Second Email from Gene in China

Have a little time before we head out, so I thought I would talk a little more. You are probably asleep now so you will get this when you wake. Our guide Peter has been very nice, he is very knowledgeable and he speaks very good English. Yesterday Wendell stayed at the farmers house because he over did the hike and sprained his knee. It was a difficult climb, so it was good he stayed back. This morning he felt good enough to go with us up the mountain. There are a lot of people here in Beijing. King's Joy hotel is about a five minute walk to the Forbidden City. We are leaving most of our luggage here at the hotel while we travel to Xi'an. We will only take our backpacks. I think the guys are glad the hiking is over. Our driver, Shao doesn't speak English, but he is friendly. Here in the hotel they have an aquarium with red fish, it is large, very colorful. Last night we had BBQ trout, it was good. We've had an array of food, most I was familiar with. Miss you, like I said I will try to email you tomorrow.

First Email from Gene in China

I am glad everything is going okay and that everyone is safe. The hiking portion of the trip is over, beautiful country. I must admit the hiking was much more arduous than I thought it would be. Monday was Paul's birthday and Gary bought him a wonderful cake. It was very nice of him. Tonight Gary is going to buy us dinner. The food has been fantastic. It is a little different than the Chinese food in Hawaii, but very good. Tuesday we stop at a restaurant for dinner, when we finished and walking back to the car there was a three foot black and red snake at the entrance to the restaurant, a little excitement for the day. The weather has been great. After the hike yesterday, back at the farmers house, it started to thunder and lightening, it rained most of the night. You did a wonderful job scheduling this trip. I thank you very much. We are going to Xi'an after dinner. Will try to write tomorrow night.

30 Days and Counting

Leaving for Scotland on Oct. 6.

Can't wait!

China

So this is a picture of Gene and 3 of his buddies in China. The 4th guy is taking the picture. Looks like they could be anywhere really.

Got 7 emails from him when he was enroute to China but none since arriving. I think they are starting Day 3 of their hike of the Great Wall of China. What an adventure they must be having!

The guy who sent the photo (to his wife who forwarded it to me) - he said lots of steep steps which can make ones knees ache...

Hope all goes well.

Sad

I was so excited the other week when my cousin emailed me telling me she was pregnant. She is already the BEST mom to 2 little girls.

Sadly, she emailed me on Wednesday to tell me she had miscarried :(

Love her lots and am sad.

Phantom

One week til Opening Night. Gabe is busier than ever - rehearsal nightly til 10:30 - almost full day rehearsals on the weekend.

The show has been extended until Oct. 16 AND its sold out on many nights.

I usually try to go to every performance - but this one has steep ticket prices ($45). So I am going opening weekend (2 nights) and maybe 1 more time...if I can get tickets.

Great Weekend

Gene left yesterday for 10 days. Hiking the Great Wall of China. No phone or email contact for 8 days.

I am sure he will have a GREAT time on the GREAT Wall. He is in GREAT shape. He is going with some GREAT friends.

Can't wait til he gets back - can't imagine the experience.

Spoke too Fast

Hannah's seizures - back again. :(

Truth

“When we have sampled much and have wandered far and have seen how fleeting and sometimes superficial a lot of the world is, our gratitudegrows for the privilege of being part of something we can count on—home and family and the loyalty of loved ones. We come to know what it means to be bound together by duty, by respect, by belonging. We learn that nothing can fully take the place of the blessed relationship of family life." - President Thomas S. Monson

What Will Happen?

A dear friend of ours died today. She had been sick for quite a while. She had asked Gene to conduct her funeral. Her family is going to the mortuary tomorrow to make the arrangements.

If they arrange for the funeral between September 1-11 then he has decided he will not go to China on his Great Wall Hiking Trek.

I am so proud of him for making that decision. Like he said - the Great Wall is not going anywhere...

And maybe things will work out...

But if they don't he is perfectly fine keeping his word to his dear friend.

Magic Formula

I think we might have found it!

After 1 1/2 years of medication cocktails I think Hannah's neurologist has finally hit gold. He adjusted the dosages on Wednesday and...

NO SEIZURES SINCE!!!!!

Keeping our fingers crossed on this one.

Growing Up

Michelle attended her first church dance on Friday night. Fortunately, Gabe attended too (wearing his fake glasses cause he says girls like nerds)

She was so excited - she wore a new black skirt, sandals she borrowed from Leo and she even wore a little bit of lipstick.

She did not dance - she said she wouldn't before she left - but she LOVED the refreshments (chips and m&m's) and was happy they played the song Thriller. She wanted to hear her favorite song Firework but they didn't play it.

All in all a great night for this young lady.

She Said

I told Michelle that Hannah had to sit by me because Hannah has seizures and might need help.

Michelle said, “What kind does she have? Epileptic or tonic-clonic? I have absence seizures - when my eyes go back and forth really fast and I can’t talk. That’s me having a absence seizure.”

She learned this watching youtube on her Ipad.

And they said she’d never walk or talk…

Branching Out

I started a very different blog.

I'll continue this one but the new one is in a different vein.

Creative outlet of sorts...

Come pay me a visit at http://ginnywright.tumblr.com/

The Pictures Say It All

Pneumonia

Gene - not me. He got a shot at the Dr. today and antibiotics. Hope he gets to feeling better soon. I leave tomorrow night for meetings in L.A. - timings not great...

Trauma Drama

Michelle's EEG - she was so nervous - didn't like the monitor sound, didn't like the hospital bed going up and down, didn't like the blood pressure cuff, didn't like the pillow, didn't like the finger monitor, didn't like the curtain, didn't like the hospital bracelet, DID NOT LIKE THE I.V. at all!!

Of course she slept thru the actual EEG and LIKED the popsicle she got in the recovery room. We knew she was okay when she asked for "10 piece McNuggets, large fries and a medium Sprite from McDonalds".

Won't know results until the dr. calls but GLAD that procedure is over!

Committed & Admitted

Committed:

Wonderful having Jacob home - at least for a bit...

By that I mean he is busy catching up with old friends - not the least of whom is Sam, his sweet girlfriend.

Yesterday they went to the zoo, Ala Moana, 2 movies - Harry Potter 7 and Captain America, and hung out a bit here and then with her parents.

Today I think he's sleeping - he says he's still on Idaho time.

Admitted:

Getting ready to take Michelle to the hospital for her sedated EEG. The I.V. part will be the trauma. She's nervous.

What a Day

A wonderful one - could hardly focus on cleaning and prepping - was so excited about Jacob coming home.

His plane was about 20 minutes early - but we were all there waiting with a big welcome home sign and tons of lei! More than at graduation.

Came home and Azeema did a beautiful job of decorating using all the lei.

About 35 people came over for dinner and to welcome Jacob home. Featherans, Soliais, Dyches, Dylan, George, Susan, Lakona, Michael Ann, Lily, Kawehi, Skyla, Devin, Joelyn, Manu & Shaina.

Jacob had a wonderful time!

Photos to follow.

Enroute

Jacob at Salt Lake City airport with our good friend Ricky Soliai who works for Delta there at SLC.

Tomorrow

Can't come fast enough.

30 hours from now

He'll be HOME!

It has been such a wonderful blessing having Jacob on his mission. We have seen so much growth in him through his emails and letters over the past 2 years.

Going on this mission has/will change his life forever.

It is not an easy task to set off, at the prime of your life - set aside all ambition, friends, education, entertainment, and life to dedicate 24 months to the Lord and his work. To do so voluntarily, with an eager heart - that is such an amazing thing!

But the blessings are tremendous and eternal. Jacob has been able to develop greater discipline, perseverance, compassion, dedication, selflessness, humility, determination, and reliance on the Lord. These are traits that will make him a wonderful husband, father, student, worker, Church member, neighbor and man.

So proud and so humbled to be the mother of a missionary.

Busy Week to Come

Sunday - Church (I teach a lesson) and Neighborhood Watch meeting

Monday - Work, work, work

Tuesday - More of the same

Wednesday - Jacob comes home then welcome home party for him with about 40 people (what should I cook???)

Thursday - Work meeting early then Michelle & Hannah to neurologist

Friday - Michelle's sedated EEG

Coming Home!

5 More Days!!!

We've invited some folks over for dinner -

Soliais

Sam and her family

Manu & Sipi

Skyla & Devin

Kawehi & Michael Ann

Featherans

Steve & Azeema

Susan & George

Brandi

He won't see the Stake President for his release until 10:00 p.m. - should make for an interesting evening.

Can't wait!

Count Down Continues

1 week til Jacob comes home

AND

2 weeks and 1 day til Les Mis with Ruth Ann at Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.

Can it get any better???????

Jacob's New Car

Or rather, Gene's car that he will let Jacob drive.

What can I say? We got a thing for 1990-1991 Toyotas.

This is our 4th.

Its in excellent condition, 81,000 miles and was $1,400.

Gabe wants to trade the one he drives for this one.

Uh - I don't think so.

He's In!

Paliku Theater

Windward Community College

Sept. 9 - Oct. 9, 2011

Gabe Wright - as Slave Master/Lead Male Ballet Dancer/Ensemble

I Wonder What the Neighbors are Thinking?

Gabe - outside washing his car - with the radio on - singing - not rock music, not rap, not hip hop - he's singing - show tunes at the top of his lungs.

A Reminder

15 more days!

Celebration

Barbecued ribs and chicken

Turkey Burgers

Shrimp Kabobs

Corn on the cob

Coleslaw

Chips

Olives Pickles

Rice

and

Strawberries and cream on shortbread

Happy 4th of July!