Australia

Hello Everyone,

I decided to blog my daily entries rather than send email out to everyone. I learned the value of that when Larry was sick. It is certainly easier to do that once. It should be no surprise to me or anyone else that our prayers were answered for good health, safety in travel and good seats on my trip over. I find though that I am surprised every time! I guess a lack of faith on my part but as I watch God's hand play out in the most amazing ways my Faith is lifted to new heights all the same. Praise the Lord! The trip over could not have been nicer. I got those window seats I had hoped for and even though I sat next to a very active little 3 year old boy on the way up from Texas to LA....I found that comforted me ( my first God incidence ) because he was dark haired with a most disarming smile and it reminded me of my grandson Johnathan. I thanked God for that and much like Johnathan, he entertained himself in the most charming way by singing songs....and talking to his toys. It was a very nice distraction to the sadness I felt leaving Larry.... my love & 38 year travel companion, behind at home with my little Sassy and my children, grandchildren, parents, family and friends. Larry & I were to make this trip together and he was just not up to doing it twice, as we plan to travel in April to Melbourne for the birth of our new Mc Farland grandbaby. This trip I am taking this time....is on behalf of him, and all of you who cannot be with Missy & Wes during this joyous time in their life. I bring to them Family, Friends, Texas & the good ole USA!

The second God incidence was over my seat to Melbourne. I had been assigned an aisle seat in Dallas for the Melbourne trip....which was better than a middle seat between two strangers, but I had hoped for my little cozy corner by the window for the long 15 hour trip over. In LA when I inquired about that a tall Aussie assigned to a window seat on another row offered to trade with me so he could have the aisle seat he needed for his long legs. It turned out to be a great seat! Last row next to an Italian lady on a 2 seat row. She spoke a little English but not much and we both did fairly well on Spanish which ended up being our common language. That was fun....and we became fast friends as you often do on a long journey. She called me Elena and I called her Anna Cecilia.

I slept for 6 1/2 hours straight through after dinner. Woke for a snack and napped again for a few hours. I was really refreshed by that and marveled that I was already 11 hours into the flight and in pretty good shape. For the next 4 hours Anna Cecila and I caught up on our families and shared little bits of info.... and now and then each lapsed into prayertime ....she with her rosary and I with quiet meditation. Before long we were over the Australian landscape and we marveled at the mountains and greenery that was much different than we imagined. The landing...another PTL .....was great and before I knew it I was through the hour's worth of customs and walking the long walk to Missy & Wes that is in every international airport filled with hundreds of greeters. Amidst the cheers and welcomes shouted out I heard " Mom!" Every mother knows the sound of her own child's call and I searched the sea of faces of all those greeters for my Missy. I walked on knowing she was out there somewhere and behind me....on this restricted walk I heard, "Elaine!"....and I knew she ...true to her Dad's own nature....would not let a silly little rope restriction keep her from finding me. We reached and hugged each other warmly and both bursting with huge smiles ...made our way to Australian soil.

I had a whirlwind mini drive of beautiful downtown Melbourne and the coast and on to Glen Iris where they live. Glen Iris is a charming little neighborhood of gingerbread houses, English type gardens and lots of magpies. pigeons, opossums and such. It reminded me a great deal of our Highland Park and Lakewood area in Dallas. Wally knew me immediately and gave me a cheerful hi and has been my bud ever since I arrived. We met Wes for dinner at a local Italian restaurant for a fantastic pizza, brochette and a Greek salad. Afterward we all watched the presidential debate that they recorded for me on Fox News channel and then off to bed for an early night. Their goal was to keep me awake until bedtime so I would quickly orient to the new time zone and it worked! Other than a few coughing spells from the allergies that found me in Australia.... I had a great full night's sleep. Wes said this morning he will help me fix my bed so I can keep my head elevated at night to help with my allergies. I saw them off this morning at 8 am to work and now Wally & I and the pigeons cooing outside have a lovely morning to our self as I organize my things. I have Fox News running.... which is awesome because it is live on our American Time Zone as it is happening....and this wonderful little laptop....that allows me to keep in touch...so life is pretty comfy right now.

Our plans for today....is for Missy to pick me up about 2 pm. She will take off the day early and we are going shopping. One night this week I am preparing them my homemade Rellenos. They paid a fortune for a large can of authentic New Mexican green chilies so I could prepare it for them. I think tonight Wes is grilling for us chicken & shrimp on the barbee. :-)

It was so cute to see them go thru all the goodies I brought them from Texas. Of course the baby things and maternity clothes which had a profound effect on them....Missy marveling over the size and Wes trying to absorb the importance of such items.... but the cutest was to see them all excited over aluminum foil ( it is pretty wimpy here) wax paper (they don't make it here and Wes' face was filled with joy at having some) ..... dial soap ( you would have thought it was the finest out there ) Velveeta cheese ( Missy was overjoyed ) rotel tomatoes, pumpkin pie mix, cranberry sauce, fried onion rings for green bean casserole & batteries. Amazing how things have changed since America. :-)

I will sign off for now and go get ready for today's events. I send my love & prayers to all and will try to upload a few photos to this blog.

God Bless, Elaine

Missy & Wes at dinner

Missy & Elaine