No, not Lara, Toby, Tammy, and Josiah. These are the Kids at the Green Isle School where I was “tutoring†for three weeks. I mostly worked with Ricky (he’s the blonde, second from the right) and Cory (he’s the big guy in the back trying to strangle the two boys in front of him.) These are great kids that already have a couple of strikes against them and are probably carrying more “baggage†that I will ever carry. This first picture is the “official†one – the gang is more or less under control. (The girls are daughters of staff members and the guy in the front is Mr. Bill, one of the teachers).
This picture is a little more realistic!
It was a great experience, frustrating at times, but one that I’m thankful to have had. And it sure has given me something to pray about!
When we started planning this adventure it all seemed so simple. We’d sell the house after all the kids were launched (more or less), wrap up our little business, buy an RV and take a year off to see the country. Even then (as many of you know) I had no concept of how that would actually happen. That was 1997. This is 2005. My oh my oh my.
We’ve learned a lot these five months ~ about each other, about life in an RV, about places to see and things to do, about the Lord and his grace, about the importance of family and friends. We’re also learning more about how this “adventure†is changing us and changing focus. We’ve fallen in love with the SOWER concept – using our talents to help others as we travel around the country. We’ve been very blessed by the two projects that we have done. So, instead of being tourists for a year and doing a couple of SOWER projects along the way, we are planning on doing SOWER projects most of the time and doing a little “tourist†along the way. We’re hopeful that the adventure lasts for a good long while. Keep Prayin’!!!!!
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.†Ecclesiastes 9:10
As we headed to Columbus we learned that we were driving into a major snowstorm. We didn’t hit the storm until we were almost to Columbus, but when it started in really got going! Don’t know who ordered the White Christmas, but Columbus got SOCKED!!! Toby and Tammy live a little north of the city in Marysville, and they got about 15 inches by Thursday noon. Columbus “proper†got about 6 inches of snow and then about an inch of ice. What a MESS!!! Josiah made it safely, Lara arrived from California, and soon we were all snug in Marysville. It was a wonderfully special Christmas. Little Ellie (just under 2) was delightful (of course!), and the newest Conrad, Hayley Elizabeth, did just was 4 week old babies do best – eat, sleep, poop, and mesmerize her grandparents and aunt and uncle! Santa was good to all, and I must admit that as long as we didn’t have to go anywhere, it was kinda nice having that White Christmas. By the 26th the roads had cleared enough for us to go into Columbus for a joint Birthday dinner for the kids (Toby’s b-day was the 26th and Lara’s is on January 4th). Check out the Family Photos page for a selection of the quadzillion digital pictures I took! Ah, Technology! (Other pictures from our trip home are on the Travel Pictures page….
What a lovely time we had on our “Northern Holidayâ€. After we closed up Lizzie for her lonely stay in the south, we headed to our first stop – Hanover, PA. We had a great (though short) visit with my college roommate and her husband. The next morning we headed on to Lancaster Bible College for Josiah’s graduation. It was a very proud moment for us (and him). After a nice post- graduation dinner, we headed to Doylestown. It was lovely to spend time not only with our good friends Joe and Janet (where we took over their basement for 10 days!), but to also have a chance to connect with many other friends and work buddies. We headed to Columbus on the 21st, stopping at my sister’s (north of Carlisle) just for nice overnight visit (and the chance to meet my newest great-nephew, Pierson Bookamer). Other fun things we did before we left for Columbus…. -Christmas Shopping -Worshipped with friends at First Baptist Church, Doylestown -Bought fabric for Hayley’s baby quilt (at my favorite fabric shop in Lancaster) -Enjoyed the HPI Christmas party (my employer in my previous lifetime) and was able to get together with work friends several times. -Had breakfast with a niece and nephew and niece-in-law -Gary got to “pick up the tools†with his friend Joe Czop, and then we joined Joe and his wife -Dawn for dinner one night. -Helped make Perogies and Opera Fudge with my buddy Janet -Got to go to Monday Night Quilting TWICE! -Spent time with Josiah -Stopped at Valley Forge National Park and Hopewell Furnace National Park on our way to Carlisle. (Why are these places so much more interesting as adults than they were when I was in 6th grade?!) -Had Nat’s Pizza TWICE – boy were we missing that! -Had breakfast at Daddypop’s (in Hatboro) – the best home fries we’ve found!
It was so good to touch base with friends and family and favorite places, but Columbus was calling, so off we went to see the Fam in Ohio!
Here we all are – the day after Christmas! Geez, I love these guys!
Ellie is enjoying her little sister – well, at least most of the time!
We could see changes in Hayley in just the 5 days we were there! These little ones change so fast – we’re really looking forward to when we’ll all be together in February at Disney.
Finally – a shot of Ellie with out her scrunched up “Smile, Ellie” face. She is a delightful almost two year old – charming and brilliant, of course!
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