On the road....

After leaving Missouri we traveled west, west, north, west, south, north, west, south and stop!!

We went thru Missouri and part of Kansas on Sunday, stopping in Topeka for a night, a dinner, and sleep. The Plains States are beautiful - if long.... The plan on Monday was to stop in Denver before crossing the Rockies - I picked out a place that had hot springs and all - but as things go - that didn't happen. Keith started driving and the next thing I knew - I saw the Wyoming state line!!! Instead of going thru the Rockies - we went around them - so Monday night we spent in Laramie, WY. Another eat and sleep and leave deal. On Tuesday we finished up Wyoming - seeing lots of deer and watching those majestic windmills that are popping up all over - I really think they are quite nice looking. If I had a choice - I'd take windmills over about any other type of "decor" (like power poles, transformers, cell towers, etc) I really don't know what the problem people have with protesting the windmills. Especially in some areas, wind is definately a renewable resource!! LOL I found new talk shows on the radio to keep me company as I drove and as I rode. When there was nothing on the radio to talk to - I talked to the deer, other drivers, sky, and if he was awake and listening, Keith. LOL It was a long drive.....

After Wyoming we went on down thru Utah, I think we were in the state an hour or so - maybe - only got out of the car for the Visitors Center and the rest stop - oh, wait! - that was the same place!! We enjoyed the scenery but soon came upon our first really bad weather on the trip. About 100 miles out of Boise, our Tuesday night stop-over, we started hearing about potential thunderstorms and that sort of thing on the radio. I was at the wheel. The clouds started gathering, we could see the wall of clouds to the west of us. They were big and they were black. But oddly enough - they never got to us!!! But a huge, brown, massive wall appeared in front of us and the wind began blowing - almost as badly as it can on the Oregon and Florida coasts!! Only thing was - there was this huge BROWN fog like wall that cars and trucks were disappearing into. So we followed.... tumbleweeds blowing across the Interstate - both hands gripped tight on the wheel - Keith hanging on for dear life (of course he does that anyway!) - we went into this wall..... It was like driving in fog...with very, very strong winds blowing. It was scary.... Keith started looking for hotels, motels, - I think about then he would've settled for a big rock to hide behind, hehehe!!! Well, I hung on to the wheel and after being sandblasted for about 90 minutes, we reached Boise. My shoulders felt like the bungie cords in them had retracted about 6 feet. The rubber bands were wound way too tight!! And to top it all off - Keith has an ugly rash on his legs!! I was afraid it was stress!! So we went to dinner and to our room to relax, check email, watch tv.... the transformer outside our window made a few ugly noises - but nothing to compare with the afternoon "festivities" so we ignored it.....

This ended our first 3 days "on the road"....

Ready to Roam

Click here for more pics

After a great weekend watching the kids play soccer, baseball, and swim, a sidetrip downtown to watch the Cardinals beat Tampa Bay, an evening at the Ameristar, and lots of great company, we spent the last morning enjoying the sunshine poolside before going over to Rick's family birthday party.

We said goodbye from there and headed out. We watched the scenery as we drove across the state of Missouri and part way thru Kansas. We have had wonderful weather as we cross the country. We landed in Topeka for the night. Look Toto, we are in Kansas LOL!!

Friday

We left Indiana in the midst of rain and gloom. We traveled from Mom's to April's thru Illinois in the rain. I drove the first 1/2 and Keith drove the second. We made really good time even with the nasty weather. We arrived at April's in time for a good visit with the kids and Ric and April before having Keith's favorite dinner - of course! - April fixed tacos for him!! Whoopee! He certainly enjoyed that! No one makes tacos like his "Little April" :-)

She gave me a tour of her almost-finished-with-remodeled house while Keith and the kids played. It is beautiful. One of the upstairs bathroom is still in the works - but she has wonderful taste in the rest of the changes. They also have put a pool in the back yard since my last visit. The kids will have an absolutely wonderful time this summer. This evening we plan to watch either: Brennan's baseball game or Elizabeth's soccer game. I don't know yet which Keith will choose. Tomorrow we hope to go to a Cardinal game (I even remembered to pack our Cardinal shirts hehe).

And, again I will have to post pictures when I remember where I packed the card reader :-(

More travel to come!!

Mother's Day

Mom Beatty with 4 out of 5 of her children

at Church for Mother's Day

Heather, Keith, Mom, Joy, and Melody

Keith and his happy Mom :-)

Click here for more pics

Some Pics

Keith and Baby resting up for

thier trips!

Holiday Inn Bowling Green, KY atrium

Ready for dinner

The first stop!

We have arrived at Mom B's!! It was a really nice trip up from Florida. We spent the first night in Georgia at a really nice Holiday Inn. The weather cooperated wonderfully! We only traveled for about 6 hours and made it further than the kids did when they traveled north LOL!! On Friday we traveled the rest of the way thru Georgia, Tennesee (where we hit a small amount of rain around Nashville), and up to Bowling Green, Ky where we spent the second night. This was a really, truly exceptional place to stay! The Atrium was beautiful, the workers exceptionally nice, and the weather was so absolutely gorgeous!! After a wonderful evening, we packed up again and headed up the road for the last little bit of our trip. We got to Mom B's home just before noon so we were able to catch her before she ate lunch and go down to the Mexican Restaurant here in Charlestown.

Mom B has her list of sonny-do's all ready and we started in right after lunch.... We worked in the yard with Joy and her husband Ray during the afternoon and had a great dinner of homemade chili while visiting and catching up on news for the evening. Keith's sister Melody welcomed him as did the other two, Joy and Heather. Dolores was unable to come up but will be over sometime before we leave. So far, it's been a really nice trip - and we are about 1/4 of the way thru it . . . . . LOL

I am having trouble uploading pics so I will try that at a later date. Have a great day!!

Ready, Set, ???

Well, it's the last day. . . . I've been cleaning, packing, unpacking, got my last 6 loaves of bread baked, the sheets are in the washer, dishwasher is running. All that is left is to put the stuff in the car and put away the stuff from above. My dear, wonderful, procrasinating, Husband has now decided that this is the time to clean out his pickup, worry about the number of black garbage bags we have left, and maybe, hopefully, put the things back in the storage that he has taken out over the last few days!!! :-)

Oh, we are doing great. He gave me the Noon on the 8th timeframe - and I will be ready!! The weather is helpong me get ready really quickly!! Up until last week I was ok with the heat . . . . . high 80's not to much humidity. . . . yesterday fixed that!!! I was sitting at my little laptop . . . . . sweating!!!

We finished all of our "travel" appointments with the various doctors that we seem to have accumulated over the years. . . got prescriptions refilled, tossed stuff that expired (it's really nice since this gets done 2x a year!!), sent clothes to charity as I was packing (ooops - no button there! haven't seen this on a body since. . . . ., and the inevitable. . . . this doesn't fit right). Pastor Craig included traveling mercies in our Wednesday group. .

I finally have gotten a hard diagnosis from a nerologist - fibromyalgia - and he has taken me off of several meds that I did use and replaced them with 1 - and of course, pain meds, for when I just "can't take it anymore". . . . but even tho' I generally ache all over . . . . I feel much more alert than I was. Mostly it is under control.... Keith's Doctors have given him a clean bill . . . his neuro had tried a different combo of meds to control the Parkinsons but they didn't work as well as the prior ones . . . so he will go back to them.... yippeee!!!! So we both wake up in the mornings with our "old age" aches and go for today!!!

All in all, our life is great. Our day of travel is upon us. We are ready. . . . well, almost :-) Wish us well and keep us in your prayers. . . . first stop. . . . Mom Beatty's. We hope to spend Mother's Day in Indiana with her. . . . God willing.

KOIN News Segment

The CBS affiliate KOIN actually had 3 segments that they aired, here are the websites:

11:oo News - interview with S'te that was done in California
Radio link for interview with Jeff Gianola - the reporter
and
the link for the interview done here in Florida with me.

Hopefully we will be blessed with someone who needs to get the info off of thier chest and will call in that "missing piece" so the Detectives can put it all together.

Jeremy's Story

The first news for today is that KOIN news (CBS) has done a segment on Jeremy's disappearance... Jeremy is almost 36 years old (May 25). . . . he has been gone for almost 22 years(Aug 14) and I am hoping this segment helps God open someone's heart and mouth. The Coos County Detectives have worked this case hard for many years. I can't begin to thank them enough for the dedication and hard work and the loyalty they have shown in their resolution to solve this for Jeremy. As S'te said in our conversation last night; We know how horrible it is to live with the "unknown" and to live with the knowledge kept inside must be pure torture. It will be shown only in Oregon but will be on the WWW on Friday. I will post the link to it as soon as I can offer it. Jeff Gianola - the reporter who sidroded the project- said he is very pleased with the way it turned out. . . . 3 of the Detectives will be at the newsroom both after the 11pm newscast and the Friday morning newscast. . . manning a hotline. . . so they will have firsthand knowledge of any tips that come in. They are working htis very hard. . . and pray that it is the Lord's will that finalizing this is in His plans.

S'te attended the preliminary hearing for Angie's case, the murdering adoptive mother has been bound over for trial. Here is the news article.

We've had some quite busy days just lately. We have been getting ready to get ready to leave for our annual trek across country. We have taken a load of "stuff" to donate, washed houses, cleaned carpet, re-arranged (cleaned out) the shed (again) so we have room to put the outdoor items - and have done most of the last Doctor appointments for the summer and are awaiting the decision on placement of our houseguest. Keith decided that we aren't taking the RV this summer - we will just be driving the van - and this year we will take a different route - after seeing Mom B and April -

We hope to visit Mom B for Mother's Day and then head for April's. From there Keith hasn't "plotted our course". Most of it depends on whether I can see brother Gerald. If allowed to do so - we will probably travel a northern route - of course, that is weather permitting!!! I'd love to see Yellowstone National Park - as far as the WWW news - it's still snowed in - so maybe that won't happen this year.

Our days are in God's hands so we will see what He has in store for us.

Never to young to learn!

P4070390
Originally uploaded by Just Taken Pics

I wanted to share this picture of Jaleel in the kitchen. He isn't even a teen yet (notice the phone?) He has on his Dad's apron and is complete with the smudge on his cheek.

What a guy!!

He really, really enjoy's this. . . .

When the kids were here from Spring Valley, Cavelle's blanket got left behind. . . . . It's a soft fuzzy furry blanket. . . . I've been mailing the momentos that got left behind - on a weekly basis. . . . but this just "hasn't fit" into any of the stuff I've mailed. I give up. . . . cause. . . . Baby really, really likes this blanket. . . . It starts out straight and smooth. . . then, he will snuggle up into it. . . . pull it all close to his head and rub his hands on it. . then rub his cheek on it until he gets everything wadded up like he wants it. . . . . rub his nose a few times. . . stroke it a little more . . . . .

And then he goes to sleep. . . .
and sleeps . . . . .

Like a baby!!! hehe

So, Cavelle, it looks like it might be summer before you get your blanket back. Love, Amah

4 Years!!

It doesn't sound like much to you "long timers" -

but we've just celebrated 4 years since that

fatefull, fun trip to Las Vegas.

And they've been 4 very full, very great years too!!

Found

The child that I posted about a while back. . . . She has been found. She is ok. . . and I am sure that family is very relieved. The Lord saw to it that she was kept safe during her absence from the family home. I don't know the details so. . . . just thankfully, she is alive. Thank you Lord.

Just an update

Nothing much has been going on around here - normal round of visits, frustration with lack of coordination with the "system", the love/hate feelings that I keep harbored for the lack of "for the children" that our current systems seem to have.

Other than that - the interviews for the segment on Jeremy have been done. They did S'te's at her home and mine here at our home. I have no clue what she said - and she has no clue of what I said. I really didn't get much said - it was a really bad day for me. I sort of lost it right at the beginning and never found it again. I didn't do a very good job. Jeremy and Gerald have both been on my mind and heavy on my heart lately. I just dropped the box that I had all my "stuff" in and it split wide open - I've been that way for several weeks now. . . but anyway, it's done. Last word was that it would be airing on April 28 out of the Portland KOIN station. I don't know what time or after or during what program. Hopefully, more will follow.

Trying to get into cleaning up and getting ready to head out. This year Keith wants to drive out - take the scenic route - by way of Mom B's and April's. It will be nice to see how Mom B is doing since her surgery. She was blessed with the presence of several family members to make sure her recovery was rapid! And soon she will have a new floor in her other bathroom. It's wonderful to know that she has so many caring people so close when Keith lives so far away. It will be great to see her. And April too. Keith went at Christmas and visited for a week but I haven't seen her or the kids since the Cruise ended last year. I was sorry that they weren't able to come down when S'te and family were here. It would have been a wonderful houseful!!

So, that's the update from the last update. Just being. . . . .

Hurry Home Rod!

Siggie Tag
Originally uploaded by Just Taken Pics

I'm stealing S'te's photo. The family went on a tour before Rod was deployed. Keep them in your prayers. Rod for a safe journey and a timely return home. S'te for stregnth to do all that she does while he is at sea. They are both heros in my eyes!!

Budding Artist

We have new artwork for our wall!! It is perfect for the tropical motif in the guest room!! Elizabeth painted Papa a wonderful picture of the beach. We received it yesterday - along with about a dozen boxes of Girl Scout Cookies - Papa was the original Cookie Monster !!! and lots of love. We always enjoy getting originals from the kids. Our shelves and walls are living proof of that!!

Otherwise, we are doing well. I go on Wednesday for a ct scan on my sinuses to see what is going on there. I still haven't gotten over whatever it is that I'm trying to get over. You should see me when I get ready for bed!!! First I drag out my "medicine box" and I take my medicine cocktail of antibiotics, restless leg stuff, fibromyalgia stuff, calcium, "D", and of course the Protonix to keep the acid from all the other stuff from eating my stomach. . . . then I put on my black wrist braces. . . . so that my hands will work the next day. . . . . then I put on my nose piece for the cpap~~~ Then I say, "Come on sweetie, kiss me goodnight" hahahahahahaha!!

I don't care what they say about getting old. . . . . it beats the option!!

The Presentation @ Lakewood Park

This is the presentation that the kids did 3 times during thier short visit here. They presented soooo well!!! They have such a gift, a great message, and such talent!! Everyone was thrilled!!

I think I have it figured out. If this didn't work - I will have to wait until S'te has time to figure it out for me!!!

Another Missing Child

This child belongs to an aquaintance of S'te's. She has passed this information to me - I know it is true and not a hoax. Please pray that this child returns to her home. As the parent of a child that has been missing for over 20 years- I feel their pain as tho' it is my own. I pray the information on their daughter is much, much better - and sooner than ours.

Fourteen-year-old Ventura County Girl Missing Since March 12th, 2008


The fourteen-year-old daughter of Heidi and Damian Warner was last seen leaving base housing in Port Hueneme the afternoon of March 12th, 2008. Thought to be with a Hispanic male, age 17-20 said to be on his way to San Bernadino, California, parents fear that she is being held against her will as she left with nothing but the clothing on her back and without money. Police and NCIS have been assigned to the case, though as of Saturday, March 15th, she has yet to contact home and little is known as to her whereabouts. At this point, we are concerned for her safety and well-being and urge the public to help bring Brenna Oppel (might be going by “Warner”) home! Brenna is 5’3-5’4 and around 110 pounds, with brown eyes and hair. She has her nose pierced and wears braces with green elastic bands.
Any information needs to be given ASAP to:
The Oxnard Police (805) 385-7600
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (805) 982-4591
Or the Polly Klaas Foundation (800) 587-4357

To Catch up

The very same day that the kids were flying - I got a call from the Coos County Sheriff's Department to discuss a phone conversation with the CBS affiliate in Portland, OR. They were looking into "spotlighting" Jeremy's case during the "Without a Trace" program. I was totally speechless. It is such wonderful news - that yet another source of keeping Jeremy's disappearance from becoming a cold case. I am so amazed that the Lord has provided such resources to us - so many haven't had the blessings of the many people that have worked hard on this mystery. In January 1989 Jeremy's case was televised on Unsolved Mysteries. And now, this~~ I've spent many, many hours in prayer ~ hoping the Lord would provide us with an answer - He is providing us with another resource. The answer will come in His time. Someday he will make that person who knows something open up and we will then know.

I am just so glad that the Lord is giving yet another opportunity and resource for information to us. And I still pray for answers - not only for myself - but for all the parents, sisters, brothers, and children out there who haven't as many answers as I've gotten. I've not been as "lucky" as some - but still "luckier" than others. The Bible says that the Lord won't give us more than we can bear ~ He must know something about me that I don't know :)

So, if anything comes of the conversations and if I get an idea of when or if something may come to fruition, I will definately let everyone know. I doubt if the "spotlight" will be shown outside of Oregon - but who knows? Who'd have ever thought that this 21 1/2 year old case was still on so many peoples minds? Right now all I can think of is 23rd Psalms. . . . . . Tho I walk thru the valley. . . .

Back to California

They didn't get to come back!!!! BooHooo!!!! It just got to late. Finally at 6:30 with them only about 1/2 way here - they decided to head for Orlando as their flight was before noon - and the airport is about 2 hours north of here.

So, as disappointing as it was, I agreed with the it-makes-no-sense-to-drive-2-extra-hours-South just to turn around and drive the 2-hours-North in less than 6 hours.

So, I put all their "behinds" in a box and Keith mailed it out for me. They should get it in a week or sooooo ....... good old USPS!! And I found all sorts of good stuff, electric razors, socks, hair stuff, toothbrushes, mouthwash, shirts, toys. I had lots to send. I also sent their Florida shirts that I didn't have a chance to give them - since they didn't come back. . . . . .

I hope to see them again in just a few short months. I am still blessed enough to be able to keep up with thier lives thru S'tes blog, the webcam, Im's, and at least 2x a year visits - a few of them several months long. . .. !!

We are working on a time frame for her to be able to bring the kids to Oregon. If there is time between Ty's summer school, Mak's medical appointments, and the trial for Angies killer - they will come north. If not - I will go South!!! Keith is looking forward to doing the Tiger Cruise this year and I look forward to spending the time with S'te. Life is soooo wonderful! Now if we'd just get some answers for Jeremy - it would be absolutely perfect. Lord, please send an answer - this is my daily prayer.