Friday, January 4, 2019

Christmas 2018 - Tucson, AZ

Christmas 2018 - Tucson, AZ

Our Christmas began with a week at the Carotenuto's watching over Evangeline and Abigail while Sarah & Vince took a trip to Cancun.  



Unicorn Man was a hit
with the girls and their friends
from the apt. complex!


Then tickets to see the Nutcracker
in downtown Tucson.  The ballet
troupe was from E & A's ballet class.
For 2 1/2 hrs. the girls were spell-
bound.
Making Christmas food - pigs in a blanket!


Wayne began his Christmas
vacation by having surgery on his hand,
a ruptured thumb tendon.

First day of the last week of school of spirit week.
It was jingle bell day!



We dropped the kids off at school and then we met 2 other couples at OINK - our favorite breakfast restaurant.  Far end, the Ellis's, front of table - the Cox's.
The girls agreed to having their hair trimmed -
beauty parlor day!

Another spirit day - Christmas hats!

G'pa gets permanent cast -
Orange & blue -
Go Gators!

On our way to Winterhaven to view Christmas
lights we witnessed a horrific accident.

Christmas lights are always special.




And of course - a selfie!


Another spirit day - Pajama Day!

Back at the Big Bus before Mom & Dad
get back - tea party again!

G'parents won!  Only took 5 min!

The Reason for the Season.

A special Christmas Dinner at the John Fieler's house.
Rebecca made a special treat for the kids,
a Christmas tree made out of kiwi
and pomegranate seeds!

Around the table at the Fieler's

And around the kitchen bar!

One of the twins, don't ask me which one!

Lilly Fieler with a full mouth!

Mayhem in the living room!

Kids playing games...........


Philip & John Fieler solving the world's problems!

So many smiles around the table,
must of been funny!

Off to downtown Tucson to the
Children's Museum with Philip,
Amanda & Lilly. Notice the
missing tooth!

The 3 girls at Pinnacle Peak Gun Show.
Wearing their hats and boots!
Lilly, Evangeline & Abigail.

Abigail's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese.

Abigail turns 4 with
all her friends.

Daddy Vince and Chuck E Cheese!

And what would Christmas be without
Ricky the PackRat in Grannie's
sock drawer?!!!
It was an eventful Christmas.  Taking care of kids, visiting museums, birthday party, cooking, eating, reminiscing, fellowshipping, dinner at the John Fieler's, Christmas lights, the Nutcracker and even a witness of a car wreck!  Whew, I am tired just writing about it.  But then there was Ricky the PackRat.  We picked him up at McNeal, caught him while in Benson, and drove him to his new home in the desert between Tombstone & St. David!  What a nuisance, but he did love my sock drawer.  Still have not found the 2 traps he set off!  Amazing animals but they cannot share my RV with me.  

Now off to McNeal AZ again to work January 2019.  We will be joining the McClinticks and the Brooks.............stay tuned..........2019 will be another adventurous year.

Ethnos360, McNeal, AZ - December 2018

Ethnos360, McNeal, AZ
December 2018

Last project of 2018 - December
Ethnos360 in McNeal, AZ
with Carol & Jerry Wright

The first Sunday after church we went to
The Gadsden Hotel in Douglas, AZ for lunch.
This is quite the historical spot right on the
Mexico/U.S.A. border.











The men's first project consisted of tearing down and
removing this deck from this mobile unit.








Then the construction began.
Landing done, railing begun, and now the stairs.

Jerry close to the ground!

The finished product.  Such a great improvement!

Several coats of stain and it will be as good as new.

Work crew:  Wayne, Josiah, Ricky and Jerry.
These 2 young men come from missionary families
and worked along side our men for the month before
heading off to college.

Carol and I scraped and painted the
RV markers in the RV park.

And of course Teddy helped!!!!


































The finished product was no comparison. Now you can read 
from 2 blocks away!





Break times were so much fun.  Getting to know the staff
and hearing their testimonies made us feel like we were
on the mission field with them.

Then off to Bisbee, AZ to visit the Copper Mine.


Wayne, Jerry and Carol went on an inside tour
of the mine.  Gail stayed outside and took
a mini-tour of the town of Bisbee
to include the coffee shop!


Old cars near Bisbee.


Felt like we were in Mayberry!









Inside the hangar of Ethnos360.



















Then the 2 Carotenuto girls
came to visit Ethnos360 for
a couple of nights.  Fun in
the Big Bus! 




Decorating Christmas Cookies.
AND EATING THEM TOO!


How much icing can you fit on one cookie?

Making jewelry.

And of course a tea party!

A missionary wife from Indonesia
instructs us in cooking customs.

The local church hosted a
Christmas Craft night for local ladies.

And of course a trip to Tombstone
to experience the gun show!

Then...........the helicopter ride!

95 miles per hour!






Our RV's from the air!

This was our chariot.
Our experience at Ethnos360 is one we will not soon forget.  The people are special, their goals in life are special, the location is special, their mission minded lives are special and God has worked miracles in all of their lives.  We will be spending another month - January 2019 - here at Ethnos360. Something tells me we will be spending many winters with these people.



The scenery and sunsets on McNeal, AZ are incredible.

Now off for Christmas with the Fieler's and Carotenuto's - the first in 18 yrs.

WOOHOO!