November 11,

We have spent the past few days with Jeff’s sister and her husband. It has been very refreshing to just be able to see and talk with them. Mind you, we have been able to connect with them over the past two and a half years – technology is amazing – but there’s just something special about being able to with family and loved ones in person…

We were able to go on another outing with them and some brethren from their church. We went to the Nixon Presidental Library. We arrived at the site and noticed the flags at half mast. This was in honor, mourning, and remembering Dick Cheney who recently passed, which I had not been aware of. Anyway, the Library was half price admission. This was because half of it has been temporarily closed off due to the US Governmental shut down (of which I won’t delve on here). Once inside we went on two guided tours with some docents. The first was of the Gardens. Pat Nixon, the wife of former President Richard Nixon, loved gardens and designed this garden, our docent said. There were many different, beautiful rose bushes throughout the grounds and one particular beauty was a deep, red rose bush that is a bush propagated and named in honor of her, ‘Pat Nixon Rose’. It was very becoming with deep red that almost turned to a black – seeming to be velvet. There were also placards along a wall that told of Richard Nixon’s work in the establishment of the EPA- Environmental Protection Agency. The next tour was of the humble, kit-built home of Richard Nixon’s childhood. He was actually born in this house and it stands on the same spot it was built. The fireplace was hand built and designed by his father and this docent said his father built many neighbor’s fireplaces after they saw this lovely hearth. Richard Nixon was the second oldest of five boys raised in this two bedroom home. His oldest brother died in childhood, but that was still four boys in one room – with his parents in the other! That was a different time!! Lastly, there were a couple of other areas in the complex. We went through a larger-than original replica room of the East Wing of the White House. They were setting it up for a wedding! It was a lovely space with grand chandeliers and full length curtains on the windows, helping make the room seem even bigger. Next and back outside, we also saw the Air Force One Helicopter and a docent married couple told stories surrounding the chopper, its service and the presidents it served. It was a good outing and visit. After we finished, the group of us all went to lunch at an In-n-Out Burger. Yumm… now that’s a hamburger!!!

One other outing was going and meeting a group of ladies that have been following our ventures and praying for us. A big thanks for that! It was lovely to have finally met them.

Anyway, the rest of our time in the LA area was just being with and enjoying family. We also made some good meals, did some planning, and started sorting through our stuff – figuring out and getting different things and bobs.

Today we leave LA… and move on to more family in Kansas.