Family of 6: To Ventura for Vati's 75th birthday

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

To Ventura for Vati's 75th birthday

My father celebrated his 75th birthday with all his children. Here we are getting ready to get on the boat to the Channel Island Anacapa (I hid my crutches). The locals and guides said I was crazy to go with my recent knee surgery because there were about 200 steps to get from the boat to the top of the cliff at the landing spot.

The boat got underway and we enjoyed the dolphins alongside, the pelicans diving into the ocean (Maike informed me that they dislocate their shoulders to do this)!

"Thar she blows."

All of a sudden, there were a few humpback whales. We watched them for some time. They went under and reappeared again after 5 minutes.

You could see them start to descend and I was able to snap this photo.

Anacapa approach.

We got there and as I started towards the enormous stairs, my brother John said, "Just hang on to me and I'll carry you." So I grabbed around his neck/chest and he carried me more than halfway. Then my brother Georg had a turn and carried me the rest of the way! I felt so treasured by my big brothers.

There were such beautiful flowers on the island. I definitely worshiped God's "clothing the lilies of the field."

Everywhere on the islands were seagulls nesting. They screeched and screamed as we passed by their nests.

This one was amazingly silent. There were seagulls on their nest everywhere, peeking out from every corner.

This is what their eggs look like.

I was able to get pretty far with my crutches. We ate lunch and learned about the island. I also started out on a little hike, but this is where I stayed (loved the sign: No Travel Beyond This Point...for me, at least!) I was able to chat with Carl and the kids on my cell phone, lie in the warm sun and listen to Sons of Korah in worship, read my Bible, and pray.

I found the tiniest flower I've ever seen, and got this photo. It reminds me of how God has created such a vast universe, even clothing this little beauty that's only about 1 mm wide.

This is my view from my spot. There were sea lions below and dolphins feeding out in the ocean. There is my family coming towards me again.

Vati and I

Georg and John

The sea lions were very curious about our boat.

Leaving Anacapa Island

I love my sister Maike! We had such a fun time chatting and catching up.

This is the view out the back of my dad's house and my early bird sister and brother out early in the morning.

On my dad's birthday, we went to the Getty Museum and they wheeled me around in a wheelchair. I love my dad's pose as he scrutinizes paintings.

My dad saw that this guy had very dirty fingernails.

We liked this one.

I liked this one a lot. Jesus has such a meek, sorrowful, yet submissive expression. So beautiful with the light and shadows and such amazing details.