New Life (As in Babies + Blooms)

Word of the Year: Security.

One evening we took to the winding mountain roads that led to San Jose. I love the San Jose area, and the drive from our place to San Jose is just beautiful! Especially this time of year when the hills and the mountains are embellished with green velvet and dotted with black cows grazing in whole contentment. As we descend into Silicon Valley, the hazy golden hour light catches the mountain sides and holds them in an almost surreal beauty. We quickly drove up into the mountains for a nice brisk walk before the sun set, leaving behind a chill. The city lights in the valley had just begun to twinkle, and I quite liked the sight of them nestled between the now purple mountains. We ate supper at a small hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant, of which there are many in this area. A group of youth came and sat right next to us at a table. First off, I noticed that they prayed for their meal and that is not a common sight here in the cities around us. Then I couldn’t help but hear their prayer in which they prayed for God to bless their Bible study. I also noted a bible lying on the bench beside one of the guys and was rather impressed. We left before they got done eating, so we didn’t get to witness the Bible study part. Brent went back in there with some tracts for them and talked to them for a while. They thanked him profusely for coming back to talk to them and were very enthused about the literature. They also asked Brent if there was anything they could pray about for him. He told them to pray that he could have the courage to step up to others and share the gospel story. It was so inspiring to us. A young group of youth choosing to serve God and willing to pray for strangers. And who knows, maybe they will order tracts and start distributing them. They seemed very interested in our work here.

 Silicon Valley

Dad and Mama arrived on January 5. The next day, Dad left for Ballico for revivals. The boys were pretty sad to see him go. We tried to stay busy as we waited on baby to arrive. We took Mama to Sausalito one day. Also went into San Francisco for a pain au chocolat from Arsicault bakery, and do you know that it beat any croissant mama had in France or Italy?? (They just arrived home from a European trip with Ben and Rose Friesen.) I was well pleased. We walked the farmer’s market, did some thrifting, went out to eat at our favorite Indian restaurant, got coffee at numerous coffee shops, played games, made doughnuts and invited the neighbors, walked the curb, took a sunset drive, ate a cozy supper at Denny’s, took walks, and listened in to Ballico’s revival services. Mama did what she does best, donned an apron, and cooked up a storm in my kitchen. My tidy, organized kitchen had never quite experienced the like. She made us a yummy Hungarian meal, five-star breakfasts, chicken and dumplings, homemade croissants etc. Little Leo John finally made his arrival nine days late, and just four days before Mama was scheduled to fly home. Dad ended up extending their tickets a few days, so that was pretty special! We were able to take them to San Francisco one day. And Mama was so enamored by Sausalito, that we had to take Dad there too.

So, it is time to expand on Sausalito here a bit. I don’t think I ever have..? It is the most charming European-style hillside town just across the bay from San Francisco. It offers a Mediterranean, sun-drenched vibe, with impressive views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline. The homes, which are built into steep hillsides, get unobstructed views of the bay. It is so picturesque and reminds me of Italy or such places. Way back in the day, it was just a small fishing village. There is a community of over four hundred floating colorful homes that also add to the uniqueness of the town. We love going to Sausalito, as it’s frequently sunny and warm there. Plus, Equator Coffee resides there, along with fun little shops, and restaurants. If you are ever in San Francisco, just take a ferry ride across the bay and spend a few hours in balmy Sausalito where the mountains meet the sea. You won’t regret it.

Sausalito 

Dad and Mama left us on our own, and we missed their company, warm meals, and help with the boys. But Brent has gone above and beyond a girl’s expectations. Bacon egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast on his homemade biscuits, cottage cheese pancakes with his homemade butter, French toast and berries with freshly whipped cream, the best bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breasts I’ve ever encountered served with roasted broccoli and sweet potatoes, BBQ chicken sandwiches with coleslaw, blackened fish and grits, and so on. (I am quite sure he should just be a stay-at-home dad because he is a better cook than I am at this point.) Also, Ballico kindly threw us a food shower, and I think Brent was grateful for a break. Now the freezer has been full of all kinds of good things, and we appreciate Ballico’s support so very much. Our neighbors have also stepped in and been so kind. One of my favorite neighbors brought over two large pans of lasagna and gifts for the boys. She and her husband are from China and they live right next door to us. They are very friendly people who have been so generous to us more than once. (They love the boys.) Our Egyptian neighbors on the other side gifted us a large box of diapers and fresh lemons. Curt and Lois also stopped by one day with fresh banana nut muffins. And so, we feel rather loved.🤭

Benny and Sher brought us a delicious Brazilian meal one evening. We enjoyed seeing some new faces. We went out on a drive before supper, as they had never been to our area in the daylight. Daylight turned into darkness all too soon, but we got in a little bit of sightseeing.

More welcome company: Troy and Kayla came to spend a Sunday with us shortly after Leo’s arrival. They brought us a delicious lunch. We had a pretty low-key day, which is just one of the perks of being good ole comfy friends. We did venture into town later in the afternoon for ice cream and a tootle through our amazing Ace Hardware. Brent and Troy made plans to cook supper in the meantime, a stop by Safeway for supplies was necessary. They fried chicken for supper and New Year's cookies for dessert while Kayla and I vegged. Lester and Francine and their girls stopped in later for a visit and that made up our Sunday.

Bryce and Savannah came down to see the new addition and we took them to our favorite Indian restaurant for supper. Naan and Curry. It is hands down the best place to eat naan. They bake it in an authentic clay tandoor oven and it is chewy and fresh and perfectly delightful. “Accidentally” found ourselves wandering into the gelato shop next door after supper.🤭

Wendell, Kandis, and Josh (Aka Pops, Mimi, and Uncle Josh) stopped in for a short overnight visit. We went to the taco truck for lunch and spent the rest of the day in San Francisco. Wished they could have stayed longer, but we were so glad they stopped by.

We met Trevan and Katelyn Jantz for lunch one day in Rio Vista. Trevan was Brent’s best man. They used to be from Glenn but moved to Roseburg a few years ago. We hadn’t really been with them since their wedding, so it was fun to reconnect.

We went to West Valley’s school benefit supper and enjoyed a delicious brisket supper with a side of lovely folks.

We took the boys to the beach one day, and found San Francisco basking in 70° and pure sunshine. Baker Beach is our nearest beach. It offers unmatched views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the beautiful green Marin Headlands across the bay, the Presidio Cliffs, and ships entering the bay from the Pacific Ocean.  The boys enjoyed every minute of sand and sun. Leo peeked an eye open, gave a contented sigh, and therewith gave his approval of the sea. There’s nothing like a good long quiet sit by the sea. We had just left the beach when the sun began to set, so we pulled off the road alongside quite a few others and enjoyed the golden hour. Four boys sat atop the van to view the sunset causing quite a distraction. The sky turned delightful shades of pink and purple as the sun kissed the ocean goodnight. The lights began to twinkle on the Golden Gate Bridge, and twilight fell on San Francisco. Warm clam chowder was the perfect ending to our day. We enjoyed views of the lighted skyline of the big city as we crossed the bay and headed home.

Baker Beach

We recently visited the oldest roastery in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. It was established by an Italian immigrant in 1935 and is also one of North America’s oldest artisan coffee roasters. You can watch them roasting the beans right there using a custom-built fluid bed roaster. And if you order some beans, they scoop freshly roasted beans from big drums and weigh out a bag for you. You can sample the coffee before you buy from a French press sitting there on the countertop. We talked to the owner for quite some time, and he told us where we could get a latte made from their beans just down the road at an Italian Café. Strong, bold, smooth. We enjoyed. Graffeo Coffee Roasting Co. Is it not darling?

We managed to fit our Lake Tahoe and Carson City, Nevada route in this month. (February.) I was seriously hoping we could do this route before the snow was gone. I simply could not think of anything more magical than Lake Tahoe shrouded in glistening whimsical snow. There was no snow when we arrived, and when we checked into our lakeside lodge, the clerk told us she really doubted we’d see any snow. I was thoroughly disquieted by the grievous news before me. And then, another total stranger had the nerve to inform us it really wasn’t going to snow at all. But luck found us elsewhere, as we were able to find a very affordable lakefront lodge because it was the off-season. In the summer, the place would most definitely be unaffordable. The boys and I settled into our room, as Brent went out and finished his tract route there in South Lake Tahoe. The next day we headed off around the lake for Carson City. The mountains, whose peaks held a blanket of glittering snow, embraced the glassy lake in ethereal beauty. The evergreen trees were dusted in a delicate layer of snow from days past. We completed our route in Nevada and quickly headed back to Tahoe as it began to SNOW. We made it over the mountain pass between Carson City and Tahoe before the roads slicked up. Our little two-wheel drive Silvia is known for taking off-road adventures with great valor, but she is not made for such wintery mountain roads. We tucked ourselves away in our little lodge for the evening while the heater roared and the snow kept busy painting the landscape white. Brent and the boys spent an hour or so in the hot tub before returning for coffee and cookies. Wait, is this mission life? Oh yes, it is. And in July, YOU could come and take our place here. FYI, this route is one of our best in more ways than one. Not only is the scenery a total delight, but Brent usually finds the majority of our tract boxes still in place and mostly empty. Winter in Lake Tahoe 

We spent a weekend in Glenn at Bryce and Savannah’s. It was so good to be in church again. It had been quite some time since we had attended a service. (Saturday evening was spent at Shawn and Eddie’s with a group of friends. ) The next Sunday, three Glenn families joined us for the Sunday service at our house. Clark and Nicole Loewen, Bryce and Savannah Giesbrecht, and Daniel and Rachelle Unruh. It was a most enjoyable day. Warm, and sunny out. We had doors and windows open to catch the air which was softened by springtime but not yet perfectly warm. Spent some time running after our kids at the park, before finding ourselves at our favorite ice cream shop. I do love Sunday service at our house each month. Sunday school is always a blessing, the singing is uplifting, and good conversation has yet to be lacking.

These days the cherry and almond orchards should have signs posted that read, “Caution, may cause urge to frolic.” For the trees are once again blooming for all they are worth and the sight of them makes you want to stop and frolic beneath their heavily laden boughs. Spent petals blanket each isle of the orchard, mimicking a carpet of snow. A kind of dreamy beauty one doesn’t forget all too soon. Did you know that California grows 80% of the world’s almonds? Quite impressive. 

Blooming Almond Orchards (swoon)

The wildflowers are summoning our gaze as well as they are appearing once again on the velvety green mountainsides. Signs of spring are all about and I am not a single bit mad about it. Winter was quite the deal here this year with all the fog.

Sadly, Brent is beginning to do some of his routes for the very last time and my sentimental self is compelled to go along on each one. Our time here seems to be quickly coming to an end and it feels kind of sad because we are just really starting to befriend our neighbors and such.

Ok, where am I by now? Somewhere deep into February and as I write this, it is already March and we are on our way home from the tract meeting in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho. A few more weary miles and we shall reach the city by the bay. The next letter shall have to catch the story of our journey to the tract meeting.

P.S. These are just the highlights of the last two months. A lot of daily life happened in between. Sleepless nights with a newborn, trying to keep two big brothers from drinking out of the toilet with a fidget tube, grocery runs, tract days with Brent, walks in the park, and endless loads of laundry. Little Leo has lived a lot of life in his short existence so far, but he seems fairly unfazed with this life of ours.😅

I hope this finds you well and happy. I shall bid you all adieu until next time.