The move

I have been dreading the packing. We’ve done it so many times. I know the process. I know all the little stuff at the end grows into mountains. I know I am always surprised at how much stuff we have. I always ask myself, do we really need all this stuff. And then when it comes time to decide what gets left behind, it’s always hard. 

We tried to take a few pictures of the process. 

The first thing in one of six pods. An obvious priority. 

A look at a full pod. I’m not sure if we added more or not. Craig is the Tetris genius. He can pack more things into no space than anyone I know. Josh and Boaz were appenrencies to his skill. 

A view of the six pods from our upstairs window. They are three across. The openings were opposite. So three opened toward the garage and three opened toward the street. 

The house with the pods filling the driveway. 

The empty family room. 

The empty kitchen. 

We sent the six pods off on Friday and were exhausted. We only had one day to fill them. Afterwards we took the evening off to rest. We slept on the floor that night. It has been a long time since I’ve slept on the floor. I remember when it was fun. But it is fun no longer. My bones are old and the floor is hard. I gained new appreciation for the pioneers who had no soft beds to sleep in. I am indeed spoiled. 

Saturday morning Craig once again played life size Tetris and packed the two cars. I gave away toilet paper, Kleenex boxes, cereal boxes, food from the fridge left in the garage and anything else I could. 

The cars were packed to the gills. We couldn’t see through the rear view mirrors. But who needs those anyway, right? Josh rode with me and Boaz rode with Craig. We caravaned our way through he ridiculous Southern California traffic with only side mirrors to help is change lanes. It was a bit distressing, but I got better at it and became more comfortable. Also, the traffic got much lighter the further we traveled from the coast. 

My car from the drivers seat. 

We stopped in Phoenix for the night. Beds are amazing. 

We were hoping to be in Colorado by Saturday night so we could attend church on Sunday, but it was too big a job for that so we finished driving on Sunday. We are looking forward to attending church and finding our new people here. 

We made one stop at the Four Corners. We didn’t wait in line for our turn to take pictures on the actual spot. We cheated a bit. But we were there, we just didn’t stand on the actual border. 

Random people who actually waited in the line for the pictures. 

We were on the Arizona side. I think. An interesting spot of the earth. Then less than an hour later and we were unpacking the cars. 

We have the use of a furnished condo right on the golf course. It is nice to be able to use it. It will give us time to find a permanent home. 

Josh is a bit displaced. So I’ll be happy to find a place soon. 

Our stuff is still in transit. They will store it for a month. We’ll have to get a storage unit and then unpack while we search. 

The adventure has begun. 

Scripture - 1 Chronicles 28

A promise we can trust. 

This promise places the responsibility squarely on us. We must do the seeking. We must be strong. We must do. 

When we do, He will be found. It reminds me of a recent talk I heard. The temple ceremony is symbolic, until it isn’t. 

We don’t get to decide how long the seeking must last. But we can be sure in the promise that He will be found. That He wants to be found. There are miracles in the journey. 

Reunion part two

Saturday we played at Brad and Kris’s house. They rented a bounce house obstical course. Everybody got on it. But I’m just pulling a few photos from people who actually took pictures. I am grateful for the photos I got. And there are darling great nieces and nephews. But how do I feature them on this blog in any kind of fair way. And this way I don’t have to ask permission from my nieces and nephews to post pictures of their babies, which would be a bit weird. 

Josh and Bridger going up the ladders. 

Boaz was the reigning champion.  Josh was a bit frustrated that he couldn’t beat his little brother. 

I didn’t get a picture of Craig and Brad. They were hysterical. Brad won that round. But they were laughing so hard it was hard to really compete. Of course there was rampant cheating. And everybody was laughing. A true highlight. 

Of course the food was never ending and delicious. I made my fruit dip and brought fruit. I had crackers and cheese left over from the day before. We had chicken and salad and cookies and candy and rolls and sodas and water and even more that I can’t remember. So much for my diet. Now I have to try and get back on track. 

We went in shifts to visit with Dawn. It was hard to have the family together without her. She truly is a great matriarch that brings us all together. This year she has finished her history and had it bound In a wonderful book. She is valiant in all aspects of the gospel. If I could grow up to be like her, I’d be set. 

Sunday we headed to Blackfoot to see old friends. We saw so many well-loved faces. We got to hug dear people. We renewed friendships and again are so grateful for our nomadic lifestyle. We have eternal fiends in all the places we have lived. And we are sure we are about to meet a new group of those kind of people. 

The boys were less enthusiastic about going to Blackfoot, but they relaxed into former relationships and enjoyed meeting with our dear friends too. 

After sacrament meeting we headed to SLC to see one of Josh’s friends that graduated too. 

While they got caught up we filled up with gas and spent a bit of time at temple square. 

Then we got on the road for our new digs. It was a long drive. I remembered that I had been there as we passed Moab and the Arches, Deadhorse Point, and Newspaper Rock. 

We switched drivers back to Craig at the Montecello Temple. That will be our new temple. It’s a cute little temple and I wonder if we have to make appointments again. We have to make appointments for the Newport Beach Temple. It was odd for me to get used to that. 

The condo will work. It was way hot when we got there as empty buildings are in the summer. It has two bedrooms upstairs with two bathrooms. It’s right on the golf course - that’s a bonus for Craig. Of course golf courses are beautiful so that is a plus for me too. 

The next morning we drove around the our new town. And began our mad dash back to California. We had to make a quick stop at the Grand Canyon. 

This is the southern rim. 

The watch tower. We climbed up to the top and loved the view. 

Josh saw I had the camera and stepped out of the picture. 

So I got him in this picture. 

Then we were back on the road. Another four state day. Started in Colorado, maybe five minutes of New Mexico, Arizona for hours and ending up back in California. 

Today we began packing in earnest. 

The front room. 

The garage. 

We have emptied about half of the kitchen cupboards. Tomorrow we will continue packing. 

Oswald Family Reunion

We had an adventure on our way to the reunion in Idaho this year. 

Cody came to visit the only weekend it would have worked.  He brought three of his friends. They drove Deb’s car. It’s a standard transmission. They had fun visiting beaches and going out to eat yummy food. 

Our last Sunday in the ward Craig and Josh spoke. So we made pancakes, said good bye to Cody and his friends and went to church. During Relief Society, Craig poked his head in and motioned me to come out. Cody had called and the clutch had gone out on the car. They were an hour away in Rancho Cucamonga. They were waiting for a tow. We finished our last Sunday, headed home and ate a quick bite and then Craig was on his way to help. 

Before he got to them he called me. There was no way the car would be fixed that day. The boys had no way to get home and they had to get back to their lives. The only way to help them was to let them take my car. I knew he was right, although I caught my breath a bit. Only Craig and I have ever driven it cross country before. 

I got in the Chrysler and headed to go pick up Craig. I must admit, I have really gotten to rely on the map feature in my car. I got lost without it. I had to pull over and look at my phone. My eyes are getting bad so I had to fish out my readers for the phone and then look over the top in order to see to drive. Getting old is no fun. 

I got back on track and back on the road. But not before I left a somewhat pathetic voice mail for Craig. He called and I was already fine. He drove home of course. 

That left us with only one car until I picked up Deb’s car on Wednesday when the boys and I headed north for the reunion. Craig Ubered to pick up the Chrysler that I left at the shop in Rancho Cucamonga. 

I haven’t driven a standard for about ten years. It took me a bit to just figure out how to put it in reverse to leave the parking lot. Then I couldn’t find the latch to open the gas tank. Boaz found it for me on the door, of all places. I raved the engine in first for about half he day, but we made it work. 

Going through Las Vegas, we hit stop and go traffic during construction on the freeway. So I got a lot of practice in first gear. About a half an hour or more of going from first gear to neutral back to first gear. I got excited when I made it to second, but then I was almost immediately back to neutral and stopped. I was so relieved to get up to speed and leaving Las Vegas in my rear view mirror. 

We had arranged to stop in St. George and spend the night with Joe and his family. I was glad we had. I was tired by the time we got here. And as I pulled off the freeway, I forgot I was driving a clutch and killed it. Josh was worried that I broke the car. It’s always fun to talk with Joe. He talks about ideas and I left his house with a borrowed book, Guns, Germs and Steel. I’m excited to learn something new. The boys are at the right age to enjoy conversations with Joe to, so it was a win all around. 

Thursday we got back in the road with a date to change  cars in Salt Lake City. We made an unscheduled stop in Spanish Fork to see Joyce. She looks the best that I’ve seen her in a long time. But she was headed out the door in 30 minutes for dialysis. I didn’t get a picture, but we had a nice visit. 

We met Deb and mom for lunch at a cute little diner in Murray. In the process of packing up my sewing room, I decided to share a recent gift of fabric with Deb. So she has new fabric and a fixed car and we have our red car back. Yeah for my navigation in my car. And we were back on the road to Idaho. 

First stop we saw Dawn in Idaho Falls. She fell last week and dislocated her ankle and broke her ankle. She’s in a rehab center for the next six weeks. Poor thing. 

We stayed in her apartment and then on Friday the boys and I went to the lake with her family. Craig worked his last day and we picked him up at the airport after 9. 

The boys immediately went on the kayaks. I went on Sandy and Allen’s boat. We snapped a few photos of Josh and Boaz. 

Jousting was the activity of the day. 

Each brother ended up in the lake. 

We all got together after dinner for a photo. At least those that were there at the time. 

Good bye party

We have a lovely ward in Irvine. We are very sad to leave. They had a going away party for us. I didn’t get a lot of pictures, but I did catch a picture of the kids that live my boys. And we love them too. 

Ashley, Nate, Jake, Josh, Ben, Clayton, Hunter, Hailey, Elder Boss, Boaz and Elder Boss’s companion. 

We had lovely desserts and wonderful conversations with dear friends. We have made so many eternal friends here. 

Now it’s time to go and a new batch of eternal friends. 

Oregon

Craig and I traveled to Oregon for a visit with my visiting family. Tim’s daughter got married on Saturday. We came later, but Karly sent me pictures. 

Both girls are beautiful. 

Craig and I picked up Deb at the airport and found the reception, along with Brenda, Tim, Ivan and Karly. We moved bags to the proper cars, sat and visited for about an hour and then Craig and I went to find our accommodations. We discovered Airbnb this trip. We enjoyed the different houses. 

Sunday we went to church in Dallas. We tried to see all the people that we knew and loved. It was fun to see familiar and loved faces. 

After church we went to Albany to see Auntie and Kimberly. I took over 100 pictures of old family photos, but I didn’t finish the batch and I lost them all. Major bummer. Kimberly made salmon for dinner. We are at the park down the road. 

Of course family drama happened a bit. But with proximity, all things smoother over and we are all good again. I think we all really needed to be together. It was a good thing. 

Monday we went to Lincoln City. The Oregon coast is definitely different than the California coast. But it was lovely. 

Breakfast first. 

Tim’s best friend, Carl, joined us as well as Brenda’s friend Cecily. 

It was dad’s birthday. So I found a stick and wrote a happy birthday message to him. 

My ‘y’ s are odd. But I’m sure dad was able to read it just fine. We wandered the beach. We found some fun shells and rocks. We climbed rocks and found little tide pools. 

We ate at Mos. What is a visit to the Oregon Coast with out eating clam chowder at Mo’s?  Delicious!

Kimberly and Auntie met us and we enjoyed a visit. 

Enjoying the sunset. 

Tuesday we said goodbye to Deb at the airport. We met Ivan, Tim and Brenda for a visit with the Woolner’s. 

Yummy Pizzacato. 

Ivan headed off to Astoria on his new bike. We dropped Tim and Brenda off at the train. And Craig and I were alone. We headed to Gresham to say hi other loved and familiar faces. 

I so love these sweet people.  Larry and Utahna took me in and loved me when I was single and working.  They loved me when Craig and I got married and started our family. They were our neighbors and dear adopted family in Oregon. 

We had dinner with Todd and Rachelle. Sweet friends who have kept in touch through the years. How amazing to catch up with kids we haven’t seen in years. We shared pictures and stories. But we didn’t take any pictures. 

We missed connecting with the Hansen’s and the Smiths and the Marshalls. We didn’t know what our schedule would be. And it’s Wednesday and normal people have appointments and are at work. So we became tourists and went to Multnomah Falls. 

We were again reminded that good friends can be eternal. We remembered names and families and dear friends. We drove old haunts and paths. We teased names out of our dusty memory files and laughed and smiled at remembered stories. 

The gospel was the Golden thread that tied us all together. How hard would it be to constantly say good bye without the hope of rekindling friendships in heaven? The plan of salvation gives us courage to adventure on. 

Update

The boys attended Trek and had a wonderful time. 

The boys traveled alone to Hawaii to see Thea. I saw it as a good dry run for Josh traveling to Peru the end of October. They had a fabulous time. 

Boaz has contacts. 

Josh has two pairs of glasses. 

Today we got passport pictures of Josh in his missionary dress. We don’t have to change his passport. That picture is casual dress. Josh emailed the scanned new picture with the passport to the Church’s missionary travel department. (Can I tell you how much I love the CamScanner ap?)

Boaz has his sports physical done. 

Boaz is withdrawn from school here in Tustin. I have a copy of his transcript for the new school. 

The travel nurse will call next Thursday and we will discuss typhoid vaccinations for Josh. His last one. 

I have been going to the FamilySearch Library in Orange trying to get a history of the library together. It’s coming along, but I’m not sure I will be able to complete it. I feel good about my progress. 

Tomorrow Craig and I fly to Oregon to see Karly, Brenda and Tim. Deb and Ivan are traveling also. We will visit with Auntie and Kimberly and I’m hoping to scan family pictures. (CamScanner again)

It’s Africa hot today. (Shout out to Anaise’s sister. I think she’s the one who introduced me to that term.) I’m looking at the few curios I have out and thinking about packing them away. Also the DVDs. 

We will be in Colorado the end of July, ready for Craig to start his new job August 1st. I’m trying to remember my list of thing to do. 

They’re back

It was short, but eventful. Tons of fun was had. They got to spend quality time with Thea. She was a perfect tour guide and found fun and interesting places to visit. We got photos texted to us of the adventures. I just raided Josh’s phone for other photos. Mostly landscapes. 

Crazy stairs with a photo bomber pirouetting in the back ground. 

At the top. 

Beautiful seascape. 

And again. The blues are incredible. 

Snorkeling lesson. They saw huge parrot fish. Loved it. 

Jurassic World was filmed in Hawaii. So they went to the set - tourist attraction. 

Josh has figured out the hang loose mentality. 

I can rest easy knowing if they were in danger, Josh would sacrifice his brother to get away. 

Amazing landscape. 

The Peruvian flag at BYU - Hawaii. 

So glad they had fun, but glad they are home again.