Just a quick hello to let you know that after a 15 hour drive(almost all on the same road, how boring is that!), we arrived at our friend’s home in Doylestown where we’ll be staying for the next three weeks. It’s been great to worship with friends, see our son Josiah, make plans with buddies and catch up with all the comings and goings here in Doylestown. We also will be doing doctor and dentist things and working at the house, so it won’t all be fun and games. But I must admit, it’s pretty nice to be hangin’ around the ol’ hometown!

We DID!!!
But my, it was wonderful. After we got the pie made and the turkey in the oven we headed to the beach! It was a beautiful day – a little cool for most folks to get into the ocean, but not so for the Sensings! Here they are coming out of the surf!

This was our second Thanksgiving with the Sensings, and their friends the Kents, at their home in Florida. Almost a tradition! As we sat around the table, each one thanking God for one thing (from toys to Jesus to the beautiful day), I was struck with how thankful I was that God has called us to be a part of His family. We couldn’t be with our flesh and blood family for the holiday, but we were still with God’s family, and it was a wonderful day. How blessed we truly are!
(Plus we were able to call the kids from the beach and tell them that the wind chill was 73. Pass the sunscreen, please!)

Here is just one more shot from Harvest Ministries, our last project. As we left there was still plenty of debris to clear up, but I think we made a dent in the some of the work that needed to be done.

Turkey sandwich, anyone?

Tomorrow we begin our long journey home. By Wednesday we should be in the Eastern Time Zone, Thursday we’ll be enjoying Thanksgiving with our friends the Sensings, and by Sunday we should be in Doylestown! It’s been a challenge to pack for a 5 week, 3 location time (including two holidays) away from our home on wheels and at the same time get that home ready to stay behind. The weather has been dipping below freezing, so we pretty much have to winterize her before we leave. When you’re used to taking everything you own along with you, it’s seems funny to be pulling out a suitcase and packing. The truck is getting pretty full……..

This has been a good project. While there wasn’t the devastation from Katrina that was found farther south, it still was a blessing to be able to be a small part in helping with the recovery. We never made it to the Gulf Coast. Somehow it just didn’t seem right to just go to “see” without being able to lend a hand. We’ll be coming back this way (after all, we have to retrieve Lizzie!), so it will be interesting to see the progress made.

I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to post before Thanksgiving, so I wish you all a blessed day. We have so much to be thankful for – and our travels have continued to remind us what a great and creative God we serve.

Last weekend we did a little bit of sightseeing – checking out the local “Mississippi Grand Canyon”. Don’t be alarmed – the real Grand Canyon (or even the PA Grand Canyon) has nothing to worry about. It did take us to one of the highest spots in the area – Red Bluff. Here’s a shot of the “canyon” and then another one of us right on the edge. It was a very beautiful day, and I have to say that it was a surprising part of Mississippi.

While our time here has been spent in the “Pine Belt”, there are still open hay fields. This one is on our way to town, and it seems to surprise me every time in its simple beauty.

Tomorrow is our last “work” day. These three weeks go by so quickly. We’ll be staying through the weekend and then will begin our trek back to Jamison. It will be good to see family and friends before we head to Columbus for Christmas, and then to Texas for Jan-Mar.
Just to get us ready to be “north” for December, the temperature tonight is dipping into the 20’s. What’s that all about?
Brrr – it’s the down comforter for us! =)

So last Wednesday was my birthday (54!). It was a beautiful day, and the gang here had cake and ice cream for me (candles, even!) and we played games in the evening. Ever hopeful, I carried my phone with me all day in anticipation of getting calls from the kids. We were playing cards when the phone rang- it was Josiah’s special ring!
Hi, Honey – how are you?
Good Mom – I have a question for you.
Shoot.
So, how do you make cinnamon sugar?
Blah, blah, blah(give detailed instructions on making CS…)
So, say I, anything else….?
Well, looks like I’ll be painting the fence this weekend..
That’s great……anything else?
Well, are you guys having a good time in Mississippi?
Yes, we’re having lots of fun…..anything else?
Nope, just wanted to check on that cinnamon sugar stuff…..
Well, I thought maybe you were calling to wish me a Happy Birthday.
Ohhhhhhhis it’s November isn’t it?
Yep. It’s even November 9th!
Well, Happy Birthday! Good thing I called! =)

So my dear son Josiah, (“bless his heart” as they say here in the south), having no recollection that it was my birthday, was the only child who actually called on my birthday. Serendipity, he said! Lara had a good excuse (and had called me earlier in the week), and Toby called on Saturday (the 12th) pretending it was the 9th. Nice Try!

Gotta love ‘em all!
and we sure do! =)