Change of Plans

We have been back from St. John the Forerunner Monastery in Goldendale, WA for a few days now. The trip down was long! We kept thinking we were almost there after we passed Seattle but we actually had another 4.5 hours to go. Joshua was a great little traveller and only whined a few times when he got bored but I was not so good at entertaining him in the hot car (yes, it was hot despite the air conditioner!). Plus, our car engine likes to get very hot on long trips. Joe thinks it's just the thermostat that needs replacing but by the time we got to Yakima it was red-lining on hot.

Our actual stay at the monastery was very nice. Joe's Mom gave us her room and slept in her car. I wasn't comfortable with taking it from her but with Joshua we didn't have much of a choice! I loved how laid-back the monastery was. It was nothing like St. Anthony's in Arizona (Mom explained that this is because the monks need a more strict monastery than the nuns do ... apparently men have a harder time with the monastic lifestyle). We got to the monastery at 630 pm on Thursday and left at 630 pm on Friday. It was definitely a long drive for just a 24 hour visit but I was getting sick by Friday evening and was worried it might get worse by Saturday. Plus, it was nice to drive home in the evening when Joshua would actually sleep in the car for a while. He would not go to sleep on the trip down there!

We were able to visit with Father Paisios only twice for a short while each because he was busy the first day and a half hearing (constant) confessions and then the Bishop arrived so he helped show him around. I am happy to report that Joe's uncle is not actually as intimidating as I first thought. When we travelled down to Arizona in December of 2003 it was to receive his blessing to get married and I think he seemed so intimidating just because I was worried he would say no! :P

The trip to Goldendale has sparked Joe, Steph and I to buy plane tickets to Edmonton for next week. *L* I am definitely not doing the equivalent of another 4 of those long car rides with Joshua, despite how good he actually was! So, we fly out on Thursday of this week and fly back into Abbotsford on the following Friday. It's a fairly expensive trip with the airfare and car rental once we land but it'll be nice to see that part of the family again.

Yesterday we attended Rylan's Baptism at my Grandmother's Lutheran church in Matsqui Village. It was a nice service and he looked so cute in his Baptismal outfit! Congratulations Rylan!! :)

Anyway, enough of the twenty page blogging. I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine (and for your sakes, the air conditioning too!) ;)

Travel Plans

Well, the next two weeks sure filled up in a hurry. Joe and I decided this morning to go down to Goldendale, Washington tomorrow morning and stay for a few days. Joe's Uncle, Father Paisios, is visiting a monastery there, up from his monastery in Arizona. He has not yet met Joshua and I've only met Father Paisios once before so this should be a nice visit. I do, for some reason though, find him a little intimidating! We'll be staying at the monastery in a room to ourselves (which is weird since our last visit to Arizona found us segregated at worship and meal times, let alone bed times ... I'm just very happy for the constant help with Joshua!) Joe's Mom and Grandma will be heading down too so we will definitely have more than enough help with the little boy.

Thus, we will leave tomorrow morning after our home-cooked breakfast at Papa and Oma's house (YUM!) and drive the 4? 5? or 6? hours to Goldendale .... I honestly have no idea how long the drive will be. (Fun with the little moose, I'm sure).

We will be back by Monday and then leave for Edmonton on Wednesday (with Stephanie) to visit our sisters and brother and attend an anniversary party for Uncle Alan and Aunt Ruth. We'll be driving and probably spending a night in Valemount on the way there and probably on the way back too. I'm not looking forward to the many hours of car travel ahead of us! Joshua hasn't been on a long car ride since he was 3 months old and slept most of the way so we'll see how this goes ... I'll keep you posted! ;)

Not a lot is going on ...

Well, for once in a long while I am happy to report that life is fairly normal right now! :)

Joe, of course, is still off work due to his bicep tear and Joshua and I are fully accustomed to having his Daddy around to play with (Joshua) and help with the house (Mommy).

Mom and Rick are away for about 10 days so we're finding out what it's actually like to not have built in babysitters and while we are having a great time constantly hanging out with the boy, we're also realizing how much easier it is to do simple things like vacuuming when he's upstairs visiting his Grandpa and Grandma Styles.

Joe, Stephanie, Joshua and I are also planning a trip to Edmonton for the end of this month. We weren't sure if it was possible since Joe's off work and we haven't yet been approved for Medical EI but we've decided to just go and make it work when we get back (that might be a mistake, I know). Luckily, my sister Sherri and her husband are almost done building their dream home in Edmonton and it will be ready about a week before we land on their doorstep! :)

The little Parson fetus is growing as I'm now almost 17 weeks pregnant. This means he/she can hear sounds from outside the uterus and is a whopping 5'' long. I can't wait to look pregnant instead of just fat! :P