Our Trip Home

Hearst Castle

Our last few days in LA were great. Friday evening Joyce and I went on a date while the kids were at Awanas. We went to Islands for dinner and then a movie -- Robin Hood. Saturday Korak fixed a really nice breakfast for us. Then I took Josiah for a haircut. His hair was getting pretty long and his mom wanted it cut before summer. However, he would only go the barber if grandpa took him. So off we went and he got it cut fairly short. When we got home I realized we didn't get any pictures after the haircut. Well, take my word for it, it looks nice.

Sunday was church -- twice. As it turned out the two services were entirely different so it was fun staying for both. The worship leader shared during the first service and Pastor Kevin preached in the second. In the afternoon Joyce and I stayed home while the family went to a cousin's birthday party. Monday, Kevin and I went to lunch. It is always fun to visit with him. He is an amazing Pastor. Evening dinner was extra nice and we had a couple friends come over to share our "last evening." Then we packed the car. Packed is a pretty good word for it because we brought back a bike for Lilly and a scooter for Josiah (he already has a bike here) so they have things to play with when they are here this summer. We also brought back lots of lemons from their tree to share plus baby clothes for a friend. Oh... also a tent for camping this summer.

We left Tuesday early heading for Hearst Castle on highway one in northern California. Pictures follow somewhere but I'm having trouble with how Blogspot posts pictures (as you could tell from the last blog). They have four tours but we only took the basic one which is recommended for people who have never been there before. It is an amazing place. It kind of proves that if you have enough money you can build anything. It is on the top of a hill with a jillion steps, lots of marble statues, tile everywhere and mostly made of concrete -- with a lot of wood also.

One is a marble statue and one isn't.

If you were a visitor of William Randolf Hearst this might be the bed you would have slept in. A lot of movie stars did.

This is where you would eat along with all the other guests. Mr. Hearst sat in the middle with the newest guests closest to him. I guess when you got to the end of the table you knew it was time to go home.

And finally, the indoor pool where you could take a dip before lunch. The water was heated in Mr. Hearst's day.

We stayed in a motel Tuesday night and made it back to Grants Pass late Wednesday afternoon. Then we left early Thursday morning for the Portland area to attend my Aunt Vera's memorial service. She was the last of my mom's brothers/sisters and died at the age of 99. While we were "up north" we also made contact with Joyce's niece. She was down visiting colleges with her daughter Katlyn. These are the people we stayed with while we were in Wrangell, Alaska. Our visit was short, but good.

I got my garden replanted Saturday. Replanted because some seeds didn't sprout and my tomato plants froze while we were in Lebanon. I think being an absentee farmer doesn't work very well. Joyce has been fighting a cold so this morning I stayed home to be with her. Doesn't that sound altruistic? I'm such a good husband!!! Actually I did something this morning that I've wanted to do for 40 years -- skip church and watch the Indianapolis 500 Race. I don't even feel guilty.

Our plans are to be home -- our GP home -- for a couple weeks before we go back to Lebanon and various other experiences. Trust you have had a great Memorial Day weekend. Blessings.