Serena and Jan together in Edmonds, WA

Here is the picture my daughter took of Serena and me in Edmonds last Wednesday. Serena's pictures are at her blog, Serena in Seattle.

BTW, I'm home!

Since I've already posted below, you must realize that I'm back home on my familiar computer. It is nice to be here in south, coastal Texas, even if this is flat and HOT (plus humid) country. We are glad to be back with our dogs--Baillie, 11 year old blonde cocker, and Cisco, 3 year old shepard mix, and cat--Gracie, 2 year old long-haired calico. Have already shopped at the local HEB supermarket (only owner of supermarkets in Corpus Christi), with many people buying cases of water. I haven't tasted water from the tap yet (with all the chlorine added to stop the e-coli contamination), and so I did not buy any bottled water. Possibly a mistake. . . .

And now I need to unpack (and wash clothes).

Using my son's computer in Austin, TX

We are glad to be back in Texas, despite its heat. Though I call my husband "strong and quiet", he, MJ, and I are all being quiet as we sit in DC and AA's apartment in Austin. Our son and daughter-in-law have gone to a couples' wedding shower, and generously left us to be "at home" in their apartment. We are doing what each of us likes to do to relax--I'm on the computer (though it's DC's); husband CB is surfing the tv; and tired MJ is lying on a bed and reading. Since we are all introverts, it is nice to not be visiting for a little while.

The wedding is tonight, and tomorrow we'll drive back to Corpus Christi, which will take about four hours. From the news we have heard, Corpus Christi got little rain from Erin and the city's water is clean again! The future of Dean looms ahead, but is not in the next day or so for Texas. So we will go home in peace.

It is always nice to come home, wherever it is. My parents told me that when I was about three years old and came back from a trip (and the only trips we ever took were to visit relatives), I went around the house in Lubbock, TX (!) touching each piece of furniture and saying, "Nice chair; nice table; nice pillow. . . "

Serena in Seattle!

Today my daughter MJ and I met Serena in Edmonds (a suburb of Seattle). She has already posted pictures at her blog Serena in Seattle of us. It was so much fun to meet her; I felt like we'd met many times before! (There's another reason to blog. . . .) Once I get home, to my own computer, I'll post the pictures taken with our camera, though I'll need MJ's help in downloading them.

Only one more full day in Washington. Then on Friday morning we'll drive back to Seattle (for the third time this visit) to return the rental car and check in at Sea-Tac Airport. We'll fly to San Antonio, arriving at 11 pm. That night we'll stay in a hotel in San Antonio, and on Saturday morning we'll drive to Austin to visit oldest son DC and his wife AA. Saturday night we're going to go to a wedding of friends' son at the Lady Bird Wildflower Center. Finally, on Sunday we'll return to Corpus Christi. (And that's when we'll see how Corpus Christi is--right now the entire city's water system is infected with e-coli bacteria, plus Tropical Storm Dean is headed for Corpus Christi. It seems safer and more pleasant here in the Pacific Northwest!)

Sunday in Seattle

This morning my husband and I went to the 8:00 service at Church of the Ascension in the Magnolia district of Seattle. It was easy since we had spent two nights with dear friends only a mile or so away from there.

We were blessed to be there, especially because there was a baptism of an Asian little boy named Jacob. I am amazed at how each baptism IS a renewal for me, enveloping us all in God's overwhelming love. The homily by the female priest, who may be a friend of Mompriest, was empowering for social justice--that God requires action with worship. She explained and espoused the UN's MDGs, which is such an important initiative. (Click on the top right button "Voices Against Poverty" to find out about the MDGs.)

This was a Sunday in more places than just Seattle. After church, we picked up daughters MJ and AE and AE's partner KA (formerly known as "KB", because I didn't know her middle name) for the trip to Bellingham for husband CB's family picnic/barbecue. His brother cooked 9 lb. of salmon and some Boca burgers and there were various salads and side dishes, including fresh corn on the cob. It was a cloudy off-and-on sunny day, so many of us ate outside. Love this cooler weather here! CB's brother, who is a very funny guy, told me twice that we have a house "that way" and could live here (meaning my parents' old house, which we rent out).

Around 5 pm, people dispersed, as did we. With AE driving the rental car, KA, MJ, and I went south again for Seattle. I am still appreciative of AE driving; she is an excellent driver, and I'm glad I didn't have to tonight! The traffic was stop-and-go on I-5 in Everett, which is the major city in between Bellingham and Seattle. (Until the 1990s, Everett was known for its disagreeable and distinctive smell, because of its lumber mill, which was shut down back then.)

We dropped AE and KA off at their apartment in the U District and then drove back over to our friends in Magnolia. MJ and I are spending this last night with them, so I can take her on the Underground Tour in the morning before she goes back to the girls' apartment. Then I'll drive to Kent, south of Seattle, to visit another friend from high school.

Tonight I walked with bubbly friend TFJ (in Magnolia) and her fluffy, white samoyeds. The sky was beautifully pink with the sunset, and Seattle bay was glistening. So beautiful.

In the beautiful Northwest

We are in Bellingham, WA in the home of my husband's parents. It is nice (comforting) to come back to the people, house, yard, and neighborhood that are so familiar. Little changes, but basically the same. I found myself feeling sad when we drove past my parents' old house, which we rent out. It is in good condition, as is the yard, but the neighborhood has changed around it. There are new houses built next door and behind it. Inside, I know it is also different. Really, it's not my parents' house anymore--it's just a house I own.

I am newly aware of the fun of reminiscing of family at dinner last night, with husband CB and his sister JT and parents, laughing and remembering. Daughter MJ enjoyed this so much, learning more about her dad and her family. I was stuck in the loss of having no family like this--only later realizing that my parents probably would not have acted so normally and happily, especially with me having no siblings. Too much introspection on my part, instead of enjoying the moment--still, I am learning how I so often put myself "apart." God is helping me to remember him and it's a struggle at times. Praise to you, O Lord.

Husband CB and 17 year old MJ and I are in Washington until Aug. 17. Only ten days--Aug. 7-17, with two of those days being somewhat drawn-out travel times with Southwest Airlines and traversing by car. (Corpus Christi is about the same distance between San Antonio as Bellingham and Seattle. The major airports we used are in San Antonio and Seattle.)

Daughter AE is taking a four-hour Chinese class each weekday at the UW, while her beloved KB works. So we have loved ones apart, and we are traveling to and fro. Prettier driving than in the coastal plains of south Texas though!

Off and on, I'll be able to get to a computer, though not everyday. I'm glad to be connected through cyberspace to friends and family.

Going to Seattle and Bellingham, Washington!