Before we left Phoenix I got to see how they transplant cactus plants with a tree mover apparatus. Also Kamber who is six months old showed her best trick by standing in my hands. Her grandfather Ben Gallaway was proud of her. When we got to Edmonton my brother picked us up from the airport and the next day we both wore black socks, blue jeans and blue checkered shirts. Marj called us the twins. Ruth took this picture of the last day (hopefully) of frost this winter. The cactus is called sagauro.

Yuma AZ

The large rock in the glass case is a petrified dinosaur egg . We stopped to visit Eldon and Kathy Meade on the way to Yuma. (The juxtaposing of these two pictures is entirely accidental.)






















When we got to Yuma we were surprised to find some other visitors there that we knew besides Shirley and Lee Deitz. We met at Norma and Vern Erikson's place Glen and Kay McMillan, and Russell and Glenda Knutson, so there were eight of us that were there for supper. It was good too!

Trip to Phoenix AZ

Leaving snowy Calgary about 11:oo AM on Feb. 15 on Westjet. This is contrasted with a view from above of Phoenix, Arizona where there is no snow and the vegetation is starkly different.
We had a great flight except for the long delay in Calgary getting through US customs and security. It was interesting that they made us do the long line-up in Calgary and when we got to Phoenix it was like you were home free.





The plants are much more suited to a tropical and a desert climate in Phoenix. You can tell from all the cacti and different palm trees that are ubiquitous here. The holes are made by a cactus wren that inhabits them.

Moving day for Andrew--Empty nest for Ian and Ruth

This is Andrew in his new kitchen. When I was helping him pack I found his bus that he collected 12 pictures taken from Grade 1 in 1984 all the way through Grade 12 in 1996. He bought a condo and moved out today. The empty bedroom is the one that he used ever since Angela moved out. I'm helping him install blinds in his new kitchen. He had several friends help him move. Thanks to Fujian L., Robert O., Jeremy M., John W., Rob W., Xavier and Niels W., Mike S. for their help.

Bob Parker's retirement party

Although Bob is still working half-time for the church he has retired from full-time ministry. We had about a hundred people (actually it was 139 people) turn out to see pictures from the past, to hear commentaries from friends and co-workers, to a game contest of who knew
Bob best, and to share in desserts and conversations. It was a great night of reminiscing. Pamela Stonehouse made a wonderful cake, we had Ray and Ellen McMillan and their grandchildren Autumn and Andrew (Ray is now employed part-time by the Saskatoon church) come from Regina, and we had many volunteers help to make it possible. A big thank-you to all who helped out.