Who Are All of These Kids and

Why Are They Calling Me

Miss Libby???????

Our Trip To California

August 2004

This story is told by combining all of the voices of the

 homeless or needy children who went with

The Giving Tree to California.

California Dreamin’

This book is dedicated to:

Our Travel Angel, Stephanie Abrams

And

Four Brave Chaperones:

    Sylvia Figueroa             Vickie Williams

 Jere Pedrazza               Libby Wright

And

All of The Sponsors: Who, Through Their Generous Support, Made a Dream Come True For 12 Homeless or Needy Children:

Jermaine, Jordan, Bria, Lenny, Brandon, Joshua, Sarah, Diego, Kamisha,

 Corissa, Nathan, and Dustin

Blythe, California

After traveling through the night, we arrived at Blythe, California.  It’s on the border

 near Arizona.  The next morning, we had a HUGE breakfast.  The Hampton Inn Hotel let us eat as much food as we wanted.

 Sometimes I think I have to eat a lot because I’m not sure that I’ll have some more food tomorrow.  When I’m thinking about my family in Tucson, I wish I could save some food for them, especially my little brother.

Palm Springs, CA

Aerial Tramway

I am sooo scared, but Miss Libby was holding my hand as we entered a round little room that takes us up, up, up to the top of the mountain. 

The room even turned around while we went up.  At first, we thought it would cost too much, but we prayed that the man would let us go on for less than $30.00 each.  Miss Libby went upstairs and talked to the manager, Mr. George.

We all said a BIG thank you to him when he let all of us in for $70.00!!!

We are all the way on top of a real mountain!

 I’m not that scared anymore.

Cypress, CA

Orange County

We finally arrived at the Woodfin Hotel, after we were lost for, I think, about 210 hours. (Miss Vickie said it was only 4 hours, but it sure seemed longer.)  At midnight, we ended up in Compton.  It was a pretty dangerous area and Miss Sylvia would not let us get out of the van.  I prayed that God would help us and right after that, a lady pulled up along side of us and asked if we needed help.  I think she was an angel with skin on.

She told us to follow her until she pointed us to the right exit.  Miss Vickie said it was 20 miles! It is special when God sends help because sometimes, regular people are yucky and they hurt kids like me.

Wow! This hotel is way cool.  I never was in one like this.  I live in a motel that only has one bed and I sleep on a blanket on the floor with my brother.  My mom sleeps in the bed with my sisters. One is four and my baby sister is almost one. This place is so fancy.  It even has soft blankets on the bed and a couch that turns into a bed.  None of us have to sleep on the floor.

We got to eat as much as we wanted again.  We even got to make our own waffles and put all kinds of good stuff on it like whipping cream.  It sure was yummy.

Crystal Cathedral

Cathedral City, CA

Guess what? We’re famous!  They announced The Giving Tree kids are here from Tucson.  We were told to stand up and everyone clapped for us. There were like about 20 hundred people in there so when they clapped it was LOUD. I felt really important. I guess that’s how Britney Spears feels.

There is a wall of glass here that opens up by itself.  I think it’s where the angels come in to sing because it opens when the organ starts playing.

 

Huntington Beach, CA

A lady and a man at the Cathedral invited all 16 of us to come to the park to hear them play in the orchestra. Usually they play in the cathedral, but they have the summer off.  We met them because someone sat in Miss Jere’s seat when she took two of the girls to the bathroom.  When she came back, she had to sit behind us, next to these nice people.  She talks to strangers and that is good cause we got invited to eat their food at the park. They had some other church friends who shared their food too. They even bought us pizza. I think when people share, God smiles.

Venice Beach, CA

I finally got to go to a real ocean.  I can’t believe it.  The water was warm and I never want to get out.  It’s like a dream.  We build sand castles and then we took turns burying everyone in the sand.

Miss Sylvia loves birds and she started feeding one and then they all came.  She is nice to birds and to kids.  She got me some clothes to wear on this trip.  She didn’t want me to wear my old stuff “cuz” my pants have a hole in the back and my shirt is too small.

Disneyland, CA

Even though we did not get our tickets for Disneyland before we left California, Miss Libby said we were going anyway.  She wouldn’t take no for an answer and finally,

Miss Jodie from Disneyland’s public relations told us we could go in for free cause it wasn’t our fault that we didn’t get the tickets. Everybody hugged Miss Jodie. Even though she must be the boss of the whole place, she was still nice to us. My mom’s boss isn’t nice and he doesn’t care if my mom misses the bus and has to walk a long way.

Miss Vickie went on the big roller coaster.  She is really an old kid.

We sure got wet on the boat ride. Sometimes I wonder what other kids are doing right now.  A lot of kids never get to go any place.  They have to go in their mind or through a book that tells them about fun places.  I wish every kid could be me today. 

Los Angeles, CA

Miss Libby wanted us to help some poor people in LA, so we went to the Dream Center. The Giving Tree is going to have a center like this one in Tucson some day.  It is a big place that helps even kids like me.  They have eight floors where they help poor people and kids get food and clothes.  Teenagers can even live there if they don’t have a home. I talked to Miss Jere and the teen pastor about how we could have a teen center in our building on the lot back in Tucson.  I would be a part of that.

Hollywood/Beverly Hills

I can’t believe that people are so rich as in this place.  One house is as big as my whole motel. I bet that they have everything they want inside.  They probably have a lot of refrigerators with food in them.

One lady was walking her dog and even the dog was rich and had a fancy collar and a silver leash. That dog probably eats steak every night.

San Diego, CA

When we drove to San Diego, it was way cool.  The ocean was on the side of us. When we got to the Woodfin Hotel, I knew it was a good place because while we were all in the van the hotel people smiled at us. Miss Libby went to check us in. When she came out, she was crying.  She said not to worry because they were happy tears because Miss Stephanie surprised us and came on a plane from back East.  We all gave her a big hug cuz she did a lot of work so none of us had to sleep on the floor or in the van.  She had a lot of special stuff for us and all the grown-ups got flowers and we got balloons and flashlights, mini fans and CANDY.

Miss Stephanie ordered pizza and we got to eat by the pool.  We were pretending that we were rich kids who always eat by our pool.  Miss Debbi is the National Sales Director for Woodfin Hotels.  I guess that means that if anyone wants to buy a hotel in the nation, they have to call her.  She picked really cool rooms for us with two televisions and DVD players, and even a kitchen.

Penny, another friend of Miss Stepanie’s came to our hotel.  She and Miss Debbi gave us some tickets to The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. 

San Diego Beaches

Coronado Island and Seal Cove

I was asked how much the seashells cost and Miss Vickie told me that they were all free, no matter how many we wanted to take. They are so beautiful.  I found some sand dollars and Miss Libby said that they were like gifts out of the sea from God.  He is so cool to do that so kids who don't have money can still get some presents.

A man, who tells people in San Diego about the news came to the beach with a big camera.  I think that we are all famous now.

This beach had so many seals that were close to the edge. We went in the ocean with them. They were not afraid of us so we decided not to be afraid of them.

We had such a great time in California.  It was really hard to think about going home. I really am not ready. I am glad that we got to go but it is a little scary thinking about going back because we don’t always have some place to live.  We might not have food.

The good part is that now I know how it is in better places.  I wish I could meet all the helper people that gave us this trip because I would give them a big hug and tell them a big thank you.

The End..