King's Canyon

After a night in the outskirts of LA (we didn't get to see the city due to a fender bender the evening we had allocated for tourism), we drove through the fertile San Joaquin Valley and up into the mountains, to Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks. Kings indeed. Once the narrow windy road (with no guard rails I may add) broke through the clouds, we could see the immense trees towering over us. We had grabbed burritos and hamburgers at a roadside stand and sat outside without jackets, snow surrounding us, to eat lunch. Sometimes in February, the roads are closed to those without chains on the tire, but this year's lack of rain and snow left the roads and trails fairly clear. After lunch, we took a short hike to mingle with the ancient residents.

  

The Great Adventure

When I was little and my mom was looking to going back to work, our family friends, the McCurdys, chose to take babysit me while she was out. They joke that I am their third child, fitting perfectly in the gap between the two oldest girls and the three youngest. I loved being with them, playing with Arielle and Crystal and hiding from my mom when she came. When we got older we tried to make sure that my brother and their sister who was the same age married so that Arielle and I could be sisters.

Crystal is now married with three beautiful kids. Theirs is a household full of love, just like the home that I was fortunate to visit many times when I was little. Their family is about to grow again, as they are looking to welcome a little boy from Ukraine into their family. They are working on the adoption already, but they still have a long road ahead full of paperwork, excitement and worries, and planning.  If you would like to follow their journey, visit "The Sponseller's Great Adventure." You can support the adoption financially by visiting Crystal's Etsy store, "The Great Adventure". Whether you visit the blog or buy one of Crystal's homemade soaps, please pray for them on this great adventure!

Isma Comes Again

Actually, it's the same visit from August, but I wanted to post the pictures now, rather late. Notice: Isma had the camera most of the time. But I did sneak a few shots of him! Thanks Linda and Sonny for letting us stay at your house...we had a wonderful time!

Summer with Isma

Best Weekend Ever

August 1, I took Isma to visit downtown Chicago. We walked up and down Michigan Avenue, visiting Millenium Park, Buckingham Fountain, the John Hancock Center, the Water Tower, my favorite the Tribune building, and the Transformer's III set along the river. We were pretty excited about all of the foam destruction and overturned cars. The day wandered on pleasantly, even though we couldn't find a place to eat the salad and milk shake we both wanted. Strange cravings? Getting to wish the barista at the tea shop where we ate supper, "Happy Birthday!" met up for the lack of a cold chocolate milkshake.

At dusk we strolled down to the aquarium and planetarium to sit and look at the city skyline by night. The lights meandered down the coast for what seemed endless miles before disappearing into the fog and up to the skies on the tall buildings, which from so far away seemed to lose a little of their stature. After sitting and messing with the camera a bit, Isma suggested we stop playing and taking pictures. I wasn't too happy, but I supposed we could talk for a bit before heading back. Not his idea. He knelt, not paying attention to the concrete below, and asked me to marry him. If I would like to start going down a long road with him, referring to the longest highway in the US that goes through Chicago, starting that evening. I am so happy! (Yes, I said yes) It took me longer than my answer, though, to realize that he was still on his knees, on the cement stairs. Ouch.

I put a picture of the ring up for Grandmother and those female relatives of mine whom I'm sure would love to see it. If you're a guy...just ignore. :) We'll have to get it resized/replaced when I get back to Spain. If you wonder why, look at the picture of it on my finger! I really like it though, it is just like what I would have picked out. Plus, the guy is much much better.