6-15-10 ~ Last Hurrah in Tahoe with Christiane

On June 15, 2010, my dear, dear friend Christiane and I met in Tahoe at my favorite place, the Franciscan Lakeside Lodge for a girl's week of fun in the sun and shared good times before I head off to China.

A room with a view....

This is my favorite place on planet earth...my dock at the Franciscan Lakeside Lodge. I have spent many, many hours in peaceful reflection sitting at the end of this dock watching the moon and stars, sunsets, sunrises, and waves crashing into the shore. I was ever so happy to be there with Christiane!

Long arm shot!

Ahhh...Tahoe!

Does it get any better than this?

Whooo hoo! Lookin' good girl!

Best of Friends! Love ya, Christiane!

I love my car...Mom's car...soon to be sold car...I'll miss her!

Walk down to Shunk Harbor

Go, Chritiane, go!

Christiane and I had a fantastic time with the macro setting on our cameras. It took us forever to get to Skunk Harbor because we were so up close and personal with the beauty of nature.

Smile!

Skunk Harbor was actually very skunky...with thousands and thousands of bugs--massive bugs, green bugs, flying bugs, ladybugs. Christiane and I had never seen anything like it! We thought we were in for a nice relaxing picnic on the beach...not a chance! Too many bugs crawling and flying around for our liking! (When I got home there was even a ladybug in the trunk of my car!)

It sure was a beautiful view though!

That dark stuff along the edge of the lake...bugs!

What an awesome week Christiane and I had! We hiked, shopped (till we dropped...literally!), and talked up a storm. I am so glad we had this special time to share before I leave for China. I appreciate you so very much, Christiane! Thank you for your friendship and for being you! : )

6-19-10 ~ Going Away Bash

My dear friends, Adam and Lois Wolf, hosted an awesome Going Away Bash for me on Saturday, June 19, 2010. Thank you, Adam and Lois, for sharing your gorgeous home and loving hospitality! I was so blessed to stand out on your beautiful deck, look around, and see so many people I love all in one place. I am the luckiest woman alive!

Adam & Lois, our awesome hosts!

Their beautiful home

The incredibly beautiful day!

Thanks, my dear friend!

You're the best!

Fortune cookie anyone?

Cousin Chris

Cousin Cecelia

The Shirvanian Family

Issi and Kimberly

Lois and her wonderful mother rose

Thanks to Maria, Andrew, and Sophia, we had superb Asian decorations!

And a dragon kite too!

Maria, Sophia and Andrew ~ I'm the lucky third grade teacher of both Andrew and Sophia!

Shanda, Brenton and Rose

Judi, Katie and Sandra (overseas teaching guru!)

Recently Retired Kathleen (Doesn't she looked relaxed?!)

Roe, Big Buddy Kimberly and Little Buddy Shannon : )

Issi and Mary Jane

Judi, Carol and Chuck

Shannon with Baby Mason, Roe and Rose

Chow Time! Great Food Everyone!

Tina, LeeAnn and Carol

"I Love You, Seesta!"

Kimberly and Maggy's New Mom, Sue Hartman! : )

Kimberly and Best Friends John and Dave (Just back from Hawaii!)

Kimberly and her big brother Greg

Kimberly and Her Dear Uncle Marshal

Todd, Macy (Student Teacher Extraordinaire!) and Mia

Tina and Katie

Smiling Deb : )

How's that beer, Josh?

Jean, Jane and Lois (Greatest Office Staff in the World!)

Chuck and Alan

Jane, Mary Jane, Lois and Kimberly

Jane and Dana

Smilin' Sharon!

Kevin, Sebastian, Tony, Macie and Tayor

Beth

I love ya, Donna!

Judi and Beth

Kitty ~ aka "Thailand" ~ We played a fun guessing game!

While cleaning out her classroom after retiring in June, Lin Monahan (my Master Teacher way back in 1989) found my Student Teaching Evaluation Form! Whooo-hoo...I got all 4's!! Thanks, Lin! Great memories!

Party on, Bro!

Donna Friedrich made the most amazing cake in the shape of China with Chinese characters that said GOOD LUCK! Amazing, Donna! Thank you so very much! And it was so tasty, too!

Donna cutting the cake

Lois pitching in and serving up the yummy cake

Hans, Lindy, Lynn and Amanda

Jeff and Hans

Andrew

Alan and Kimberly

I love my Uncle Marshal!

Let's dance John..."Sugar, Sugar!"

Boogyin' with best friend John

It's Electric!

Carol, Chuck and Rose

Thank you Betsy and Sharon for a beautiful scrapbook full of wonderful people. This will have a special place on my coffee table in China so all my new friends who come to visit can meet my old friends from back home.

Check it out!

Adam and Alan completing "How Well Do You Know Kimberly" game ~ 12 out of 20 correct! Not bad! : )

Dave, Kimberly and Macy

John Jumpin' in the Picture!

Sophia was our computer queen...she helped everyone created a video for me to watch while I'm in China. Thank you, Sophia!

Sharon and Mary Jane recording a video

John and Aunt Pat

Andrew and Maria

Donna, Donald and Macy

David, Donna and Donald ~ The three D's!

My overseas teaching mentor and lifesaver, Judi ~ Thanks, my dear friend, for being there to answer all my questions, hold my hand when I was feeling unsure, and for being my sounding board!

You helped make my dream come true!

Mary Jane wrote a beautiful going away poem which everyone read.

~ Bon Voyage, Kimberly ~

This isn't good-bye; we couldn't bear it

This adventure of yours...we want to share it!

You inspire us all to follow our heart

To trust, to believe, your faith stands apart.

Your journey to China , brave Kimberly Blake,

Your talent and passion is all that you take.

Armed with your spirit and drive to pursue it

You set your course and mind to do it!

Your new class will reflect your art of teaching

With style and grace, always reaching.

You teach from the heart while keeping your head

Civilizing kids, or so it's been said.

As a friend you're amazing, cheerful and caring

Generous, kind, adventurous and daring.

Tender, compassionate lover of living

Lover of Maggy and always forgiving.

Our lives are better because we know you

With hearts full of joy, we bid you adieu!

We Love You, Kimberly

MJ Beccaria

2010

They made me cry even before they started reading!

I love you, Mary Jane!

Thank you for the heartfelt, heartwarming poem!

The Wild Family ~ After being friends with Jeff and Lynn for many years,

both Amanda and Allison were in my third grade class at Monte Vista!

Aren't I the lucky one!

We Are Family!

Chris, Pat, Kimberly, Uncle Marshal, Cecelia, Debe and Greg

Al, Mai and Isabella

Erith, Kevin and Sebastian

Donna and Don

Alan and Kimberly

Thanks for the yuan, Wild Family!! China Here I Come!!!

Thank you all for a great party and for helping me celebrate this amazing adventure in life!

I am so blessed!