Travel to Brownsville

Left about 3:30 to let off car at Avis at Omaha airport.  Then the long road/drive to Brownsville.  1100 miles.  18 hour plus trip.  We had a sister call at 7:30.  Lord, grant us wisdom as we travel.  After we stopped for gas Denny and I chuckled as we got on the road.   Even though the trip was long  1) We can stop when we want to go to the bathroom.  We don't have to wake up the man sitting beside us to go to the bathroom.  2) We are traveling on a smooth, non pot hole road.  3) There are no rock slides that will cause us travel delays.  3) We can get coffee with out waiting for the stewardess.  4) My computer/phone does not have to be on airplane mode.  Now back on then road.  We drove until dark, made it south of Austin, and I looked on line and found a place with breakfast.   $118 La Quinta in Kyle, Tx.  It was ok, breakfast made up for it.  Denny drove a lot.  3:30 am to 7:30 pm equals 16 hours on the road.  Thank you Jesus for the safe trip.  

Hirshman family

Prius Mileage:  161,151

                                                                   Jeep Mileage:  185,000  ???

                                                                   Pickup mileage:  ???? 

BOOKS READ 2022

BOOKS READ:

*1. before amen  Max Lucado  Power in prayer good book   2 hours 1/22

2. Walk of Faith Richard Paul Evans. 4th in a series good series. 1/22. 6 hours

3. The Nightingale Kristin Hannah  Great book on 2 estranged sisters in France in 1940's war.  Strength of women.  17 hours   1/2022 UFFDA!! Started reading it again 4/22   It seemed familiar, and, yes, I had read it.  Well, by mistake I borrowed the book again in April and it was so good the second time that I decided to listen to it again.  What in inspiration for women.  How we can come out victorious through the toughest of times 17 hours  listened to the last 3 hours as we drove home from Texas.  4/10/2022

4. A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles good book on Russian aristcrate who is sentenced To life I Hotel.  Many short venues that coordinate at the end of the book. 1/26/22 20 hours

5. The Return of the King  JRR Tolkien  This wasn't my favorite series.  I had a hard time keeping track of character.  But I got it done.  SO glad there isn't a Quiz on the plot.    1/2022 18 hours

*6. Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World.  Kristen Welch  Betsy recommended this book.  It was really good. I'd like for my kids to read it.  Feb/22

7. An Echo in the Darkness  Francine Rivers  In Bible times, Roman trader grieves over gal in the lions den.  22 hours  2/2022

8. Gentle and Lowly. Dave Ortland writing about Christs love and character  6 hours Feb /2022

9. The Woman they could not silence  Kate Moore  I was 2 hours short of finishing this book when it was returned .. Uffda!!  Good book about woman in 1860's who was committed to an asylum by husband by him declaring her insane and her character to fight battles and correct injustices.  2/21/2022  13 out of 15 hours  Wise friend of the accused mentally illness.  Received again in April and finished reading.   The epilogue continues to see unfairness in our times.  Elizabeth Packard  "One woman her incredible fight for freedom and the men who tried to make her disappear" Dr. Andrew McFarland  Jane N. recommended 4/21/2022  

10. Aftermath  Terri Blackstock  Good book about what happened after an Explosion.  I finished reading it on a cold afternoon at SPI beach with blanket wrapped around me.  8 hours 2/25/ 2022 

11. The Four Winds Kristin Hannah   Good book.  The first book Denny said he enjoyed listening.  The story about 1930s Texas young woman and the grit & love it takes to survive during the dust bowl, famine, cotton workers strike.  18 hours  3/3/2022- 15 hours 08/2022

12. The Great Alone Kristin Hannah  The story is of dysfunctional family that moves to Alaska.  This is the second book I have read by this author that features a male with many negative characteristics.  3/4/2022 15 hours

13. Glory Over Everything  Kathleen Grissom  Story of slavery, aristocrat who is in fact black and his struggles.  Underground rail road.  Good read.  16 hours 3/9/22

14. The Great Reckoning  Louise Penny  Mystery from Canada.  Training cadets concerning old map, city, and murder.  Investigators.  14 hours  3/2022

15. Double minded  Terri Blackstock  Just an OK read  Story of music industry murders.  Recommended by TP?  14 hours 3/2022

16. The Lincoln Highway  Amor Towles  Adventure story of 18 year old and 8 yo brother leaving the farm, when 2 others show up to waylay their plans to California by going to New York first.  I read it on the phone. 990 pages  3/2022 

17. Fall of Giants Ken Follett  LONG BOOK  LONG BOOK... WWI War 5 families  in war struggle. coal miners, aristocrats, newspaper,  Oh, my not my kinda book with a lot of battle info.  Maybe Kathy R. recommended the Author?  31 hours  3/2022. 

18. American Dirt  Jeanine Cummins  Good read for me living at southern border 3-4 months of the year.  In comprehensible struggle of son and mom escaping cartel in Mexico.  Lord, show me how to use this information for Your Glory.  17 hours  3/2022

19. The Maze Runner  James Dasher  Fantasy is not one of my favorites.  Book 1  Thomas enters group of youth trying to escape unknown.  Hovering, moving maze 11 hours  3/2022 

20. The Giver of Stars  Jojo Moyes  English woman marries a man from Kentucky.  This is the story of  WPA Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky 1935-1943.  Good book, women's capabilities are stressed.  12 hours  4/2021

21.  Finding Noel  Richard Paul Evans  Adopted girl searching for her sister Noel who was adopted by another family.  5 hours April 2022

22.  Walking on Water  Richard Paul Evans  5th and Final book in series of Alan Christofferson's walk from Seattle to Key West after his wife died.  The Walk  - Miles to Go - The Road to Grace - A Step of Faith 71/2 hours  April 2022

23. A Step of Faith  Richard Paul Evans  4th book in the series.  I listened to it last year, but didn't record it.  6 hours   4/2022

24.  The Noel Diary Another good read by Richard Paul Evans.  A man who was abused as a child and  who is a writer goes to the house he grew up in after his mom died in search of info about his life.  Finds diary of 17 year old woman who is pregnant.  5 hours 4/2022

*25. As Sure as the Dawn  Francine Rivers  Another good read that lifts up Christ.  Set in bible times plot is a slave woman who is raising a child that was given to her and heathenish father wants him back.  Story of witnessing to Christ in all that you do.  3rd in a series:  1st A Voice in the Wind   2nd An echo in the darkness.  20 hours April 2022

26.  Where the Crawdads Sing  Delia Owens  Good read about a swamp girl surviving on her own in the swamp, learning about the beauty of the marsh and nature.  Murder in the plot.  12 hours  4/21/2022

27 The Pillars of the Earth  Ken Follett  LONG book  This long of a book is not my favorite.  It was a good read but too much description of violence, vile, and debuchary.  That stuff is not my favorite.  41 hours.  April 30,2022

28. Anything Jennie Allen  Book of encouragement to give our all for Christ.  6 hours May 2022

29. Shoebox Francine Rivers Short story about foster child who carries a box with him.  2 hours May 2022 

30. Unashamed: Rahab Francine Rivers Historical fiction of life of Rahab.  Gives insight to what might have been in her life.  I always wondered how a woman was part of the linage of Christ when she lied about the spies she hid on her rooftop.  2 hours. May 2022

31. Pilgrims Progress John Bunyan Wonderful allegory of the life/ choices / struggles of a Christian.  A lovely book  10 hours May 2022

32. The Priest Francine Rivers  Another book from Francine Rivers which I really enjoyed, giving us an insight to what might have happened during Aaron's life.  He was the older brother of Moses.  7 hours May 2022.  

33. Invisible Child  Andrea Elliot  Pulitzer Prize Winner  One of 10 best books in 2021.  Documentary following young black girls life for 8 years in welfare system, in poverty, in NYCity. 21 hours June 9, 2022.  I listened to the book at 1.75 (the speed of light).   

34. Get Your Life Back John Eldredge Sunday School study book  How to get disengaged from the snares of this world.  6 hours  June 2022  

35.  The Warrior:Caleb Francine Rivers  A man of Faith and Zeal for God.  He encouraged Joshua

*36. One Tuesday Morning Karen Kingsbury Story of 9/11.  Fireman and corporate business lives as impacted by 911.   I would like to read the books that follow.  14 hours  June 2022

37. My Antonio Willa Cather     Early American Pioneers in Nebraska   Interesting plot ... I may or may not have finished listening to the book.  I could borrow again.  7 hours  June 2022.

*38.  The Masterpiece Francine Rivers  Good book about an artist and his believing personal attendant.  They both come from broken families/ relationships.  16 hours June 2022

*39. The Color of Water James McBride  I really liked this book.  12 year journey of Jewish young lady with an unhappy childhood marrying a black, man.    I love that character and her energy and goals and ability to instill excellence in her children. Recommended by Susan G. 7 hours   July 2022

40. President of the Whole Fifth Grade Sherri Winston  This book was available and so I borrowed it to listen to.  I'm sure it is a 5th grade student  discussion book to encourage right choices in the students' lives.  5 hours July 2022

41.  A Painted House  John Grisham  Poor Arkansas cotton farm family,  migrant workers, brutal murder, workers needed for harvesting the cotton,   All from the viewpoint of a 7 year old.  Up close and personal look at a different life than I've lead.  12 hours July 2022

42. Forget me not  Ellie Terry Middle school girl struggling with her dad dieing,  mother needing a man,   plus moving a lot, plus turrets syndrome.  3 hours  July 2022

43. Fire on the Mountain Edward Abby  A loner man standing against government to try to take over his land. American individualism  7 hours July 2022

*44. The Girl in His Shadow Audrey Blake I really liked this book.  Young woman rescued from the  plague by physician, instructed and trained by him.  Her skill was not recognized by the culture.   13 hours July 2022

*45.  The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry John Mark Carter  Wow this is a good painful book.  There is a lot to evaluate, consider, Lord, may I make good use of the time on tithe you have h=giving mil  

46. Even Now Karen Kingbury  Pregnant high school girl and choices made by adults that reformed the lives of the HS parents. Many viewpoints  mother/father/daughter/grandparents  11 hours July 2022

47. The Shallows Nicholas Carr  How the internet is wrecking our brains.  10 hours Might not have read all of it.

48. The Personal Librarian Marie Benedict  Victoria Christopher Murray  Historical FictionNovel about JP Morgan's p.l. Belle da Costa Green, a black woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as a white to work for him.  12 hours  12/2022

*49.Mary Emma and Company Ralph Moody I loved this book as it looked at a struggling family in 1906 thru the eyes of an 8 yeat old. 7 hours 09/2022 

 50. The Nickel Boys Colson Whitehead 2 boys lives who were sent to a juvnile reformatory. Based on a real story. 7 hours 09/2022 (maybe didn't finish) 

 51. The Chinese Siamese Cat Amy Tan short story 15 minutes 09/2022 

 52. The Moon Lady Amy Tan Short story 20 minutes 09/2022 

 53. The Valley of Amazement Amy Tan Not my favorite Study of 2 women (mother/daughter) relationship spans 2 lifetimes and 2 continents 22 hours 09/2022 

 54. A Woman is No Man Etaf Rum 1990 Palestine 17 year old gal marries and travels to New York. Struggles as woman/daughter in law having 4 daughters- beatings. 18 year old daughter Controlled closed world silence violence 10 hours 08/2022 

 55. 

 56. Forget me not Ellie Terry Teen age book about Tueretts stdenr struggles. 3 hours 08/2022 

 57. Fire on the Mountain Edward Abbey A man makes a stand against Government taking over his land, 7 hours 07/2022 

 *58. The girl in his shadow Audrey Blake I liked this book alot. A young orphaned gal helped a Doctor and was not acknowledged for her skill. 13 hours 08/2022

 59.The Home Ranch Ralph Moody Good easy listening story 12 year old working cattle ranch 9 hours 09/2022 

 60. The Fields of Home Ralph Moody Moody family moves from Colrado to Massecheutts. Ralph goes to live with his Grandfather. 10 hours 09/2022

61. Father and I were Ranchers Ralph Moody placed on hold

62. Nathan Coulter Wendell Berry  I couldn't get into this book.  Sorry, Phillip.

63.  Man of the Family  Ralph Moody  At 11 Ralph's father died and he became man of the family.  He was an entrepreneur.  9 hours 09 2022. 

64. Present over Perfect Shauna Niequist   Her search for a better life, leaving frantic, too busy, people pleasing for less stress and more enjoyment of the present and appreciation of what we have.  5 hours 10/2022

65. have a little faith  Mitch Albom  Author was requested to give his family Rabbi's eulogy.  Wisdom shared:  page 200. "story of recent life"    page 143.  Love that lasts.  The kind of enduring love when you realize you have it by the life you have created together.  page 210 importance of forgiveness.  book read 10/2022

66. Eat Pray Love Elizabeth Gilbert NYT best seller, but maybe not my favorite time spent.  A lady's search for peace in Italy, Bali, India.  Read the hard copy from 4 seasons library  10, 2022

67. The Lilac Lady Ruth Alberta Brown   

68. 

Packing ... aaaannnndddd it's all in the Prius.

 Both Denny and I got up early.  After coffee we started with the next thing.  Go thru the mail, pay the bills, let Jensens know the mail they have received.  My plants were swimming in water in the sun room swimming pools.  Hopefully they will survive with less water.  Denny texted Sherry about where to park the trailer, Jeep, and pickup. I called and talked to Sherry about watering the plants less.   Finally around 2 we are all packed and decided to leave tomorrow morning when we get up.  Denny took the Prius to Arthur to fill with gas and leave Sophi's gift from Anabel.   And I lay down to take a nap.  The nap lasted until 9:30 when I woke up.  From there I was awake until 3 when we decided to shower, pack last minute stuff and head south.  Luke and Matt spent the day skiing in Minnesota.  Looked like fun.  

Unexpected car plans

 I got up and tried to keep quiet so Denny could sleep as long as possible.  I heard little feet above me and headed up for coffee.  Luke was using his new griddle to make eggs and bacon for breakfast.  The birds were outside the kitchen window.  Luke and Denny took the car to My Car Guy.  YUP!! The Jeep has major problems.  In a quick change of plans we load our stuff into the back of Luke's car.  Karen has an appointment with the passport officials down town, so we dropped her off before going to the airport.  Denny reserved an Avis as we drove.  Luke drove us to the airport and then got a cart to carry our luggage.  We navigated the rental, upgraded to a Prius,  and headed home.  We got home about 6, tired, but SO HAPPY to be home.  Everything looked great.  Home felt wonderful!  

Travel ALL day

 We left for the airport about 10:30.  We took 2 taxis, Evan stayed home, kinda feeling under the weather. We only had 2 suitcases, not the 6 we took to Nepal.  SO GOOD TO BE HERE WITH FAMILY.  Hard to hug and leave.  We are blessed.  We got checked in and the trip begins.  flight left at 2:45am.  Traveled 5 hours to Doha with a 3 hour layover there.  Next comes the 15 hour flight.  I was called to the check in area.  A terminal attendant came to me and said she changed my seating so I would be sitting next to Denny during that flight.  Well, at least the guy who sat beside us on the aisle wasn't sleeping the entire flight, so we were little more comfortable asking him to get up so we could head to the RR.  The flight to Chicago went without a bump.   Uffda!!  The turnaround time was limited.  We knew we would have to keep moving.  AND THE LINES WERE LONG  ...  VERY LONG.... AND LOTS OF THEM.  First the lines thru Customs  The line snake went back and forth 10 times.  I counted about 30 people in each line X 10 lines so that's 300 people.  AND there are 2 lines in the room.  So I'm thinking there were in the lines close to 1,000 people before us.  Uffda!!  I sent out need for prayer to the family.  Suddenly there was a lady who appeared to funnel those in the front of the line to the correct custom check in booth.  There were 7 checkin n booths on our side of the room.  SO thankful.  We hurried to get our 2 suitcases from the luggage carousel.  YES!!!  Now to the American Airlines check in. Dragging our suitcases.  Note to self.  Keep looking at the airport signs carefully.  I grabbed Denny and pointed out the sign that headed us different direction.   UFFDA!!! Another huge line at AA.  And the time speeds on.   Flight to Minneapolis leaves at 5:45, boarding time 5:15.  AND THE LINE IS LONG.  YES!!! We got luggage checked in and headed to the correct gate.  YES!!!  The monitor said 6 minutes until boarding.  BIG sigh of RELIEF.  No complications on the trip.  We rode to Minneapolis just  fine.  We found our luggage and a cart and texted Luke.  He had timed it just right.  Leaving home, ordering hamburgers, arriving at pickup area as we waited outside.  YES!!! SO glad to be with family on US soil.  We stopped to get take out red meat hamburger (Denny WAS NOT interested in Asian food after having 3 meals of Chicken Rice and vegetables on the flights.) and headed to Lukes.  SO GOOD to see the Excelsior family.  Oh, I'm glad to be home.  I headed to bed, so tired.  Denny visited longer and Luke told him that our Jeep had a funny sound yesterday and Karen didn't use it.  

                                   

                                  

                                     

SO WE LEFT AT 2:45 am from Nepal and arrived in Minneapolis at 7:15 pm after traveling 5 (flight) plus 3 (in Doha) plus 15 (flight) plus 2 ( in Chicago) plus 2 (flight) = 27 travel hours.  UFFDA!!!  I could add 4 hours in Kathmandu before flight to Doha  So may be 31 travel hours in air and airports.  

Last day in Kathmandu Dec 27

 I slept well... well maybe I did wake up several times wondering how the flight home home will go.  I just kept telling myself that God is in control and there is no one that I would rather go on an adventure than Denny.  So bring on the adventure of leaving Nepal Dec. 28 at 2:30 am ...  Flying 4-5 hours to Dohha to spend 3 hours before ... getting on a 15-17 hour flight to Chicago O'Hare where we have 2 hours to get our luggage and go through customs to arrive in USA. ...then find the gate for the Minneapolis 2 hour flight.  And then land in Minneapolis at 7:15 pm the same day we left.  Uffda!!  Bring it on God!!  An adventure.    Missy fixed us a great breakfast.  

Team meeting in afternoon

Slow getting moving in am.  We walked and got vegetables from stand outside civil homes and then to school to see the color that Missy picked for her new office area.  We stopped at Create and got a tray for Mya.  At home  we finished getting ready.  24 members of TEAM came.  Nice people.  Everyone enjoyed snacks, hot drinks, and gift exchange.  At sunset Anabel pointed out a pretty sky blue pink sunset.  

Napali Church Christmas Dec 25

 Phillip headed to N. Church about 10 am.  We chilled and relaxed.  I started some Kettle bread.  Anabel and I baked the sugar cookies. Phillip came home to lead us on the walk to church and we walked and walked and walked and walked.  I imagine we leaked about 20-30 minutes.  The church was so kind to us.  They welcomed us with scarves and hats for the men.  They gave Denny and myself chairs to sit on and silverware to use to eat.  They invited us to join the games.  They served us food and brought many refills.  It was great to visit three different churches in three weeks.  You could tell the church appreciated that Phillip joined them every Saturday.  

                                                         

Christmas a day early

    Thank you God for sending your son, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas ... (or the day before, December 24th)  Of course we didn't sleep in 'cause it's Christmas.  We read the Christmas story and then opened stockings.   Then we ate scrambled eggs and cinnamon rolls and then opened gifts.  Some of the memories were Brooks carton of Whoppers from Luke and Karen,  or his electric shocker pen from them.  Evan and Anabel loved their white shoes, Phillip, his biker short, Buck naked shorts for the boys, a pretty outfit for Missy,  I got pretty glass ornaments and pretty placemats,  Denny got a BBQ apron.  Jensens got an Aura.  Brooks got a basketball hoop and hangar that the boys put up.  We fixed tacos/ nachos for supper and ate upstairs on the patio outside Anabel's room.  We had strung up lights on that patio.                                                                                   

                                

Hyatt Hotel and Patan Durbur square.

The hotel breakfast buffet was amazing!!!  Just unbelievable.  There were different bar areas that had Asian food,  Breads and Cheeses, drinks, Indian food,  Fruit bar.  YUM!!! When we left we had a visit with a couple that Missy had biked with the gal.  They live in a village outside Kathmandu and just came to eat at this breakfast buffet.   About 4 years ago Awana International came to their village and the Awana ministry is used by them to reach people.  Brooks, Missy and I hit the tennis balls around and we just chilled and read until we checked out at 3.  Before heading to Durbar the 3 kids had haircuts.  Denny got a great beard trim.   The stylist wanted to take a picture of Anabel's hair because it looked so pretty. At dust we walked to Durbar Square to look at the ruins.   We decided to eat on level 5 of building overlooking the square.  Phillip went to get the Scorpio and picked us up.    The kids got cotton candy while we waited.  

                                                   

 Patan Durbar Square -86 temples in this ancient area in Kathmandu. Some of the temples were brought to piles of rubbish after the earthquake of 2015 and are being rebuilt. Art, History Great Architecture , culture with the Jensens this afternoon https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patan_Durbar_Square

Home and then to the Stupa and Hyat.

 I got up and started cinnamon rolls and banana bread.  We'll see how it goes.  Oh, ya I'm also listening to DAB, finished wordle, and getting caught up on the blog.  I got them both baked before we left for 2 places close together: Stupa and Hyatt. The Hyatt Hotel was amazing. They earn points by using the Hyatt Credit card so there is no cash out of the pocket for rooms. Spacious, clean, pretty, luxurious. They served cold drinks out on the patio while our rooms were getting ready. The patio overlooks the garden and pool area. After we checked in and put our bags in our rooms we walked to the Stupa. Lots to look at. Many people walking around the Stupa. Many venders, Phillip walked to get Tibetan momos for us to snack on. It is so freeing to be a Christian and know that "not by works of Righteousness" (OR walking around a temple or spinning a prayer wheel) but only by Christ's ultimate payment for sin and resurrection are we saved. I bought a pretty white and navy bowl. We headed back to the hotel. The Hyatt had Happy Hour snacks and drinks 5:30-7:30. Nice treat of the Hotel. REALLY NICE PLACE. Our room was a suite with a sitting room, bedroom, and huge bathroom. Each room had chocolate treats greeting us.

  

  

Christmas Story:                                                                                                                                                       For the Man Who Hated Christmas            By Nancy W. Gavin                                                                       It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree.  No name, no identification, no inscription.  It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas.  Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it—overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma—the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.                                                                                                                                            Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth.  I reached for something special just for Mike.  The inspiration came in an unusual way.                                 Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was on the wrestling team at the school he attended.  Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.  These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoe.                                                                                                                                                        As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears.  It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.  Well, we ended up walloping them.  We took every weight class.  Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said.  "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.”  Mike loved kids—all kids.  He so enjoyed coaching little league football, baseball and lacrosse.  That's when the idea for his present came.                                                 That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes, and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.  On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done, and that this was his gift from me.  Mike's smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year.  And that same bright smile lit up succeeding years.  For each Christmas, I followed the tradition—one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.                                                                     The white envelope became the highlight of our Christmas.  It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children—ignoring their new toys—would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.  As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the small, white envelope never lost its allure.                                                The story doesn't end there.  You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer.  When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up.  But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree.  And the next morning, I found it was magically joined by three more.  Unbeknownst to the others, each of our three children had for the first time placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad.  The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down that special envelope.  Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us.

To the climbing wall Thamal

Denny and I were up for the family phone call.  Becky and Matt were headed out to eat after TJ's BB game a day early for their anniversary because of a predicted winter storm.  Luke was fixing supper for Rose and Lincoln.  Jensens were upstairs in bed.  Missy did come down after 15 minutes.    Nice to visit.  Missy, Brooks, and I went to get food at the market.  Mya came, Phillip went for a bike ride, Missy is working out, I made guacamole for toast for Anabel and me. Brooks and their Dede Mya made a yummy chatpate?? a Nepal snack.   We're hoping to take the recipe home to share with others. Denny is having a great time posting about this once-in-a-lifetime trip.  (Actually, I hope now it will be come more than once in a lifetime. :)  About noon we headed to Thamal.  Brooks is wanting to do the climbing wall and we are meeting 2 of Missy's friends, Kari and Michelle, with their children.  Kari's father is from Oklahoma and we have met him as he sprays the crops in late summer.  It's so fun to make these connections.  I met Kari my first visit to Nepal.  She and Missy were footz ball players.  Danny, Kari's dad comes to Iowa and fills helicopters with fuel and chemicals.  A helicopter lands on his truck platform and with in 2 minutes he has filled the coper with gas and chemicals.  Danny, Kari's dad, has eaten supper with us couple of times at our farm.  After wall climbing we went looking thru shops.   Phillip and Ross had eaten at the Tibet restaurant, Utse, where we ate supper.  We ordered Gyakok.  It's a Tibetan hot pot and 4 hot Tongba (Nectar of gods) which is a hot millet drink that came in wooden steins that you refill with hot water.  It was a fun meal.  I ate most of it with chop sticks.  I bought 6 plain paper light shades for the patio next summer.  Denny got a Kathmandu baseball cap and a shirt.  

Relaxing at Sapana Then back to Civil HOMES

Nice leisurely day.  Breakfast on patio with elephants in the background.  We found out that breakfasts are included in the room price. We've decided not to go to Pokara, and instead to go slowly to Katmandu with the hopes of perhaps riding on a cable car as we travel to the city.  I packed up everything and am sitting on a patio trying to catch up on the blog.  So many fun things happening, it's hard to write them all down.  Denny and I are just along for the ride, so whatever we do is just fine.   We left Sapana about 11:30 FOR A 4 HOUR DRIVE and got home about 7.  UFFDA!!!  After we were on the road for about 45 minutes there was a 2 hour wait because of road repair.  The next days Kathmandu newspaper told of a rock slide and I imagine there were about 200 of us vehicles waiting.  It was even more exciting after the sun went down.  Praise to God for Phillip's driving ability, fortitude, patience,  UFFDA!!!  I should have taken a video of the car lights, pot holes, dodging, honking, It was crazy.  SO good to be back at Civil Homes.   Missy ordered hamburgers delivered for supper. YUM!!  

Safari in Chinwan

I slept well in the Nepal bed.   We had preordered breakfast.  The dining areas in this place are so pretty.  Lotsa wood and bamboo and wicker.  We took a hand hewn/carved out long boat/canoe across the river.  Pretty cool, there were little stools to keep your bottom off the floor of the boat.  Once we crossed the river we got in kinda a jeep with seating for 9 on the top.  Our guide said there were 19 eyes to be on the watch for animals.  And off we went, from about 9-5 riding on bumpy, lumpy roads looking for wildlife.  We saw tame working elephants, 4+ wild boar, deer-  2 kinds, crocodiles, peacocks, The citing of the rhinoceros was during our lunch on the top of a look-out tower.  We left our food up on top, went quietly down, jumped in the jeep, and rode up for a closer quiet look and photo op.  On the way home at dusk we had the most exciting citing.  On the road in front of us was a black bear.  We approached, slowed down and stopped at where he entered the brush on the side of the road.  As we stopped it stood, just feet away from our vehicle and growled.  Uffda!!!  Phillip jumped, The guide jumped, Denny jumped, I jumped, Missy about fell off the vehicle with all the jumping going on.  O ...  did we cry out ... in fear ... and then we laughed ... A lot!!    "Cause we were safe.  The other impressive citing was after we crossed the river on the return to "the city".   Rita, the Rhino, was just mosey-ing  down the middle of the street in the downtown area of the city.  Amidst lots of vehicles, camera, pedestrians,   Oh, my there you go ... Rhino on the runaa!!!  We ate at a Mexican "Jalepino" restaurant.  Good food and good times with family visiting about our excursion.  Brooks, Denny, Missy and I stayed to look at stuff for sale in shops.  I got 3 trinket containers that fit inside each other.  Brooks just enjoyed looking. Phillip had a phone call he had to make at 7.  Afterwards we just chilled and visited. Another great day in SE Asia.  

Feeding Sapana Elephants

We were up and leaving about 6:30 for Chitwan.  The roads are crazy!!! There are so many rut holes, small passages for big trucks and traveling scooters, cars, etc.  Steep falls on mountain side of the road.  The check engine light was coming on in the Scorpio.  It definitely was a God thing that there was a Mahandra car dealership right across from where Phillip had planned for us to eat in Gandaki.  The lunch place was amazing!!  Pretty gardens, pretty swimming pool, Beautiful view of river below.  Great seating.  Afterwards we took the car to be checked and upstairs of the dealership was a Himalayan Coffee shop.  It was spacious and had great seating.  Another God sighting to have a sweet place to wait while the car was being looked at.  It took about an hour and a half to get to Sapana.  An elephant with a man riding walked by as we were parking, they greeted us with flowers and hot tea as we waited on a pretty patio.  T'was so good to sit and relax for about an hour then we napped in our room until 5 when we went to make elephant candy.  Rice reeds, folded and made into a container for rice grains and molasses, which is enclosed and a reed tied around the bundle.  OH, My!  Feeding the huge animals was amazing!!!  We ate supper by candle light  outside in their dining facility.  Our room was very nice, but as I am up at 2 am working on this blog, I can't find a plug in for my 3 electronics.  We'll see.  Hard to live without electronics..... :)