Redgate Cabin

Those of you reading this, who know us well, will know that we just love it at our cabin. It has been a great place for us to work off life's stress', to have large family get-togethers and a wonderful place to wrap yourself up in nature. We had the chance to go to the cabin with my brother Rich and his wife Annette for one last trip before our mission to Africa, and it was bitter sweet for sure. We had a great time as Mother Nature cooperated quite nicely and we also had the chance to share many laughs and memories. We accomplished the exterior and interior winterizing process, since Brittney's husband Dan won't be back from Iraq until January, and the duty would have fallen to him. We know that family and friends will enjoy "Redgate" while we're gone, and that makes us very happy! We just ask that as those big 4 pound bass keep getting bigger, that you please leave a few for us to catch in the Fall of 2010.

The famous "Redgate"

"Chippy"

Nature's morning lace

The fence from the 'December to remember'

the boathouse... which is so much more

The placid side of Redgate pond

The long and winding road

Great place, fond memories and much to look forward to.

Decompression...

Knowing that we were going to be retiring and packing and selling and relocating all before 10/3, we decided a while back to plan a trip to the Outer Banks of NC, right after all the chaos, so we could 'decompress' a little from the intensity of it all.

We were fortunate to stay at a place right on the ocean and as you can see we had the beach to ourselves. We did buy a new camera to take with us on our mission to Africa, so this trip gave us a great opportunity to get used to it and see what it can do. The camera is great, (Olympus SP-56OUZ) even in the hands of amateurs, and with the success we have had here, we are really looking forward to using it with the wildlife in Africa. We had several very intimate encounters with the birds on the banks and they were most considerate subjects.



A very curious male 'laughing gull' that felt right at home in front of the camera. Double clicking the photos will open them to screen size. Give it a go... and view the amazing detail afforded by modern technology.

We went to a movie one evening and had popcorn left over, so since there were no other folks on the beach to complain, we decided to feed the leftover popcorn to the birds. Here is a shot of one picking the pc out of the air with incredible agility!

A mainstay of the Outer Banks beaches are the ghost crabs. They come out at night and cover the beach to scavenge whatever the tide delivers them and they keep the beach remarkably clean. Our kids used to love running the beach late at night with a flashlight, and seeing hundreds of them scampering at the tide line.This is a shot in total darkness of a 5" male ghost crab using the pop-up flash.



This is the bird that effortlessly sailed in to get some of the popcorn that Reenie was generously providing and as he flew over her head he pooped right on her back...a big liquid wet white poop about 4" long on the top she had hoped to wear to dinner. Ahhh...to be among nature

One of the great advantages of being here at this time of year is the solitude. We brought along missionary prep material, CES prep material and Perpetual Education Fund reading as well as the 23 page handbook for missionary couples serving in the Africa Southeast Area. We have enjoyed hours of uninterrupted study and will be the better for it. This was a much needed and very much enjoyed holiday from all schedules and routines.

The next beach that we walk on to admire the surf and sand will probably be the Indian Ocean.

415 Hillside Drive

Tonight is our last night in the place we have called home for over 12 years, longer than we have lived anywhere else. This Friday we will sell the house where we have had so many good times, birthdays, Sunday family dinners, my parents 60th wedding reception, family Christmas' and so much more. This has been a nice house and a great home. I leave the 275 foot rock wall that I built by hand, with some reluctance, knowing that no matter where we live after Africa, I will NEVER be able to build such a structure again! It is hard to leave, but we were blessed to sell it in one day with such a troubled housing market, and get a very fair price. The movers have come and gone and the house is empty. Things are becoming very real now. It has been a time filled with emotions, but we know that we are on the right course and that we will soon be helping others who would never ever dream of owning such a home. We have really been fortunate to have been given so much and we have the memories to take with us.

...and so it ends!

This has been an amazing week for these two future missionaries. It started out with us flying to Elkhart, IN, where the Sr Management gave a first class send-off for Jim and his 27 years of service to the Steinway Corp/Conn-Selmer Division. Yes, it really happened...after 35 years in the music business, Jim retired! The restaurant was the beautiful Villa Maria and a great feast was had. Many glowing words were spoken and gifts bestowed. It was a classy, emotional and proud moment and I'm sure glad I had my lady there to help me share in the festivities. She was the anchor that enabled me the success that I enjoyed.