Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Funny Sign

Because I've shared so many amusing sights from Japan, I simply must share this one from Oregon!

I've been told this is really a problem in Oregon. CRACKS me UP! Yes, men do urinate from time to time outside in Japan....but it's not a huge problem requiring a law....


Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Road Trip!

Rebecca, one of Michael's sisters, got word, just before the funeral yesterday, her house had been burgled. Brought back memories. Mom G had been planning to drive up to OR with Rebecca and then  fly together to Denver.  Rebecca left yesterday and we extended our visit with Mom G by bringing her along on one of our infamous road trips. We did get separated and we don't have a cell phone which will work in the US in our car. ::snort::

The boy+mom van stopped and carried on a Gherkin tradition.

Dad G turned us all on to stopping at DQ in Cave Junction and Rice Hill nearer Eugene.


We finished our treats, drove over to the gas station and saw Bre, Stacia and Mom G pulling in. We chatted, made a plan and sent them on for treats while we headed to Avis to turn in the rental in Springfield.

Unfortunately.....someone heard conflicting instructions from two different people and our van wasn't in the parking lot.

I dove off with Bre to see about hotel accommodations and Michael and the kids began rolling our bags across the busy road to the hotels.


It turns out we landed here during the OLYMPIC TRACK TRY OUTS.....finally found two rooms and settled in. The girls brought dinner over.

Michael did a great job getting things together for me for the trip, but alas, did not think of a swim suit. So.....Jared and Krista took the kids to the pool and Bre and I headed to Target. Ah, Target. Pause a moment and consider.....NEW clothes....selection....I picked out a suit, a couple of shirts and resisted more shopping....maybe at the end of our trip. I NEEDED something besides the W.I.L.D. Animal Prints I had packed for my 10 day trip....which will now be at least a month long. LOL
Toothless smile of the day
We found Michael already asleep when we arrived back at the hotel. The kids and I stayed at the pool until 9:30 p.m. and now I'm trying to settle them down. Tomorrow we keep heading down the highway to Colorado.


I'm praying about this second part of our trip....we are headed to Fort Logan - in Denver- for Dad G's military service and burial....We had planned to stay with family in Colorado Springs - they live out past the Academy....Now we hear there are fires in Montana too.....we shall see what the morning brings. We may end up having to fly to Denver. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Visit with Granny Annie

We stopped at the Golden Gate national Cemetery on the way up to Cresent City and visited with my grandfather and grandmother for a few minutes.  It is hard to describe the wash of emotion in these settings.  I had never met G-pa Jack (Roy).  He died before I was born, but the legends of his life carried on years after his death.  G-ma Ann or Granny Annie, as she was known to the grand kids, was an integral part of my growing up years.  There were many occasions we would sit together and look out the picture windows and talk about old times and things. 

She told stories of growing up in Texas such as the day they came home from Church to discover a six foot rattlesnake spread out on the dining room table sunning itself.  She talk about her parents - her father, Nathaniel William, was 72 when she was born.  His wife was a good 30 years younger than he.  He was also a veteran of the civil war (the thought of a great grandfather having fought in a war that occurred 150 years ago still amazes me - how many can say that?) and nephew to Jefferson Davis.  She talked about life with G-pa Jack - by all accounts a rough kind of character known for working hard, fishing hard and, unfortunately, drinking hard.  Granny Annie got a call from town saying she better get in quick.  Jack had a shotgun to the back of some guy's head and was walking him up the middle of the street (she managed to diffuse the situation and keep Jack out of jail).  She talked about the flood of 1964 when the river, having been blocked by a log jam up the South Fork when the river was already well above flood stage, finally broke the dam loose sending a wall of water downstream.  The wall of water rose 3 feet up the picture windows we were looking through and subsiding seconds later taking with it 15 feet of property in front of the house as well as many homes, bridges, and roads up and down the river.  Our neighbor's house was suspended about halfway out over the river being held in place by the power lines (which were stretched tight, very tight - she showed me pictures of this).

I miss her practical approach to life.  I miss her smile and love for life.  I miss her strength in the midst of adversity (and a lot of adversity, too).  I miss our times of talking through old times.  I just miss her.  I did have the privilege of conducting her funeral, but it hardly seems like a fair trade.  There is coming a day, though...

 

By Grace!
©2012 M. E. G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...