The kids got out of school on Friday May 20, Randy finished the next Tuesday and off we went on a whirlwind journey of visiting.
Our first stop was the farm in Florida to visit my parents. They still live in the same house they built in 1953, and will hopefully celebrate 60 years of marriage next April! Visiting them is like a time warp...5 channels, no internet & little to do. Typically at this time of year there are vegetables to pick, but Dad (age 88) has given up his gardening. Dad did get on his John Deere tractor while we were there and did some mowing of the property. Due to her macular degeneration Mom is not cooking much. So, tables have turned & I do the cooking. I put food in the freezer for them to have after we leave. I took Dad to the VA for a doctor's appointment, which is usually left to my brother Leo & his wife. They take care of Mom & Dad on a regular basis. I am so GRATEFUL!!
Carrie playing in the front yard. I call it scoop ball.
We spent a few days on the farm, then headed for the panhandle. We made a stop in Tallahassee where we had lunch with my niece, Leslie. She's a recent FSU grad, and gave us the driving tour. I sent this picture to Aaron (home on jury duty), who said EEWWWW! Not a Seminoles fan!
Our next stop on the tour was the Quality Inn in Niceville Florida. Why Niceville? To visit the Van Sants!! It was sooo good to see them and catch up. Sadie & Dana came over as soon as we checked in and Sadie went for a dip in the pool with Kate. On Saturday we spent several hours on the beach in Destin. We don't do beach vacations often, as we prefer National parks & trails, so this was a treat for the girls. Even with sunscreen we managed to get sunburned.
Kate & Sadie digging in the sand.
Carrie texting while tanning. Just can't get away from that phone!
Lunch with Daddy. Mmmm, so good.
Dana fixing her plate. I think the beach agrees with Dana, she is nice & tan! Michael too.
Cute Sadie!
She didn't seem mind a little sand in her cheerios.
Kate was worn out after a few hours at the beach. She came back to the hotel & napped before dinner.
We toured First Baptist Niceville, where Michael serves as minister to students. Sadie & I played a duet on the church piano. She loves to sing & dance too!
We had dinner with the Van Sants at a local Italian place. Dana, the ever coupon savvy stay-at-home mom, had a coupon from restaurant.com and we saved $25 on the meal...she spent $3 on the gift card. After dinner we went to a park where the girls chased Sadie on the playground. She got really good at going down the slide, but would sometimes forget to sit on her bottom first. Only a few tears, then she would be doing it all again.
On Sunday we worshipped with them in their 9 a.m. service. It's such a treat to visit a different church. It gives us a freshness that we miss serving in the same church for over 30 years.
Kate was due at Auburn swim camp that afternoon, so we said goodbye to the Van Sants, and headed north. This is Kate's 2nd year at the Auburn camp, and she loves it. She gets great training & hangs out with Olympic swimmers like Rowdy Gaines (1984, 3 golds & the voice of swimming on ABC) and Mark Gangloff of more recent Olympics fame.
Kate & Mark Gangloff, an Auburn graduate & Olympic breaststroker. Maybe you recognize him from his appearance in the 2006 movie The Guardian.
Kate & teammates from Three Rivers Swim Club. They were also her roommates for the week.
We dropped Kate in Alabama & headed home. On Memorial Day we went to the Brooks (Stan & Julia) lake house on Weiss Lake. Our friends the Fowler's were also there, so it was super to visit with them. They were at Berry with us, and served part-time at Calvary before answering the call to the ministry. It was a sweet day of fellowship with old friends!
Alyssa & Randy safe on the dock.
Aaron, AKA the swamp monster!
We did a lot of driving over a week's time. Two days after we came back from our trip, the van wouldn't crank. Randy had gone to Lowe's, and when he came out it wouldn't crank. It needed a new battery & a battery cable. We are so thankful that this happened in Rome and not on the road. God was definitely in our travel plans!!
