Thanks for everyone's concern... and well wishes.<BR>You are all such dear friends. <P>Thanks for all who responded to my earlier post! <P>==============My Trip================<P>The trip was great!<P>Yes, I did give my grandparents a collective hug from all of you. They were surprised such a group of individuals existed.<P>What they said kept them going as a married couple for 65 years is <B>faith</B> and <B>tolerance of each other</B> (a lot of Plan P and a whole mess of Plan A in MB terminology)!<P>I'll try to post some pictures on the weekend!<P>Highlights...<P><B>Wed-28</B><BR>...arrival... tired... and very jet lagged!<BR>......lost 6 hours in time zones<BR>...first disaster for my sister and her family...<BR>......3 of their passports were expired... and were given a 1-week temp admittance into Hungary<BR>...meeting spouses of cousins... second cousins...etc.<BR>...huge meal... the first of so many to come <BR><B>Thu-29</B><BR>...swimming in the local lake <BR>......Heat was incredible 95+ degrees<BR><B>Fri-30</B><BR>...sister and her family had to go back to Vienna to get their new passports<BR>...I went fishing with son and cousin-in-law <BR>...kids learning about farm life... chickens... pigs... roosters...<BR>...kids fell in love with 2 newborn kittens and a puppy<BR><B>Sat-1</B><BR>...more swimming, rafting <BR>..."skittle bowling"(Teke) with son and cousin-in-laws <BR><B>Sun-2</B><BR>...Mass celebrating 65th anniversary of grandparents<BR>...Grandfather 90 years old, grandmother 83 years old....<BR>...(yep... he stole his W from the cradle... LOL)<BR>...Feast with 35+ family members <BR>...like all families (conflict between siblings... my dad/his brother and his sister.. yuck)<BR>...but all in all a good day. <BR><B>Mon-3</B><BR>...Trip to Budapest (my sister, her H and their kids(4) went too)<BR>...settling down time and visiting my godmother's brother... professor at the University<BR>......(godmother now has alzheimer's... )<BR>...drove the downtown with my son... we had a late night espresso at a cafe... [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]<BR><B>Tue-4</B><BR>...Site seeing tour (by bus)...<BR>......"a 3 hour tour..." (LOL)<BR>...kids learned a lot... pretended they learned nothing<BR>......but then told everyone what they learned when we got back!<BR>...Did some walking/shopping in downtown area<BR>...Came back that night with my D... to see a <B>folk dance</B> presentation...<BR>......by the most renowned dancers in the country!!!<BR>......<B>this was the highlight of my trip</B>! [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]<BR>......I (and W) were both folk dancers for years...<BR><B>Wed-5</B><BR>...Went downtown (Pest) to see the "Vidam Park"(amusement park)...<BR>......great time for the kids... but...<BR>...second disaster for my sister and her family...<BR>......<B>all</B> their luggage was stolen from their locked car<BR>......the stories of vandalism and theft really need to be heeded<BR><B>Thu-6/Fri-7</B><BR>...Visited my MIL's family in Gyor (2 hour drive from Pest)<BR>...They were so warm and kind to my kids and me<BR>......visited cultural sites (Pannomhalma Abbey)... beautiful<BR>...They too were so upset to hear how my W could do all she had to her family<BR><B>Sat-8</B><BR>...Kid's delight (for my 2 boys at least... D slept through it)...<BR>...They got to see a pig-slaughter (what an experience) [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/frown.gif[/img] [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]<BR>...Making of "traditional" Hungarian delicacies... "Kolbasz"... "Hurka"... "headcheese"...<BR>...The kids ate no meat that day [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/frown.gif[/img] (LOL kind-of)<BR><B>Mon-10</B><BR>...Day trip to Lake Balaton (Europe's largest lake)...<BR>......my parents came along (they felt they needed to protect us. LOL)<BR>......windy but warm<BR><B>Tue-11</B><BR>...Birthday Party for 3-yo daughter(Cynthia) of my cousin...<BR>......she had the cutest "Hungarian" lisp you've ever heard!<BR><B>Wed-12/Fri-14</B><BR>...Family time...<BR>...Taking each of uncle's and aunt's families(separately) out for meals... lots of talk...<BR>...visits to the bigger neighboring towns for sightseeing/shopping<BR>......Kormend and Szombathely<BR>...Sister and family left on the 14th (they planned a shorter trip)<BR><B>Sat-15/Sun-16</B><BR>...visiting relatives and friends...<BR>...more "teke"-ing<BR>...gorging ourselves... this is what Hungary is really noted for<BR>......food... desserts... more food... more desserts... still more of both!<BR>...driving around relatives... payback for all they did for us!!! [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]<BR><B>Mon-17[b]<BR>...last trip for shopping...<BR>...packing...<BR>[b]Tue-18</B><BR>...trip back after many tears (especially my grandparents, and my dad)<P>Memorable relatives...<BR>...my grandparents... (of course)<BR>...my cousin's daughter... Cythia(3-yo)... hung all over my 17-yo son<BR>......and her dad... a great dad... her mom... a great mom!!!<P>Other memories...<BR>...Sleeping at my grandparents house<BR>...Son drinking "palinka"(whisky)... he was almost of age (days away from being 18-yo)<BR>......common in family situations... NO... he never got drunk (only 1 shot glass)<BR>...New baby 6 weeks old... what a joy to hold and cuddle<BR>......by both my sons and daughter too!<BR>...Church going... almost daily... and yes... prayers for all of you at MB<BR>......my son cried the last day he went to church... said he was going to miss it... [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]<BR>...Visiting my other grandparents' grave<BR>...Support from my family for me and my situation [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]<BR>...family... family... family.... <=== <B>this</B> is what it is all about folks!<P>Spoke to others who were going through a divorce...<BR>...there (in Hungary) they can drag a divorce out almost forever...<BR>...one woman started her divorce 6+ years ago... and says it will take another 3+ years...<BR>......with her H already having one OC and is on his 5th "lady friend"!<BR>...others... because of finances... are divorced but must live together...<BR>......$$$ make it impossible to setup different living arrangements!<P>It's a different world... but all in all a beautiful one. [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]<BR>I'd go back at the drop of a hat!<P><BR>==============My Update================<P>Yes...<BR>I did think of MB a lot... and <B>ALL</B> of you everyday!<BR>...but there were few Internet Cafes available (none in our small town) [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]<BR>I did think of my W... still with hopes/prayers of reconciliation...<BR>...but not to happen...<BR>(A killer... when the plane landed back home they played our wedding song [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/frown.gif[/img] )<P>When I got back...<BR>...W e-mailed me (2 days before) to complain about visitation schedule again...<BR>......doing more Plan A-ing... I gave in a bit on a few points/weekends<BR>.........but asked her to go to a "free" mediator to avoid future conflicts<BR>...W did not get together her "Notice to Produce" nor updated "Case Information Stmt"<BR>......this was mandated by the original judge and due on July 17th<BR>......If she can't get it together by the 24th...<BR>.........she will be allowed limited testimony at the trial on August 7th!<BR>...Subpoena of bank records will be ready a week before the trial.<BR>...Since there is a new courthouse... and my Judge was being rotated out of family court...<BR>......I'll have a new judge... who never did any "family/divorce" cases before<BR>.........Maybe that's good... maybe not... ? [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img] ? [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]<P>I'll need your continued prayers on all of this... [img]http://www.marriagebuilders.com/forum/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]<P>It is really good to be back...<BR>...and when I get my laundry done...<BR>...shopping for my son's 18th birthday (party)<BR>...bills paid...<BR>...and on and on...<BR>.....I'll do some more posting!<P>Love to all of my dearest friends!<P>Jim/<B>N</B>ew <B>S</B>un <B>R</B>ising

Welcome back Jim,<BR> <BR>Sounds like you had a wonderful time and were busy, busy, busy!! This was a trip the kids will remember forever!!<P>It's good to see your posts again and you were missed!

Welcome back..<p>[This message has been edited by Connor (edited July 20, 2000).]

Jim<BR>Welcome back.Enjoyed reading about your vacation!Looking forward to reading your replies to posts again.alone1

Hi NSR -<P>Sounds like a wonderful trip!!!!<P>You are so right that family is what it is all about.....how lucky you all were to have such a close-knit one even so very far away....amazing!!!<P>I want to move there....think it would hold up my D? lol!!!!<P>Got a new date of the 2nd....UGH!!! Might be postponed again though cuz I read in the Obits that my lawyer's husband passed away Friday.....<P>We'll just keep saying our prayers for each other, eh?<P>BIG HUGS,<P>Sheba

Thanks to all...<P><B>Nerlycrzy</B>,<BR><B>Connor</B>,<BR><B>alone1</B>,<BR>...and <B>Sheba</B>!<P>Yes I prayed for each one of you and everyone else...<P>Sheba...<BR>...don't know why...<BR>...I did think of your situation the most..<BR>...your legal situation mirrors mine...<BR>...and I did have special thoughts and prayers for you!<P>Strength to you my sister... <P>Jim