Just 6 Months 'Til Christmas...

Yesterday, during a training session for Vacation Bible School I was attending, the facilitator remarked-- "Only six months 'til Christmas!", to which there was a collected gasp from the group listening.  I just smiled.  There was a time that I too would have gasped, but no longer.  You see, I really look forward to the holidays.  This is because for me, the meaning of Christmas has a vast difference than what the world would like us to envision.  Commercialism tells us we need to spend, spend, spend in order to be happy.  Yet, my most cherished Christmas memories are of those times when times were the leanest and gifts were either simple or non-existant.  The reason is because in truth, I have had the most richest of times being with family and friends.

In my extended family (the Lopez klan) we have a Christmas journal that each one of our family members take turns keeping for a year.  In that year, they record family happenings, maybe throw in current world events, and record their thoughts and feelings.  Each Christmas Eve, we come together, and after good food-- (oh, those delicious tamales,), lots of laughter, and reminiscing, the journal is pulled out and the family member who had it for the year reads their entry.  We laugh, and sometimes cry, as we hear what was written.  Afterwards, it is handed off to another family member who will take it home to keep it going for the next year.

So, yes, it's six months 'til Christmas.... I am looking forward to it, and for my sister Josie to have lots of good things to share from her turn with the journal.

All About My Dad

The man who was the most influential in my life was my dad, Francisco Lopez.  A Mexican immigrant, 'Apa' didn't have much education, but he was astute and resourceful, having more wisdom than so many people I've met who have extended degrees in education.  Apa was an intelligent man who wasn't timid around others.  And, even though he might not have had the English language acquisition he would have loved to have had, it never stopped him from making friends with English speaking persons.  You see, hearts have no barriers of culture or language, and Apa knew this, and made the most of it.
As a dad, Apa was such a tender man.  He loved each one of his eight children in a unique way, being well acquainted with each of his children's individuality.  I was the 6th of his eight kids.  He lovingly called me his "India"-- which in Spanish means Indian.  This is because I was the one with the dark straight hair, high cheek bones, and a sharp nose.  I was also the verbal one-- argumentative since a young age.  Apa often told me that I was going to grow up to be an attorney.  Yet, I think that he secretly loved my insistence and questioning manner-- knowing that my strong will, channeled correctly would make me a capable adult.
My dad's love, wit, and ever present attention to me and my siblings shaped my own parenting aspirations in my life.  My dad left this world on August 16, 2006 at the age of 82.  I miss him everyday, and smile and laugh when I remember his jokes, observations, and witty sayings.

Me and Apa  (c) 2002

Apa and family (minus picture taker- big brother Auggie) (c) 1963... I'm the one with the braids

My deepest consolation is that my father loved the Lord and served God with all his heart, soul, body and mind from the time he accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior in 1978.  He's no longer bound by a wheelchair and can  run and dance in heaven.  I know that I will see him again, and look forward to see his smile, and look into his kind eyes. While this may be the time to remember fathers with Father's Day, I remember my dad, 'Apa' everyday of the year.

Back Home and Back in the Local Swing

It was great getting away for 10 days, and getting back home.  Today is a exactly a week since we returned from our California Adventure Vacation; which actually took us into Oregon and Nevada.  This week, I've gotten back into my routine-- catching up with family, friends and neighbors.  We got sad news that a family friend G.G. passed away at the age of 99.  We went to her services today, and Abel, our son officiated.  What a wonderful tribute was given to G.G., both by Abel and her family.  I think that a life that is well spent is one in which a person yields to become a channel of God's love.  This is what G.G. portrayed in her life.  She simply reflected Jesus in all that she did, in how she responded to others, and in using her gifts that glorified God.  May God bless and comfort her family.

Summer is in full swing with graduations ending the school year.  I was able to attend one of our local high school graduations this week.  It reminded me of my own kids' graduations, of which the last one was 10 years ago when our youngest son graduated.  It was fun to see my nephew and his family beam with excitement to see their first child graduate.  Good luck in your future endeavors, Priscilla!

Days 8 & 9: California Adventure Vacation~ Reno, Lake Tahoe & Carson City, Nevada

Driving east across Oregon, we saw beautiful countryside.  Mountains topped with snow, rivers flowing with deer drinking from its water, and farmlands with quaint houses and old barns.  We made a quick stop finding a great quilt shop for Gracie, and a car shop Ruben and David enjoyed speaking to the owner about… what else, but vintage cars?

We reached Reno, Nevada and got ready for the next day where we would hike Lake Tahoe and visit Carson City.  We were not disappointed by our 4 mile hike to the scenic lake that laid 700 feet below the road where the trail began.  The water that contained small Kokanee fish was so clear, that it was hard to believe it was 4 feet deep.

We went on to visit Carson City, home of the state capitol.  The historic building was built of sandstone and doubled as a museum open to the public.  We learned much about the history of the state of Nevada while visiting there.

We enjoyed the sights of Reno, and the historic downtown area.

Tomorrow, we’re heading back home.  We have enjoyed our California Adventure Vacation.  We saw so many sights that ranged from ocean, redwoods, rivers and lakes (oh my!)  J

Ruben & Cindy at Skunk Harbor, Lake Tahoe

Ruben & David observing fish in Lake Tahoe

Days 5 & 6: California Adventure Vacation ~ Trees of Mystery & Grants Pass, Oregon

Wow, what a couple of days we had!  Yesterday, we drove up along the California coast, through Humboldt County and Eureka,  and reached ‘Trees of Mystery’.  We had seen this once on TV show ‘California Gold’  hosted by Hugh Houser.  But to actually walk through these incredible  trees was a story of its own.  We saw trees growing horizontally and upside down.  Trees clustered in a group of three, towering up for hundreds of feet, and forming a half circle—created a type of ‘cathedral.’ This tree formation serves as a place of inspiration where Easter sunrise services and weddings are performed.  Much of this natural attraction is based on legendary Paul Bunyan- the woodsman of lore, and a huge statute of Paul and his cow Babe are situated in the entrance to the park.  The highlight of our excursion was traveling to the tippy top of the mountain range in a sky gondola.  Definitely a must-see for anyone venturing this way.

Today, we took in the sights of Grants Pass, Oregon.  We’re lodging next to the Rouge River.  The small town of 38,000 population has many antique and craft shops.  We went on a four-hour boat excursion down the Rouge River where we spotted many types of wildlife, including two American bald eagles.  Dinner at the lodge was delicious, and the ‘spins’ on the boat were fun and refreshing- especially because the air temperature was 89 degrees.  Tomorrow, on towards ----- well, actually, we’re not quite sure yet; but I’ll blog as soon as we reach our next destination.  

Day 5: California Adventure Vacation ~ Monday, May 28, 2012

After a good night’s rest in our wooded cabin – we enjoyed breakfast with our lovely host.  She told us the story of Miranda Garden.  It turns out it was a 1920’s built (not 1930’s) motor lodge along the widely traveled route, Avenue of the Giants.   A man purchased the lodge 35 years ago and completely restored each cabin, down to the original redwood trim frames of windows and doors.  He also planted gardens of rhododendrons and fern that surrounded the century old redwood trees throughout the property.  She also told us about the year the high winds caused one of the huge redwood trees to topple onto the lodge office.  It has been rebuilt, in excellent accordance with the remainder of the structures. 

We ventured to the visitors’ center and Ruben and David were fascinated with the 1917 log camper on a Nash Quad 1913 chassis.  This first prototype of a RV was designed and built by naturalist, Mr. Kellogg.  We hiked Albee Creek and Bullcreek Trail, South.  During our hikes, we saw towering redwood trees, including the tallest which boasted a whopping 375 feet tall.  Picture lying flat on a football field and looking towards the field goal from one end to another—this is the distance the tree spanned from ground to top branch!  So awe-some.  At one point, I counted the rings of a fallen tree and calculated that it was 412 years old—or sprouted around 1612- before the Revolutionary War, and around the time the Pilgrims landed on the east shore of our nation.

Tomorrow, we head out to Grants Pass, Oregon, and look forward to lots more to see.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Day 4 – California Adventure Vacation: Miranda Grove

We arrived to Miranda, CA- a small sleepy town surrounded by tall redwood trees, and full of charm. We’re lodging in a wood paneled cabin built in the late 1930’s. Its architecture is very similar to the house my brother Ruben and I grew up in~ single paneled doors, low ceilings, and cute windows that drape inward when opened. We ventured into the small city nearby, where their shops and restaurants were mostly closed because today is Sunday. Tomorrow, we plan on finding some picturesque trails to see the wonder of the trees. Not too far from us are some of the largest redwood trees in the North American continent. Now, that’s something to behold!