Category: Other Page 75 of 180

(so after I wrote that last post about all the polls?  The next day I found $20 in the bottom my purse.  Argh.  We’re choosing to laugh about it.  🙂

The primary purpose of this trip is to see people, not places.  We’ve passed up a lot of great landmarks, and that’s okay, because that’s not why we’re doing this.  But we decided that we couldn’t come all the way to the east coast without visiting NYC and DC, so we gave ourselves two days for each place.  

New York City truly is as fantastic as the movies make it out to be.  It’s an amazing blend of history and modernity, and is unlike any place I have ever been.  The people, the streets, the noise…it really is remarkable.  

Empire State Building 

NYC is also incredibly expensive.  Which is why we drove past a lot of places without going in.  

eating world famous gyros from a world famous street cart (it’s true!)

Where else can you go to find Elvis as an M&M?

Touring in a double-decker bus

I cannot resist Broadway shows.  How could I possibly come all the way to New York and not take my kids to see Broadway?  

 There’s something really special about watching Annie with former orphans.  

We made it to the Atlantic Ocean!

The Statue of Liberty is back there.  But I figured you’d more likely want the see the kids in front. 

the world famous toy store

Name that movie.  Anyone?  Anyone?  

East coast lessons learned the hard way by ignorant Californians:

1.  When you make a hotel reservation in New York City, do not assume they have a parking lot.  Silly us.  We assumed all hotels have things like parking lots. Suddenly that “discounted rate” we got on Expedia doesn’t seem so discounted anymore when you have to add another $40 for overnight parking…and then trudge down two blocks on dark NYC streets with your three sleepy children and their sleeping bags and your duffel bags and computers (since you don’t want to leave them all night in the $40 parking lot….)

2.  When driving on the east coast, BRING LOTS AND LOTS OF CASH.  You will be sucked dry by all the toll pikes (what is a pike, anyway?) and toll roads and toll bridges and toll tunnels.  Apparently the east coast doesn’t have taxes like California does?  (or maybe that’s why California is bankrupt?)  Anyway, when you look hopelessly at the toll attendants because all of your cash was used up at the previous toll booth, like a mile ago, she just grumpily tells you that your “violation will come in the mail.”  Please….please have mercy on us poor unfortunate people from California who are not accustomed to driving with cash….  We can drive for free where we come from.

(regardless, we had a wonderful two days in New York City.  pictures coming soon….after Gil sorts through the 600 or so pictures he took during those two days….)

Doug and Elaine and family were co-workers at HOPAC with us for many years, and we taught their kids. As a fellow adoptive mama, Elaine has been a mentor for me for many years.  I remember when we first brought home Grace, she brought me a meal….because she knew that new adoptive mamas need those too.    

and they took us to Chocolate World in Hershey, PA….

chocolate-induced, somewhat maniacal smiles….

Then we drove east to see Dan and Janet and family.  This family was one of the very first families we met in Tanzania, way back in 2001.  They mentored us and taught us and loved us for years….they were the ones we always called when we had no idea what to do….which was often.  How sweet it was to be with them again.

Thankful for big boys who were happy to play with my little boy.

We’re almost to the Atlantic Ocean….stay tuned!

visiting Craig and Kathy, former pastor and wife of our church in So. California

at the Creation Museum (which is technically in Kentucky, not Ohio)

 at the Air Force Museum

visiting Ben and Melissa and their five kids, friends from Dar

Melissa has two Liberian daughters, and a African-hair-stylist-extraordinaire.  Not only did she give me a lot of advice, but she even braided Grace’s hair for me.  Grace wanted it “just like Felicia’s.”  Aren’t they cute?

visiting my friend Kate, who was a wonderful blessing to me in Tanzania.  God’s given her a husband and a baby (who will make his/her appearance any time now) since the last time I’ve seen her.