One last visit - Ocala

The weather was amazing for our short weekend trip to Ocala, FL.  We were able to do one of our very favorite things, kayak on Silver Springs.

Everyone needs a "hood ornament" on their kayak.





The boys were able to share in Kids Worship.

We were so happy to be able to worship with FBC one more time.  We miss y'all!!

Friends in town

We had such a great time catching up with some friends from CA.  God is so good to orchestrate just what we need in each moment.

Anakeesta

Today we stayed in Gatlinburg and enjoyed time with friends.  We took a visit to Anakeesta and enjoyed the views and the mountain coaster.

The kids watched this guy make candy through the window from start to finish.  Someone even ran them out a handful of candy for their perseverance. 

Scalloping

We have talked about scalloping since we moved to Florida five years ago but never went.  When we started this way to visit Bruce made a phone call and set up a charter for us.  It did not disappoint.  We had so much fun hunting and gathering scallops and the weather, it was gorgeous.  

Surprise visit

We got a phone call recently that made it look like we may be able to leave in a couple weeks.  While we were all excited, Lillian's expression quickly changed to tears realizing she would not see her best friend again.  I got on the phone and us moms came up with a plan.  We surprised Lillian with a visit from her bestie.  Lillian cried again but this time happy tears!

NOLA

Our good friends from Florida came to Louisiana for their anniversary.  Bruce and I loved our time in NOLA so when they asked if we wanted to join them we jumped on the opportunity.

Food and music are our favorite things in this city so Bruce looked up who was playing while we were in town.  Bruce's favorite jazz musician was having a show that night.  We didn't have a clue what a special treat it would be.  When we arrived at the hotel we found a large parlor area with chairs and couches all around.  We picked a place in the back and were able to enjoy Kermit Ruffins play for a few hours.  Kermit even cooked and brought Red Beans and Rice to share with the audience.  ONLY IN NOLA :)

I think we ate every 3-4 hours in order to get in all the places we wanted eat!!








Camellia Grill🥰

Tanners

The first thing we did when we left our training was eat Vietnamese food!  It was so delicious.  Remember we were coming off of 7 weeks of cafeteria food!  Our first meal out was very important!!

The second thing that we did was meet the Tanners (Erica was my college roomie and has remained a very good friend) for some fun and more food.  We took the kids to a trampoline park and then enjoyed dinner at a Mexican restaurant nearby.

From VA to LA

The drive between our parents homes is long without a trailer and spring break traffic, about 20 hours.  We split it into two days and enjoyed some time with friends in between.  

We did have close call.  Almost outside of Atlanta we all were thrown forward in the van.  I looked in the side mirror and saw the trailer rocking from side to side.  We had been hit.  Bruce kept the van straight while the trailer settled down and pulled to the side of the interstate.  The other car pulled off as well and she admitted she had fallen alseep and drifted into the back corner of the trailer.  There was no damage and everyone was ok.  Bruce encouraged her to take some time at the next exit to get coffee and calm down.  She was very apologetic and I think her bumping us could have saved her life.  If she hadn't bumped us she would have sailed off the road into the trees.  We know so many were praying for our travels and we cannot thank you enough.  God's protection was all over us.  

Once we got outside of Atlanta on I-20 on the second day traffic began to lighten up and it was a less stressful drive.  We are glad to be with Bruce's family now for two weeks.

On the road

Our last week in Ocala was busy.  We had lots of visits and enjoyed dinner with friends. (So many are not pictured!!) Oakcrest Baptist generously came by and picked up everything we couldn't take for their yard sale which was a huge help.  We loaded the trailer with a few sentimental pieces of furniture and some boxes that we wanted to store.  The rest of our belongings that we hope to take with us to SE Asia were compiled into about 20 bags.  The kids finished up school and on Saturday we were able to pull out.  We are headed to Virginia for two weeks to visit with the Askew family.

Ms Kitty made the trip to VA and did much better than I expected.  

Thanksgiving and Friends!

My best friend since church nursery, Jodie, came to visit for Thanksgiving this year.  We had so much fun and she made hosting Thanksgiving dinner a possibility.  I would have been a little crazy without her!
After Thanksgiving friends from New Orleans came to visit and we had fun catching up and exploring the 'bul together.

I ordered and it came!!!

giving thanks

Ladies Day Out

when the kids start climbin the walls...
take them to climb the walls!

Lillian turns EIGHT!

Our baby girl is growing up.  She requested a tea party this year.  I was a little nervous to throw a tea party but we pulled it off with the help of some friends.  She wanted a pin the tail on the donkey type game so Bruce created a tea cup version and we decided to do makeup before the girls had their party.  Lillian and I went to the pazar (street market) the morning before the tea and hit the jackpot on makeup.  Bruce took Lillian to get her hair done before the party.  It was so fun to watch the girls discover make up.  Hind sight told me I should have given a little makeup 'how to' but they figured it out eventually.  I think they all did their own makeup about ten times.

Kiddos on the slide

I took the kids to the park the other night and they came up with this game.  All but one line up at the end of the slide.  The other kid slides down and bump the one on the end falls off :)

and everyone at the park joined in...

one slid down and another fell off...

Friends in town

We were spoiled recently with friends coming to visit.  We had an amazing time, were encouraged and challenged greatly.  We spent a lot of time in the car...a lot.  But were able to do things that were firsts for all of us.  Thanks for taking time to come!  We love you!

No better medicine for jet lag than some time in the sun!

The fruit is so good this time of year.  We couldn't get enough on our trip.

Spent half the day at this market.

We enjoyed lots of great food.

Simply delicious.

Isaac was dripping honey everywhere so Uncle Rob volunteered to help.

Ephesus is amazing.

The kids don't share our love for Ephesus so they went to swim with friends who happened to be on vacation down the street from our hotel.  God spoils us!