THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

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!