Sabbatical update!

John with Kaitlyn, Dan's firstborn

John Axel, Dan's secondborn, with Gran

 After just 2 short weeks in Tulsa getting dental checkups, an orthopedist checkup for John's bad shoulder, and many visits with family and friends, we flew to Moses Lake, WA, which will be our homebase for the rest of this Sabbatical. I'm thankful for foto memories of the grandchildren and nieces and nephews, as the visits were all-too-short.

Visiting our inspirational "fluffy friend", June

Immediately on arrival at our home here, John got busy insulating the attic better to prepare for the cold winter. Where would we be without our trusty friends, the Kirks, who are there for every major project, lending a hand and great wisdom? We made decisions slowly on a kitchen remodel, painting the whole interior of the house, and ordering flooring. We are now in the waiting mode, as with the holidays we couldn't get cabinets in until late January. Flooring awaits the rest of the cabinets- so looks like we will not be enjoying the finished product this time home! We have bare plywood floors and makeshift living areas, not wanting to move the furniture back in before flooring is installed. We will be camping while here!

Great-niece, Pati, on Oregon trip

Some of the great nieces and nephews on an AM hike in WA

We left the mess before Thanksgiving and took a week's trip south to visit 2 nieces and a nephew, with a total of 14 children between them, coming and going from S. Oregon! The reason for the trip was to spent a long weekend with John's cousin's church, who have come to visit us in Honduras for 6 years. It was a great reunion of about 20 that have visited us at one time or another, with a feast Sunday after church and a program, sharing their 2 weeks with us this October. 2 "frequent flyers" from N. California also made the trip up to participate in the reunion, so we felt well-loved and honored!

Great niece, Cadence, being photogenic for me!

We've had a chance to share our Honduran adventures with a small local church here in Moses lake, plus participating weekly in Sunday School in another supporting church. We are spending much good time with Penny's sister and her husband here, so feel like we have family even tho the kids are far away here. We spent Thanksgiving with sister Shellie, and enjoyed her 3 children in the absence of ours.

We've settled into a routine, up at 440 to go to the local gym in the frosty dark, home for hot showers and coffee with Quiet time, then begin the daily dirty-work of home remodeling. Feeling blessed.

all dressed-up for dinner out with niece Robyn and Nate in Vancouver