Pre day 1

 We had a breakfast and then got an Uber to Chadstone shopping center. I had to feed my little addiction and found the Build a bear store. I bought a koala but didn’t stuff it! 🤪. We ate at Betty’s Burgers. Then took a taxi back to the hotel for our meeting. 

For supper we walked over to the general assembly. 

We are finding a buddy to help check in go faster. At our table we had people from Cleveland, Saskatchewan, New York, and Pennsylvania. I believe our group has about 46 people.

Travel Time

 Monday 12/25/2023 found me headed to the airpot for my dream trip of a lifetime Down Under. Brittaney is my co-traveler for this adventure! We left MSP at 3 pm going to Dallas. After a short layover there, we endured 17 hours to Sydney🇦🇺! Although we missed our connecting flight right away, we got the next flight to Melbourne. We touched down at 11:27 AM.  Once we secured our transport to the hotel, we were able to check in right away. Having our room ready was a relief. We got some REAL quick food and showered and then headed out. 

 December 2021

Wow! It's been a year for me.  Most of the world said that in 2020, but I encountered it this year.

I have been blessed by so many friends and family helping me out through the surgery & recovery.  I can definitely see the faithfulness of God to uphold me through this year.  Thanks for the prayers, food, visits, and cards.  

May you rejoice in God's precious gift this advent season.  God became flesh to die for us.  He loves YOU!

Merry Christmas & a happy new year to y'all.

Hugs,

Howie

February- It’s the little things that matter.

 Hello!  

I dug up my old login. Guess I will see if anyone stills gets notices on this or even reads it. 

2/1 I went to work and was planning for my “normal” lunchwalk, but God had other plans. 

I slipped on the ice about 3 minutes into my walk. I ended up tearing my right quadricep tendon. The little things: 1 cm gap between my tendon & kneecap. I had QTR -quad tendon repair surgery on 2/8/21. When I was at home later that day I fell.😟 This meant another ambulance ride and ER visit. 

My coworker came to wait with me for the ambulance that day, we were discussing church sermons from the day before and she prayed with me: the little things. I know she was just talking to me to keep me alert and stuff but I was encouraged and I know that was a God thing.

Friends have stopped by and given rides to appointments, loaned a lift-chair(ok, this might be a big thing😉) given some meals, and sent cards and texts, phone calls.  Nieces came to stay and helped: little ones🥰. 

This journey is on-going; PT is starting this week. God is patient with me and giving me grace as I wait on Him for healing and understanding of what I can learn through this season. 

Drop me a line or better yet: send a card to someone and ask how you can pray for them. Follow up with them. It will stretch you both. 

Hugs, 

Hop-a-long Howie 😊

Cherish each day

Hiya!
Several events have occurred over the past week.  We are seeing firsthand Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Wednesday afternoon found us visiting the Brighton family at the hospital.  I was even able to go in and say hello to David.  Then that evening, Diane & I were able to do Bible study with Claire & Paula.  It was a good lesson for us all, great discussion.  Thursday morning Richard, Claire's husband, went by ambulance to A&E (ER for us Americans).  He was sent home later that day.
Thursday afternoon we received word that David had passed away.  Friday evening Richard went back into hospital and they decided on gallstones.  On Sunday he had surgery to remove them.  We are hoping he will be released soon.
Please keep this families in your prayers and the others that are trying to fill their shoes by taking on their duties.
On the other end of the emotion scale:  Diane & I were able to travel up to the region of Lincolnshire where Great Grandpa Ellis & Great Grandpa Lizzie Markham lived & grew up and their families.  I have been up there 3 other times, but this was Diane's first meeting and she was loving everything.  Meeting 13 family members over 3 days and that is 3 generations of our family tree.  We read some of Great Aunt Marie's journals and found entries of our family members that were ever so exciting.
             ****Ellis & Lizzie sail to England on the Queen Elizabeth 1946
             ****Ellis & Lizzie leave for America from Liverpool on the
                            Empress of England 1971
(If this information is not accurate, blame it on my lack of sleep--but I have copies of them so when I scrapbook this great adventure the details will be right!)
I was hoping to see her journal of our first meeting in 1994, but that is the year of the missing journal.
Family & food go together in any country and we were well fed!!!!! Anne made a lovely meal Monday night.  Tuesday we ate at The Mallard with Anne, Jean, and Margaret, the sisters and their other halves.  Yum Yum!!  That evening, Anne made a full buffet for all 15 of us that would have fed 35!!!
We enjoyed the scenic train ride 3.5 hours long.  We so hated to leave our family, but we look forward to seeing everyone again some day and trying to keep up to date on emails and facebook.  Definitely this trip has triggered our desire to fill in more of our family history and bloodlines.
Hope you are having a great day with your loved ones, wherever you and they may be.
Hugs, Howie