A silent night,
A star above,
A blessed gift
Of Hope and Love.
GREETINGS from Northeast Oregon!
To
say we have been on the road a bit this year would be a huge
understatement! We left in March for a
visit with Grandma R and brother Randy in Albuquerque, NM. Brother Rob’s son, Matt, was getting married
outside Asheville, NC, the first week of May, so we decided to volunteer travel
to the wedding. We worked with Habitat
for Humanity in the hill country of Mason, Texas. It was a great two weeks with family and
friend visits mixed in. We then traveled
to Nachez, MS for a week of sightseeing and history lessons. A 2 ½ week Habitat build in Tuscaloosa,
Alabama, followed. We worked building
houses that included safe rooms in the area the tornado devastated five years
ago. It was an interesting time in a
deep South town, home to the University of Alabama. Many new foods to try, and Rick even attended
the spring football game, along with 70,000 others!
From there
it was to Huntsville to visit the NASA Space Museum and then to Kentucky and
Mammoth Cave. We also enjoyed a pre-graduation
visit in Eastern Kentucky with a young man we had been sponsoring for many
years. Asheville and play time in the
Great Smoky Mountains took place before the wedding. It was a great trip through new territory,
although dodging the thunderstorms and tornados that occur there in the spring
was NOT fun!
Grandma R
is still doing well in New Mexico and enjoys visits with her great grandson. Grandma Mac turned 97 a week ago and is still
living in her Bandon home. A few more
health concerns, however, have led Ging and her sibs to more extended
visits. So, Ginger had several trips for
mom and beach time!
This fall
found us again in Kalispell with Habitat.
And then, since we missed working for CHRPA in Tucson in the spring, we
worked there for two 90 degree plus weeks in October. To cool off, we snuck another 10 days in
Kalispell to help meet a Habitat deadline.
Thanksgiving was in Bandon with visits from both sons.
Jed is in
his second year as a visiting professor of physics at Willamette University in
Salem, OR. He is thriving there and
hopes to be offered another year. (It
looks promising!) Luke finished his term
as youth director at our church here in Baker City in June. His girlfriend, Kady, returned from a Peace
Corps stint in Indonesia. They did some
traveling and biking before settling in Beaverton, OR for awhile. There are job applications out so who knows
what is next for Luke!
Rick still
enjoys hiking and snowshoeing, with some home repair and volunteer medical
transporting thrown in. Ginger is always
creating or teaching arts and crafts.
With her extended time at the beach, she has participated in creating
art from materials washed up on the beaches (Washed Ashore.org) She remains active in our church, most
recently as substitute pianist for morning worship as we search for a new
organist!
Who knew
retirement was going to be this hectic and fun?
We know we are blessed to be able to do our volunteer traveling. We revel in the incredible people we have met
while enjoying God’s creation. We have
no plans to stop!
We wish
Christmas blessings to you and your loved ones.
Peace,
Rick and Ginger
elkhornrandg@gmail.com
Rick and Ginger
elkhornrandg@gmail.com
