Yes, we're back

Thank you for asking! Several have asked, since the last blog post was sent from the US the day before Abbie's mother's funeral. (See previous post, which was almost prepared, then not published.) While many followers of the blog were not sure if we were home, my translation clients made sure they knew where I was. The pile of waiting jobs is down to 6, now.

There are several postings I would like to make regarding our trip to Israel and Jordan; they are not forgotten, but not at the top of the priority pole at the moment.

Among the interesting visits we've had at the church was that of a sister who first visited us in Nov. 1978, just months after we opened our first meeting room in a garage here in Santa Cruz. She and her husband were accompanied by their daughter, 14 at the time, who again accompanied her mother, but this time with her husband and four daughters. What a difference they saw between then and now! It made us look back and remember how much has changed.

Good-bye, Old Friend

Speaking of changes. Back in the old days we mailed out newsletters, put on address labels, licked stamps. Then in the mid-90s internet came to Madeira. I got my first e-mail address, potter@mail.telepac.pt Since then, other e-mail addresses came and went, some lasting longer than others, but the good old reliable Telepac was always there...until last week. New internet packages using fibre-optic technology meant that we could combine TV, internet and telephone services for half the price we were paying. Our 15-year relationship with the Telepac address was laid to rest. I guess I was dreading this day because of all the contacts I would have to change for banks, tax offices, on-line shopping services, etc. How many are out there I've forgotten to change? Time will tell. The first one I did change was on this blog: the link to "Contact us" goes to an account specifically for the church.