Worship at CPCFC

I was able to get a 19 hour layover in San Francisco, just enough time to worship with my friends at Central Peninsula Church in Foster City, where I used to attend in California before moving to D.C. area.

This was across the parking lot at the hotel, so not a great picture, but you can see the city in the distance.

My good friends, Francis and Joanna, were my taxi for the day, for which I was very thankful.

I love it when God delights in delighting me!!! What a great way to spend a layover!

Sharla's Pictures

Sharla got some great pictures on her camera of our time at the park when I was there, so I thought I'd share them with you, too. They're too cute!!!

Here she's saying, "Coco catch you!" as Tante goes down the slide. . .

. . .which actually ended in a big hug!

Fun, huh?!!

Field Trip!

Today was a Field trip day for Shar's MOPS group, and I got to go with them to a fire station that hasn't been active since the 1930's, and is now set up to welcome kids in a kid-friendly environment. There was even an old firetruck to drive!

This room was absolutely DECKED OUT with fire trucks/fire station toys. Talk about a wannabe fire fighter's dream room.

There's many more pics of the day, but those were just a taste. And then some cute shots from playing in the yard again. Coco wore the outfit I gave her for her birthday today, so she had to show it off a bit. :o )

Just for Graci

Certain people have been asking to see "that baby!", so here's a blog post just honoring Graci. She's awful cute!

Today we went on a field trip with Shar's MOP'S group visiting an old fire station. Graci got in on the action, too! Well, kind of.

She had a couple friends there to keep her company.

She's starting to focus on people's faces. It's fun to interact with her.

Outside!

Getting to play out in the yard is so much fun. . .for Tantes AND for kids!

Graci and I are tuckered out from playing with Coco all day!

With the Wilcox Princesses

I'm in Seattle again, this time to get to know Graci a wee bit more than just a layover! And, of course, to be entertained by big sister, Coco!

I'm sure there will be many more posts as I take more pictures, so stay tuned!

This morning, Coco saw that Tante had a headband, so we had to figure out one for her, too.

We're such stylish divas!!

Beautiful day to head to the park later!

Gracie's a little quieter than Coco right now. . .and awful snuggly!! Ask me if I mind?!!

Kuwait City and Bahrain

I just got home from a 5 day trip to Kuwait City and Bahrain. To sum up in a word, it was HOT! In fact, it was so hot that I didn't get out very much. So I don't have a lot of pictures, but I have some perspectives that I'll share with you. The first pictures I took were actually in Bahrain, where I was on the ground for 4 hours and 55 minutes. Not long! But we got to spend the time in and around this Moevenpick hotel!! Who woulda' thunk that a Swiss hotel would be my "home" in Bahrain!

While we were there, a flying partner and I braved the 100 % humidity and 115 degrees F weather and took a short walk on the path behind the hotel.

By the way, the "grass" you see as greenness in these pictures is actually this stuff. . .I'm not sure what it's called, but it's a creeping vine-like plant that makes a good cover for the lawn.

The view of the hotel from the back.

If you look closely, you'll notice the red faces and hair sticking to the face because we were so wet. You could literally almost ring our shirts out after the walk, and it was only about 1/2 hour long! I can't express to you how hot it was!

The haziness you see in this picture is actually humidity.

This is the only picture I took that turned out in Kuwait City. I did, however, spend most of my time in my air-conditioned hotel room. I think we got there and it was 117 degrees F. Kuwait's heat is dry and dusty, though, and I found it harder to breathe.

Now to the story. . .the night before I left for Kuwait (not knowing I was preparing for the trip, as I only found out I was going there about 3 hours before I left), I started a Beth Moore Bible study called, "Stepping Up". For anyone who's ever done that study, it is based on the Psalms of Ascent, Psalm 120-134. One of the things Beth really encourages us to do in the study is to prepare our hearts to meet God by spending some minutes beforehand being "face down" literally, wherever we choose to do the study. Being surrounded in a country where people do this 5 times a day, fall on their faces in prayer, is hard to describe. In a nutshell, it had a profound impact on me. As I began each study being face down in my hotel room, I praised God that I could worship Him in this way, and I prayed for truth to penetrate the country I was being hosted by. So much more could be said, but I'm not sure I can put it into words. Suffice it to say, a lot of journaling and soul-searching was done. It was like God took me to a hot place so I would spend less time outside and more time with Him. It was priceless.

My First Visit to Rome!

I finally got a chance to visit Rome, Italy! Although I was there for less than 24 hours all together, I think I did quite well with the pictures. Some of these things are self explanitory, and some I don't have any clue what they are, but they're fun to look at!

These next shots are the only chance I got to see the Vatican City (from the car), but I saw parts of it, and was very proud that I could say even that much!

My room was very regal!

My friend, Kimberly, who I was in training class with over 3 years ago, was with me on the trip as the Italian speaker. It's always best to have a tour guide to help you find great things. . .such as the Spanish steps (remember that shot in Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn?). . .

. . .and, more importantly, GELATI! In other words, superb Italian ice-cream.

So many flavors. . .so little time, but I did try 5 of them during my time there!

(Insert sleeping break here). After I woke up, I went out on my own and started walking around seeing the incredible buildings Rome has to offer. I'm not even going to try and name them, 'cause a lot of people who might see this have already been to Rome, and can tell me what they are much better than I can. I was simply following my written-in-Italian map, and ended up at these buildings! So, either you can enjoy the view, or teach me what they are, preferably in English. :o )

MANY sites still being excavated.

Oh! This was the first time I had ever seen Cyprus trees in real life! I'd read about them in the Bible, but didn't know what they looked like! Now I do!

Now, this I knew: The Roman Colluseum. Many believers were martyred here. A very humbling thought.

I think this inscription had something to do with commemorating the martyrs.

The Trevi Fountain. . .too crowded for my taste. . .so I ate some gelato here, then moved on.

On the way back to the hotel, I saw this little restaurant who's privacy was enhanced by the gorgeous flowers cascading all over the side of it. Picture does not do it justice.

A welcome site to the weary traveler. . .my hotel.

And, while waiting for the bus, my classmate, Kimberly, and I. A fun trip!