Christmas

We had a delightful Christmas with Jeff, Elaine, Eros and Adonis...Eros was hilarious...the blue ball was there one minute and gone the next. Dummy me...I know little about dogs playing habits. It was really funny.....

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. We love you.

May the Angels bless and keep you safe

Let's hope warm weather is just around the corner......

Take Heed of Red Flags

The first red flag was they did not have a website with photos (though they were Passport America members).

The second red flag was there was graffiti on fences and road signs in the area.

The third red flag was there were police cars in the park. We were told someone had died.

The fourth red flag was most of the rvs were 20 years old many of which were not in good shape.

The fifth red flag was the man who helped us was in charge of the neighborhood watch (the people were all very nice).

The sixth red flag was a woman came up to me to tell me there was a better rv park just down the road.

The seventh red flag was the site did not have 50 amp electricity and the second site we moved too -- now getting dark -- had no electricity.

The final red flag was the police did a run through.

They offered to give us the night free because of the electrical problems. We took it and fired up the generator so we could look on the computer for a another place to park our motorhome. The next morning we moved to a lovely park (the manager described the former park as being in the "bad" part of town). It was not that much more money. Now we are parked across the road from the swimming pool and recreation/fitness room and happy!

In our 14 months of travel we have only had one other time we decided not to stay in the park where we had reservations. That time it involved being told we would have to boil the water and there was garbage and a dead rat near the utilities. Yuk! I say that is pretty good odds considering we have stayed at 51 RV parks.

Hemet, California is a lovely city and we are happy to be here especially hearing about the snow and wind at home. Hope you are all fairing well and it warms up real soon.

When we arrive in an area we check out a number of things: Where is the Costco, the Wal-Mart, the nearest Trader Joe's or natural food store, the post office, our favorite restaurants and is there a military base in the area (if we are not staying on one). Hemet got an A+ for meeting our needs as well as having some new and beautiful landscape.

Our Trip to Home and Back

After weeks of being fogged in at Lemoore Naval Air Station (south of Fresno) it was good to move toward some sun -- and as it turns out -- snow.

While at home, it snowed. When we set out on Tuesday to head back to our motorhome, we were not sure the roads we would take. As it turns out we decided to go west to the coast to Highway 101 at Eugene, Oregon. It turned out to be a good decision. Partially because the roads, though icy it times was not too bad and partially because the ocean and sunset were absolutely beautiful.

And, the sunrise too... Plus, the redwoods...a wild grass...

Plus two herds of elk and Paul Bunyon and the Babe also.

New Angels

I have cut back on my angel collection -- lack of space not desire. I have given in on a few unusual pieces:

This angel was from Sedona, Arizona:

I found this angel at the Mission San Miguel de Archangel in San Miguel, California:

This angel was found at McChord Air Force Base, Tacoma, Washington:

Out "Mission" Tour

Before we headed up to the Northwest for our Christmas gatherings we took a day off and did a tour of four of the Spanish Missions along the coast of California. We visited Mission San Antonia de Padua -1771, Mission San Luis Obispo - 1772, Mission San Miguel de Archangel - 1797 and Mission San Luis Rey de Francia - 1798. Here are a few pictures we took.

A Thanksgiving Message

Now that the holidays are upon us, I have had a chance to reflect on this past year. I really had to sit and think what I was most thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day. Of course, the normal things like health, safety and comfort were all thought of immediately. Then while watching the news, I saw some tear jerking stories about those who didn't have as much as I do, that wake up to gun shots and live in fear daily. This reminded me why I spent 36+ years serving my country both as a soldier and then a civil servant.

What I am most thankful for is that we live in a country where people can dream. They have an opportunity to make that dream come true, and with hard work can live free with their dreams. My dream is that I have the best golf web site in the world which allows golfers world wide a chance to see courses before they go and play them. I am so thankful that this great country of ours has allowed me the opportunity to work at making my dreams come true.

My Thanksgiving wish to all of you is that you follow your dreams, your true passion and be happy making it happen.

Thanksgiving Gratitude

It is hard to believe it has been over a year in our new life. Yet, when I think about how much has changed since we took off that Monday morning in October, 2007 and how scared I was because there was so much to learn about the motorhome and living in 320 square foot space and being away from friends, family and the comfort of knowing our doctor and dentist and the familiarity of it all.

A year later I am so grateful we made the decision to do this. We are comfortable with our home and how it works though we keep learning sometime new all the time. We are comfortable with each other and frequently acknowledge how we love our life.

Here simply put is what I am grateful for:

My husband -- If Lance had not be so wise with his savings we would not be able to do this. I remember the day I realized how much was possible for us because of "all that money"! Not to mention he is just plain good company. I love him deeply for the life he has provided me. How he listens to me. How he has grown and changed over the years just as our love has grown and changed. How he talks to me. How he loves action adventure as well as disney movies and even chick flicks. How he is living his passion of golf and loves the rewards of his hard work all those years. How he loves his sons dearly and treats my sons and Tia and Aaron just as lovingly.

My time -- Life is so much simplier now especially once we got comfortable with everything. I have had time to reflect and think about my life past and future and I come to new conclusions -- some even life changing -- eiphs -- as Gretel and I call them. So even my thinking has relaxed and is less complex.

The little things -- The lovely, shiny gold curtains that cover the windshield. The little traveling gnome Gretel gave me. The niffty nabber which makes reaching for things possible. The comfortable seats for the driver and passenger. The DirecTv east and west coast feeds for local statons -- we get to watch ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox anywhere we go. XM in our HHR -- never have to find a local station with XM. My little Shark that steam cleans our tile. My two new "really nice" purses that wear like iron. Tiffin who always is there for us. Our computer which keeps me in touch with the world.

My Improving Health -- I think back how I could hardly get out of seat at the movies. I can do that now. I think back about how I dreaded the A1C tests for my diabetes -- they were always high. Now I am below goal. I think back how I hated myself for constant failure in getting some weight off. Now, each day I make progress in getting the weight off -- my mind especially.

My bed -- Our bed is the most comfortable bed we have ever owned. Every night I snuggle into it and thank God for Lance and all of you and our wonderous adventures.

My camera -- taking pictures to record our travels has caused me to be more aware of what is there right in front of me. It has taught me to look to each moment and see what gift God has waiting for me.

Spectacular Flowers:

Trees:

Critters of all types:

Restaurants and buildings and churches and barns:

And roadside sights: