Feb 2, 2014


After a wonderful two months with our dear son-in-law , Gabe, and our oldest Daughter, Stacy and their 3 fun children, Miss Shaina - the diva about town, Miss Shelby - the big helper, singer, and crafter, Mr. Greyson - our little man who is a great dancer, kind and fun dancing GengKum Style sp??, we are now at the Hyatt Regency resting as on the 4th we lift off to South Africa flying delta to Atlanta and then nonstop to Johannesburg SA.  Even though the weather in Dallas was often damp, cold and icy, our hearts were warmed by the Rios hospitality as they rescued us when our car would not start, carted us to the airport, stored all our items that we are not taking in their garage, put on two amazing holiday dinners for us with a smashing Christmas, escorted me, Grandma, around as I still don't drive here in Dallas and we had one car. For two months, they spent lots of time with us old folks and it was so fun. Their new home is warm and inviting and it was fun to spend their first Christmas in their new home with them.  We arrive back here for another week upon returning from South Africa and we are really looking forward to it. We are already planning a trip to the Grassy Knoll - and George Bush Library with Lunch at Cafe de France, our favorite new find. Shann is also excited about her new favorite hair stylists, Terri, at The Artistic Edge, and our new favorite church, Bent Tree Fellowship with Peter Briscoe as pastor. We are starting to feel like Dallas is home.

Last year we were in Africa (Zambia) under the umbrella of Every Orphans Hope. This time Les and I will be on our own for a bit before meeting up with Holly and Will and the 4 grandchildren. We are excited beyond belief to be with them but pray for Grandma with her phobia of snakes , as this one was in the Gruvers  home (west of Johannesburg - Gauteng Province) where we will be staying when not in Cape Town.A NIGHT ADDER!!!! Holly says she claps whereever she goes to warn the snakes. Stay tune for our big adventures as they are a family that is on the move, especially helping others - I am excited to worship and sing with them, go exploring and seeing all the amazing wild life and beauty of the area, especially going to help the people and hold the babies who are orphaned where Holly goes to help and worship in the Peoples Church with them - I cannot wait to meet the local people.  In Cape Town, we spend five days at the Vineyard Estate and then five days south on the ocean at Boulder Beach with the penguins. I am told they STINK but I don't care - they are so adorable. INTERESTING NEW FACT I LEARNED - did you know that 80% of all penguins on earth live in warm climates?
Holly and Will are in Cape Town now and that Saili - she is so adventurous - look where she is right now- is that a swirling object near the shoreline to the left of her? Hope not - looks like she is all alone. I think our amazing photographer, Claire, took this picture, so she can't be too alone!!

I guess Cape Town was voted the

the best place to live on planet earth. Les and I have been reading "The Covenant" by James Michener. Long book but really helps you to understand the history of the African continent as a whole. It makes us realize how young our country is in comparison to this continent and it is much easier to understand why the people and their culture are so engrained in them …………………………………………More Later - it is Super Bowl time !!!!! We are ordering room service at the hotel at the airport Hyatt - just got through watching Captain Phillips movie which put us in a mood to travel the land in SA but not the seas around it :)