Quiet house

The house is now quiet. Some little fingerprints have been cleaned. The sidewalk art on the drive way has been rained off but some of it still remains on the patio, bring sweet memories every time we walk around them. We really enjoyed "playing" with these two of our eight grandchildren but also relish the tranquility of our "old" age. We are hectic in the pace of helping the church prepare for charge conference. Richard will serve as treasurer again next year and Ginger as Lay Leader. We are also preparing the RV for a one week stay in Houston Sept 8 for Richard's knee replacement surgery. As Houston is a 2 hour drive, this will save a lot of time and stress for Ginger. The RV park, only 2 miles from the hospital, has a free shuttle so no parking fees.

Check out Debbie's Rescue riders for pictures of the floods in Melbourne, Florida. It's pretty bad. http://rescueriders.wordpress.com

Empty Nest

After a 10 hour drive yesterday with 2 active grandchildren we arrived at their home. They were most excited to see 2 year old sister, KiKi. Today, the next day, we drove another 10 hours back home. News reports say there are a lot less people on the road but we couldn't tell it. The traffic was thick and we went through many sections of heavy rain. When we finally headed west on 105 in Texas, we were rewarded with the most beautiful sunset sky, baby pink fluffy clouds against baby blue sky. It lasted the entire time we headed west on that road. As we turned north on 146 there was a read halo on the horizon. Then we were rewarded with a spectacular lightening show without the hazard of wet roads from rain.

Our house seems quite big and quiet to us now. I'm not sure how long I'll wait to take off the fingerprints from various surfaces. Tomorrow we resume a very busy and hectic schedule so this blog will not be updated daily.

Four States in One Day

We ate breakfast in Texas. We ate lunch in Louisiana. We ate supper in Alabama. We'll have our bed time snack in our house in Florida. What a day. We watched several DVD's during the 10 hour car trip. We also played card games Mrs. Nedra gave us. Grandma and Grandpa had to drive in a lot of rain. We made a rest stop in Camping World and got to look at a lot of neat stuff. The dogs rode in the shopping cart and Glee pooped in the cart. Grandma had to clean it up. Our little sister was really excited to see us. We think Mom was glad too. Grandma and grandpa will leave tomorrow. We'll miss them. We hope they'll miss us. We're turning this blog back over to our grandparents. To keep up with us you'll have to go to http://justus8.wordpress.com

Aunt Debbie leaves

This morning we posed for a group photo (on our photo blog) and then took Aunt Debbie to the airport. Traffic wasn't bad so we made a stop at Hobby Lobby to let Aunt Debbie look around. Grandma bought her some yarn and some Red Hot Candy for Uncle David's snack package she sends to him in Iraq every few weeks. We left Aunt Debbie's plane actually left a little early. Our grandparents didn't know they ever left early. That got her to Memphis early enough to get on a flight to Atlanta without waiting. She had to spend a lot of time in Atlanta because she just missed the earlier flight to Melbourne. At least there was more to do at the Atlanta airport than at the Memphis one. On the way back to our grandparents house we stopped at Lubby's cafeteria and ate lunch. We played when we got home then went swimming. After dinner we "worked" on our computers. Tonight we have to get cleaned-up for church tomorrow. Tomorrow night Grandma preaches at the vesper service. We get to go to the ice cream party after vespers. This is the last of our blogging. We leave Monday for our home. It sure has been fun here but we are starting to miss mommie, brothers, sister and Kevin.

Friday , August 8

We are so sad. Today is Aunt Debbie's last day. Tomorrow we have to take her to the airport. We went to our favorite, Taco Bell for lunch. It's one of Aunt Debbie's favorites also. Then we drove around. We went by the prison to see all the horses they have. We also went to the dam. We found a place on Lake Livingston where grandpa could launch his boat for free. There were a lot of birds there. It was very pretty. We came home to swim but it's raining. Grandma plans to clean out the refrigerator for dinner tonight. Photos are on the photo blog, You can get there by keying in this: http://community.webshots.com/user/Ginrich1

Thursday, August 7

What a day. We drove 1.5 hours to Fry's Electronics. In the car Aunt Debbie taught us how to crochet some more. Nathan is doing multiple rows already. We both think it is a lot of fun. At Fry's Aunt Debbie found the camera she wanted. From there we went to Panera's to eat and then to Barns and Noble. We looked at some magazines and then left Grandpa there looking at magazines while we went into this really big mall and went to the children's museum. We had such a good time. Highlights were the "critter room" and the obstacle course. Pictures are on the picture blog. When we got home we went swimming, then supper and more crocheting. We sure are enjoying Aunt Debbie.

Wednesday, Aug 6

Today we played with Aunt Debbie, went to "My Place" for lunch, saw the stock yards with baby calves, and went to Texas Pepper to have TexMex food. Early this morning Aunt Debbie helped Grandma and Grandpa put up a really big antenna for when the satellite has rain fade like during tropical storms like we had yesterday. With all that rain they are still 3 inches behind in rain fall for the year. We had another thunder storm today so we couldn't go swimming. Aunt Debbie tried to teach us to knit but we had trouble with 2 needles. Now she is teaching us to crochet. Grandma bought each of us our own crochet hook and yarn. Don't know what we'll make but it will be fun. Tomorrow we are going to Fry's Electronics so Aunt Debbie can buy a camera. We should be home in time to go swimming if it doesn't rain. Photos are on the photo blog.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Today we "worked" on our computers while the Tropical Storm passed over us. We had a lot of rain but because of the drought, it soked into the ground very quickly. We ate lunch at our favorite, Taco Bell then went back home because Debbie called and said she was delayed in Memphis for an extra hour because of weather. We parked in the passsenger pick up lot until her plane came in. We counted taxi cabs and watched planes fly in while we waited.

We ate supper at Lubby's Cafeteria. It is so nice to see Aunt Debbie. She is staying in our grandparents RV so she has her own space to rest. We have a lot to do while she is here.

Miranda celebrated her birthday after we got home. The grandparents gave her a baby doll that drinks and wets and a diary. Aunt Debbie brought us some souvenere pens from Atlanta.

We have a lot to do while Aunt Debbie is here. We are really excited about it.

Friday, August 1 and Saturday August 2

Friday and Saturday are "bum around" days. Friday we ate luch at Tacco Bell, our favorite place, and then shopped at Wall-mart, another favorite place. Grandma and Grandpa forgot it was the first of the month and Wall-mart was jammed with people who have just been paid. Grandma bought us some balls for the swimming pool. Someone was camping in the park with a boy and girl our age so we had fun playing in the pool with them. We played wii and watched videos that night.

Tonight we go to church for a country gospel concert. Afterward they will have finger food. We look forward to seeing what "finger food" is. We get to go swimming earlier today since we have to be at church by 6 PM. Nathan pulled up dead weeds in the yard Saturday morning. He has some chores to do to work off the payment for the wii remote he broke. It is supposed to be the hottest weekend this summer so we won't get to go to the zoo today. The animals won't do anything but sleep in the heat. Tomorrow is church day.

We are getting excited becaues Aunt Debbie is flying in for a visit on Tuesday. Grandma has been getting the RV ready for her "guest room." We haven't seen Aunt Debbie for a long time.

Johnson Space Center

Thursday we went to Johnsons Space center. It was a long ride because of construction detours without road signs. When we finally got there it looked like everybody from Texas was there. We saw a trampolene bungy jump and got in the long line for that. It was well wort the wait. It was so much fun jumping high. After that we went to a movie about space on a really big screen. It was a bit long but we enjoyed it. Then we played in the ball tower while Grandpa watched some more movies. Grandma let us play on all the stuff all over the center. There was so much we could do it was hard to choose what was next. Later we went to anouther movie with Grandpa. That screen was 8 stories high. After the movie we had a snack and played some more. We got to walk on bungie cords and work on a chair they use for astronaut training. We also took a tram ride and saw where they train the astronauts. We got to see some real astronauts. They sure have to train hard before they go into space. We also got to see a ranch with Texas Longhorn steers. It as a really long and fund day. We got to TGI Friday's for Grandma and Grandpas 44 anniversary dinner at 9PM. We got home at 10:30. Even though everyone (except Grandma, who was driving) slept in the car on the way home, we went right to bed. What a fund day. Photos are on the phot blog.

Tuesday, July 29

Today the guys slept late and we just bummed around resting up from the heat from yesterday. We went to Tacco Bell's for lunch the Wallmart for more groceries. We had our daily swim, did some sidewalk art and "worked" on our computers. There are no photos from today. Tomorrow we will do more of the same around here because Thursday, Grandma and Grandpa's 44 anniversary, we will probably go to Johnson Space center. They have a lot of special things for children during the summer. It will take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get there so it will be a long day. We won't update this tomorrow but be sure to check it out Thursday night - and the photo page.

The Forestry Museum

July 28, 2008

What a fun day. We went to the doctor office for Grandpa to have a check up then off for fun. We drove for about 40 minutes to the first part of the Forestry Museum. This area of Texas is know as Piney Woods because of all the pine trees. Forestry is a major industry here.

Outside they have a Steam Engine Train also known as the Iron Horse. We got to play around on it. We rang the bell and we blew the whistle. It was really loud. Grandma’s ears rang the rest of the day.

After playing around in the engine and caboose we went to a nursing home to visit a friend of Grandma and Grandpa. They have an aviary. That’s a place that has birds. Some birds were nesting on eggs. They also have a big aquarium. Mrs. Dib was very happy to see some children. She enjoyed our hugs and conversation.

When we left we went to the second section of the Forestry Museum. First we looked around inside.

Outside they had a lot of forestry equipment. They sure need a lot of stuff to cut down trees for wood and paper.

They also have another Steam Engine train with a log car and caboose. We sure like to climb around on it. We rang the bell. Grandma was glad the whistle didn’t work.

After we climbed around on the train we walked the nature trail. They sure have a lot of different trees. It was really hot.

We went to the mall to “kill” 30 minutes before the senior rates went in at Golden Coral. The mall was fun. They had a play section and “crabby sand.”

We enjoyed our late lunch. We were all hot and tired and fell asleep in the car going home - all except Grandma who drove us home. What a great day.

Photos are at http://community.webshots.com/user/Ginrich1

Day 4, Sunday

Today we went to church. We hugged everybody who came into the sanctuary. We went up front for the Children's Moment. The Pastor asked some questions and Nathan answered every one of the as soon as they were asked - correctly. Everyone was very impressed.

After church lots of us went to a restaurant called "My Place." Grandpa left with a group from the church going to meet the new District Superintendant. Grandma took us home. At home we worked on our computer house designs until it was time for Grandma to set up for Vespers. We put all the hymn books on the chairs while Grandma fixed the communion trays.

After Vespers we went to the ice cream social. We think adults are louder than children. It was so loud you could hardly hear yourself talk. We are making a lot of friends. We seem to be the most popular people in the park.

When we came home, Grandpa was back but we went into the shed to work on our computers some more.

There are two new photos on the photo blog.

Check out photos

This blog is having trouble with photos. They say they are working on it. In the meantime you can link to
http://community.webshots.com/user/Ginrich1
Hopefully blog spot will get their problem fixed shortly and I can post phots on the blog.

Saturday, July 26.2008

We had another fun day. We “bummed” around the house playing and working on the computer.


At 4:30 we went to the pool. Wow. It’s really fun. Grandpa makes a good diving board.

After a spaghetti dinner we watched Peter Pan on TV. We could hardly stay awake. Then showers and bed. We go to church in the morning. Photos are posted on Grandma's photo web page.

Nathan and Miranda's Visit

Currently this blog service is unable to support photos. For photos go to http://community.webshots.com/user/Ginrich1

Thursday, July 24, 2008

We left Pace around 8AM. We stopped at Wendy’s for lunch then went to a new Pro Bass Store. It was a lot of fun. We saw fish, a big turtle, and a lot of “stuffed” wild animals. We ate breakfast in Florida, lunch in Louisiana and were hoping to eat supper in Texas. However, Interstate 10 in Louisiana was closed because a car ran into the back of a gas truck and they exploded. The flames caused damage to bridges in both directions over the swamplands of Louisiana.
We had a three-hour detour in a lot of traffic. We didn’t get into Livingston until 10:30 that night. Grandma and Grandpa said we were incredibly good.

When we got to their house we looked around. Nathan thinks it is a “cute, little house” and wants one just like it. We were excited to see we get to sleep in the loft. We can see everything in the living room from up there. We have our own DVD player and can watch movies.

We went to bed up there very tired.

Friday, July 25, 2008

We did some sidewalk art on the driveway today. Grandma wants all the concrete covered with pictures.

We went to Wall-mart to buy groceries. When we got home Grandma said this “cute, little house” is built for groceries of only 2 people. The freezer is jammed, the refrigerator is jammed and the counter is full because there is no room in the pantry. We think we’ll eat really well. We went to the videotape library in the park and each got a DVD and a videotape to watch. We went swimming and had a really great time. Then we went to Taco Bell for dinner. We were both so very hungry after all that swimming. After we ate we drove by a lot of ranches to see the big lake, Lake Livingston, and the dam that makes the lake. There were a lot of birds in the river and a lot of fishermen. When we got home we played on “our computers” and had desert. It’s been a really full and fun day. We’re tired.

It's been a long time

It's been a long time since I updated this blog. I have been batteling computers. One is DOA, one has been in and out of Best Buy's Geek squad, mostly in, and is there yet again. I've used various substitutes but, of course, my favorites don't all get moved over every time. I have a love hate relationship with computers. Love because I get to instant message with our son who is in Bagdad and also our other children scattered around the country. One day we had a daughter in Florida, a daughter-in-law in Texas, our son in Iraq and myself on a four-way internet conversation. That is well worth all the hassels computers bring our way.

Richard and I have been certified as lay speakers for the United Methodist Church. We were advised we would probably not be asked to speak as most pastors don't want to give up their podium.. However, we have both been quite busy. We have had the opportunity, each of us, substituting for our pastor in our home church and we each alternat every other month speaking one Sunday at the vesper service in our ever growing park. It is such a joy to speak God's word.

Ginger has created another blog for public access for devotions she's written. You can reach it at http://ginrich.wordpress.com/. She will be adding one each day (Hopefully).

We are not traveling in the RV this summer. We promised our church we would stay here since Richard is the treasurer and Ginger is the Lay Leader. We are going to Florida via car to pick up 2 of Tammy's children and bring them back for a few weeks of a Texas Adventure. Daughter, Debbie, will fly in for a quick 3 day visit in early August.

We bought a wii and have been playing Tiger Woods golf every day. Good exercise. We also do water aerobics which Ginger leads from time to time. The wii also has an exercize DVD which will cause us to "work up a sweat".

Besides church, helping out friends and neighbors, wii games and exercise, and general day to day chores there is no other news. Richard will be having a knee replacement Setp 8. We opted to wait until summer activites are over for that.

I will try to update this more often regardless of which computer I must use. I hope not to loose where it is again. Thank you, daughter Tammy, for puting a link from your log to mine so I could find it.