WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

December 23, 2017

 In the last blog almost 3 weeks ago we had spent the first of our three weeks at Crosswinds Community Church as volunteers in Palmdale, CA.
 The last two weeks of our volunteer work we were kept busy with:

Copying an entire years worth of lesson plans for the kindergarten 

John & Jerry doing some landscaping

Jerry and John built a much needed storage closest

Dismantling, cleaning and painting many pieces of outdoor play equipment.

Before 

After

The Sanctuary all ready for Christmas - Jerry and John cut out the trees and painted the Peace, Love, Hope & Joy signs

John and Janis that we worked with the three weeks in Palmdale, CA

Ten days after leaving Forest Home Christian Camp in Oija, CA that we told you about in our last post the Thomas Fire started in Ventura County.  The fire started on Dec 3rd and is now the largest fire in California's history.  Over 273,000 acres have burned.  Over 1,000 structures have burned with 280 more damaged.  One fireman has died - more on that later.  In the last blog we told you about how much we enjoyed serving at Forest Home and that we toured the Teen Challenge nearby that housed 60 women getting help with drug and alcohol addiction.  The camp was spared although the staff had to evacuate but Teen Challenge burned.  No one was hurt thank God but the women left with only the clothes on their backs.  Being here and seeing it all on the news and having just been in that area has really brought it home how devastating these fires are.  As of today the fire is only 65% contained - they are projecting 1/7 as the day it will be 100% contained!!  Here are some pictures

This is actually the fence of the RV Park we will be moving to on Tuesday.  It was spared but the fire got right up to it!!

 Please pray for all of those effected by the fire - their lives are changed forever.

While we were in Palmdale Jerry wanted to take a drive to Jawbone Canyon where he and his dad used to go shoot jack rabbits (not sure they ever hit any).

Main aqueduct for water to Los Angeles - travels over 200 miles to get there

The aqueduct is the world's largest water-conveyance system, comprising more than 20 pumping stations, 130 hydroelectric plants, and more than 100 dams and flow-control structures.  
Not as easy as getting it right from Lake Michigan for sure

While in Palmdale the Pastor Tim and his wife Robyn had us over for dinner - it was a delightful evening.

After finishing our project in Palmdale we stuck around a few extra days and I took a two day RV Driving Class

Thought it was something I should know how to do just in case . .  .  It went well.  Still not my favorite thing to do but I have a lot more confidence then I did.

We said good-bye to Palmdale and headed to south to Chula Vista just outside of San Diego and Coronado.

As we traveled south every overpass for many many miles was full of firetrucks, fireman, flags, and everyday citizens as they were returning the body of the fireman killed in the Thomas Fire to his home in San Diego and to his 2 year old daughter and pregnant wife - it was incredibly sad and moving.

We arrived in Chula Visit and got our coach ready for Christmas

We don't have a fireplace so wanted to be sure Santa could find our stockings

Our little tree and nativity set

Love listening to Christmas music and enjoying the lights

We are not here in Southern California alone.  Our dear friends from home Gary & Steph Vogel are nearby as are Nancy & Jeff Jeffreys whom met several years ago on the road and without planning it we keep ending up near each other :-)  So we all decided to take a Harbor Cruise together.

We were on the Spirit of San Diego

Gary, Steph, Jerry, Carol, Jeff and Nancy

San Diego Skyline

There were several cruise ships in port

Many Navy Ships

We also saw the famous statue of the sailor kissing a nurse depicting the end of WWII

Our next stop was at the beautiful Del Coronado Hotel

The Hotel was built in 1887 and one of the largest wooden building in the US

One surprise we had the evening we parked at the hotel - the parking turned out to be $30 for 2 1/2 hours!!  Won't do that again - ouch!

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  On the beach right outside the Del Coronado a sand sculpture was created in memory of the firefighter who had lost his life in the Thomas Fire

As the sunset we sipped hot chocolate and watched the ice skaters at the man made skating rink at the hotel

Beautiful at night all lit up

Look who Jerry found as we walked around the town of Coronado

On Thursday a dear friend that I worked with for four years (sometimes in the same office, never more than one office apart and then we had a sliding window) came over.  Haven't seen her in over 11 years!!  We had a wonderful visit and will be having dinner with her and her husband and kids tonight!!  What a treat it was to see Sonja!!


I had learned from a friend that a boy who grew up on the street I lived on in Lake Forest, IL had a restaurant on Coronado   My brother Bruce and he were best friends for many years but had lost touch.
I gave him a call and Jerry and I went to Mc P's Irish Pub for lunch yesterday - my friend Greg Mc Partlin is the owner.

The Pub was so fun and had great food.

The young man I knew on Scott Street went on to be a decorated Navy Seal medic.  We talked for hours.

Knew when I read his sign he still had a great sense of humor.

So here we are in Chula Vista, CA two days before Christmas. Who would have ever thought.  Tonight we have dinner with Sonja and family, tomorrow Christmas Eve & Christmas Day we will be with Gary and Steph Vogel.  Life is not perfect but it is good and we feel blessed.

So as Jerry and I close this blog we wish each and everyone of you a Blessed and Merry Christmas.  May you be surrounded by people you love.  

Thank God for all He has given you and remember the Reason For The Season

Our Teddy dreaming of what Santa will bring him

And our precious Grandson Vincent - Yes were are blessed and grateful

Merry Christmas, Jerry, Carol & Teddy