving, I asked if he could come in and help me get Mom up and into the car. It turns out he is a former paramedic and now a police officer. Also, his mother-in-law had Alzheimer's and had lived with them for 5 years. He knew exactly what to do and how to get her to do what he asked her to.

I got her to the Emergency Room and, because of her age and the wound being on the head, they pushed her up the line. They asked the same questions 3 times by 3 different people before we got to a bed. They took a CT scan and x-rays, blood and urine specimens and even fed her just before we left. She hadn't had dinner and was getting hungry although not shaky. A dinner meal had been brought for another patient who left before eating so they gave it to us. It was a chicken with pasta and broccoli entree which she likes and, I think, we won't even have to pay for it!

They didn't stitch the cut because it was superficial--they glued it! Check out the mug shot. The doctor tried to reassure her that it would be less noticeable because it was right in the middle instead of off center. It will be awhile though before it isn't noticeable.

We left for the hospital about 6:30 p.m. got home about 11:00 p.m. But, hey! I didn't have anything better to do with my evening anyway. We will go see her primary doctor today at 11:00 a.m. The ER doc thought it was one of her meds that was making her heart rate slow too much which caused dizziness. We'll see. That's what they usually do after her being in the hospital--change the meds.

Dave was up in Klamath Falls, Oregon, about 8 hrs away. So, he will be in tonight. Since I did not have a POA (Power of Attorney) for her, it could have gotten sticky without him there. I didn't think I would need her living trust with me because I didn't see a need. It could have come up though. The doctor asked about a pacemaker or possible other remedies. Must give this some more thought.

Life goes on and we make adjustments so we fit into it better. Or, you could all go "kaysi" with me.

Family Reunion

2009-08-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

Well, Nancy and Bob and Debi came for a long weekend. It was so fun! We laughed a lot and talked a lot (and loudly) and ate well.

We spent a day going to, in and around, and returning from the City (San Francisco). There is so much to see and one day just hits the high spots. However, we were blessed with a clear sky, 75 degrees and moderate traffic. Just as we went over the Golden Gate the fog rolled into the Bay and made the bridge and city look like they were high in the clouds. We got some wonderful pictures and then the fog dissipated. The rest of the pictures were so clear you would really wonder if it was San Francisco.

For dinner we ate seafood on the water at Half Moon Bay. Afterward we went to the marina and watched a seal family teach their baby to catch fish. It was fascinating!

Bob has taken up photography and he got over 300 pictures a day of everything there was around. Sometimes it's hard to remember the beauty specifically but not with his pictures around!

We took another day and went to Yosemite National Park. The waterfalls aren't running right now because the rivers are so dry. They will start up again in late October. We may go back and hike up to the top of Yosemite Falls. Dave and I will probably have to do some conditioning to be in shape. Carrying around all this weight does not get you in shape!

Their last day here we went to Knight's Ferry where there is the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi. The river there is so clear and it has big boulders to climb on or just admire. Western beauty is so unique! We had lots of fun seeing it with Debi. She thought California was all like LA--full of houses, people and office buildings. The orchards, rivers and rolling hills left her speechless with wonder. I loved being able to share it with them.

G-Mom went with us to Yosemite but was very uneasy the whole time we were gone. Another aspect of her disease came to light--when she is away from "home", she feels vulnerable and unsafe. That was good to find out. Although she doesn't like being alone, at least she is not as fearful when she is at home.

Well, I hope you enjoy the pictures and the summary of our weekend. The enjoyment that comes from being with family cannot be explained. Episodes are funny that wouldn't be if by yourself; food tastes better when shared; and life seems to be fuller. That's what we experienced for 3 full days--life at it's best. It goes quickly but, if relished, can remain for a l-o-n-g time.

A FRIEND LOST

2009-07-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Two days ago we lost a great friend, Don Lichliter. If Don could hear all the praise and comments on what a wonderful person he was, he would push it aside with true humility and talk about someone he admired. He was enthusiastic about everything, even the things he didn't like. Always honest, though sometimes brash, this guy was lover of Jesus Christ. He followed to the point of acknowledging his mistakes and confessing them openly. His efforts to be what Scripture said he should be were refreshing and a model for even long-time Christians.

Dave wanted to observe Don's reaction when he met Jesus. Truly a wonderful event! We mourn because we have lost a good friend now but also rejoice that it won't be for eternity. When we catch up with him in Heaven, he will have it all scoped out. What a joy to anticipate! Will you be there too?

Changing our Name

2009-06-22T22:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it has become official. Dave has accepted a transfer to the East Coast which will not begin until June 1, 2010. Guess we'll have to change our name then. The territory just north of Kristi and Matt became available and we jumped to be able to be closer to our sweet grandboys. My parents stayed in California and missed out on a lot of my kids lives. Don't want that to be our legacy.

We're looking in the north-of-Baltimore area so, if anyone has feedback of a good place for us to land, send it along. We've driven through and visited D.C. one summer but that doesn't give us much to go on. Dave got to go out for a weekend and Kristi brought the boys up to see him. It was "meet and greet" time for him and Gabe. What can I say? Dave fell in love with the little one and renewed his relationship with Ben.

In the meantime, we are plodding along with Grandmother in tow. She has her days -- some good and some not-so-good. We have applied for in-home care from the state but, with all the cutbacks, that doesn't look good. It would be beneficial to her (and us too) if we could have someone come in for a couple of hours a day just to talk and take walks with her. Her memory is getting worse. She can't remember how to set the table without guidance. It is a sad thing! Life goes on and she is getting left behind and feeling very lost. This disease, like a funeral, makes you consider your mortality and quality of life. Take care of yourself now! It could catch up with you before you're ready for it to.

G-mom still prays for her kids and grandkids though and reads her Bible each day. She even prays when her hair is blown in the wind while riding in the convertible with the top down. Pretty funny! I left my cell phone at work last Friday and, not wanting to leave it all weekend, Dave drove me back to get it. G-mom was napping and it only took about 30 min. However, she was awake when we got back and very upset. She had been trying to call us and couldn't get it done. She was sitting at the desk with the cable remote in her hand and asked in frustration, "How do I call you on this?" Even techno-tarded Dave had to laugh at that.

Thank God for the "funnies" of Grandmother. Bless you all until I get time and events enough to write again.

Almond Blossoms

2009-03-01T20:35:00.000-08:00

Dave and I went out to take some pictures of the almond blossoms today. Most of the orchards are almost at peak and we're having rain! That means the bees can't get out to pollinate the blossoms; pray for some sun for us. What is really cool is when you can look out over acres of white flowers with the Sierra snowcaps in the background. It's hard to get it with a camera though. In the next week the two varieties of peaches will be in total bloom. They have two different colors of pink so we'll try to get them for you to see.

Our apricot tree in the backyard is almost fully bloomed. We had three 5-gallon buckets full of them last year. This year we'll probably thin them out some so the fruit will be bigger. Mike and Mary Ellen Wright came for dinner a couple of weeks ago. It was great to catch up with them. Anyway, Mike thought I was remiss in not making some pies and didn't comprehend that there wasn't time to make them. Guess that is a challenge for me this year! He said I could become his favorite aunt if I made one for him...?

Remember, this was taken the last day of February. My azaleas are in bright color too.

The G-Mom is not doing well. Most of the time she is trying to leave to "go home" and finds it difficult to comprehend that this is her home now. One day a couple of weeks ago Dave felt that the Lord directed him to go the long way home. Coming into Riverbank, he saw her walking alongside the highway about half a mile from home. Since then, we have had to keep the doors and gates locked. If he hadn't come home that way, we would not have known where to look for her! Add to that the busy (2 lane) highway she was following and no ID...you see what I mean!

On yeah, I got a job! When Hershey left Oakdale, the Sconza Candy Company bought their building. I worked with the buyers for several months while they were doing their due diligence and got to know them pretty well. Now I'm working for them! Not only that, I'm sitting at the very same desk I worked at for Hershey. It is very strange...but definitely a God-thing. I had been sending resumes and applications for 2 months when I had the urge to send an e-mail to them to ask about a position. I knew they had a Job Fair back in August and had over 2,600 people fill out applications for about 80 jobs. Well, it turns out that the HR Director is the former Hershey HR Director and she knew me (having worked some for her also). Long to short--I applied for the Operations Assistant (to the VP, Operations) position. It was not available before because the incumbent got pregnant and didn't want to drive to Oakdale. (If she does come back, it will be in a different position.) I was almost a "shoe-in"! Really a God-directed-thing. Thanks for any prayers you said for me. It helped me hold on with less stress this time than the 2 former times I was unemployed in 2008. God is faithful!!

Well, thought we would send a touch of California your way. Miss our friends from the Midwest but love the weather here! Y'all come see us out here. We have lots for you to see--besides just us.

Tripping with Grandmother

2008-12-16T19:44:00.000-08:00

Maybe we were just crazy but we decided to take Grandmother with us to Seattle for a week. Since Kelli is out of work and I am too, it was just the "right time" to go see her in her new environment. So, off we went.

We stopped in Red Bluff where I (Kay) grew up. It is always so amazing how it is still the same and yet has changed. Then we charged up I-5. It was still just as beautiful as I remembered. I took lots of shots of Mt. Shasta; you can see why.

We stopped in Albany, Oregon to see a guy I grew up with that Dave has been becoming a fan of. Charlie Moe and his wife, Linda (aka LMoe), came to have dinner and breakfast with us. It is so fascinating to relate to a childhood friend now as senior adults. Having our foundation in Christ is what makes a relationship still possible.

We went on up to Portland and helped Dave find some customers. Then on to Seattle to see Kelli. Grandmother and I spent the morning with her and then Dave came and we had dinner with her and Jenette. Mom was quite tired by the time we got to our room.

There were quite a few picture opportunities as we came down the Oregon coast. It took a whole day. Dave said I should have carpal finger from snapping so many shots. Hope you enjoy what I have posted.

The Great Adventure Pictures

2008-11-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

The Great Adventure

2008-11-17T10:45:00.000-08:00

Nancy, Allison and Betsy came for the day this past Saturday. What a Great Adventure! I was driving or I could have gotten pics of the girls singing what became our theme song. What a hoot!

We decided to take them to Yosemite because we could see so much from the car and Mom wouldn't have to get out and walk so much. It was wonderful weather...low 80's in the Central Valley and low 70's in the Yosemite valley. We left town in the van with everyone eating on a 5" long 2" diameter burrito. I'm not sure any were actually finished but we made good headway.

We got up Priet's Grade, the first of the winding roads, and had to pull over and change the front driver's side tire. Unfortunately, the (replacement) jack we had didn't get the car off the road enough to take the tire off. So-o-o, Nancy and Ali flagged down another van and we borrowed a jack. Mom sat in the van while Dave was under it. Betsy, Ali and I took pictures and Nancy asked questions of the guy who loaned us the van to distract him from how long it seemed to take. We tried to get the tire fixed at the AAA tow/auto repair just up the road a mile but it was beyond help. Of course, we then had to stop every few miles to tighten the lug nuts until they finally got seated. I'm glad it was late enough in the year and the day that the places to pull over weren't full.

You'll see from the pictures that this is a photographer's Heaven. They even have a meadow area named for Ansell Adams. Come stay in the summer and get art lessons from professionals who pay for their lodging by giving the lessons to vacationers.

At the end of the day we stopped in Mariposa at the Happy Burger Diner and had a sandwich or salad & sundae. We spent 8 hrs. (11-7) in the saddle but had a fun time.

Mom/Grandmother was very excited to see and be with her girls again. In fact, she stayed up until 9:30 p.m. and didn't get up until 7:00 a.m. Quite a stimulating day!

Pictures for your enjoyment:

September already!

2008-09-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

Well, September arrived with a deflating fanfare. I (Kay) thought I was going to be paid for the first holiday in years! Not so...I was still a temporary. Since my first 2 weeks of work were only 1/2 days and there were 2 holidays I didn't get paid for, my 570 hrs. were not reached until Sept. 19 instead of the first. Oh well....as of tomorrow, Sept. 29, I will be permanent and will get benefits! I have been part-time or temporary since 1992 so this feels almost like a new experience.

Just for the record, I am working as an Administrative Secretary for the President (and other executives) of Northern Refrigerated Transportation, Inc., a small trucking company in Turlock. Another girl, Karen Curtis, (notice the two KC's) shares the job with me. They had to split it up because it was too much for one person. Thank God! I didn't ever realize it but God did and He gave me the better half! I work mostly on the computer and with the sales people. The phones and the tedious part of the job are Karen's. She also has to deal with the difficult person in Rates and Tariffs that would have my remisis.

Well, I turned 59 on the 14th of this month. What a joy! I'm not the "old" person I thought I would be at this age. Don't get me wrong, it isn't all wonderful because there are still aches and pains and loss of memory, but it is better than I thought it would be.

Dave is still enjoying his job. He loves the travel (of course) and is always wanting me to join him. Maybe some day--the sooner the better! He took some pictures in Oregon while he was walking one night after dinner. I'll try to get them put on this blog. If not, I'll try again next time.

He has been languishing because the Corvette is under the weather and he feel the need for his "convertible therapy". It gets put to the end of the money so it hasn't had much done for a while. He got a fuel pump online and put that in today but it still needs a few other parts.

Mom watched "Facing the Giants" this afternoon and went to bed by 6:45 p.m. She just doesn't have much strength or energy. Even just sitting, like today, wears her out. Of course, she is up by 6:00 a.m. but we usually are too. It's the weekends when we can't keep her in bed. She can get her own breakfast of cereal, thankfully!

She does seem to have more times when her memory or ability to process thoughts or even remember words are impaired. We went to dinner Wednesday night with my sister, Neva, her husband, John, and my dad. I told her just before we arrived who was going to be there. I'm not sure where the disconnect occurred, however, as we were leaving, she asked the name of "the lady we ate with." I reminded her it was my sister and dad. She thought I was joking and didn't believe me until I insisted. It takes me off guard so quickly. Both Dave and I are learning how to cope better after we get our breath knocked out of us like that.

Today we ate at a Mexican restaurant. Most places out here do not have tacos like Taco Bell and she is cofused by that. So, we try to get other items she will recognize and can eat. Today, after 3-4 suggestions, Dave just ordered a burrito for her and it was fine. It is easier to have children at a restaurant. When she is aware of what is going on or has happened, she is grateful for our help but it is difficult to get through it without some conflict. I'm sure she will outlive both of us so then Bob & Debi can have their turn...hee! hee! ;^ (that's a kissy face).

Well, it is supposed to be in the 90's all week. The water in the pool is cooler than it has been though and my swimming has tapered off. Still in shorts for church and have the air on. Come see us! Dave is a willing guide...and he is free! Love to all who love us too,

the california cooks

Poppo's Place

2008-08-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

We have been working with Poppo Walker to get him moved over to Neva and John's apartment so he woldn't be alone so much. He enjoys the isolation but the Dr. said he should be closer to someone. Then, the Lord brought a BUYER for his little modular house. John's inquiries looked like we were going to have to pay someone to demolish it and take it away. What a great God we serve! It took 2 weekends of taking furniture and cleaning out the kitchen before the really BIG moving weekend. It took half a day on Friday and all day Saturday for the 12-15 of us to get it all out and ready for the movers to take it apart and move it out.

Here are some pics of it as they had taken off the front and back porches and then after it was gone. What a difference!

A May Wedding

2008-08-10T20:23:00.001-07:00

Kaitlyn and Josiah got married in May on the only nice weekend for months. It was outdoors and was a wonderful time of being with old friends to enjoy this milestone. They are (right now) moving into their 2-bedroom house in Kirksville for Kaiti's last year of college. After that, who knows?!!

A 2008 Reunion

2008-08-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

All 3 girls were able to come out to see us in July. Kristi brought Ben-the-man with her (of course) and he was agreat entertainer. At dinner he would laugh with his mouth wide open and look at each person around the table with full eye contact to see if they were watching and laughing at him. I don't know how he had such energy on so little food!

Granddad took them to a park in Riverbank and over to the City and across the Golden Gate.

Kelli came for a quick 2 days/2 nights weekend but we enjoyed it really fast!

Next year we can maybe get the guys here too!

A trip to Yosemite

2008-08-10T19:58:00.001-07:00

A trip to Yosemite

2008-08-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since we went that I won't say much. The pictures say more than I could anyway. It was a rainy Memorial Day weekend and we thought there wouldn't be many people there...those that went weren't Americans! Enjoy the pics.

April 1, 2008

2008-04-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

Well, Grammie and Granddad (that's Kay and Dave) got to go see the grandboy for his first birthday. He is so sweet it's hard to get enough kisses from him. At least he still lets you kiss on him. He had lots of fun at the party. Kristi undressed him so he could just dig into the cake and dig he did! Once he found out it tasted good, he just kept eating. It was hard for him to get started though. As you can see from the pictures, his arms were moving so fast they are just blurs. That's how he shows his excitement--but he needs to be sitting or the movement causes him to fall down. He are a couple of pictures from the party and a video of him playing the drums.

We aren't quite settled in the new house but enough to get by. Dave has even started to strip his old desk to refinish it. Maybe we'll even do his Granddad's rocker while we're at it. We're having fun in our new home. Mom is getting settled; we will start the process of finding a doctor (or two) and other essentials soon.

Dave loves his job and I am still looking. We'll keep you apprised of how that works out. Hope you like our pictures--write when you can: 2319 Rio Verde Dr, Riverbank, CA 95367.

We are almost settled!

2008-03-12T13:19:00.002-07:00

We are now official California residents. As of Saturday, March 15, we will have our own address and a place for you to come visit us. Dave's sister, Nancy, will be our first guest and his mom, Elsie, will be here to reside with us on Monday, March 17. I will get pictures soon. We have a pool and a front porch to sit on in a rocker or a covered patio to sit under and gaze at the lovely backyard. All this while enjoying the warm California sunshine. Y'all come now! Send us an e-mail for the address then let us know when you can be here. In later posts we'll be explaining exactly where Modesto is in relation to the wonderful recreational areas of California.