Big catch up!

Wow, it's been too long since I've made the time to blog! Life has been coming at us fast now and since it won't be slowing down soon I'd better catch things up. The Reader's Digest version will have to do...

First of all, Spring was merely teasing us it seems, we ended up with a blizzard on the day that Kate and I had planned to drive across the state to see friends in Grove City! My forecast showed that the snow wouldn't be bad, and it would start late in the day. So Kate and I headed out in the morning to get North of the storm onto Interstate 80. We ended up driving into the teeth of the storm for almost 8 hours- never faster than 40 milers per hour- a trip that ought to have been 4 hours. It was worth it though, our visit with the Welkers was a blessing. Kate and Gabby picked up with their friendship right where they left off 8 years ago. It was fun to be with Lisa and Randy and their kids with the kids actually participating in our conversations instead of off playing in the next room the way our visits were so long ago. We delivered Gabby's airline tickets for her portion of our European vacation and laid down rule number 1: while in Europe, NO McFood! Our time flew and even though we added a day our departure came all too soon.

Since then we have started soccer practices for Isaac, continued archery, Kate went on a Senior class trip to Washington DC, Isaac won "Best Original Design" for his Pinewood Derby car which he, not Jim, designed, we repainted the family room, and waited as the weather slowly warmed.

We also welcomed Laura's family from Germany into our home for an authentic American meal while they are here on vacation. Jim and I dusted off our German for the evening and were surprised at how conversant we could yet be! The evening was so nice and the Groegers agreed to take our Kate in for her ten-day break from L'Abri in October. She'll need to leave Switzerland for her break, thus eliminating the need to apply for a visa.

For a few days last week we were actually opening the windows and wearing flip-flops. Last weekend we were all out in the yard cleaning the winter dreck out of the flower beds and finding many new spring plants working their way up into the sunshine. Now that Easter weekend is here and Papaw, (Barbaranne's father) arrived yesterday, it's cold again. Snow flurries even. I had forgotten how the Spring will tease us with warmth then cold before finally settling on warm weather up here. We are awaiting Grandmommy's arrival and a phone call from Nathaniel to let us know when to pick him up in Philadelphia. He should be leaving Iraq today for Kuwait, from where he will fly home for a two-week break. We're all on pins and needles...

Now for a slide show of what we've been up to. To see the captions just pass your mouse over the photo as it slides by. Enjoy!