The first year was probably the hardest as far as adjusting to no schedules. However, I truly enjoyed not having to be up at 5a.m. to face a group of students by 7:30 a.m., who also were having trouble functioning. The first year was hard to break the "traditional" idea of a summer trip, which we took to Wisconsinand Michigan. The fall found me planning and holding a reunion with college friends, which was easier to do without having to juggle thatand teaching.

My first major trip was in fulfillment of a commitment to be involved in missions. As a language teacher, the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators captured my interest. Early in my career I almost quit teaching to become a translator. Instead, I became a supporter of those who translate. In December 2004 my husbandand I were invited to the Philippines to participate in the celebration of the publication of the first New Testaments translated into Agutaynen a language spoken in one of the island groups near Palawan. It was a privilege to have been a part of Steveand Janice Quakenbush'swork that spanned over twenty yearsand to witness the joy of the people who finally had the Scriptures in a language they could truly understand. Besides the celebrations, we toured Puerto Princesa and went on an island hopping excursion.

In May 2005, we were off on another trip to see our country after celebrating my mother's 91st birthday. We traveled by car through Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montanaand Wyoming. The positive aspect of this trip was no big crowds. The drawback some parts were still experiencing winter, especially inand around Yosemite National Park.

Not having to start back to school in the fall gave us the opportunity to attend my nephew's wedding in Chicago and have a leisurely trip back home. It also provided me time to spend with my mother before she passed away in October.

Wycliffe Bible Translators get the book of Luke translated into the target languageand the Jesus Video branch of Campus Crusade for Christ uses the translationand the native speakers, who helped translate, to make "The Jesus Video" for that language group. These language groups have never had a written language before. So having the video in their native language helps the people understand the scriptures quicker.

Our next big adventure occurred in the summer of 2006, but it took the year before to get ready. We took up my oldest brother's invitation to join him on a mission trip to Kenya. There we helped distribute health kits, taught quilting, mentored some studentsand established an on-going relationship with Crossroads United Methodist church in Grand Junction.

We also participated in three safaris at the end of our stay. Even though Africa is primitive in comparison to America, the people are so generous. One family we met had raised seven childrenand was helping educate three orphans in their retirement years. We were also impressed by their commitment to teachand learn non-native languages. Besides their own native language, the children are taught Swahili and English in the grade schools. In high school they taught them Frenchand German as well, even in the remote villages.

In between trips besides resting up, I volunteer at our church the Aurora Corps of the Salvation Army, teaching the adult Sunday school class, helping during the kettle season, picking up the donated toys from the various schools that have contributed to the "Giving Tree drive, singing on the worship teamand leading the ladies' ministry group. Thisand keeping fit doing water exercise keeps me busier than when I was teaching.

What does the future hold? At this point we are contemplating a cruise to Panamaand a mission trip to China, which we will document with shorter blog entries on this site.