Mid West Update from Angela

Saturday, April 17th
Today we leave Dodge City, Kansas and head to Kansas City, Missouri. We are at the point in the journey where we can’t remember what day it isJ We left Colorado in some pretty bad weather but we got safely here. In true Vermilion fashion, one of us got sick! My brother will get a kick out of that:-) Yes, poor wee Joel. He had a high fever that wasn’t coming down so we ended up in the ER in Dodge City. We had pulled into town after 7pm so there was nothing open. We found out he had a double ear infection so is now on antibiotics. Funny thing was – short of a fever we would have never known as he was happy and being a trooper on the long car ride. Hopefully he will be better for the rest of the trip and no-one else will get sick too!
Dodge City is really pretty – an old Western town. Too bad we didn’t have time to explore more here. We have left the winding mountain roads of Colorado and for the most part driving a two lane road through the grassy plains of Kansas. We have cows in Scotland but I mean to tell I have NEVER seen this many cows – they are everywhere. The adults and kids are both amazed at how many cows we have seen. To quote Megan “I smell a stinky poo!” It sure is pretty though to see the beauty of the countryside and see the many colors. They have these really awesome purple blossom trees and we have seen many beautiful homes. Tim keeps us in the traveling spirit by playing tunes he put on his i-phone – right now I am listening to “Life is a highway, I want to ride it all night long…” You all singing along?? We also amuse ourselves with who is right with the directions…Tim with the GPS or Grandma with her AAA maps! The race goes each time we need to find something! The kids are doing really well with the traveling. The girls are watching movies, playing games and eating lots of snacks. Joel sleeps most of it but is keeping busy with toys when he is awake. I am loving the back seat of the van and catching up on some “me” time with letter writing and Sudoku puzzles – haven’t had time like this in a long time!!
We stopped off in Wichita, Kansas to see our friends Don and Sue Duncan. I had met them when I was a kid in Scotland and it was great to see them again. Don is the pastor at a Calvary Chapel there and they have a beautiful church with stained glass windows and it looks like it should be somewhere in Britain out in the countryside – it was lovely to see! They are currently remodeling it since some homeless people had been living in it and it had been vacant for awhile…it’s quite an undertaking but it’s coming along really well.
From there we drove to Kansas City, Missouri and then hit the road the next morning for Iowa!
Sunday! We got up and headed out for Iowa Falls. It was a bit of drive but the kids did well knowing their friends were on the other end of itJ It was so wonderful to see the Nosaleks! The kids have grown a lot and Eric and Jamie are remodeling a lovely house that we got to stay in. It’s right on the lake and they have a boat dock too! It was amazing to wake up Monday and just open the blinds to the beauty of the lake and the pretty flowers and trees surrounding it! We had a great time visiting them and it went too quickly and then we were back on the road heading for Missouri.
On Tuesday we went on the Vermilion Pilgrimage to Lemon’s Missouri to find what used to be called “Vermilion Cemetery” but is now called “Lemonsville Cemetery.” I thought only my dad did this but I guess Tim likes it too. His mom has given him a family history notebook with all his family history going way back and his aunt Donna had told him about Lemons. It was his grandpa’s birthplace. His great grandpa is still buried there. There isn’t much to see in Lemons…a really small town but we found the gravesides of his family members and the Vermilion tombstone was pretty big and towards the front of it. Next we went to find the old church…couldn’t find it so I decided to jump out and ask an old guy that was farming. He told me it had been torn down about 10 years ago so I asked him if he knew anything about the cemetery – he told me, “Not much except folks get buried there!!” After chatting a little bit more it turns out he actually knew Tim’s great grandpa! It’s a small world after all!
We hit the road and spend the night in Colombia, Missouri. Since we had been in the car all day the kids relaxed in the pool at night with Tim.
Today we went to St. Louis – amazing city. It is so beautiful and there’s a lot to see. We went to the top of the Arch – also known as the Gateway to the West. You had to go up in this tram thing that looked like a space pod – very tight quarters and thankfully we couldn’t see out! We got to the top and it was amazing – you could see the whole city – it was a long way down but we did it! Next we went on a riverboat down the Mississippi River. Megan was all into the jazz music playing in the background! Once we did that we had just enough time to head back the arch and see the museums. A horse and carriage was at the dock and so we decided not to climb back up the stairs but to cheat and take a ride. The girls loved sitting up front with the driver. The museum was neat and told of Lewis and Clark and their exploration of the West. From there it was onto dinner and of course, Mississippi Mud Pie for dessert!!
We have been getting in late so Anna will blog soon. Chicago tomorrow! ~Angela~

Some of Anna's highlights

Thought our Uncle Gerard would appreciate this - this was a special place for Tim and his dad and he had to take his kids there. If you are into Boy Scouts you'll understand.

From Anna

Sorry, I have not blogged for a while. So, any ways, we have been to Bakersfield, Laughlin, Flagstaff, Santa Fe, and now we are about to leave Trinidad, Colorado. I am writing to my friends as we drive. I miss them so much. I got to hike down a big Indian canyon. My mom, Megan, Joel and my grandma didn’t want to hike down because some of the trails didn’t have rails. It was so much fun! The doors into the Indian homes were so tiny – I am taller than them.
I got to see the famous Painted Desert, it was so pretty. I loved it so much. I went a meteor crater – it was so big. I think the meteor crater was so cool because they had a theatre, telescopes so you could see down to where a guy dug a tunnel. I got a bag of rocks from the rock shop. This was cool because I have rock collection.
In New Mexico we went to Taos and there was a really cool playground that we could climb on. There was a tree house that I thought was really cool because sometimes me and my friend played Magic Tree house.
In Colorado we went to dinner and they had singing waiters. They embarrassed me by singing and rubbing my head. I didn’t like their love songs – their voices were good but there songs were bad. We had dinner with the Gueck’s and we are going to be living close to them in Virginia. I can’t wait for the rest of the trip. I miss you all so much – love, Anna

April 12th
We left Bakersfield and California and drove about 300 miles to Laughlin, Nevada. The morning started off interesting as Tim’s sister’s dog got out and Tim ran to get it, scooped it up and the dog went pee on himJ When he got in the car the girls and I joined in “who let the dog out?” A good start to the morning, LOL!
It was an interesting drive across the Mojave Desert and through Tehachapi where it had snowed. Ironically, the last day in sunny California was not so sunny! We drove through rain and lightning till we go to Laughlin. The rain stopped by the time we got unpacked and so we went for a stroll along the Colorado River. Wasn’t very impressed by Laughlin…was glad to hit the road.
April 13th
Onto Flagstaff, Arizona! Poor Joel is either fighting something or teething…he was pretty puffy eyed and had a runny nose…he’s a trooper though and did well on the drive. We stopped in Kingman for lunch and then at Walnut Canyon to see some cliff dwellings. There was a hike to the bottom and I got as far as the landing and chickened out – there was no way I was going down there with three kids! My thoughts were confirmed as some lady looked at me like I was crazy and told me how bad the rails were and how she didn’t think the kids should go…so Megan, Joel, grandma and I went on a rim hike and Tim and Anna went down to the bottom (if you know me you’d be proud that I let Anna go!!).
It was pretty neat to see and Anna loved it. Megan did well though she was pretty disturbed to see that the Indians ate “Bambi” as she put it. Onto New Mexico tomorrow!!

Just some of our boxes and Miss Anna not wanting to leave - we had to pull her off!!

April 11th

The hardest part of this journey is over….the goodbyes! We shed many tears as we said our goodbyes to everyone here in California. We have many friends that are going to be dearly missed. We have been very blessed!! We are all emotionally exhausted. The whole moving experience with someone else moving you was definitely something else – I have a new respect for the military families that do this every three years. WOW!

We were told that packers would arrive between 8-10am - they showed up at 7:45am. Tim was calling me to look out the window and as I did I saw this 60 some feet truck in front of our home…it spanned from one neighbor’s house right to the other neighbors. I will never forget the look on Tim’s face as he climbed the ladder to the attic, we just had to laugh. I am not quite sure what we expected but the four men packing my stuff were not anything like I imagined! If you know me at all you know I like to do things myself and I am quite the perfectionist, so here I am trusting these four men to pack my china etc. We’ll see how it fairs on the travels and when it’s unpacked:-) We, as most people are when they move, quite surprised by the amount of “stuff” we have accumulated….I mean when I immigrated I came with nothing but two suitcases!! I had gone through things and given stuff away, I had thrown out stuff, and I had organized and pre-packed clothes...even with all that it is too much stuff!

On Friday, the truck pulled up again and the loading began – it was all packed so all they had to do was take it out – a couple hours it should be done, right? Wrong! They loaded all day till 7pm…the truck was full! My only consolation was that there was one other families “stuff” inside that will be dropped off in St. Louis…will they get any of my stuff?? Hmmm:-)

Saturday came and we had a farewell gathering with our church friends and neighbors. It was really fun at first as it was so neat to see all our friends and the food – let me tell you – what a spread!! Then people started to leave and the tears came! My family will attest that I am a crier but I think I cried my eyes out! My kids took the whole thing better than I did but I am wondering if they really get it. Anna shed many tears before when the news broke that we were moving and she confessed today that she cried in the back of the mini-van yesterday. Megan – well, who knows – she took it in her stride and can’t wait to see her new room but when we left Ventura today she said “I am sad.” We can’t thank everyone enough for their friendship and love and support – you will truly all be missed!!

After the teary goodbyes we headed back to the house to finish up some last minute pieces. Then I cried again as I said goodbye to my neighbors. We were so blessed to have come to call them friends. We are so grateful for them and them looking out for us and letting me borrow so many ‘cups of sugar’ over the last five years. They will be missed and hard to replace!

After that we hit the road and drove to Ventura – for our overseas family and friends this is a beach city about an hour north of us. Our dear friends the Modglin’s live there – they have a church plant there. It was so good to be there and eat my favorite Chinese food and spend time there. Today, Sunday, we went to their church and were blessed as Don prayed for us and our new life. It is so neat to see the work there and we have made some new friends there (as well as reconnect with Gil and Sandra) – we will miss them all too! Then another goodbye – a really hard one – I have known Josh since he was born, watched him grow up become an awesome young man and I will miss seeing him as he continues into his teens. Don and Arly have been there so many times for us – they will truly be missed but I know it’s not goodbye but just see you soon!!

The final event was going to dinner with Tim’s family in Bakersfield. It makes it easier that grandma is joining us on our trip but it will be hard to say goodbye to Tim’s sister Laurie, her husband Eric and my way cool nephew Nick – we can’t wait to see them in Virginia for visits!! (hint, hint)

Tomorrow it’s off to Laughlin, Nevada! I think its six hours….guess, I will tell you for sure tomorrow :-)
~Angela~


Last night we went to Ventura to sleepover at Don, Arly, and Joshie’s house. I can’t wait for the rest of the trip.
~Anna~

About 16 years ago I stood crying in Glasgow airport, Scotland. I was saying my goodbyes to my family as I left for California. It was so hard! I was excited about my new adventure to California, it was something I had dreamed of for a long time. But, I had to leave behind all the people I loved! My dad told me that one day I would leave California and be crying as I left my new friends behind. Well, that day is almost here and many tears are being shed as we embark on a new adventure to Virginia. We know that God has called us to go and has opened many doors for us. There is no doubt He is in this whole thing. Still, its hard to leave our friends and what is familiar behind. As Tim and I remember memories together we realize that we are so blessed by the life we have had here. It is truly a bittersweet moment in our lives - so excited to go and see what God has for us in Virginia but sad to leave our wonderful friends behind. There are simply no words to express it all adequately. So much is happening so fast. So Anna and I decided to blog - we will blog everyday as we travel to our new home. Join us on our journey and share this new adventure with us! ~Angela~

I was born in California and I am really going to miss it. I have lots of friends and we are having as many playdates as we can before we leave. I am really going to miss our house, our neighbors, our church and my friends. I am really sad about leaving and don't want to move. I am a little bit excited about going our trip across America and getting my own room. I will miss you all ~ Anna~