Getting There

Yes! We did get our bags closed, with the addition of one more bag.

We didn't have to pay overweight until we made the last part of our trip -

which was IN Indonesia, when we flew from one island to another..

 To get to Indonesia, we went through Japan, and spent the night in Tokyo.

.

We spent the night with Micah and Allison Beck in Dallas.

Micah was raised in Indonesia at the same time our 3 kids were raised there, so our families are longtime friends. Micah  took us to the airport early the next morning, and will keep our car for the month, and then pick us up at the airport when we return in mid-August.

In the airport, ready to board our plane.

We stayed in a hotel near the airport in Tokyo instead of waiting out  the 11 hours

inside the airport. Here Johnny is wearing his kimono and sipping tea,

Japanese style.

It was good to see the beautiful rice fields of Asia, once again.

This photo was taken out our hotel window.

After baths and sleep, we were ready for the last 11 hours of our trip.

ON OUR WAY....

"In-do-ne-sia, here we come.

Right back where we started from."

(to the tune of "California, Here we come")

Been singing this song as we've been trying to squeeze everything

into our alloted bags and keep them at the acceptable weight.

It's a thrill to return to the country where we began our 36 year career with

the International Mission Board.

Oh, no!  What to do?!

Ahhhh!  With a little encouragement, they WILL close!

I think we're ready to depart.

Watch for the next stages of our trip. 

BUSY DAYS

It seems we have been running from one thing to another lately.

Do you feel that way, too?

All good stuff, though!

Here's a few pictures to give you an idea:

Here is Elliott in his championship uniform for his team going to State playoffs

in Texarkana.

Carl is under Papa's truck, changing the oil!

(First customers in his oil-changing business.)

And while all these things are going on, Johnathan, having finally recovered from

being in the hospital one week, spends his time at our house

writing up his final papers for his Fusion course work to be mailed in.

Busy days, and all of them GOOD days.

SATURDAY DRIVE

It was a beautiful spring day and I had a yen to get out see some of the spring flowers. We could have made a full day of it, making a circle drive through three nearby towns. But neither Johnny nor I wanted to take that much time.

So we just drove on the country roads around Longview.

Here is what we saw:

We never tire of these East Texas roads.



The Lanceleaf Coreopsis is one of my favorite wildflowers.

Indian Paintbrush

As we drove through the countryside we came upon some goats.

I wondered if they made goat cheese there.

I'd like to get some, if so.

The striking Indian Blanket, the state flower of

Oklahoma where I was born.

Coming to the end of our drive, as we were heading home on the

busy highway, we laughed at how many wildflowers

were right there, visible for all to see.

Here was a long stretch of the Indian Blanket wildflowers.

Now, we are moving deeper into June and the hot weather.

Different flowers are beginning to bloom.

But we will remember that cool(ish) Saturday spring drive.

 

ESL PICNIC

It was a beautiful day for a picnic, and that's how we ended

our English as a Second Language spring semester.

Calixto Arce, a friend who was born in Mexico and lives in Longview with his family now, spoke to our

ESL students and their families.

He is a successful business man, dedicated Christian leader, a member of Mobberly Baptist Church.

 He gave his testimony and a great challenge

to our students to learn and use English.

We enjoyed good food and fellowship,

and gave out certificates to all the ESL students.

Now we take a break for the summer and

will begin again in September. 

HOT SAUCE

The son of friends of ours was getting rid of his unique hot sauce collection. Because he is a pilot, his pilot friends would bring him hot sauces from all over. Our friends were sharing the bounty with whoever liked such hot flavors.

Of course, Johnny and Noel had to choose several. But we all enjoyed reading the creative labels they were given. Like:

Holy City Heat

D' Bomb

Texas Sweat!!

Texas Tongue Torch

Neclear Hell

D.O.A.

Acid Rain

Drop Your Drawers

Scorned Woman

Jamaica Hell Fire

Eternal Flame Hot sauce

Hiccuppin Hot sauce

Bat's Brew

Fire Bayou

Swamp Fire

HAPPY EATING!

(But keep a soothing drink nearby!)

MOTHERS

On this Mother's Day, I am thankful for the wonderful
mother God gave to me,
Betsey Crane.
She was a godly woman, my friend, confidant, and advisor.
She loved to laugh and had a good sense of humor, and
she led me to the Lord.
What a precious blessing she has been to me.
We all miss her.