Lake Almanor with "Imported Cousins"

Ahhh... beautiful Lake Almanor!

Due to different scheduling issues, our family went to Lake Almanor a little later this year. We left on 8/2 and got home 8/10. Seven full & beautiful days of camping! What bliss... waterskiing, skipping rocks, building traps, catching frogs, playing baseball, reading books, napping in hammacks, biking to the boat lauch, sipping Pine Shack shakes, haunting for homemade fudge, breakfasting at Carole's... is there a better life? I submit not!!!

Also due to scheduling issues (and Elijah's birth and the health of Grandpa & Grandma), we thought we were going to be "alone" this year. Just our little family... no cousins or siblings :( With that anticipation, we worked on "importing" some family. LOL. We invited the Wu side of the family to join us! My brothers, William (and Vanessa) and Frank were not able to come. Only my brave sister-in-law, Kari (thank you for being a trooper!), took on the challenge and came out with her 3 kids, Annalise, Ethan and Jared. We are so thankful! What a sweet few weeks for us to live and play together!!! I will always look back at this time and treasure the remembrances in my heart!

As it turns out, Aaron & Annette and family were able to make their schedule line up to be at Almanor around the same time as us. We even got to see Andrew & Melissa and family for a little bit. On top of all this extra fun, Rebekah made an appearance with A GUY!!! The GUY by the end of the week became future UNCLE JAMES :).

Why did you park so far away, Dad?

"Ummm... what are you doing, Seth? You WILL get wet!"

Abby's funky hair... no wires, really! I think the dirt was holding her hair in place?!?!?

Very cool pink sunset

Seth is playing "outfield".... not looking too excited :)

Isaac, Seth, Ethan & Jared... goofy cousins :o

Good job, Annalise!

Kari & Jared, cuddling on the boat :)

Sweet and innocent Ethan

Awww... my knight in shining armor

Abby double skied this year... on her skis, not on her face!

I love this action shot... Morgan and Abby flying!!!

For what was suppose to be a quiet ho hum abnormal year at Almanor, we had all sorts of extra bonuses!!! I know that this will go down in history as one of the most memorable Almanor years :). Until next year...

Flying out to see Mom and Dad

On the heels of Hume (about 11 hours to be exact), I was called away to go back to Taiwan to visit my parents. My Mom and Dad have been living somewhat permenantly in Taiwan since 2001. With some of my mother's recent health developments, my heart was pulled to go back for a visit. Poor Matthew, abandoned by his wife again to hold down the fort for another 10 days :(.

Taiwan's "new" high speed subway system

Typical Taiwanese "fast food" - little stands on the side of the streets...

Fancy hotel in Chai Yi - my parents' hometown

Interesting way of using the playground structures...

no children, just adults stretching or "massaging" their arms and legs

Some cool functional decorative water pumps

in one of the parks that we went to for our morning walk...

Glorious rainbow... we had torrential thunderstorm downpours each aftenoon!

Farmer's markets! I love it :)

Happy birthday, Mommy!

Taking a 4 hour red eye bus to the airport... coming home!!!

God, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to see Mom and Dad for a brief time. Thank you for giving a supportive husband that is willing to sacrifice his comfort and time to allow me to be a daughter. I'm so grateful for the family and friends that stepped in during this time to help me with my kids & husband, my flights, my church responsiblities, and most of all, for lifting me up in prayer to You! You are an awesome God and is definitely in control of all things, even flights. Thank you for getting me home in time to welcome Kari and the kids, and to prep for Speechless. Continue to work out all circumstances and continue to channel hearts. You are amazing!