ANDERSON'S ANTICS: November 2005

GRACIE - QUEEN OF THE HILL

MY SUMMER TRIP

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHEN A PERSON

IS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS -
HIS STEPS ARE ORDERED OF THE LORD.
THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW!
IT GIVES ONE, NOT ONLY A PEACE ABOUT YOUR DAYS,
BUT ALSO A GREAT EXCITEMENT
AND EXPECTATION AND THE ABILITY
TO PUT UP WITH SOME OF
THE 'NOT SO PLEASANT' DAYS.

ON JUNE 14, 2005, WE LEFT THE LOS ANGELES AREA,
SYLMAR, TO BE EXACT, ,
IN OUR MOTOR HOME,
FOR WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A TWO MONTH TRIP.
BY THE TIME WE GOT THE RV ALL PACKED UP
AND READY TO GO, IT WAS 5:00 PM.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE DIDN'T TRAVEL TOO FAR THAT DAY
BEFORE WE FOUND A PLACE TO STOP AND SPEND THE NIGHT.
THE WALMART SIGN WAS A WELCOMED SIGHT,
(AROUND 11:00 PM) AS THAT IS WHERE
WE OFTEN STAY WHEN WE'RE TRAVELING.
WALMART STORES ARE RV FRIENDLY
AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT IT SAVES A LOT OF MONEY
IF WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A CAMPSITE EVERY NIGHT.
(WE DON'T CONSIDER OURSELVES 'CHEAP' - JUST FRUGAL)

AFTER THREE DAYS OF TRAVEL
(VERA IS THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES THE RV
SO WE DON'T DRIVE TOO MANY HOURS IN ONE DAY)
WE ARRIVED IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS,
TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH VERA'S SON,
CHRIS AND HIS FAMILY.
(WIFE, SARINA, AND TWO DAUGHTERS, ASHLI AND JASMINE)
I MUST SAY, SAN ANTONIO WAS A WELCOMED SIGHT.
HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN INTERSTATE 10
BETWEEN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
AND SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS?
iF YOU CAN HELP IT - DON'T.
WHAT A BORING AND UNINTERESTING ROAD.
NOTHING EXCITING TO SEE.
OH, I'M SURE IT IS FOR SOME CREATURES,
SUCH AS SNAKES AND SCORPIONS
AND ALL THOSE 'OTHER' YUCKY THINGS.
BUT NOT FOR US.
THE HEAT WAS TERRIBLE
AND WE WERE THANKFUL
THAT WE HAD AIR CONDITIONING IN THE RV.
BELIEVE ME, IT RAN 24/7.
(VERA SAYS SHE THINKS THE PERSON WHO INVENTED A/C
MUST HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN A CHRISTIAN,
AS IT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL BLESSING
FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE NOT 'HOT WEATHER PEOPLE'.)

AFTER FINDING WAL-MART,
WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH CHRIS
AND HE CAME AND HELPED US
UNHOOK THE CAR FROM THE RV.
(IT IS ALWAYS A WELCOMED THING
TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP US HOOK AND UNHOOK.
ITS NOT REALLY THAT DIFFICULT,
IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT IS MORE EASILY DONE
BY A YOUNG, STRONG MAN RATHER THAN BY TWO OLD LADIES.)
WHEN WE DROVE TO CHRIS AND SARINA'S APARTMENT
WE FOUND A NICE DINNER WAITING FOR US
THAT SARINA HAD MADE.
SHE IS A VERY GRACIOUS HOSTESS.
WE WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE ASHLI AND JASMINE ALSO.
ASHLI, WHO IS NOW 16,
HAS PASSED UP HER 'FARMOR' IN HEIGHT.
SHE IS SIX FEET TALL AND A BEAUTIFUL GIRL
(FARMOR, BY THE WAY, MEANS 'FATHER'S MOTHER' IN SWEDISH
AND THAT IS WHAT THE GIRLS CALL VERA)
JASMINE, WHO HAD JUST TURNED 2
WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE US.
(ITS SUCH A GREAT FEELING
WHEN A LITTLE CHILD LOVES YOU
AND ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH YOU.)
JASMINE IS VERY TALL FOR HER AGE ALSO,
AND HAS THE CUTEST, CURLY RED HAIR.
ASHLI, ALSO WAS REAL HAPPY TO SEE US,
BUT AT HER AGE YOU HAVE TO BE 'COOL'
AND NOT SHOW IT TOO MUCH.
THE NEXT MORNING WE WERE RUDELY AWAKENED
AT DAWN (10:00 AM) BY KNOCKS ON THE DOOR
AND ALL THE WINDOWS OF THE RV.
NO, IT WASN'T WAL-MART ASKING US TO LEAVE,
IT WAS CHRIS, SARINA, ASHLI AND JASMINE
WANTING US TO GO OUT WITH THEM FOR BREAKFAST,
THEY WERE HUNGRY
SO WE DIDN'T TAKE A LONG TIME GETTING READY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD WE LOOKED
BUT THE RESTAURANT DIDN'T CARE
AND SERVED US A GOOD BREAKFAST ANYWAY.
THAT NIGHT ASHLI CAME BACK TO THE RV WITH US
AND STAYED WITH US
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THAT WE WERE THERE.
EVERYDAY WE WOULD GO OVER TO THEIR APARTMENT
AND SPEND TIME WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY ALSO.
JASMINE IS AT THAT AGE WHERE,
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY SHE IS SAYING SOMETHING NEW.
SHE HAS A GREAT VOCABULARY.
CRACKERS AND LEXI, OUR 2 LITTLE DOGS,
WOULD GO WITH US, AS THEY ENJOYED
PLAYING AND ROMPING WITH SIERRA,
CHRIS AND SARINA'S DOG.
CRACKERS, ESPECIALLY, HAD REALLY MISSED HER
AFTER THEY MOVED TO TEXAS.
IT WAS A 'HAPPY DOGGIE REUNION' ALSO.
ONE DAY, VERA, ASHLI AND I DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES,
TO A NEARBY RIVER WHERE THEY HAD WATER TUBING.
VERA AND ASHLI DECIDED TO GO
AND I STAYED WITH THE DOGS, (THEY NEEDED ME. HA!)
WAITING FOR THEM IN THE CAR.
I THINK MAYBE VERA SHOULD HAVE STAYED TOO,
AS SHE HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE
GETTING BACK INTO THE TUBE
AFTER GETTING OUT ONCE INTO THE RIVER.
THE ROCKS WERE VERY SLIPPERY,
BECAUSE THEY WERE COVERED WITH GREEN MOSS,
SO IN ALL THE EFFORT OF GETTING BACK INTO THE TUBE,
VERA SLIPPED AND FELL.
ASHLI LAUGHED HER HEAD OFF.
VERA DIDN'T.
ANYWAY, THEY HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER
AND IT WAS A GOOD WAY TO SHOW ASHLI
THAT NOT ALL 'OLD PEOPLE' ARE OLD.
THE SUNDAY WE WERE THERE
WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING JOHN HAGEE'S CHURCH.
WE HAD HEARD HIM ON TV
AND WERE ANXIOUS TO SEE THE CHURCH
AND EXPERIENCE IT IN PERSON.
WELL, WE GOT ON THE INTERSTATE AND WENT THE WRONG WAY.
BY THE TIME WE REALIZED WHAT WE HAD DONE
IT WAS CHURCH TIME.
WE JUST TURNED THAT LITTLE CAR AROUND
AND WENT BACK THE OTHER WAY
AND FINALLY FOUND THE CHURCH.
(IT WASN'T HARD TO FIND,
IF YOU WERE GOING THE RIGHT WAY ON THE INTERSTATE)
WE WERE ABOUT HALF AN HOUR LATE
BUT THEY STILL WELCOMED US
AND WE GOT THERE IN TIME
FOR ONE SONG AND THE SERMON.
AT LEAST WE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO.
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HALF HOUR LATE.
(BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
WE HAD GIVEN OURSELVES AN HOUR TO GET THERE,
AND FOUND OUT THAT IF WE WOULD HAVE
GONE THE RIGHT WAY IT WAS ONLY 15 MINUTES FROM OUR 'HOUSE'.)
WHILE WE WERE IN SAN ANTONIO
WE CELEBRATED JASMINE'S AND ASHLI'S BIRTHDAYS.
JASMINE HAD JUST TURNED 2 BEFORE WE GOT THERE,
SO SHE HAD A SECOND CELEBRATION.
SHE LOVED THE RED COWGIRL HAT WE GAVE HER.
(WE FIGURED YOU COULDN'T LIVE IN TEXAS
WITHOUT A COWGIRL HAT.)
ASHLI'S BIRTHDAY WAS GOING TO BE
SHORTLY AFTER SHE WENT BACK TO TUCSON,
SO WE CELEBRATED HERS A DIFFERENT DAY.
SHE'S AT THE AGE WHERE SHE WANTS
CLOTHES FOR GIFTS, SO WE TOOK HER TO THE STORE
AND LET HER CHOOSE HER OWN.
SHE DID A NUMBER ON OUR CHECKBOOKS
AND LOOKED VERY 'SMART'
' AND 'WITH IT' WHEN SHE WAS FINISHED.
WHILE WE WERE THERE
THE 'SAN ANTONIO SPURS'
WON THE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
MY, WHAT EXCITEMENT.
SAN ANTONIOANS REALLY CELEBRATED.
WE WATCHED THE WINNING GAME AT CHRIS' PLACE
AND THEN DROVE BACK TO THE RV
IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE CELEBRATION.
I THINK ALL THE CARS IN SAN ANTONIO
HAD NO HORN LEFT BY MORNING.
EVEN A CITY FIRE ENGINE WAS CRUISING THROUGH TOWN
WITH ITS HORN GOING.
IT WAS EXCITING AND FUN.
I HAVE BEEN A LAKERS FAN,
BUT THEY WERE SO ROTTEN THIS YEAR
THAT IT WAS FUN TO ROOT FOR THE SPURS.
WE HATED SAYING GOOD-BYE,
BUT HAD TO LEAVE IN TIME TO GET TO TENNESSEE
FOR A FAMILY REUNION THAT WAS STARTING ON JULY 5TH.
POOR LITTLE JASMINE,
WANTED TO GO WITH US ON 'THE BUS'.
NEEDLESS TO SAY WE LEFT HER CRYING
BUT SHE GOT A LITTLE HAPPIER
WHEN WE TOLD HER WE WOULD BE BACK
AND ALSO WHEN HER PARENTS PROMISED HER A SPECIAL TREAT.
(I WISH ADULTS WERE AS EASILY COMFORTED.)

EASTWARD HO! TO TENNESSEE!

ITS A LOOONG WAY FROM SAN ANTONIO
TO KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.
WE LEFT ON SATURDAY, THE 2ND OF JULY,
SO WE WOULD BE THERE BY EARLY TUESDAY, THE 5TH.
WE HAD WANTED TO LEAVE EARLIER
AND GO TO T. D. JAKES' CHURCH IN DALLAS.
HOWEVER OUR PLANS CHANGED,
DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAD A LITTLE PROBLEM
WITH THE ELECTRICAL IN THE RV
AND THEY COULDN'T HAVE IT READY FOR US
UNTIL SATURDAY.
I MUST SAY THE COUNTRYSIDE GOT A LOT PRETTIER
AS WE DROVE TO TENNESSEE.
WE ARRIVED IN KNOXVILLE, IN THE EVENING,
ON THE 4TH AND FOUND A NICE WAL-MART.
(BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HAVE A BOOK
THAT TELLS US WHERE ALLTHE
WAL-MART AND SAM'S CLUB LOCATIONS ARE,
AND EVEN GIVES US DIRECTIONS.
I THINK WE GO IN AND SHOP
AT EVERY SINGLE WAL-MART THAT WE STAY AT)
THE NEXT DAY WE WERE TO MEET
5 DIFFERENT GROUPS OF FAMILIES,
(MY SISTERS AND THEIR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS)
AT A KOA CAMPGROUND IN NEWPORT, TENNESSEE,
TO BEGIN OUR FAMILY REUNION.
THE OTHERS HAD ALREADY ARRIVED THE DAY BEFORE
AT MY NIECE ROBIN'S HOUSE,
WHICH WAS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM THE CAMPGROUND.
WE ARRIVED AT THE CAMPGROUND LATE MORNING
AND SHORTLY AFTER, GOT A CALL FROM MY SISTER, RUTH,
TO ASK WHERE WE WERE.
VERA ANSWERED THE PHONE AND, AS USUAL,
WAS UP TO HER TRICKS, SO SHE TOLD RUTH
THAT WE WERE OUTSIDE OF DALLAS.
(SHE SAID, "I DIDN'T LIE, WE ARE OUTSIDE OF DALLAS.
I JUST DIDN'T TELL HER HOW FAR OUTSIDE.")
RUTHIE GOT ALL UPSET AND SAID
WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE THERE FOR 2 DAYS.
VERA PROCEEDED TO TELL HER
THAT WE WOULD ARRIVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ONE CARLOAD TOOK OFF TO GO TO THE NATIONAL PARK FIRST,
(SMOKEY MOUNTAINS) SEEING WE WEREN'T
GOING TO BE THERE ANYWAY.
WITH THAT, RUTHIE CALLED THE CAMPGROUND OFFICE
TO ASK AT WHAT TIME THEY COULD ARRIVE AT THE CABINS.
THE LADY IN THE OFFICE SAID, "ANYTIME IS FINE.
THE LADIES IN THE RV ARE ALREADY HERE.
" OOPS! WE SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER NOT TO SPILL THE BEANS.
THE FOLLOWING DIALOGUE FOLLOWED:
RUTHIE TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WERE STILL THERE:
"I CANT BELIEVE THOSE STINKERS WOULD PLAY THAT TRICK ON US".
MARK: I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING BACK TO THEM."
RUTHIE: " IT WOULD SERVE THEM RIGHT.WHAT CAN WE DO?"
MARK: "LET'S CALL THEM UP AND TELL THEM
THAT SEEING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE THERE
FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, WE CANCELED THE RESERVATIONS."
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY DID.
VERA ANSWERED THE PHONE AGAIN
AND WHEN SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD CANCELED,
SHE GOT ALL EXCITED AND SAID,
"NO, NO! CALL THEM BACK
AND TELL THEM YOU DON'T WANT TO CANCEL.
WE'RE ALREADY HERE!"
MORAL OF THE STORY:
"DON'T MESS WITH RUTHIE AND HER KIDS!"
(IT WAS KIND OF FUN TO SEE VERA
ALL NERVOUS FOR A FEW MINUTES)
BY THE TIME EVERYONE ARRIVED THERE WERE 24 OF US.
WHAT FUN! (EVERY FAMILY SHOULD HAVE
A FAMILY REUNION ONCE IN AWHILE)
THE YOUNGEST WAS 3 1/2 AND THE OLDEST WAS....
I BETTER MOT TELL, SEEING IT WAS MY BROTHER-LAW, JERRY.
ANYWAY...HE'S OOOLLLDDD!
WELL, WE HAD A GREAT FOUR DAYS,
WHICH INCLUDED GAMES, FISHING,
(FOR THE KIDS IN A SMALL POND IN THE CAMP)
HIKING, (FOR THOSE MORE ADVENTURESOME,
WHO DIDN'T MIND THE HOT WEATHER AND 98% HUMIDITY)
SWIMMING IN THE NICE POOL,
EATING TOGETHER, SINGING TOGETHER,
TELLING STORIES AROUND THE CAMPFIRE,
THE KIDS PLAYING AND SLIDING IN THE MUD, THE DAY IT RAINED,
AND WHITE WATER RAFTING ON THE LAST DAY.
SATURDAY MORNING THE 9TH,
WE GATHERED TOGETHER TO PRAY
BEFORE SENDING EVERYONE OFF TO THEIR OWN LIFE AGAIN,
AND TO SAY OUR GOOD-BYES WITH HUGS AND KISSES
AND "SEE YOU AT THE NEXT ONE, IN TWO YEARS."
FROM THE CAMPGROUND WE WENT
TO MY NIECE'S HOME FOR 1 DAY,
WHICH WAS AN HOUR AWAY IN MARYVILLE.
ROBIN AND MARK HAVE 5 KIDS, AGES 6 THRU 21.
HOPE IS 6 AND WANTS TI BE A POLICE OFFICER.
HANNAH IS 15 AMD TALKS TO HERSELF.
ANDREW IS 17 AND SAYS PEOPLE TELL HIM
HE LOOKS LIKE A BRIAN. (WHAT EXACTLY DO BRIANS LOOK LIKE?)
ADAM IS 19 AND CANT MAKE UP HIS MIND WHICH GIRL HE LIKES.
HEATHER IS 21 AND HAS ALREADY MADE UP HER MIND
THAT SHE LIKES CHARLIE, AKA, CRAIG,
SO THEY WILL PROBABLY BE GETTING MARRIED NEXT YEAR.
WHILE THERE, WE GOT TO HEAR ANDREW SING FOR US.
THAT KID IS SO TALENTED. HE'S JUST 17 ,
BUT HE SURE CAN SING.
THE NICE THING ABOUT IT IS
THAT HE IS HUMBLE ABOUT HIS TALENT AND VERY SWEET.
HE REALIZES THAT HIS BEAUTIFUL VOICE
IS A GIFT FROM GOD. HE'LL GO FAR WITH HIS SINGING!

TENNESSEE IS A BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE COUNTRY.
SO GREEN! I LOVE IT! IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE,
YOU SHOULD PLAN ON VISITING.

ONWARD AND UPWARD -
NORTH TO OHIO!

WE DROVE TO CINCINNATI, WHERE WE SPENT 3 DAYS
WITH MY NEPHEW, MARK AND HIS FAMILY.
JENNIFER AND MARK HAVE 5 CHILDREN ALSO.
AGES 7 THRU 16. BROOKE AND BAILEY ARE 7
AND THEY ARE CUTE TWIN GIRLS.
DOUBLE TROUBLE! DOUBLE SWEETNESS!
THEY BOTH WANT TO BE DOCTORS.
CHANDLER IS 10 AND STARTS FOOTBALL THIS YEAR.
HE LIKES TO HELP PEOPLE.
AUSTEN IS 13 AND WANTS TO BE
, EITHER A DRUMMER FOR A BAND OR AN ACTOR.
MYLES IS 16 AND HE WANTS TO BE A MINISTER,
A STORM CHASER AND A MILLIONAIRE ENTREPRENEUR.
I SAY, 'MORE POWER TO YOU'.
MARK IS THE MINISTER OF WORSHIP AND MUSIC
AT A GOOD CHURCH THERE. HE DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB.
AND NO, I'M NOT PREJUDICED....WELL, MAYBE A LITTLE.

FROM CINCINNATI WE WENT WEST, TO MOLINE ILLINOIS.
WE USED TO LIVE THERE, SO WE HAD MANY FRIENDS TO SEE.
MOLINE AND ALL OF THAT MIDWEST AREA,
HAD BEEN GOING THRU A 'DRY SPELL'.
EVERYTHING WAS BROWN AND DRY.
IT LOOKED MORE LIKE 'BROWN' SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THAN THE 'GREEN' MIDWEST. THEY SAID IT WAS
THE WORSE DRY SEASON THEY'D HAD IN OVER 80 YEARS.
IT SURE WAS FUN TO SEE AND VISIT WITH OLD FRIENDS.
WE WERE EVEN ABLE TO VISIT WITH THE HOLROYDS,
WHO ARE MISSIONARIES IN MEXICO NOW.
(THEIR DAUGHTIER WAS GETTING MARRIED,
SO THEY WERE THERE FOR THE WEDDING.)
WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND 3 DIFFERENT CHURCHES,
PASTORED BY SOME OF OUR FRIENDS.
I WAS ALLOWED TO SING AT ALL THREE CHURCHES.
THAT WAS FUN. (FOR ME ANYWAY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ENJOYABLE IT WAS FOR THE LISTENERS,
SEEING THAT WITH THE YEARS, I DON'T SING LIKE I USED TO.
ALTHOUGH EVERYBODY SAID THEY ENJOYED IT,)
I WONT TRY TO NAME ALL THE PEOPLE WE SAW
BECAUSE I'LL LEAVE SOMEONE OUT AND GET IN TROUBLE.
HOWEVER, ONE OF THE PLACES WE WENT TO WHILE THERE,
WAS TO A FUNERAL HOME,
TO PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THE FAMILY OF A FRIEND
WHO HAD DIED JUST BEFORE WE ARRIVED IN MOLINE.
WE SAW MANY OF OUR FRIENDS THERE ALSO.
THEY WERE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE IN TOWN,
SO THEY WERE A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE US.
(SMALLER TOWNS ...NOT TOO SMALL...ARE GREAT
BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS RUNNING INTO SOMEONE YOU KNOW.
OF COURSE MAYBE SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT.
I DO, BECAUSE AFTER LIVING IN A LARGE AREA...LOS ANGELES..
.FOR MANY YEARS, ITS NICE TO HAVE THAT PERSONAL TOUCH.)
WE GOT TO GO SEE MY PREVIOUS PASTOR, DR, HOLLIS.
( I LOVE THAT MAN!)
WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIM
AND MINISTER TO HIM THRU SOME SONGS THAT WE SANG.
HE REALLY ENJOYED IT.
THANKS, MARY, FOR PLAYING THE PIANO FOR ME.

FROM MOLINE WE WENT TO ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS,
WHERE VERA'S BROTHER AND FAMILY LIVE.
AFTER FINDING A WAL-MART WE CALLED VERA'S BROTHER
AND HE CAME AND PICKED US UP
TO GO OUT TO DINNER AND TO HIS HOUSE FOR A WHILE.
(WE WERE ONLY GOING TO BE IN ROCKFORD FOR 3 DAYS
SO WE DIDN'T UNHOOK THE CAR.
CARL OR LYNN CAME AND PICKED US UP
EVERY TIME WE WERE GOING SOMEWHERE.
WE WERE ABOUT 7 MINUTES FROM THEIR HOUSE
SO THEY DIDN'T MIND.
AT LEAST I DON'T THINK THEY MINDED.)
WHILE IN ROCKFORD WE WERE ABLE TO VISIT BRIEFLY
WITH CARL'S 2 DAUGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
WHO LIVE IN THE AREA.
ON SUNDAY, AFTER CHURCH,
CARL AND LYNN TOOK US TO A LAKE IN WISCONSIN
(SORRY I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME) FOR LUNCH.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, BUT, OH SO HOT.
THE HUMIDITY MUST HAVE BEEN 300 DEGREES!
LUNCH WAS GREAT THO.

WE ALSO VISITED WITH SOME FRIENDS
THAT WE HAD KNOWN WHEN WE LIVED IN MOLINE.
(IN FACT, WE WERE RUDELY AWAKENED AGAIN,
THIS TIME WITH A PHONE CALL FROM CARITA,
WHO SAID, 'I'M DRIVING IN THE AREA
AND I WANT TO COME SEE YOU.
I'LL BE THERE IN 5 MINUTES'.
WE SAID, 'MAKE IT 15 SO WE CAN GET DRESSED
BEFORE YOU COME'. 15 MINUTES LATER SHE ARRIVED
WITH SOME COFFEE FOR US.
2 HOURS LATER WE WERE STILL GABBING
BUT HAD TO SAY 'GOOD-BYE' AND CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY.
BACK TO MOLINE TO SEE SOME PEOPLE
WE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE PREVIOUSLY.

OUR FRIEND, ELLA DEEN,
WHOM WE HAD WORKED WITH FOR YEARS
AND WAS A DEAR FRIEND, WAS IN A CONVALESCENT HOME,
DUE TO SEVERE DIABETES FOR YEARS.
A FEW WEEKS BEFORE WE ARRIVED
SHE HAD HER LEG AMPUTATED AT THE KNEE.
SHE ALSO WAS ALMOST BLIND, DUE TO THE DIABETES.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE IN MOLINE,
SO WAS VERY SURPRISED AND HAPPY TO SEE US.
WE GOT TO VISIT HER SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THERE
. I THINK WE WERE A BLESSING TO HER.
WHAT A TROOPER SHE WAS.
EVEN WITH ALL OF HER PROBLEMS
SHE NEVER COMPLAINED AND KEPT HER SENSE OF HUMOR.
SHORTLY AFTER GETTING HOME
WE GOT NEWS THAT ELLA DEEN HAD DIED.
SHE WAS HAPPY TO GO AND WE WERE HAPPY FOR HER.
(ITS NO FUN TO BE IN THAT CONDITION
AFTER BEING SUCH A VITAL PERSON.)
EARLY ON IN HER LIFE,
ELLA DEEN HAD GIVEN HER LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST
AND MADE HIM HER LORD.
SO DEATH FOR HER, WAS JUST A TRIP
TO SEE HER LORD FACE TO FACE.
AND SHE HAD PREPARED HERSELF
FOR THAT TRIP YEARS BEFORE.
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE,
HER LIFE WILL GO ON IN HEAVEN,
BECAUSE OF HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD JESUS.
SHE KNEW WHERE SHE WAS GOING.
NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT ASSURANCE. BUT THEY CAN.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING WHEN YOU DIE?
ARE YOU SURE? YOU CAN BE SURE.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW, WRITE TO ME. I'LL TELL YOU.

WE LOVE TO PLAY GAMES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID
WHILE VISITING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
WAS PLAY CARD GAMES.
PIGGY, ROOK, BALDERDASH, I DOUBT IT, AND A FEW OTHERS.
TABLE GAMES ARE A GREAT WAY TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP
AND ALSO TO GET SILLY WITH THOSE YOU LOVE AND ENJOY.
TRY IT, IF YOU DON'T ALREADY DO IT.

WELL, TIME TO HEAD HOME.

WE WENT HOME BY WAY OF OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS AGAIN.
IN OKLAHOMA WE VISITED WITH MY NEPHEW, TIM
AND HIS FAMILY. ANGIE, HIS WIFE, NATHAN, WHO IS 14.
SETH, WHO IS ALMOST 10, AND MC KENNA, WHO IS 6.
NATHAN LOVES ART AND MUSIC.
SETH LOVES SPORTS,
AND MC KENNA IS JUST MC KENNA.
SHE HAS PRETTY CURLS AND A BEAUTIFUL FACE.
SHE DID SAY THAT SHE WANTS TO BE
A COWGIRL WHEM SHE GROWS UP.
THEY LIVE IN A LITTLE TOWN BY THE NAME OF COMMERCE.
TIM AND ANGIE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THEIR KIDS.
FROM THERE WE WENT TO STILLWATER, OK.
WHERE WE VISITED WITH VERA'S COUSIN BERT,
AND HIS WIFE, ADELIA.
BERT IS RETIRED FROM THE UNIVERSITY
AS A PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE.
ADELIA IS A WONDERFUL COOK.
(ALONG WITH KEEPING BUSY WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.)
SANDY IS THEIR DOG THAT TOOK A LIKING TO ME.
THAT'S OK BECAUSE I TOOK A LIKING TO HIM TOO.

WHEN WE LEFT STILLWATER WE FOUND
THAT WE WERE GOING THE WRONG WAY,
SO VERA PROCEEDED TO FIND A PLACE
WHERE SHE COULD TURN AROUND. (OR SO SHE THOUGHT.)
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT TURNING AROUND
IS NOT AN EASY TASK WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING
A 40 FOOT RV WITH A CAR HOOKED TO THE BACK OF IT.
BECAUSE OF THE CAR BEING ON THE BACK OF THE RV,
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BACK UP,
SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHERE WE PULL INTO.
MUST HAVE A WAY OUT WITHOUT HAVING TO BACK UP.
WELL.... VERA FOUND A PLACE TO TURN AROUND.
WHAT SHE DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT THE DRIVEWAY
SHE WAS GOING THRU HAD A ROOF ON IT
THAT WAS LOWER THAN THE TOP OF OUR RV.
SO...YEP, YOU GUESSED IT. WE COULD NOT GET THRU.
THANK GOODNESS WE REALIZED IT
BEFORE WE ACTUALLY ATTEMPTED TO GO UNDER THE LOW ROOF.
SO WE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. HOWEVER,
WE COULD NOT GET OUT OF THERE.
WELL TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT,
WE CALLED OUR SERVICE,
(COMPARABLE TO THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB)
AND BECAUSE THEY WERE 50 MILES AWAY,
WE WAITED FOR ALMOST TWO HOURS FOR THEM.
THEY CAME AND UNHOOKED THE CAR
AND HELPED VERA BACK THE RV UP.
(SHE DID RUN OVER A LITTLE SIDE
OF THE BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED LAWN.
THE YARD MAN WAS THERE
AND DIDN'T SEEM VERY HAPPY WITH US.)
WHEW! MADE IT OUT OF THAT ONE.
AFTER 3 HOURS.

TEXAS WAS JUST AS HOT AS BEFORE.
(THEY TELL ME IT GETS NICER, BUT
THEY'LL HAVE TO PROVE IT TO ME.)
AFTER SPENDING A FEW MORE DAYS WITH CHRIS AND FAMILY
WE HEADED FOR HOME BY A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
(MORE NORTHERN AND PRETTIER) .
IT TOOK US A LITTLE LONGER BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.

BY THE TIME WE GOT BACK TO CALIFORNIA
WE HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 2 MONTHS
AND WERE ANXIOUS TO GET HOME.
IN FACT WE JUST KEPT DRIVING THE LAST NIGHT
INTO THE LATE EVENING,
SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER NIGHT ON THE ROAD.
IT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF FUN THOUGH.
YOU SHOULD TRY IT SOMETIME.

AFTER GETTING HOME WE JUST WANTED TO SIT
AND DO NOTHING FOR 3 DAYS STRAIGHT.
(I DID START GOING THRU MY 522 EMAILS THO.)

NOW WE'RE WAITING FOR OUR NEXT ROAD ADVENTURE.
WE HAVE TO WAIT A WHILE UNTIL GAS PRICES GO DOWN.
IN THE MEANTIME, IF WE TAKE THE RV OUT
IT WILL BE FOR TRIPS THAT ARE CLOSE TO HOME.
(UNLESS WE COME INTO A GREAT INHERITANCE FROM SOMEWHERE.)

I HOPE YOU DIDN'T SIT AND READ THIS IN ONE SITTING.

IT WAS LOOONG, WASN'T IT?

SEE YOU NEXT TIME
JUDITH
PS. CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE VISITED WITH.