I won't go into much detail at present, but just to say that this was a goal I had set myself back when I first started taking my children to visit my roots in the Old World. Took Pat in 2005, May went with Miss Rachel Trotter in 2009 and stayed for 5 months! so now it was my youngest Anne Marie's (Ani) turn. To say I was dreading it is an understatement, given the European current state of affairs and adding a 19 year old (beautiful one I might add) to the mix...all sorts of things could have gone wrong, but God is good and nothing amiss happened, in fact it was an excellent and successful trip on all counts. No luggage lost, no harm to life or limb, nobody got sick,...except I got sore knees and toes from walking so much and trying to keep up with Ani... :)
All in all my goals (visiting church groups and reconnecting with my various first cousins) and hers (sightseeing and reluctantly meeting MY relatives and her second cousins)...were met and the whole experience exceeded my expectations. PTL
We were in Spain with my sister Karenza and her friend Gracia from Alcala de Guadaira. Spent almost a week in Madrid, then 5 days in Rome, Ani and self took a day tour by train to Florence. Then we all trooped by bus to Seville and attended the convention there which was very good. Nice hobnobbing with the FM as it usually does not happen when they come to The Land. Ani was very animated and talked to many of the FM and seemed happy to be there. Touched based with my friends and reconnected with many whom I hadn't seen for so many years it seems...my first students from way back in the 70's are now all grown, married and having kids...makes one feel old...gratifying though to have them come up to me and hug me and tell their spouses "this is my frist teacher"...
In between services Ani and self took another day bus tour and went to the ancient port city of Cadiz. Ancient as in dating back to the Phoenicians. Can you imagine? Well, we traipsed up and down and saw many ruins and such. then came back in time for the evening meeting.
Once back in Madrid, we parted company with K and she returned to TX and we spent 2 more weeks in the UK with my various and assorted cousins from both the Argentine and Welsh branches of the family. We managed to meet 4 of the 10 that live there, plus some of the cousins children, whom I had never met and who are now all very accomplished young adults. Met infront of the Palace and then spent a very nice time sharing a meal at St. James. Ani was able to meet 2nd and 3rd. cousins as well, all in all an enjoyable time. While Ani visited the British Museum I caught up with my cousin Francis whom I had not met before. All the cousins had to travel from their own homes to meet in London about 2-3 hours I think...thanks to all for the xtra effort of being there!
We managed to get in about 4 days in London and even a live Broadway show based on "Los Paraguas de Cherbourg"..Ani simply loved it! it was very well done complete with gallons of water falling on the stage...
The UK trip ended with a few days in Bristol with my Arg. cousin Lorraine who has lived there for decades. That was very enjoyable and peaceful, Bristol was one of the slave ports of call...rather infamous for it but still very interesting.
Once back in Madrid, we took in a tour of the ancient moorish city of Toledo, a service with the brethren in Villaviciosa and then it was back to the airport and the long haul to Alaska.
No place like home! Especially after witnessing the homeless and beggars in some of the countries we visited. We are fortunate to have warm homes and families to come home to.
Last but not least a big thank you to all who helped make this possible:
- Pat my hubby who took Rob's academics in hand for 6 weeks and did an awesome job!
- My daughter May for watching over Rob and helping her dad and taking care of Reep.
- Gramy Flo for watching out for Rob
- Jo Cox for helping/watching out for Rob during swimming lessons in town.
- Andy Trotter for taking my Spanish students.
- All those who had to fill in while I was gone in various capacities. Thanks to all for watching my back while I was gone.
cousin Lorraine from Bristol and the Argentine side of the family.
Famous Alcazar in Seville, still the monarchs place of call
at convention in Seville, Spain
- THE BRETHREN AT VILLAVICIOSA. CHENCHO, MARI, MARTA AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY THERE. GRACIAS POR HOSPEDARNOS Y ALIMENTARNOS. NOS ENCANTO PODER PASAR UN RATO CON VOSOTROS.! A ANI LE GUSTO MUCHO EL POLLO QUE MARI LE HIZO...Y LA FRUTA.
- DANIEL MERINO, GRACIAS POR LLEVARNOS A MADRID EN TU COCHE.
- THE CHURCH AT LA LINEA: LEONARDO AND LILY. GRACIAS!
- THE MARZANS IN GIBRALTAR: THANKYOU FRANCIS AND MERCY FOR SHARING YOUR FAMILY WITH US, YOU ARE SO GENEROUS! WHEN I THINK OF MY TIME WITH YOU IT MAKES ME SMILE.
- DANIEL AND NADINE CENTENO: GRACIAS!
- GRACIA IN ALCALA: MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS POR HOSPEDARNOS. NOS ENCANTO ESTAR CONTIGO EN ROMA Y SEVILLA.
IN THE UK
- CAROL AND DICK DOLAN. MANY THANKS FOR PICKING US UP AT THE AIRPORT ALTHOUGH IT WAS A RATHER LONG DRIVE. AND PUTTING US UP IN YOUR HOME. SO PEACEFUL AND QUIET...WE LOVED IT. ENJOYED THE DRIVE TO THE SEA AND THE WALK ALONG THE MEADOWS WITH ROSE AND THE BABY..AND DICK, YOU MAKE A WICKED CURRY!!
- LORRAINE: SO SWEET TO PUT US UP FOR A FEW DAYS. ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! THANKS FOR COMING TO LONDON EVEN THOUGH IT WAS XTRA. AND THANKS TO JOSIE AND ZOE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME AND MEET US.!
- COUSINS EVE, ROBERT, ZEE, CAROL, FRANCIS: IT WAS LOVELY! HOPE TO REPEAT IT WITH MORE TIME...
- COUSINS DAVE, JANET & MICHAEL: HOPE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO SALISBURY NEXT TIME....AND AUNTY SILVIA WITH CHARLY, GRACE AND JON...HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME AROUND...SIMPLY RAN OUT OF TIME...
Thank you Lord for making this a memorable experience, for both of us.and one which will not be forgotten and which will continue to bring warm memories as we think on all that we experienced together.
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Here is a farm report from my neighbor:
Well, the long weekend is over, and we’re back to school. This week, we are cutting up and putting away more beef cows. We should have plenty of meat for awhile.
The weather has steadily dropped by several degrees every day. This morning, it is a chilly -41°. Ugh, ugh, ugh!!!! Our cold weather is so drying and cold and miserable and static-y.
We had many visitors for Thanksgiving. I’m going to see if I can have permission to send a few of the pictures out (like of Pat Lou and his cute little family). Visitors were: Toby & Flori Stoeber, Chris & Rebekah & Ella, Jake & Phanta & Zayden, Andrew & Kylin & Landon, Kylin’s dad & aunt & sister, Stephen & Melissa, Peter & Stacey, Pat Lou and familiy, Toby & Marie, Sam & Marki & children, Prins & Linda, Penny, and the Nathan Milliron family. It was a quiet Thanksgiving in a way since we didn’t have many planned events. It wasn’t quiet in that we had lots of family and friends visiting so there was much talking and laughing. Jeni and her first graders sang a song for us, and Tony read a story that Brad wrote.
Some random persons, here and there, have been getting the flu bug. Some folks are hardly bothered while others get hit real good. Tony woke up last Saturday and passed out and hit his face straight on. Danita had to come over to give him stitches on the inside and the outside of his bottom lip. She also hooked him up to and IV, giving him several bags of whatever is in those bags. His mouth and teeth are so sensitive that Tony can hardly eat.
The loggers are using Tok Forestry’s chipper for chipping. It is such a loud machine. It sounds like they are taking whole homes and stuffing it in there to be made into chips.
Steve and Judy arrived home last weekend. Just in time for the cold weather!!! Bonnie andChris made it home before thanksgiving. They had a great time in Maine. Miss Jannis made it home, as well, before Thanksgiving. (maybe I’m repeating myself?) Oh yes, Annie and Gri are home from their European travels. It has been nice to have everyone home again.
It has been extra pleasant to have the Casey families hanging around for a couple of weeks. Joey has been home from work these past couple of weeks too.
I heard from Seth briefly on Thanksgiving Day. They must’ve been passing through town on their way to and from going to a Mennonite community to pick up a milking machine (if I understood Seth’s texts correctly).
Cathy Purdy has been sick a lot recently with stomach troubles – colitis?. She isn’t totally recovered from her knee surgery and now this.
Pat is preparing for a piano tuning excursion in Barrow. He will be leaving on Saturday.
Have a great weekend
