Rainforests & Hillsboro

Yes, I know those two things don't go together - but I realized that I had thought I was doing another entry on the NW but never did, but I had to stick these pics somewhere! Back to Vancouver for just a minute - a random man on the Capilano walking bridge which spans a gorgeous gorge way, way below. The NW rainforest is the only temperate rainforest in the world meaning you get all the beauty without all the heat, stickiness and mosquitoes of a tropical rainforest.
Once across the bridge, we explored the "treetop adventure" on swinging bridges high up in the rainforest trees - definitely a favorite of the girls and their cousins!

Back to Kansas - and to Hillsboro where our friend Hope has recently moved to a lovely apartment.
Dinner with some friends and family in Mom's house. The young man on the front right is a refugee whom Mom and Dad knew for many years. Blinded by a rocket that hit their house and killed his family several years ago, life was very hard for him as he drifted from country to country, often homeless. Mom helped get him to the USA where he stayed with her the first several months. Now he has moved to Wichita where he has a job. At first it didn't look like the job would work because the noise of the factory reminded him too much of war sounds. But with a set of earplugs and the assurance that he is safe, he is able to work. Between dealing with this situation, other needs overseas, company all summer long (including us), Mom has been very busy. Hopefully she is getting a bit of a rest this fall!

Mom has had a grandson around the last several years since my nephew, Dustin, attended Tabor College just down the street from her. Now that Dustin has graduated - my niece, Emily, has moved to Hillsboro to start college!

Mom reading to the girls - always embelishing and keeping up with Katrina's stream of questions!
This, my friends, is the first-ever picture of its kind. Why?

1. Mom is sitting

2. Mom has her legs up

3. Mom is enjoying a dessert

4. Mom is eating an entire piece of pie

We have always teased my Mom of having "halfatitus" - meaning she never eats an entire piece of anything - especially dessert. But my brilliant Aunt Irene whom we had the delight of visiting has found the one dessert Mom raves about - lemon meringue pie. And history is made.

My aunt Esther with her daughter/my cousin Melanie who live just around the corner from Mom. Aunt Esther always has a curry ready and a few tricks up her sleeve!