| For our 37th anniversary, we went on our first cruise and it was to the western Mediterranean. We began in Rome. We toured the ancient forum, St. Paul's in the walls, and we were at St. Peter's to hear the pope's address and the blessing of the motorcycles. The next day was to Livorno and a tour of Pisa. The following day to Villefrenche and a tour of Monaco. The next stop was Barcelona. And we ended up in Malaga, Spain. We flew back to Rome via London. Then we went home. |  The crowd at St. Peter's Square included motorcycles and scooters. |
 The leaning tower in Pisa is a campanile. The cathedral, baptistry, and cemetery buildings also lean, but not as much. |  Suzie won a jackpot at the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo, Monaco. |
 The Cathedral of the Holy Family in Barcelona was designed by Gaudy and is still under construction. |  Malaga is the birth place of Picasso. We had our picture taken with the great artisit. |
| In August 2009, Craig was the guest of Compassion International in a trip to Burkina Faso in French West Africa. Compassion matches sponsors in the US and other countries to children in 3rd world countries to help lift children out of poverty. three other El Dorado County churche clergy were on the trip as well one each from: Iowa, San Diego area, and Washington, D.C. We witnessed, first hand, how Compassion programs lift children and their families out of poverty. |  The Compassion team and traveling clergy |
 Craig and some of the 460 children at our first program site visit |  In rural areas, people live in mud brick houses or thatch-roof huts. |
In July of 2009, we traded two of our timeshares for Orlando to attend the 2009 Smart Marriages Conference. Among the many pleanaries and workshops, we attended a post-conference institute, "Hold Me Tight" by Dr. Sue Johnson. She has an excellent couples therapy model and a new marriage education class. See Craig's blog on the conference. While in Orlando, we visited Epcot. It was a very full day. After delays of launching the space shuttle and hoping to see the launch, we decided to go to Epcot when the weather looked the most favorable, which is of course the day they launched and so we missed it. |  Exibit area at 2009 Smart Marriages Conference at the Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando. |
 Spaceship Earth is Epcot's signature feature (2009). |  Dolphin at Epcot aquarium (2009). |
| During sabbatical in 2009, Craig went to Palm Desert (June). While there, he visited Joshua Tree National Park. |  |
An oasis in Joshua Tree National Park (2009).
|  Joshua Tree has several unique rock formations (2009). |
At the end of March and into April of 2008
we visited Kauai again. Larry Hunter and
Jan Holland stayed with us in our timeshare
on Poipu Beach. The highlight of the trip was
a whale watching cruise. There were lots of
humpbacks. It was a thrill. | 
Larry Hunter, Jan Holland, Craig, and Suzie at Waimea Canyon (2008)
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There be whales here! Humpbacks of the coast
of Kauai (2008)
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Protected Monk Seals are roped off from the public on Poipu Beach (2008)
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In October 2007, we visited Maui for the
first time. It is a beautiful island with many
things to do. We went Haleakala National
Park with its lush landscape and waterfalls
to the stark volcanic craters of a dormant
caldera. We also made the Hana Coast
drive -- one of the most beautiful in the world.
There are many waterfalls and scenic beaches. | 
The Haleakala caldera. Haleakala is an inactive volcano area.
There may still be an eruption some day. (2007)
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One of many waterfalls on the Hana Coast of Maui. (2007) | 
Hana Bay (2007)
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In September 2007 we visited Orlando. We went
to the Kennedy Space Center, including the
visitor center and a tour of the launch pads.
We also went to Busch Gardens viewing their
African wildlife, one roller coaster ride, and of
course Budweiser. | 
Suzie and Craig with "Bud" at Busch Gardens, Tampa (2007)
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Craig and Suzie with a NASA Astronaut at the Kennedy Space Center (2007)
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Water hazard at the golf course where we stayed in Orlando (2007)
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In April of of 2007, we visited the eastern Sierra
Nevada for the first time. Mono County is breath
taking. We stayed at June Lake and visited Mono
Lake, Mammoth Lakes, and Bodie State Park.
We also did two day trips: one to Yosemite
National Park and Death Valley National Park. | 
Natural Bridge in Death Valley NP (2007)
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Yosemite Falls in Yosemite NP (2007)
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Mono Lake SP (2007)
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Bodie ghost town, Bodie SP (2007)
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June Lake (2007)
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In 2006, we again visited Kauai. We also took a
southern California vacation staying at Newport Beach
and Lake Arrowhead. We also spent a day at
Universal Studios.
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Lighthouse on north Kauai at the wildlife refuge (2006)
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Oktoberfest at Lake Arrowhead (2006)
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Newport Beach (2006)
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War of the Worlds plane crash scene at
Universal Studios (2006)
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Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios (2006)
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| In 2005, we went to Jackson, Wyoming, visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, again. This is one of our favorite parts of the world. We also hosted Craig's mother at our timeshare on Poipu Beach. |  Suzie and Louise touch a sea cucumber at Poipu Beach (2005) |
 Waterfalls in Waimea Canyon on Kauai (2005) |  Luau show at the Poipu Beach Hyatt (2005) |
 Sunset over the Tetons (2005) |  Elk on front yard at Madison, Yellowstone (2005) |
 Yellowstone elk face to face (2005) |  Black bear mom with treed cub in Grand Teton (2005) |
 Up close bull moose in Grand Teton (2005) |  Two coyotes crossing the road in Grand Teton (2005) |
| In 2004, we made our first trip to Europe. We began by staying with the Richardsons in Frankfurt. Marian and Jeff were our guides. After a week, we traveled by train with Jeff and our nephew Michael to France. We changed trains in Paris to Rouen. Then by car to the timeshare we used in Cannelles (Normandy). We visited the D-Day beaches, Paris, and Geverney (Monet's home). I think Michael was bored with the Louvre and Monet's house and garden. Jeff and Michael took a train back to Frankfurt and we flew to London. We stayed in Essex and Bristol. We then flew back to Frankfurt and then to home. |  A Roman fort in Saalburg (2004) |
 Frankfurt town square (2004) |  Marian and Jeff in Rudesheim (2004) |
 Craig and Suzie at the Arc de Triomphe (2004) |  Cathedral de Notre Dame (2004) |
 American Cemetery, Omaha Beach (2004) |  Jeff and Michael in Monet's house (2004) |
 Jeff and Michael at Pont de Hoc (2004) |  Le Mont St. Michel (2004) |
 The Louvre (2004) |  Suzie and Craig at Stonehenge (2004) |
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