More summer 2014

OK, the last post got posted before I was done.  So here is "The Rest of the Story"!

Oldest grandson Jerrod Wagner holding youngest grandson Bryce Henry.  Brothers!

After San Francisco I took the kids to a water park.  We got wet, rode the waves in the wave pool, and did amazing slides that freaked grandma out, but I did them anyway! :)

Fun Times!

On the way to the water park I took a wrong turn and look where we turned up!  Who knew we had a lake?! :)

   

 When I left Jenny's I stopped off In the area where we lived the longest time when I was growing up, Roseville, Ca. Just outside of Sacramento. I drove by the old house and was amazed at how small it is now.  The rocks in the front were huge to us and we would sit in them.  The were used as grinding stones by Native Americans.  Many of our fondest memories happened in this house. 
     I looked up my old schools while I was there also.  My old middle school hasn't changed except that it has taken over the grade school.  I asked around as to where the school aged children attend school and I was told that the community didn't have any children.  It is full of retired people.  I began to feel really old as most folks were my age or older.  I guess you can never go back.

I had the opportunity to visit the new home  of long time friends Ron and Donna Stinchcomb in Chico, CA.  I was their first non family visitor. When I headed north again the next day they told me  to be sure to stop and see the "Little Grand Canyon".  Obviously not as grand as  "The" Grand Canyon but impressive nonetheless.  Gods' creation never ceases to amaze me.                                                            It was a long drive with no air-conditioning but well worth the  catching up with family and friends.

 

The last 2 weeks here in Wamena has been filled a lot political unrest.  Killings, people arrested, and threats made if they don't get released.  Natives are afraid and are living in a spirit of fear.  I am so grateful for God's peace amongst all the upheaval.  Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

 

There is still more of my summer travels but I am tired today after an evening camp activity after school yesterday.  I am trying to keep shorter accounts.  Bless you all, thank you for your support!

Summer 2014
I spent the summer visiting all up and down the west coast.  Right off the bat the truck got wrecked. I parked it on a hill and the brakes released and it rolled into a light pole.  If it had missed the light pole, it would have ended up at a very busy intersection.  Praise God even in the difficult times.  The door still works so it is still like this.

The first weekend I went to Roseburg Oregon and watched our God son Robert Eggleston perform in a youth orchestra.  He is a gifted musician and I am so proud to call him son.  He is the bigger boy to the left of the conductor.

After Roseburg, I drove back to Portland where I visited with many friends. 

Anne Parker our good friend and greatest supporter

I took Alita Watkins to Omsi to see the dinosaurs.

The truck drove itself into a light pole

                                         

 I was in California by June 9^th spending time in the pool and chilling with grandkids.  Our daughter Jennifer Henry and the youngest grand Bryce were still very much in the post birth sleeping mode.  I was still suffering from jet lag so I slept in most mornings.  One grandson was involved in football practice most mornings so activities happened in the afternoon.  We went to Moaning caves, Angels Camp,  San Francisco, then took a wrong turn on the way to a water park and ended up at McClure lake. It was great to get to know our older grandkids. 



Gabby, Johnny and I at the crookedest street in the world. SF

Dakota, Johnny, Jerrod and I in Moaning Caves

 




Johnny, Gabby, and Jerrod at the Golden Gate Bridge

Johnny, Jerrod, Gabby and I at the Golden Gate Bridge



 

 



 Well,  I now realize how uninformative I have been over the past year.  I have no excuses except being a busy teacher.  I will attempt to catch you up first with our plans for this summer.  Our daughter is having her 5th child so Dion is planning to go and be the "Pembantu" as we say here.  House help in English.  There are too many others taking off for summer furloughs so Miles has to stay here and hold the fort down in the hangar.  Besides, we can't afford to pay for both of us to come home.  Next summer we will be together for our furlough.  We will  be back in time for our oldest grandson's graduation from high school.  Whew!  can we be that old already?  Naw! :)  We just got an early start, as did our daughter. 

Video below shows the inside of our house. 

 

 Life in Wamena suits us well.  It reminds us very much of summer in Pacific Northwest.  It is warm and lovely during the day, clouds build up, then it rains at night.  Right now we are having an east wind that rivals the Columbia River Gorge winds.  This wind drys things out and we actually haven't had any rain for a week now.  We have friends who are running out of water.  Thankfully we live on the base and are hooked up to a deep well as a back up to our rainwater collection system which supplies most of our needs.

At Lyon park by the bay in Singapore

Dion spent most of December, the Christmas holiday, and into January with an unknown illness.  Several remedies were tried but still the symptoms persisted. After much internet research and checking with the Doc in Sentani, a gall cleanse was decided.  It worked!  She has been doing fine ever since. 

Our visit to Singapore last November for a cancer check up for Miles revealed that he has a very small amount of a very slow growing cancer.  The Doc was surprised we found it.  He said that Miles is a very good candidate for watching and waiting.  We will send a blood sample in every 3 or so months to keep an eye on it.  What a relief!  We were expecting surgery but had a few days of R&R instead! :)  Singapore is a lovely city.  The mass transit system will get  you just about anywhere in the city.  The highlight was a park by the bay that decorated trees with lights.  At night it is a beautiful walk then 2X each evening, they play classical music and the lights dance to the rhythm and mood of the music.  It was spectacular! :)

We did some shopping and picked up a few things that we just can't get here like decent chocolate chips, nuts, jerky, pepperoni, fritos, and pace Picante sauce.  Things we can live without, but when available they are a nice treat! :)

We got work done on our computers, ate a passable Mexican restaurant, did a lot of walking, and generally relaxed.

Miles playing with a sculpture

Miles at the entrance of Lyon park Singapore

Gasco with some neighbor kids

 Gasco, Our friend from Sentani that Miles has been tutoring moved to Wamena in October.  He stayed with us until he found an apartment.  We enjoy having him around.  He says we are like his parents and we feel close to him like a son as well.  All the "Expat" and native kids love him.  (expatriates, people living outside their home country)

  Before that, We were just busy getting settled into our new life here in Wamena!  The cost of living is higher than in Sentani as everything needs to be flown in. For those who haven't heard, Wamena is the largest city in the world accessible only by air.  Dion is learning about Dutch culture as the majority of students at the school here are Dutch. 

I will update again really soon to catch up on our summer furlough highlights.