Garvin and I made a long awaited trip...
to finally get together with Garvin's side of the family...
It has been "16" years since he and his brothers have seen each other...
It all began when Garvin's step-mother, Marj, was turning
"80" years old on July 7th...When, Forest, Marj's husband contacted the "3" boys...
to come to Albany, Oregon...to help celebrate this milestone...
plans went into action...
However, in the blessing of coming together with Garvin's family,
I was able to see BOTH of my brothers, Steve, who lives in Sandy, Oregon, and Scott,
who lives in Post Falls, Idaho...PLUS, I was able to see one of my "adoptive" mothers...
who played a major role in me...coming into the church...Ellen Wilfley, who
now lives in Eagle Creek, Oregon...
This will be PART 1
Beginning with our leaving LATE Thursday afternoon on July 5th...
We headed for YAKIMA, Washington where Greg, Garvin's OLDEST BROTHER, lives...
We had quite a surprise...when we arrived late that night...
FOR MY CHILDREN (except Angel who got to visit them not that long ago)) ---
who have never been to their
Uncle Greg or Aunt Liz's home...
Here are the pictures I took of their BEAUTIFUL 7-Acre OASIS...
They have lived here for over 30 years...planted every TREE and flower...
including the fact that GREG BUILT his OWN HOME!
LOVED IT!
You may be wondering why I posted BURNT trees... in their back yard...
It just so happened...BEFORE WE GOT THERE...a neighbor...who lives
at the BOTTOM of the HILL from their home...accidentally set the dry GRASS on FIRE
and it RACED UP the HILL toward their "wood" home...
Greg wasn't home, but another neighbor saw the fire moving super fast up the hill
toward Greg/Liz's home...got the fire department out quickly...and tried to save their home...
Everyone thought their home was TOAST...but, a mighty divine hand...
diverted the FIRE AROUND their home...
Though, they lost trees and sections of their yard was burnt...
plus burnt holes in their patio furniture (umbrella)...
the house was untouched...
Other section of their back yard area - burnt...
Fire went AROUND the playhouse Greg build
for their daughter, Holly...
You can see how close the fire came...by looking at the tree
to the left...BACK YARD...area...
Front Yard...
(they are in the process of RESTAINING their home)
(hence the two shades...) (smile)
They have worked so hard...over their property...and have created
such a "haven"...JUST BEAUTIFUL...
Garden shed...willow trees...
Beautiful pond...
Orchard...
Another view of the pond...and garden shed...
Beautiful flowers...
They came up with lots of creative ideas...building their flower beds
around odds and ends...
Clematis wrapped around old wooden wheel...
View from the back...Their home sits on a hillside
over looking part of the valley...
Another section of their yard...
Can see that it is on a hill...better in this picture...
I had many more pictures...(nearly 40) but, only put up a few of them...
Will end on two more...
and will post other moments on this trip...
over a period of days...
Loved how this picture turn out...
And of course...I am ending on a very PATRIOTIC NOTE!
(smile)
LOVE IT!
