Spring in my Neighborhood

May 1st, 2016.  First warm day we have had and all of Belgium is out to enjoy it.  Out in droves in fact.  And who can be inside when this glorious scenery is there to inhale?  

Steve's Family April 2016

Ah, lovely unmistakeable Venice.

Kent loved feeding the pigeons.  This place was his playground and we spent many hours here just chilling.   Look at his flip flops.  Isn't he so so cute?

The famous photo that is in every depiction of Venice.  Tom said the yellow building in the corner of the photo is his favorite.  It was stunning.

Dinner along the Canal.  Yes the waiters and owners were extremely friendly....but it was because of Kent.  Italians love their bambinos.  

It seemed like all the towers were leaning.  I like how in the plazas that is where they 'play' whether it is a game of soccer or playing jump rope.  No green grass parks in Venice!

Just picturesque.  And the wisteria was in full bloom.

Looks ideal right?  Our apartment was on a canal, and it was fun to watch the gondolas pass by.  What I didn't think about was that Kent thought it was great fun to throw things into the water.  Yikes.

In a nutshell, our visit with Steve and Felicia and Kent was marvelous.  We watched Kent while the parents went to Paris.  We had a nice family trip to Venice and the weather was fantastic.  Steve was able to visit everything in Belgium on his bucket list: frites, Stockel waffles, downtown, Tervuren Lake, the bluebells in the forest, Atomium, Domus, BAS, Brugge.  It was hard to watch him take his 'last look' at his birthplace and his childhood home and all the memories and landmarks that makes up who he is and where he grew up.  I saw a T-shirt advertised where there is a tree and the roots are of the colors of the American flag and the branches and leaves are the colors of the Belgian flag representing people who live in Belgium but have American roots.  Felicia said, "In your case Steve, it would be just the opposite."  It's true.  

Monterey visit Mar/Apr 2016

When I think of Monterey, the words rejuvenate, relax, reflect all come to mind.  I love to rent a bike for the week and spend my days outside.  Thanks Tom for working so I can play!

Seth's Family March 2016

First of all, the terrorist attack on Brussels affected all of us, whether we were there physically or not.  It was devastating to watch it all unravel in the news reports.  We were grateful to be in Egypt at the time.  We left Saturday and the blast at the airport was the following Tuesday.  The blast at the metro was between Maalbeek and Schuman, a metro line we take regularly.  Unsettling at best.  Where in the world will the next attack be and whose lives will be changed?  Our prayers go out in behalf of those affected, especially our friend Richard Norby and his family.  This event will forever be a part of their daily lives.  We visited the memorial and the feelings there were palpable.  (photo credit:  Heidi)

We watched the boys while their parents visited Berlin.  Then I watched Jonah while they took Taft/Luke to Paris.  (All of this was in the innocent days before the terrorist attack)

Taft celebrated his 7th birthday in Belgium.  We went to Hofstead park and this was his b.day dinner:  pizza and a chocolate bomb for his cake.  

The great pyramid of Giza.  Seth read somewhere that is was literally impossible for these structures to have been built when they were.  Then how did they get there?  One theory (not kidding) is that aliens built them.  (picture credit:  Seth)

A camel expedition.  I like this shot showing the city in the background.

Camel ride!

Queen Hatshepsut temple.  Born 1508 BC and reigned in Egypt for 20 years.  This structure was built to commemorate her achievements and serve as a funerary Temple for her.

We stayed at the Jolie Ville Maritim Hotel on Kings Island.  It was fantastic.  It is on 165 acres.  There are 3 swimming pools and this is one of them.  The infinity  pools overlook the Nile and it really does feel like you are swimming in the Nile.  The breakfast area also overlooks the Nile.  So relaxing to watch the felucca boats glide by and the occasional cruise ship.  Sadly however, tourism is extremely depressed in Egypt (as I am sure Europe will also feel the affects b/c of Paris and Brussels attacks).  This hotel is running at about 9% occupancy and it takes 15% to break even.  The kids were the lone kids on the complex.  Often there would only be one other couple at the pool.  We literally felt we had the place to ourselves.  Food was great so we stayed there for our evening meals.  A truly restful holiday.

Making his living

This still makes me laugh.  Jonah and his blond hair and blue eyes.  He was a rock star.  People were always asking to take his and Luke's picture.  On this occasion, Jonah was willing to be admired.  He even snuggled this girl a bit and I think she felt like he was hers....when the other girls wanted to hold him she would have nothing to do with that.

Ten years later.  The shrine obviously worked.  If you walk around it 7 times then you will marry.  He did it for himself and then for Jared ten years ago.  He did if for Rock as well, but maybe he didn't do it the full 7 times, so this year he and Taft both did it for Rock.  Heidi did it for Taylor.  So there should be a couple of weddings to look forward to!

Just because it's so amazing.  So old.  So majestic.  So much history.

Check!  I finally have taken a hot air balloon ride.  It has been on my bucket list ever since I saw the balloons in Iowa so many years ago.  We got up to 2300 feet and flew for 50 minutes.  It was beautiful.  I had to wake up at 4:30am b/c it is a sunrise experience.  We flew over the Hatsheput Temple.  We saw the sun rise over the Nile.  I loved seeing the green fertile land by the Nile and the harsh desert once you get away from the water.  Each basket holds about 25 people and there were 7 balloons that went up together.  

Hard to capture such an experience with a camera.  It has to be felt.  Peaceful, calm, quiet (except for the occasional hiss from the hot air)  I'm glad I could do it in Egypt as well.  The temples, the Nile, the desert, all as the sun rose.  Nobody else wanted to join me b/c the departure was 0'dark 100.

Felucca ride.  

A group shot.

We ended up on a small motor boat b/c there was no wind for the sailing boat.  Jonah threw his binkie in the water.  We had 2 hours on the water at sunset.  They served us karkayday (the tart, red, hibiscus tea). 

Suzanne's visit Feb 2016

We had probably 20 minutes to ourselves at the Garden Tomb.  Warm, pleasant, sunny weather, quiet and peaceful.  Always a high point.

Dome of the Rock.  Talked to a Muslim Guard for quite a while.  Tension always there, but increased at the moment because the Zionists are not allowed to enter.   Demonstrations are present but quiet.

Steps next the Ciaphas palace where Peter sat outside and denied Christ three times.  Mt of Olives in the background

Ramparts walk

Walked to the Golden Gate.  Imagine! Christ will enter through that Gate at his next Coming.

Western Wall, Dome of the Rock.  Always impressive

Capernaum.  So much happened here and in the Galilee area.  Impossible not to feel the spirit of Christ here.

Going to church at the BYU Center is always a must.  The view is always inspiring.  We also enjoyed the Orson Hyde Memorial Park with the same views.  Beautiful!
Not often you get to take a trip like this with your sister.  We really enjoyed ourselves.  It was a long time in coming and we were thankful and happy to have this chance.  It's been a short 3 months since Jerry has died.  Often there will be something that tugs her heart strings.  She has been able to share with me her struggles and I think in a way a bit of her heart has healed just to walk where Jesus walked.  I'm glad I could share it with her.

Italy ski trip Jan 2016

Desenzano Italy on Lake Garda.  Since there was very little snow in the Dolomites, we had to drive to the snow.  We stopped in this darling Italian village for one night.  This is the town square. 

All villages have their castle and this one belongs to Desenzano

Sunrise from our balcony

No mistake you are in Italy with all those tiles roofs.  The port is in the background.

Cervinia Italy, the Italian side of the Matterhorn.  

'The Wall'  This is the view from our apartment balcony.  

Views go on forever and not a cloud in the sky

Skiing between Italy and Switzerland

In Switzerland the cogg train is part of the lift system.

That Matterhorn.  Everywhere you turn.

Our apartment complex is on the left side, called White Apartments.

We had spring skiing conditions for 3 days.  It was blue sky, warm temperatures, great snow conditions.  The 4th day was a white-out!