Hawaii/California/ER

Bill and I returned from our trip to Hawaii via California to see Kirk and family on Monday evening.  We unpacked everything and then ithe virus hit me in the stomach.  Did it ever!  Early the next morning, Bill drove me to ER.  Noel and Galen joined us there.  I had a blood pressure of 217 over 80 due to dehydration.  After 3 hours, I had been treated and went home to sleep the rest of the day.  The next day, Bill had come down with the same illness that I had been given on the plane.  I have been thanking God that we got home and unpacked before it all struck.  I have also been thanking God for family that cares.

Kirk called, and his family is perfectly fine.  I am so glad!  We enjoyed seeing their new home.  It is a sprawling 4 bedroom 3 bath, 2 living areas ranch style house.  What I loved most about the backyard is that there are eucalyptus and pepper trees bordering the pool.  That is so California!  And, Ezekiel was such a happy little toddler!  He is like a little parrot and repeats everything.  He remembered us and came straight to me.  What a miracle child he continues to be!  

Kirk took us to his new office at the Inland Empire Baptist Building.  He's done a great job of decorating.  We also went with him to one of the new churches that he is mentoring.  It was in a new theater on the Riverside Plaza. The church is only 2 years old, and  I was surprised to see well over 100 people there.  After the service, the people were coming in for the afternoon movie showings.  Tamra had gotten off work at Riverside Community Hospital at 1:00 a.m. and had slept for a few hours, then met us for lunch at the Market Broiler.  It is like Red Lobster and we enjoyed birthday dinners.

The night before, my brother, Roger, came over to Kirk's for dinner.  His wife, Julie, came also  with their son Daniel and his fiance, Audry.  Bilal who is engaged to their daughter Jennifer also came.  (Jennifer was working and couldn't come.)  Bilal is from India and we enjoyed getting to know his culture and hearing his Christian testimony.  He is very handsome and charming.  Kyle, Kirk's stepson, made lasagna from scratch.  At 17 years old, he is a great young cook!

We loved Kauai!  It is the prettiest of all the Hawaiian islands by far!  It is a lush tropical rain forest with waterfalls, steep mountain cliffs and white sand beaches.  And, it didn't hurt that we stayed at a fabulous condo resort overlooking the sea and the sharp mountain peaks.  I will write more later and get Bill to help me post some pictures when we are feeling better.   I wish that you could have been with us!