We Say Goodbye To Our Son

Our son Bill had been visiting us since Christmas and the time came to say goodbye the other day. He put it off as long as he could. He has a house in Florida that he needs to get back to. Bill is retired from the Air Force and doesn't have another job at this time. That is why he was able to be here for so long. He is single so did not have someone anxiously awaiting his return home.

Bill had a period of time that he was not able to get back to see us in San Diego as he was busy with the Air Force and he needed to replace his car to make the long drive. He needs his car when he is here as we don't have one and he has a lot of places to go. Bill and his Dad are both birders so enjoy going to all the places that birds will be seen. Laura also enjoys looking at the birds and going on excursions with her brother. I enjoy the rides too.

While he was here we went to the desert and the mountains several times. Bill met a new friend while he was birding so they went a lot of places together. It is nice to have a friend with the same interests as you have. The last time we went to the Salton Sea Bill's friend Mark was with us. Actually Bill and Mark headed that way at least one more time to observe the birds.

We always enjoy our mountains when possible. We drove through the Lagunas more than once this year. Bill also went to Palomar Mountain more than one time. I was with him on one of the trips. It had snowed so it was pretty, white and cold. I have to admit that I mostly go for the ride and don't get out in the elements when it is cold.

We went to Borrego Springs and nearby Anza Borrego Desert State Park on one of our rides. Actually Bill did that more than once this year. I won't try to mention all of our excursions as we did a lot while he was here. We enjoyed our coast on a number of occasions as would be expected. We always enjoy a walk along the cove in La Jolla when we get a chance. Sunset cliffs are pretty too and a good place to see some birds. The Point Loma area is also good. We also got to the Del Mar area, and other places in the north county. We found some new parks and nice areas for birding in several San Diego neighborhoods.

Of course my favorite place is Coronado. That is our hometown even if we don't live there anymore. That would be where Paul first started birding. His mother was always interested in the birds in the tree outside her kitchen window and in her backyard. I'm sure that helped gain Paul's interest in birds.

Bill became interested in birds when he was stationed at Luke Air Force Base in the Phoenix area. He wanted to figure out places to take us when we went to visit him. That started him finding birding spots to show us. Paul had liked birding in Arizona ever since we first went there in the late 70s, way before Bill was there.

Another favorite place we were able to get to while Bill was here is Griff's place in Valley Center. He has ten acres that we enjoy exploring. We visited Griff twice while Bill was here this time. We have managed to get to Griff's more times in the past year as we have had other rides there. We had two different family gatherings there last summer. Once with our daughter Kathy, son-in-law John, my sister Donna and brother-in-law Fred. Another time with Becky and Jay when they were here on their honeymoon. Earlier in 2010 Bill had been here on two different trips. We visited Valley Center then too. Griff was with us on Christmas and another time while Bill was here.

My cousin Dagna and her husband Joe also visited us once since Christmas. Donna and Fred were also with us that same day. Dagna and Joe try to get here soon after Christmas each year. They live in Oceanside. We went to their house last year when Bill was with us.

I guess I can say that we have had a lot of things going on in recent months. We are blessed to have family that can come to see us. We still need to get out of San Diego more often to go see loved ones. Laura, Bill and I went to Colorado last year to see our family there. I want to get back there to see our new great grandson and the rest of the family. I want to go to Pacific Grove to visit Paul's brother and sister-in-law. We have not been there in a few years. It is always good to get out of our comfort zone to go see family. They are dear to us.

I pray that Bill gets home safely. He plans to enjoy the birds along the way instead of his usual quick trip across the country. He may get back here before too long. He is hoping to do so, but did not promise for sure. It is a long way and takes a lot of gas. I think he enjoyed his time in San Diego and didn't seem to want to leave. Hopefully he will move to our part of the country eventually. He has had thoughts of doing so.

Well Laid Plans

Each year I think I will finish our Christmas cards early, but each December finds me needing to address the many cards I intend to mail. I made some cards earlier this year as I did last year. It is fun to be creative and to use old cards to make new ones. I would make all of the cards if possible. I also have some other nice cards to send to friends and family so have plenty to choose from.

I sent a small amount of Thanksgiving cards and was able to get most of them in the mail early. This should have been the pattern to follow for our Christmas greetings too. We have received some beautiful Christmas cards already and I have yet to address any. It is always a pleasant surprise to find Christmas cards tucked among my birthday cards early in December each year.

Plans go out the window when you get sick. I managed to get a bad cold and did not want to leave my chair for several days. All scheduled events had to go on without me. I missed my own birthday if that included going someplace. But I wasn't forgotten by friends and family. I am truly blessed. But I would have loved to be at Bible Study at FBC and share in the baby shower for one of our sweet ladies. I also missed an event I was scheduled for at Westview Bible Church. I did not want to share this cold.

Sorry to say that Paul and Laura now have colds too. So guess none of us will be in Church tomorrow. I hate to miss going to either Westview or to our old Church in Coronado. I have strong ties to Coronado and newer ties to Westview in Imperial Beach. Both are precious to me. How can I leave the place that has been home for so many years? Laura is very happy just going to Westview. Paul would probably be happy going along with Laura. But I am not ready to let go of the place that has been such a blessing for so long. They have been so good to us. For now we mainly go to the place nearer home which is Westview. But Paul and I get to Coronado at least once a month. And I stay active with the Ladies Bible Study at First Baptist Church in Coronado.

This was intended to be about sending Christmas greetings and also about well made plans. The greetings will be sent, hopefully not late. The calendar may be full but I have to be willing to let go of things if need be. I want to do each activity planned and that would have been nice this week. But we never know what tomorrow may bring. Last week my sister, Donna, wasn't going to come down for Thanksgiving since she had a bad cold. But on Thanksgiving eve her brother-in-law died so Donna and Fred's plans were changed. They needed to come to be with his family in Chula Vista. So we got to see them after all. But it was a sad time for their family.

During the year I have thoughts of what I would like to do for loved ones at Christmas. As time passes it becomes obvious that these plans are not possible. We always have to minimize what we do. It is a good thing that it is the thought that counts because that is mostly what we give now days. A small package for each grandchild and for our four children are at the top of the list. Postage costs more than what they contain, some years. I have other small gifts on the list that I try to buy. I consider cards to be the main part of our Christmas giving. Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Trying to share that precious message is the most important thing for me.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Image credits:Jerine; calsidyrose; Lauren Manning