Another Portland Weekend

I am so happy that I get to go and visit Portland for Kenya Keys board meetings.  This time Scott was without a car so I took the Max Train and then the bus to downtown Lake Oswego. It is very efficient and very cheap since I am an 'honored citizen'.  That does sound better than 'senior citizen'!

Downtown Portland is lovely.  At least the bus stop on the way to Lake Oswego is.  The stop on the way back to the Airport was in a sketchy part of town.  I was glad that I wasn't traveling alone at night. Portland does have a homeless problem and this bus stop was in the area of the shelters so there were a lot of homeless on the sidewalks.  

I stayed with our good friends, the Helmandollars again and once again got the royal treatment that you'd expect at a 5 Star hotel.  Martha even puts a goodie basket in the room with snacks, interesting articles from the paper and toiletries .  Of course the best part is spending time with our good friends.  

Saturday night I was treated to my favorite onion rings from Burgerville.  The best onion rings I've ever had and the aioli sauce makes them even better.  They only use Walla Walla onions when they are in season.  I looked forward all year to the summer months so I could feast on them.  It is probably a good thing they aren't available all year as they have 750 calories.  Oh well.

Notice that Martha got 4 and I only got 3! What's up with that?  I think Larry was worried that we would fight so he helpfully ate one of hers!

After a delicious dinner, Martha and I enjoyed a 'girls' night out' and went to see the play 'Matilda'. The enthusiastic young cast was so fun to watch!  

Sunday after church we had naps then I went for a walk and was reminded that Lake Oswego is very hilly.  

Monday I walked with my 'walking buddies' and realized just how much I miss them. Then I enjoyed a delicious and fun lunch catching up with 3 good friends.  The rest of the day was all about Kenya Keys.

I'm preparing to lead a team of volunteers to Kenya in October so there are a lot of logistics to arrange for that.  Then in the evening we had our first board meeting with the new executive director.  It is going to be great. When non-profits begin the transition as beloved founders step back and new leadership steps forward, it is a tricky time but I feel like we have a really great team in place to be sure Kenya Keys prospers long into the future and continues to 'unlock potential' in the area of Taru, Kenya.

Monday I made my way back to the airport on the bus and Max train again.  As I mentioned, the bus stop was in an area of Portland with lots of homeless.  I think one of them got on the Max train with me.  He reeked of pot and then when he bent over to get something, he gave the whole train a lovely view of his bare derriere!  Not pretty! 

No worries though, I got safely back to the airport and back to Boise.  

Looking forward to the next visit in September.  This is for my doctor appointment and George is coming too!

Happiness Is Being a Grandparent

I remember when my mother came to visit us to help after Mary was born.  She told me that when she got home, my Daddy picked her up at the airport in her car which was proudly displaying a bumper sticker that read, "Happiness is being a Grandma!"

That sentiment is so true!  

I am so happy to be Grandma to these two cuties! 

A Few More Jackson Photos

Jackson and I have a mutual admiration society!

I just love that cute face and toothy smile! 

Getting a haircut for his 'day in court'.

Mom's little helper....at home 

And helping at Carriage House Motors!

We are so thankful for our little miracle!

Jackson Sarow Reynolds

I fell in love when I first met him last September. We had been warned that the months of foster care leading to possible adoption might be a roller coaster ride.  Normally I am a first class worrier but I have always felt very peaceful that this was going to work out perfectly.  A tender mercy to me from a loving Heavenly Father.

On July 18th he legally became a member of the family in a courthouse in Charles Town, West Virginia.  I admit that I shed a few tears of happiness.  Both Grandmas were there to rejoice with the happy parents.

Here he is with his parents, lawyer, and the case worker who was with Mary and Mark every step of the way. 

Sarow is Mark's middle name and his mother's maiden name. 

Celebrating the 4th!

We started our day with a short hike in the Boise foothills to 'elephant rock'. 

Grandma and Isabella made it to the top of the rock, which is not as easy as it might look because it was slippery.

 A bit further up the trail and we got a great view of the city of Boise.

 Now to cool off, we explored the Cottonwood Creek trail 

 Guess who REALLY loved the creek!

 She is a water child, just like her Daddy was.

 I am quite confident that she would have gotten all the way in, if we had let her. 

Then it was back home for dinner preparations. Isabella helped Grandpa decorate a 4th of July cake.

Some of the berries actually made it onto the cake!

They were pretty proud of their creation.

Bella helped me to set the table.  I never figured out why Grandpa got 2 glasses but she was insistent.

 A typical American 4th of July meal with hot dogs, baked beans, cole slaw and my mother's potato salad.  Yummy! 

Now for some fun on the driveway....

 Bubbles were a big hit! 

We also got to enjoy the neighbor's fireworks.

 And some chalk art....

 Grandma was given very specific instructions to what she should write - Violet, Dash, Mr. Incredible, Elastagirl, Helen, and Jack-jack.  Yes she has become obsessed with the Incredibles 2.  I need to watch it. She wants me to be Elastagirl and she is Violet.  I'm not sure exactly what I am supposed to do except that she calls me and I'm to say, "I'm in."

 Ended this perfect day with fireworks at Ann Morrison park. 

 Magical for this little girl!

Father's Day 2019

I've read so many eloquent tributes to fathers over the last few days, some almost poetic in their beauty. Also I've been going through lots of photos of me and my parents. As I look at these old black and white photos of us, the same thought comes to me over and over again. My parents made me feel LOVED!  That is the best tribute I can give to my Daddy.  He always made me feel loved. And I can give that same tribute to George, the father of my children.  He always made them feel loved. Simple thought and simple words but really isn't it LOVE that makes all the difference!

Rome 1961

Garmisch, Germany 1996

Geneva Switzerland 1996

Matt the Sailor Man

Matt has had quite the adventure as he joined a friend sailing from the north of Spain, down the coast of Portugal, around Gibraltar and up the coast all the way to Barcelona.

Ahh, the stories he has shared of dolphins, jellyfish, pilot whales, terrible storms and other high adventures.  I'm glad he had this fantastic experience and so glad he has lived to tell about it.  Tomorrow they go to Mallorca for a few days of R & R after the excitement of getting to Barcelona.  I think he wants more of a jet setter few days in the calm, blue water rather than a Pirates of the Caribbean mighty storm!