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!) ;)