Patti's Perspective: November 2011

We are so grateful for friends and for family and all our blessings. Life for us has slowed down some and while mostly routine, we are occasionally able to get away. The end of September found us headed to Oregon again for a pre-scheduled fishing trip, but wouldn't you know it...it rained (this is Oregon and not all that unexpected) and the trip was cancelled. Rog and John were still able to get away for a day of fishing, but didn't bring back loads of salmon as we had anticipated. We were able to watch Joseph as he played for the Sunset Freshmen team and he's a good player...we got to see him a lot as he played the whole game (and it was rainy), both offense and defense. Way to go #51!

We were able to watch Leif play some soccer and go with Berit to the Pumpkin Patch with her school class. It was a great week as she also celebrated her 4th birthday. Rog also found time to help John with a "shelf" project.

In November, we headed for California and just in time as it was snowing the day we left. We headed to the Newport Coast and some beach time with Rob and Tamsen and their cute children. We were able to visit and spend some time with the Lees (host/hostess extraordinaire when we were on our mission in Arcadia). We visited with the Armenian Group on Sunday when we spoke at Sacrament meeting and also when we attended Family Home Evening. They put on quite the spread including wonderful dolma. We were stuffed considering we hadn't known it was a dinner and had eaten dinner earlier.

Another fun thing was to be able to see our daughter, Alisa, as she performed with the LA Opera's community program. The opera chorus is done by the 4th graders who for several weeks have been rehearsing and are joined in a couple of rehearsals by the main characters. It was a great experience.

We journeyed next to San Diego for a few days to visit with Kay and Craig Bullock. Craig was one of the ushers at our wedding and a friend since childhood to Rog. It was fun to listen as they shared memories of their growing up years. Kay wasn't feeling well, so we just had to do with Craig, but he was just great as out tour director, showing us some of the touristy things of San Diego. We were able to do a session in the San Diego Temple, visit several sights in the city and nearby,including the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center and our last day was spent at the Wild Animal Park. That's an amazing place where their focus is on increasing the populations of endangered species and they have several success stories, i.e. California Condor, white and black Rhinos, and some others. We also watched the Cheetah run and they can were able to do the 100 meter course in about 5.5 seconds...now that is fast.

Next, on to more warm weather as we will be sharing the Thanksgiving holiday with Rob and Tamsen and their family in Arizona. We were lucky enough to be at Hewitt's Thanksgiving play performance. Those first graders are so cute. We're looking forward to the turkey feast that we know is coming, but every day we're counting our blessings and are so grateful for each one of you. We love you!