Tour Scrapbook

Sunday, February 9
This morning we worshipped with our good friends we've made in Corona at Crossroads Church. Then all but Charles ate lunch with the Andersons and enjoyed the afternoon at their house.

Meanwhile, Charles drove their bus to Bakersfield to meet Charles Emig with the tow dollies that he repaired over the holidays. He did such a good job that the wheels will fall off long before the lights will! Thanks Charles! What a gift!

Well, let me back up.... Charles was supposed to go to Bakersfield. But about 45 miles south of B'field at El Tejon State Park, the tire on the driver's side tag axle exploded. Thanks to Good Sam Emergency Roadside Service, a qualified tire tech came and put on our spare. Charles also discovered that the shock absorber on the opposite tag axle was broken in two and protruded into the bottom of the bus!

So, Charles Emig graciously met me at El Tejon with the dollies while the tire serviceman put on the spare and removed the broken shock.

What a night! I'm just so thankful for good friends who lend a hand and offer good advice ("Take out the Good Sam ERS!") I finally rolled back into Corona at midnight.

Meanwhile, the Autrys went the Crossroads PM service for families, called "Elevation" and were able to talk with the families pastor about 2MOMS singing in one of the Elevation services!

Monday, February 10
After a leisure morning at the RV park, we headed west to Yorba Linda - the birthplace of Richard Nixon, which we passed on the way to the Evangelical Free Church of YL. We squeezed and scraped our way into their parking lot and situated ourselves. However, on one trip in and out, the Autrys mistakenly locked the bus door and didn't have the key to the front door padlock. We all tried everything to get in, but no mop or stick was long enough to pry up the door handle. Until Sharon found the secret weapon - Crislynn! She was able to squeeze in through the driver side window and open the door! Yea Crislynn!!!!

Tuesday, February 11
We awoke to a rainy, windy day for a MOPS group. But the atmosphere inside was warm and very supportive! Charles even met a former Wycliffe Bible Translator that used to work with our good friend Tim Tillinghast in Mali, Africa! What a small world it is as brothers/sisters in Christ!

Wednesday, February 12
We found ourselves this rainy morning at Foothills Family Church in Foothills Ranch, CA. And in keeping with how the week started (blowout), another "emergency occurred during the setup and sound check. It turned out that one of the preschoolers (thankfully none of ours!) pulled the fire alarm, so we all had to evacuate for several minutes. Nothing like that to rattle the girls right before a program! But the Lord still blessed the meeting.

And in returning to the buses in the rain, we discovered one lone bluebonnet to remind us of all the faithful friends and family we have back home in Texas!

This afternoon we all waded through the parking lot of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest to be in the audience of a new singing video for children by our friend Jana Alayra. (God placed us together with Jana at a MOPS regional event in Houston a couple of years ago. And she was the one who encouraged us to go to California to Saddleback, which we did in February 2002!)

Thursday, February 13
Today was an off day except for moving the buses back to Yorba Linda to prepare for tomorrow's program at Rose Drive Friends Church. One of their MOPS moms (Jessica) blessed us with a wonderful Italian meal!

Then both families enjoyed baking Valentine's cookies with the kids!

Friday, February 14
Happy Day of Love! We all awoke with brightly decorated cookies and candy (and Krispie Kremes, at least on the Hilliard's bus!)!

And not to be outdone by the week's earlier happenings, yet another preschooler pulled the fire alarm... but this time during "Hold You, Mommy". After regrouping and starting again, the alarm sounded again! We did complete the program, but I don't know if that preschooler made it out alive....But hopefully that mom was encouraged by the 2MOMS' message to "live and love today"...with the emphasis on LIVE!

From YL the Autrys moved on to Oceanside to prepare for Pat's family to visit and to celebrate Crislynn's 3rd birthday on Sunday!

The Hilliards meanwhile set up camp at an RV park in Anaheim and prepared for a weekend visit from Hyde Park/Denison friends, Barry and Melissa Tally who arrived late tonight at the Ontario Airport.

Saturday, February 15
The Hilliards and Tallys enjoyed a fabulous brunch at "Goofy's Kitchen" in Downtown Disney, and later strolled and shopped throughout DD.

Meanwhile, in Oceanside the Autrys enjoyed "Nonie & D-daddy & Ann Nan", a very nice RV park and hotel, and introducing the Mississippi Autrys to In-N-Out Burgers!

-- Charles