RON HELEN's profileCounting Our Blessings I...PhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
|
July 24 Missing That Little CherubWe had our first Skype call last night from Thailand. I'm telling you, this little girl has changed in less than ten days. She is putting more words together and is more animated than ever. She smiled from ear to ear when she saw us and oh my...that sure made our hearts sing. She told us she loved us, called us by name, counted a few numbers and danced around the room for us. What better entertainment could a set of grandparents receive before bedtime.
Just a few of my favorite pictures....
You are kidding me...eggs really come from that noisy bird? July 19 We Had The Time of Our LivesWell, tomorrow the E family leaves the Seattle area for their new home in Bangkok, Thailand. Wow...where did the time go? I seems like just yesterday we met them at the Tucson Airport and had one wonderful week with them here. Swimming, the zoo, dinners out and dinners in, baking scones and muffins, reading story books and playing. Then, we were off for 2 weeks in the Seattle area and had a wonderful time feeding the fish, going to the beach, making scones, taking walks in the woods, reading books and playing. It was all so much fun and we are holding all those memories close to our hearts ... holding us till we see them all again. We know they have mixed feelings today as they pack it all up...ready to leave for their new home, yet aching to stay. That comes with choosing an overseas career and lifestyle. We share it with them. We are happy for them and know they have a lot of wonderful adventures ahead of them, yet we ache knowing we will miss them terribly. The good news is...at the very least, T will be home for Matt's wedding in October. I still keep a tiny little hope in my heart that they will all decide to come. I know it is a terribly hard trip on all, so I know that the chance is little to none. However, I am not one to give up on anything...especially, hope. And then ... more good news ... we are planning a trip over around Christmas and the New Year. Our first time in Thailand and I think we will love it. And so...with a little tear threatening to leave my eyes and a little lump in my throat, I wish them safe travels and many, many, many wonderful adventures to share with Sojo. I will cherish the moments and memories and pictures of this summer. I hope that someday Sojo looks at this blog and the pictures and gets just a slight clue as to just how much her Po Po and Gong Gong love her and how much we cherish each moment we spend with her. Until the next time Sojo...see you on Skype, precious one.
More pictures of summer tomorrow ... July 18 Vacation Is Over and Safe TravelsWell, we are home again and back to 100++++ degrees. We have seen no signs of the monsoons since we returned, but heard we had a few good ones while we were gone. Maybe we will see some this weekend and it will cool off a bit.
It sure was hard leaving Sojo and her parents. Spending time with them was the best vacation we could ask for. The weather was good too. We didn't do much site seeing this year...staying close by that sweetie was all we wanted to do. We have lots of memories to hold us till we see one another again. They leave Sunday for Thailand and we will count the days till we see them again. Until then...
More fun at the playground. I think this little girl has seen at least 4 or 5 playgrounds this summer. She loves them...I did more climbing and sliding and chasing this summer than I have in a very long time. What fun it was.
July 12 Side SteppingTara and Dale had more guests than beds this weekend, so we vacated and made a side trip to Portland, OR. We had gone around the city 2 years ago when we drove up the coast, but have never been here to stay. Nice city. We are right in the middle of the city and close to everything. However, we did hop back in the car today and did a little wine tripping. Beautiful countryside and not bad wine either. Neither of us really drank any because I wasn't comfortable driving the winding roads and Ron wasn't comfortable driving if he was drinking, so we just bought wine for later. My question is...will it survive the trip home or will our underwear be wine colored when we get home?
We also took another side trip on our way here to Mt. St. Helen's Volcano National Monument. We had done this 2 years ago, but the day we were there, the clouds were at our feet and we had no idea what really lurked beyond the visitor's center. This time the weather was perfect...clear and blue skies above. There was still a bit of haze above the volcano. They claim it is in a "pause" and there is not activity, but I was thinking there still must be some heat and maybe that is why there was a haze around it. Still breathtaking, scary and amazing.
We are missing that little one and thinking about how we will only have 1 more full day with here when we get back, so we are anxious for tomorrow to come so we can see her again.
July 10 Lazy, Hazy Crazy Days of Summer
July 08 Summer in SeattleWe feel so blessed to have a daughter and son-in-law who open their hearts and home to us so lovingly. This is our 4th Seattle Summer and we are enjoying it. We watched the canal be fogged in this morning. A hint of blue sky above and then the fog moved in on us and the blue sky disappeared too. Just for a bit...the fog burned away by the summer sun and the sky cleared, giving us a clear view of the canal. What a beautiful sight.
Here are just a few snapshots of how our summer is being spent....
What a great Baba Sojo has...
And this doesn't even count days feeding fish in the pond or getting eggs from real chickens or days at the beach...another day for those stories.
July 05 We Interrupt This Program For A Political AnnouncementI could not resist posting this photo a 3 generations of political statements.
Okay, we admit it...as if any of you didn't already know...we are registered Democrats. However, we vote for who we think is the person who will make the changes our country needs. We don't care if he/she is Democrat or Republican. However, this election, we are voting Democrat. Yes, "Obama For Change" for us too. And, hopefully by doing so, we are truly considering Sojo's future. I cry when I sing the National Anthem and when I sing God Bless America. I love my country. I believe in my country. I watched a 4th of July Parade yesterday and felt a lump in my throat. Pride, concern, confusion, hope ... all wrapped into one. The USA may not be the country of Sojo's birth, but it is the country she was brought to and belongs to now, no matter where she wanders with her parents. Someday, she may choose to live here. We want it to be a country she is proud of. And so...let freedom ring...We can wear a t-shirt that proclaims what we believe. Equality for all...opportunity for all...a car in every driveway and a chicken in every pot. Go green, safe the earth...and peace is patriotism. End the war...create peace on this earth. Be the change you wish to see in the world. May you have a peaceful day...may we all create peace in our lives and the lives of others. Think about Sojo's future.
Reflections of a Washington Summer DayStopping To Smell The Flowers
We have been enjoying our stay here in Washington. A nice cooler respite from the 100++++ desert heat of Tucson. Although, it is warm by Washington standards…in the mid to high 80’s. Feels real good to us. Having a grand-daughter around makes a person stop and smell the roses. How is it we forget the simplicity and beauty of taking the time to do that? We somehow let the world get in our way and miss the beauty of the simple things in life. Going to the playground…smelling flowers…dipping our toes in frigid northwestern waters…reading story books…taking walks…listening to birds sing at day’s end…watching gold fish grow and swim in a pond…watching the sun rise and set each day…rising early or sleeping late…sleeping when you are tired or resting in the middle of the day…listening to a child make the sound of an owl, a rooster or a sea gull. We are reminded what the word, “wheeeeee” means and to what means we will go to hear it from a child. Our senses come alive again. All of a sudden, we see more clearly, we hear things we haven’t heard in a very long time, we touch things in a new way, we smell things with a new awareness and we taste things we have forgotten. Smiles and laughter slip into our faces more often. There is a sparkle in our eyes and a spring in our step. We feel young again and it tickles us to be able to spend time with a little person who has the ability to make us new again. We forget the ache in our bones and the lack of energy we have at the end of the day. Suddenly we have more energy and we don’t seem to notice those aches. We find ourselves on the floor a lot and we can even get up again. Do I look like I am having fun….Oh yeah…we are having fun…
P.S. I am having problems blogging on my laptop from a cyber cafe. This may not have pictures. Although, I copied and pasted ... they are not showing up now. Ugh!
|
|
|
