We've Arrived

Dulzura, California

We arrived at our destination on Thursday afternoon around 3 PM.,after a wild ride up & down & around the mountains with many, many corkscrew turns. Within the hour of our arrival, I began my training as Office Manager after a tour of the MDS camp. Jo, the former OM, began orientating me to the MDS office procedures. At 5 PM. the volunteers who were out on the job sites began arriving at camp for supper & we met the group which consisted of approx. 25 people of which 3 are from the US. Most of the group except for 3, will be staying until the end of the week at which time there will be a huge change of volunteers. So Thursday evening, after we had supper & chatted, we got settled into a house/office where we stayed for 2 nights until a RV would become available. Friday was spent doing more training for me while Albert went to look at the 3 homes currently under construction. In the late morning, I & the new Project Director (& Albert), made a trip to the bank to arrange for our signatures for checks & bank cards. After enjoying lunch outside,at a restaurant we drove back to camp for more training. The volunteers came back early on Friday afternoon & washed the vehicles inside & out. On Sat. morning, we moved into the RV that will be our home until April 3. It's about the same size as our RV at home with approx. the same setup. I spent most of Sat. getting organized. Albert went with the new director to look at the homes in order to organize jobs & materials for next week.

Until I figure out how to put type under the imported pictures, they will all be at the beginning & in the wrong order! Picture 1.The RV where we are living. 2. The MDS office trailer. 3. The MDS trailer/campsite. And so our adventure begins!

No, this is not Manitoba!

This is a picture of the road conditions we had leaving Amarillo, Texas driving west to the New Mexico border. Can you believe that in Texas they don't sand & salt their Interstates? At least this one had next to none! I could have run faster (on ice) than the speed the semi trucks were going! We stopped at the New Mexico Welcome Center & the lady there said that roads would get better b/c in New Mexico the roads are sanded & salted & the conditions improved immediately. We traveled through Albuquerque & then south to Socorro where we stopped for the night. Tomorrow to Mesa, Arizona.

I've Been Finger-Printed!!

I'VE BEEN FINGER-PRINTED!!

We left Winkler shortly after 7 after a stop at Tim's- (I'm so sad to miss Roll up the Rim) & after a little chat with the nice man at the US border, we were invited into the customs office where I was finger-printed & had my mug shot taken! Actually both of us so now we are in the US data bank. I really wanted to take a picture of this procedure but didn't want risk any undue attention at that point. Had a great traveling day with only a few icy patches the last half hour of our drive. There is lots of snow all the way to Lincoln, Nebraska where we stopped for supper at one of our favorite places - Cracker Barrel. We wanted to watch the Canada - US Olympic hockey game in our hotel room but NBC had skiing & figure skating. NBC did announce the final score.

HELLO & GOODBYE

Last evening our kids arrived home from a 3 week trip to Europe which ended our grandparenting stint. We enjoyed supper hosted by Allen, Lena & boys & said our good- byes to them . Today is a day to run a few errands, finish packing & enjoy an" armchair trip" to Europe. It's hard to say good bye to family whom I see nearly daily & the comforts of my home for 6 weeks. But I'm trusting that my life will be so filled with new adventures & My mind so occupied that there will be little time to be lonely.

Countdown

Four days to go before we leave for Dulzura, California for our six week volunteer assignment with MDS. We have been in touch with the Project Directors at Dulzura who have generously shared information & pictures. Even though we are excited to go & serve, it is not without some trepidation. I have never been away from home so so long & I love being at home & my routine. I also very much treasure time spent with my kids & grandkids & to not see any of them for 6 weeks is something my brain cannot fathom right now. I 'm very thankful for email & FaceBook which will enable me to keep in touch daily. I also think that there will be so many new things in my life that my mind will be occupied with enjoying the whole experience & I plan to put much effort & energy into making our time away a success.
Three days remain in our 24/7 caring for our 4 grandkids & then we hand them off to their parents as we head out the door! Actually we will have one day to hear about their trip & to say our good-byes. Our time with the 4 grandkids has been most enjoyable (I'm not just saying this b/c I know our kids will read this!) I have gained a new appreciation for moms & dads who taxi kids back & forth to music lessons, gymnastics, nursery school, etc. I have also muttered under my breath at car seats & buckles & breaking what little fingernails I have!!
Strength from Above is always enough for the day & that is what I will depend on heavily as I sail my flimsy raft into uncharted waters.

Lillian

Carly's Special Day

Today was the first day for Kindergarten registration for the fall school term and Carly, who turned 5 in early January was excited to go to register once I reassured her over & over again that she would not be getting a needle. Here is a picture of her older brother helping her get her hair just right. I put 2 pony tails in her hair as requested.

Here we are at JRW about to walk inside.







And here are Carly & Nick trying to peer over the counter after I filled out the paperwork.
Carly is still alittle unsure about this whole process while her brother is very comfortable cuddling up to admin. assistant, Mrs. F.
Later Carly was very happily telling her older brother & sister about visiting their school.

An exciting day of new beginnings in the life of a five year old! And I had the privilege of sharing this adventure with her!

STHGM

Yikes!! I'm a SAHGM - stay-at-home-grandmother of 4 kids aged9,8,5 & 3 for 3 weeks while the parents have run off to Europe. The list of who goes where, at what time, who drives, etc. is long & as per my request was written out & is easy to follow. I'm the one with nightmares of taking the child to preschool & forgetting to pick her up!!! After all like the joke stats that women over 50 should not have babies because they would forget where they would put them, so I need to set timers to remind me to do things at certain times & then to remember what I need to do! Evenings are busy here with piano practice, spelling homework & February is I love to read month so extra reading homework. Third day done now & nothing too unusual has occurred & all 4 darlings are asleep.