Tag Archives: Sage Hills Church

Apr9

Happy Easter!

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Happy Easter!

Easter to many people is synonymous with Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and egg hunts. But Easter is so much more. To Christians Easter is the holiest day of the year. I have vivid memories of the first time I celebrated Easter after I’d been baptized. It was back in 2010 and Easter took on a whole new meaning. I went to Church of the Rock in Winnipeg and then over to a friend’s for dinner. It was a very different experience from the Passover I had always celebrated for years before that.

Since then I’ve lived in several different places and attended Easter services in different churches, sometimes in English and sometimes in Spanish. I’ve even done services online. I still tune in to Church of the Rock for Good Friday and Easter services as these are all recorded and replayed throughout the day. But I’m really blessed to be able to attend Sage Hills Church in person in Wenatchee when I’m here in Washington. The Easter service this year was exceptionally amazing and I will probably watch it again online.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I do buy Cadbury Cream Eggs. We don’t have those in Mexico and they’re a treat when I’m in Washington.

Have A Blessed Easter!

Mar29

Back In East Wenatchee

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Back In East Wenatchee

Alaska you are still my favorite airline. You got me and my bag here as scheduled. Connections went smoothly in Los Angeles and Seattle. The Guadalajara airport is a disaster during construction, but the Alaska staff were most attentive and welcoming. So three flights later I arrived back in Wenatchee. Christina picked me up at the airport and minutes later we were back at home.

The snow looks really pretty up in the mountains. And I hope it stays there. I was in Leavenworth on Monday and there are still mounds of snow around. It hasn’t been warm enough to melt all of it yet.

I’m all unpacked and my bedroom is organized. I can see the floor and suitcases are stacked in the closet. It was nice to find some warmer clothes. Washington isn’t Mexico.

Telcel switched me over to T Mobile and I’m not impressed. I have to get down to AT&T in the next few days and get an American chip put in my cellphone. I’m thinking about upgrading my phone as well. This one is past the two year mark so it’s time. I’m afraid I’ve become far too reliant on it.

Other than unpacking and doing laundry, I’ve been busy. Sunday morning at 9 am I went to Sage Hills with Steve and Pamela. It was great to be back at church live and in person instead of online. Of course it was a challenge to be up and out the door so early, something I never did even once when I was in Mexico this past winter.

Monday morning I went to Leavenworth for my 9 am hair appointment with Lisa at Shears. Yep. Two days in a row up and out the door early. Church on Sunday was just across the bridge in Wenatchee. Leavenworth is twenty miles away. But as any woman knows, that hair appointment is far too important and sacrifices must be made to get there on time.

Linda and I went to Gustav’s for lunch after. Then we started binge watching Daisy Jones And The Six. That will do nicely until Virgin River comes out with the new season.

I also squeezed in a quick trip to the East Wenatchee Valley Mall. Bath and Body Works was a must as I was out of absolutely everything. Pretty new packaging since I left last fall as well. And I did get to visit my tree in Cashmere.

By the way, the new puppy is adorable. Sarah is a golden retriever. To me this is a real dog compared to the seven chihuahuas who live here. Of course, she is quite mischievous and loves to chew lol.

Happy Humpday!

Dec20

2022 Part 1

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2022 Part 1

I have decided to divide the year end review into two parts. Part 1 will cover the first six months of the year.

I woke up January 1st in Jilotsingo where I had celebrated New Years Eve with fifty-nine others. The next day I went back to Angie’s home in Pachuca. I returned to Aguascalientes after King’s Day. The rest of the month was spent getting together with friends and writing blog posts. I also had a SAIL training session on Zoom.

February was an exciting month. My characters started talking to me again and I was finally inspired to continue working on my book of fiction. My granddaughter in Kelowna also celebrated her fourth birthday. And I went to Culiacan to spend time with my Mexican family before heading back up north for the warmer months.

On March 1st I crossed the border at Nogales and headed for Tucson, where I spent a few relaxing days by a pool at a hotel. Then came the rather unusual but interesting Greyhound bus trip to Seattle where I was finally able to pick up an Amtrak into Leavenworth. One of the first things I did was get a Covid booster. I moved around a lot staying in Leavenworth and Dryden and did some pet sitting before finally settling down in East Wenatchee. It was wonderful to be at Sage Hills in person again and to resume teaching SAIL classes.

April was a fun month of garage sales, different from the usual tienguis in Mexico. Life Group resumed and a series of library programs began on Zoom. My characters continued to chatter so it was also a great writing month.

May was a little on the stressful side. The results of a biopsy were not what I’d hoped for and I needed to have a growth removed. On a more positive note I celebrated a birthday and had a delightful day in Lake Chelan. And I also received great news that while the growth indeed had been malignant, there was only healthy tissue left and no further sign of cancer. So no need for more treatment.

I had training in the A Matter Of Balance program during the month of June and I’m looking forward to coaching it when I return to Washington in the spring. And towards the end of the month I found myself on a plane headed for Winnipeg for the first time in five years.

I’m taking a break from blogging so no post this coming Sunday. 2022 Part 2 will be on December 28th.

Merry Christmas!

Oct2

Oh Oh October

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Oh Oh October

Where did summer go? The weather is still unseasonably warm for this time of year. But it’s already October. And a week from today I’ll be back in Mexico.

More goodbyes in the past few days. More last meals with friends in favorite restaurants. More classes have ended until next spring. More last minute shopping to do and of course the dreaded packing.

My characters have been talking up a storm. I hope they keep it up once I get back down to Mexico. They really didn’t have much to say last winter.

The fatigue is easing off and I’m glad I only teach two days this week instead of four. Fatigue seems to be a common symptom after the second Pfizer booster.

I’ve taken quite a few pics of my tree in Cashmere this past week. The leaves are changing color daily and I hope that brilliant red will be visible before I leave next weekend.

The smoke is still around, some days more than others. Highway 2 is closed again near Snohomish with no detour through the pass. Fires near Entiat have been contained.

Hurricane Ian devastated Florida and is headed inland to wreak more havoc. And a hurricane south of Mazatlan is threatening the Mexican coast. Glad I decided to fly into Guadalajara.

Off to Sage Hills for the last time until next spring. Then Clairesse and I will have one final brunch together. I’m sure we’ll find another shopping adventure this afternoon. We always do.

Happy Sunday!

Aug17

It’s Hot Here

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It’s Hot Here

Last night at 7:30 it had cooled off to a comfortable 86 degrees. I’m getting used to the heat again after the cool temperatures in Winnipeg. Daytime highs here in East Wenatchee are supposed to continue in the range of 105 degrees plus for at least another week.

Yesterday morning I taught a fitness class in an un-airconditioned room in a church. And I get to do it again tomorrow. There isn’t even a fan in the room and unfortunately this means we open windows in an attempt to get some air circulation.

Church was air-conditioned on Sunday. It was great to be back at Sage Hills in person and not on line.

Tonight we’re going to see The Music Man, a Leavenworth Summer Theater production. The venue is the amphitheater, one of my favorite places in Leavenworth.

Because it’s so hot and dry here, the fire risk is extremely high. So now the alerts on my phone are no longer for Manitoba tornados. Instead they’re wildfire and evacuation alerts.

BTW, I visited my tree in Cashmere yesterday. It’s still really green and I hope I’ll still be here when the leaves turn that gorgeous crimson red in the fall.

My characters are talking to me. Time for coffee and writing.

Aug6

Nomad On The Move Soon

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Nomad On The Move Soon

Yes my flights are finally booked. Hopefully next Sunday my post will be coming from East Wenatchee. This is my last Sunday post from Winnipeg.

I had a nice relaxing time out at the lake. And I have been busy since I got back into the city. I have been sorting through hundreds of photos that were backed up on my Seagate and trying to remember where and when they were taken. My old laptop had died and finally gone to hell at some point during the early days of Covid. Gone to hell…………I hated that ASUS!!!!!

I finally booked my flights. I am taking my chances with a Canadian airline. Please keep me in your prayers that Air Canada actually has a crew to get me to SeaTac via Vancouver on Thursday. I still have to book the Wenatchee Valley Shuttle and buy my travel health insurance, but I know that is minor in comparison. I also know that Christina and Danny will be waiting with bells on for me to get back home.

Of course it is now crunch time and that means saying goodbye to my friends here. I hope they understand when I say I have no plans to come back here anytime soon. Six weeks was way too long for a visit this summer when I had planned on being here only three.

I have been texting Annie back in East Wenatchee. I have new classes to teach at Bonaventure the week of the 15th. And of course I will be back in Leavenworth teaching that week as well. I am looking forward to getting back to those fitness classes.

I also have tickets for Leavenworth Summer Theater productions of The Music Man and The Sound of Music. Performances always include an outstanding cast and the Amphitheatre up in the mountains is the perfect venue.

Almost time for internet church from Sage Hills in Wenatchee. Next Sunday I hope to be there in person.

Have a great Sunday!

Apr17

Happy Easter! Happy Passover!

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Three important celebrations were held on the evening of Friday, April 15th, 2022.

I attended a very moving service at Sage Hills Church in Wenatchee. It was in English and I was there live and in person. For the past several years I have always done a Good Friday service in English online as I’ve been in Mexico.

Back at home in Aguascalientes the occasion was the beginning of the Feria, the first one since 2019 because of Covid. This usually annual festivity takes place over a number of weeks and spans an area from Centro all the way to La Isla.

Friday also marked the first seder of Passover for those of the Jewish faith around the globe.

Whatever holiday you are celebrating this weekend, blessings to you for health and happiness.

Happy Passover!

Happy Easter!

Feliz Pascua!

Mar30

Today Is Wednesday

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Today Is Wednesday

Four weeks ago yesterday I crossed the border at Nogales. I’m only allowed 180 days in this country and already 30 precious days have flown by.

I was talking to a friend in Winnipeg last night who asked me what I was planning to do when I got to Canada and how long I was going to stay. The painful truth is that I don’t even want to come to Canada. I come back to see my kids, my granddaughter, and the handful of close friends I keep in touch with. And of course I want to go to the cemetery in Winnipeg. But my life is here in Washington as well as in Mexico.

I’m settling in to life in East Wenatchee. I’ve never lived in Douglas County before. Always in Chelan County. The big difference I’ve noticed is that each county has its own judicial buildings.

While I still teach fitness classes in Leavenworth, I found a new life group from Sage Hills Church just down the street from where I live. And on April 1 the senior center in Wenatchee reopens so that will be an opportunity to meet people and perhaps even play bridge again.

I’m off shortly for a walk. I love watching the trees come to life in the spring. I took this photo of a tree down the street a couple of days ago when it was just beginning to bud.

I peeked out my window a few minutes ago and it’s now in full bloom. A new photo is definitely in order.

Have a great Wednesday!

Que tengas un buen miercoles!

Mar13

I’m Back!

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I’m Back!

First week back in Washington has flown by quickly. I’m trying to adapt to the cold up here. Very different from Mexico and Arizona. So very glad I left a warm ski jacket here. And happy that I don’t need the boots.

I’m living out in Dryden for a few days and it’s always cooler along the river. But I spent yesterday in Leavenworth. I had a CPR course in the morning and went out for lunch with friends after. Then we got some apple cider and visited downtown by the gazebo. The sunshine was most welcome and I think we hit a balmy 50 degrees.

This morning we’re off to Sage Hills in Wenatchee. Can’t wait to actually be with people again and not just do church online.

SAIL fitness classes have started again for me and I really enjoy teaching them. The program was developed here in Washington state and is geared for seniors and aimed at fall prevention. Minnesota and a few other states are now offering this as well.

This coming week I’ll be in Wenatchee for more fitness training. And on Wednesday I’m moving again. Where? Maybe next blog post……..

Feb20

It’s The Last Week

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It’s The Last Week

Spring has arrived in Aguascalientes. Temperatures are back up in the low 80s. The rain has been replaced by warm sunshine. Different flowers and trees are blossoming. And it feels strange to leave here at this time of year. I usually leave in April. But Covid threw all that out of whack so I came to Mexico earlier this year and have to leave earlier. Friends in Washington tell me they still have snow, so I’m not too anxious to head up there anytime soon.

So what am I doing this last week in Aguascalientes? Definitely spending time with friends. That’s the part I hate about leaving. All the goodbyes. But there is always next winter to look forward to. Las Flores has become home and I’ve told Raul I want my room on Begonias back again.

Yesterday I took one last walk to Las Americas. I picked up a few things at Farmicia Guadalajara and at one of my favorite bakeries, La Flor. As I made my way home down the familiar side streets, I realized just how much I love this neighborhood.

And then last night I walked around Expoplaza. I will miss the people, the music, the bars and restaurants, the street stands………there’s nothing like this up north. There was even a concert going on, complete with fireworks.

I will do my usual Sunday internet church this morning with Sage Hills in Wenatchee. This afternoon I’m meeting a friend in the Jardin de San Marcos. I will miss this park. Not only is it a beautiful park, but there’s always a lot of different things going on such as zumba and salsa in addition to all the vendors displaying their wares in stands or on the sidewalk.

I also plan on taking last walks along Carranza, Nieto and in Centro. And of course I will spend time in the park near my house. I will stroll through the tianguis on Las Laureles one last time. I will also visit my favorite restaurants for one last gordita, enchilada, chaskas, burger, jamaica, horchata and Negro Modelo. Will also find some churros.

I will need some clean clothes when I start traveling. So I will say goodbye to Fatima at the lavenderia, who always does a fabulous job with my clothes. Near the lavenderia is Paulina, my hair stylist, so that will be another goodbye.

PACKING! You think by now I’d be used to it with all the traveling I do. It’s always a hassle. It doesn’t matter how organized I try to be.

And somewhere I need to find time for writing and Duolingo.

It’s the last week and it’s going to be a busy one.