Back to Fort Bragg

So, where to begin? We left Sweden one month ago and we left all of you wondering what has happened to us. Let me catch you up. We flew back to the west coast and stayed in Abbotsford, Canada for 3 weeks. We stayed with family - Kevin, Liz, Gibson (2 ½) & Ellie (4 mo.). We had a fantastic time with them. I got to baby-sit the kids a couple times and even changed a poopy diaper. It was a 2-yr-old’s diaper (extra stinky) - I’m glad I get to start off with a newborn. I hear they’re not so bad. Barb spent 4 days at home, in Alberta, with her parents and her Nana. She tried to say goodbye to her home there, since her parents are planning to move to Abbotsford. I think it was a bittersweet visit for her. While she was gone, I ran errands, took care of some business, worked on the car, baked cookies and muffins, watched TV, babysat, wrote emails and read a book. It was nice. I also drove down to visit a friend in Bellingham who was a classmate of mine at the College of the Redwoods (CR) last year. I had a really good time catching up with him and his wife.

During our three weeks in Abbotsford we had the chance to see family lots and visit our close friends. Barb even had a baby shower. One day I offered to make dinner for our friends at their house, so I drove down to Washington, bought everything I needed for a meal of shredded pork enchiladas, Mexican rice, refried beans, chips and salsa. We had a feast. The enchiladas were really nice. The night before I served them, I woke up at 3 am to stir the pork and turn off the crock pot. What a committed cook I am!

We left Abbotsford on December 21st and stayed the night with Scott & Chaline Brown in Canby, Oregon. They too were friends from CR last year. They offered us great hospitality and we got back on the road recharged. After a 14 hour drive the next day we arrived in Dinuba, California at my parents’ place. We were there for 3 family Christmas gatherings, a baby shower, and visits with several friends. I watched way too much TV and ate far too many oranges. We had a nice visit with family. I was sick most of the time with some type of flu/cold hybrid - not nice. Unfortunately I didn’t have an appetite most of the time, so I had to pass up a lot of good food. I would be remised if I did not tell you about our car problems. Yes, car problems. Every time we go to California there is something that our car demands we do for it. It’s like it’s saying, “If you want me to make that long trip again, you better do something for me!” This time it demanded new brakes. I learned that our car needed new rear brakes during an oil change in Abbotsford. The mechanic said there was no way he would drive the car all the way to California with brakes in such poor condition, and when I said I didn’t have the money to replace them, he gave me this convicting look and said, “Well, God bless you then.” Well, we left with our terrible brakes and yes, God did bless us. We made it home where I had all of the brakes on the car completely replaced. It took several days and a lot of running around, but our car can now brake with the best of them.

We left my parents place this morning with our car packed full to the brim. It was packed so full and tight that when we finally got to Fort Bragg this evening and opened the doors and trunk they just popped open and stuff came spilling out! We used every square inch of our car. We even had stuff on top. Our stroller and my chair box were on top, strapped down. But we are here now. We were greeted warmly by our friends, Russ and Kathy who are letting us stay at their home until we find a place to live. Russ is another woodworker who was also in the program with me last year. And tomorrow the search for a house begins. We are hoping to find a nice small place close to the school. Also we are searching for a doctor for Barb this week. I imagine we will also drive by the hospital, since Barb doesn’t even know where it is! If all goes well this week, we’ll find a doctor to catch our baby and place to bring it home to.