Bellevue Kids and Seattle Women

posted by Patty James @ 3:51pm, Thursday 15 July 2010.

First of all, let me introduce you to my cousin Margaret! Margaret is tall and trim and very beautiful. I wish I would have taken a better photo, but you get the drift...



Margaret and her husband Ian and daughter Kyla moved from Canada to Washington 3 years ago for Ian's work. It was great to see them again and I am so thankful she took the time to set up interviews and find me a place to park my RV. They live like I like to live-people in and out, kids everywhere, who's staying for dinner? type of people. Warm and friendly.

Here are the kids. First there's Kyla. She's very sweet and loves salads and veggies. Yeah! Good job parents!



This is Mari. She has been well taught about nutrition and what to look for to eat healthy food. Her Mom reads nutriton labels in the grocery stores and after reading the label out loud, Mom says, 'Do you want to eat this now that you know what's in it?' Impressive.



This is Eliana. She cracked me up! Be sure to watch her video..I'm still laughing. She needs ''stuff to keep you going.'

This is Andie. How healthy is she? Look at those eyes and at that skin....



I forgot to take Bryce's photo, but his Mom is sending me one soon. I'll post it here after I get it. Bryce had some really fascinating answers. Be sure to watch his video when  it's posted.

There has never been one video of kids where I haven't learned something. I am so thankful.

Last night I had a cooking class at my friend Hazel's house. She gathered a bunch of women-all fascinating-and I made dinner for everyone and told them all about Shine The Light On America's Kids. The funny story is I gave Hazel, who purchased the groceries, four different menu ideas. This, this OR that, type-thing, and she didn't see the OR, and so when I showed up at her gorgeous condo looking at Puget Sounds on one end and the Space Needle on the other, she had food for all four dishes all over the counters! Okey, dokey. No biggie in the scheme of things-I cooked quite a few dishes. I had a blast needless to say. It was very fun and they were all very appreciative. Several women asked me if I was going to move there. Evidently they had some pretty impressive connections for possible work for me. I don't have to be tied to one place and will go where the work is, but not until I visit with family and friends and decompress for a while.









Hazel and me.








No idea why this one is so big! Someone took it last night and emailed it to me....(too much me.)



So now I am in a campground in the national forest below Mt. Rainer. I was just watching the kids videos (I always watch them at least twice because I catch something new every time I do) when my neighbor Michael came up and introduced himself. He also has an old man doggie. He watched a video with me- Bryce's. We had a great conversation, mostly about the military. Michael was in Vietnam, the Army, and he must have been young because he doesn't look that much older than me. He 'lost' (don't you wonder about that saying?) his legs while there. He mentioned there were mines and trip wires, but didn't actually say what happened. He is positive and if there is any bitterness in his soul, you would never know it. Yet another inspiring person I have met along this journey. He bought one of my cookbooks-very nice of him to do.

The world is full of such stories. People who have overcome. People who refuse to think anything but positive thoughts. People who do good, just by being a good person. Crying (big surprise) writing this, but how can you not? The goodness of people is inspiring.