2010...a year to remember...
A year ago in January, I was 1 of 10 finalist in my first photography contest ever. It happened to be with "The Pioneer Woman," Ree Drummond. My photo earned a $100 gift card and I was tickled pink since there were close to 80,000 entries in all. The winning photo is below. You have to understand photography to get it, I suppose! =o)
In February Cliff and I took a much needed get-away trip to the coast and just soaked up the sounds, smells and sights! the beach just seems to magically renew our spirits and relax our minds. It's one of our favorite things to do together.
In March, Cliff and I took a road trip to Tempe, Arizona to visit Ashlee, Gilbert, Maycin and Margo. The weather was perfect and we so enjoyed being with our kids and grand-kids! They showed us the sights and we also got a chance to visit the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden before we left. It was beautiful and there were saguaro cacti throughout. We stopped at Sedona, Arizona on our way home...too beautiful for words! If you have never been there before, put it on your bucket list!
April was a difficult month for us. While we were in Arizona, someone had hijacked our credit card # online, and we had to stop the card and they reissued us another. In the mean time Dad was very ill and we needed to get back on the road to Oregon this time. BUT, because we didn't have a credit card (we were waiting for the new one), we were unable to leave right away. You need a credit card to secure motel rooms, car rentals, etc., even though you pay in cash. So, there was a bit of a delay. Then when we finally got on the road, we were delayed again with bad weather and it took 3 days to get there. The time with Dad was short, but we were blessed to have what time we did. Dad went to be with the Lord June 7th. I miss him terribly.
The end of May and the beginning of June, Ashlee and family moved back to California and our family grew from 3 to 7 overnight! The Rios family lived with us for 3 months before Gilbert was hired at the University of California Merced in the food services department. They are now on their own and live in the cutest house only a mile from us! It's great to have them back in California!!
July was a month of celebration! We celebrated Ashlee's 28th birthday on the 4th. Later that evening we helped celebrate Lacee's best friend's engagement only to find out at the dinner that the happy couple would marry directly after our meal! They got married at the fountain in Applegate Park...we sent them off with sparklers after their vows. It was really quite a fun and lovely time. The following day Cliff and I took another trip to the beach in celebration of his 60th! Time sure flies when you live, love, laugh!
We made a second trip to Oregon in August for Dad’s Life Celebration (memorial). It was a happy occasion in his honor. It was a time to share his life with family and friends…friends I haven’t seen for decades. It was just perfect, and I’m sure it was exactly what Dad would have wanted.
(Below: Ron, Darwin, Short, Larry, Darlene, Idris and Gayle)
On our way back to California, Cliff and I took our time coming back down the Oregon and California Coast. We were not on a schedule and took our time. It was probably the best thing we could have done for the two of us with raw emotions and lack of rest.
Corry left for Germany in October for a 6 month deployment with the US Air Force working on the Ramstein Air Base. Corry is taking advantage of his stay in Germany, and touring the beautiful historic villages and cities on his weekends. He is good to keep in touch and post photos via Internet. What a blessing modern technology is!!!
Pictured below is Corry at the Trier Roman Baths
Christmas truck in Rothenburg
Quaint streets of Rothenburg
Rothenburg Cathedral
Lacee is still taking college courses, working and just recently got hired as an employee with Rite-aid. They are promising her more hours than her other job, and she's excited about that! Lacee's hair style this year went from platinum blond afro to short, short hair cut, to growing it out to have it cut into a Mohawk, and now she has a short, almost bald hair cut. She is the only person that I know that can wear any hair style and still look fabulous! Her hair definitely matches her unique, lovely quirkiness that we so love!
I continue to enjoy my passion for photography and Cliff is nearing the completion of our 1971 Roadmaster retro travel trailer (named Odessa, meaning long voyage). Odessa has been in rebuilding mode for 3 years now (bought her September 2007). Cliff's attention to detail and quality craftsmanship is creating a beauty!
Maycin/Buster Photo Shoot
Our Odessa! What a makeover!!!
In closing, Christmas for us is a time of preparation and celebration for our Lord, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It's a time for fellowship, warmth, gifts, good food and memories. Cliff and I encourage you to read the inspirational Christmas Story, Luke 2:1-20. Jesus is much more than a baby in the manger. That baby in the manger was the beginning of mankind's redemption.
Merry Christmas and blessings to you and yours!
Cliff and Gayle
PS If you would like to see more photos and keep up with the Roadmaster (Odessa) updates, log onto: http://www.myroadmaster.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment