Hot Springs, ARKANSAS

June 20 – 23, 2010

Sunday, we loaded in the car right after breakfast and prepared for a long day of traveling – 13 hours – to Hot Spring. Arkansas. On our way through, we had ice cream with a friend I knew from youth group when I lived in Florida. We hadn’t seen each other in 17 years.

After taking numerous back roads, not seeing much life, and feeling like we were in the middle of nowhere, we arrived at 10:30pm at the cute little cabin (the Lone Cedar Cabin) we had rented. We had intentions of staying up to greet our team mates who we were meeting there…but we were exhausted and they were lost…..(they didn’t come in till 2am)….so we just greeted them the following morning.
The Floyds work in the same town as we do in Paraguay (they have been there 12 years!). They just arrived on home assignment last week and will be in the US an entire year. If not for this time together we wouldn’t have seen each other for 2 years. We had a wonderful time catching up on the past year of ministry, planning for the coming year while we are there and praying. The kids were delighted to see the Floyd boys again. They loved swimming, skipping rocks, collecting tad poles, and playing chess and other games back at the cabin. The canoe (Tyler called it a Kazoo) was the biggest hit. In the evening the boys tried to fishing in the stocked fish tank, but unfortunately had no luck. Ginny, Jean and I collected blackberries one evening.

Tyler: I can’t get that cup because there’s a daddy long-legs on it.
Jeff: Are you afraid it will get on you and bit you?
Tyler: No. I’m afraid it will get on me and it will tickle.

Wednesday we said our good-byes and we headed to Belton. Our original plan was to head to Houston in order to ship our car to Paraguay, but during our West Coast trip our air conditioner went out (it was VERY hot inside our car driving through certain states!) and so it will have to spend a few days in the shop in Texas getting that repaired.

Winterset, IOWA

Saturday, June 19, 2010

We arrived in Iowa at noon. Our team mates, the Terharrs, are back on home assignment (as of last week) and we were blessed to be able to see them on their farm. We also went to see the covered bridges (I guess there was a famous movie about the bridges of Madison County). Ginny and their daughter Claire (Ginny’s best friend) LOVED being together and giggled the entire time…while on the trampoline, while riding horses, while Ginny lost her 7th tooth and they giggled way past mid-night.

Beatrice, NEBRASKA

Friday, June 18, 2010

We packed up early and drove 11 hours to Nebraska to stay with the Hall family. We really enjoyed getting to know them while Chris and Jeff were in residency together in Harlingen.

Pueblo, COLORADO

June 16-17, 2010

Wednesday evening while camping, both Jeff and my air mattress deflated in the middle of the night and we ended up on the cold, hard floor. Needless to say, we didn’t sleep very well. I don’t know how the kids do it! The following morning we ate breakfast and packed up. We spent 3 hours on the road and mid-afternoon arrived at our friend’s house in Pueblo, Colorado. We knew them in Harlingen and even stayed with them for a week when we visited South Texas back in August. Since then, they have moved to Colorado. We also were able to see another Harlingen friend that recently moved to Colorado. Thursday the kids played by the river and had a blast.

Estes Park, COLORADO

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

It was hard getting up so early (6:00) and functioning on a cold morning but we did it and managed to break down camp, eat breakfast and get going by 7:30. We drove out the South side of Yellowstone and saw a moose and a grizzly bear on our way out. Soon after leaving Yellowstone, we entered the Grand Tetons for another spectacular mountainous view.

It was a long drive today. After almost 13 hours in the car, we arrived at Rocky Mountain National Park. We were all very glad to be out of the car and get out tent set up.

Yellowstone, WYOMING

Sunday, June 13, 2010

We left Boise, hours later we drove through Montana and into Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming (7 hours). We headed straight for Old Faithful and only had to wait 30 minutes to see her erupt. She averages 130 feet every 1 ½ hours and the water gets to 204 degrees just before it erupts….wow. We saw lots of buffalo, which got the children’s attention. One was casually walking on the road (holding up traffic) and came very close to the car.

At 7:30 we got to Madison Camp ground within the park and set up the tent. The kids are now familiar with the set up and have become very helpful. We grilled hamburgers and ate chips and fruit and them cocoa and cookies for dessert. It got pretty cold – 35 degrees – as we were climbing into our sleeping bags.








Monday, June 14, 2010

Today we drove through Yellowstone. Absolutely amazing! We hiked the upper and lower falls for a spectacular view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It was definitely easier going down. We had to take several breaks coming up…it was hot, we were tired and I am sure the altitude didn’t help…I didn’t see too many people doing the hike 8 months pregnant. We celebrated making it back to the top by eating lunch and drinking lots of Gatorade. Next, we drove to Mammoth Hot Springs looking for wildlife. We spied lots of buffalo and some mule deer (one with big antlers).

We got back to the campsite late afternoon. After resting and playing cards, we started on a spaghetti dinner. We tried to get into bed early (9:00) because we needed to get up early (6:00) the following morning but it was tough with it being so light until 10:00ish and the people next to and behind us were loud.

Boise, IDAHO

Friday, June 11, 2010

At 6:00om we arrived in Boise, Idaho. I have some childhood friends that live there. While living in Hawaii, I probably spent the most time at the Bracy house playing with Terina, Kim and Heather. Now, all three of them, plus their parents live in or near Boise. The parents were out of town and allowed us to stay at their house. Friday, right after we arrived, Kim came over with pizza and veggies and her two beautiful girls.

Saturday the three sisters and their families took my family to an awesome park. The kids had so much fun. That night we ate dinner at Terina’s house and Heather came over for dessert. What fun it was to remember “the olden days”.