It seems so much has happened in the 6 weeks since I have written. Where to start????

We spent a great 4 day weekend at the Cove, Billy Graham Training Center Asheville, North Carolina with friends from New Life the first weekend in October. Some color change in leaves and a beautiful weekend for a drive. Michael Easley spoke from the Psalms. He focused on the holiness of God and His promise to be loyal to His covenant promise and to His chosen people -- both Israel and Christian church. The worship leader, Marty Goetz,  is a messianic Jew and much of the music was also from the Psalms. A very inspirational time.

 Living Life From the Heart
with Michael Easley, October 3-5, 2008, The Psalms were the Hebrew “hymnbook,” filled with profound expressions of prayer, praise, thanksgiving, lament, desperation, and longing for Messiah.

The next weekend brought a trip to Pittsburgh to visit Aaron and Danielle one last time before they were to  become parents. Little did we know when we left on Saturday night that we would return in less than 24 hours to bring Grandma and Grandpa Jones and Uncle Dave to

welcome Lydia Jane Danielle to our family. She is so beautiful.

We are in awe of how God creates life.Danielle's sister said it all when she wrote from the Air Force academy that it is amazing to be able to love someone you have never met.

Dan worked 3 days and we left again for a weekend in Baltimore to visit Mark and Kim and the girls. We had a great time taking Ella to the Children's museum and laughing and playing together while Mark finished papers and prepared for exams and Kim attended training to volunteer at a local pregnancy center.

 Papa and Ella build a trolley from Mister Rogers' neighborhood and Ella climbs to the top floor of three in a rope and sectioned structure. She has no fear.

She enjoyed being the chef a the children's restaurant. and dancing with a local dance troupe after the show.

Lucy is so lovable and smiles almost all the time. What a hoot and a darling.

Of course we stopped in Pittsburgh on the way home to visit Lydia and to celebrate Aaron's 27th birthday a week early. My baby not only is 27 now, but he has a baby. Where has life gone!

While in Pittsburgh I received a call from Kari Sowers a friend at MVHS English Department. She was to have surgery and need a long term sub to cover her classes. So I spent that week getting finger printed, having a chest x-ray, and filling out paper work, as well as, clearing the other commitments in order to begin work. John and Grace spent the next weekend with us while Dave and Aimee worked on the floor of their livingroom, taking up carpet and refinishing the hardwood underneath. John and Papa went to the Regional Cross Country meet and the tournament game for the Fredericktown volleyball team. He chose China Buffet over MacDonald's. I guess he is really growing up. Grace and I had girl time. Oh how she loves books!

That brings me to today -- having survived a full week back in the classroom and looking at probably 2 more  -- I'm out of breath just thinking about it all. I even have managed to make Curves 3 times all weeks but one and find it does make me feel better. I especially like the stretch at the end. I may not write again until after the shower for Danielle and Lydia on the 22nd but at least I have recorded the fun of fall for us.

The weeks are running together again. 

Luci sang and read with Papa, but the best toy was a cardboard box when the family visited a couple of weeks ago. 

And Ella explained life to Nana.       

Grace visited one Sunday afternoon to take a nap while her parents helped friends with siding. Of course Papa had to read a story first, and after she woke up, she thought he needed a hair cut.

The school year began in the new building with many kudos from community members.

The old site has been completely cleared and all that remains are the memories --

Dan bought plate #7 of 10 at the Tomato show. This year's plates commemorate the passing of the Taylor Street building.  http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/08/09/08/tomato_auction.180.jpg

The new building dedication is Sunday afternoon at 3: The culmination of nearly 10 years of planning, petitioning the state for matching funds, the community for $$$ and meeting upon meeting with contractors, officials, inspectors, etc. It will be a day to celebrate.

 Last week found us traveling through North west Ohio on Wed and Thurs to visit the Sauder Village in Archbold -- great craftsmen and a nice hotel hide away -- too bad for us that it is so far, we'd be more regular if we could just slip away there without the drive. We enjoyed the day and met Peg and Paul Behnfeldt for dinner at the village restaurant. Life marches on for each of us and renewing friendship was good for us all.

We wondered through local antique malls and wound our way on Thursday to Flint Michigan for the Reunion of the Servants of Sierra Leone. We stopped at Cabella's on the way. Dan can now check that experience off his "Bucket List". An interesting stop for us and a must see for the campers and outdoorsmen.

The reunion gave us time to catch up with the happenings of Sierra Leone now -- some progress, but much confusion as well -- many smaller projects and little coordination it seems. Good news for the expansion of the Kissy General Hospital and a change in surgeons at the Eye Clinic. A wonderful evangelism thrust in Kono country.Friday evening brought the introductions of the 85+ in attendance in order of arriving in Sierra Leone. The earliest being in 1943. Great stories, a few tears and much laughter.Lunch with Dr. Gess and Doc and Marge Sleight, dinner and evenings with the Malcolms and meeting Aaron's new wife (happy 1 year anniversary),  and more stories. The days were full and all too soon we headed back to Ohio.                                   Doc and Marge live in Lansing. He volunteered a year in the Bo Eye Clinic. What fun we all had together during that time. Each of us agreed that the year we spent changed us more than any other time we have spent. They are 85 and 84 now and Margie has been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzimers but she could still laugh and love and remember the 70's even though the events of the week end will be fuzzy before she gets home.

 All us that have served in Bo (our town) at some time during there terms in SL

What would the remembering be without food! Gound nut stew, Joleuf rice, cassava leaf stew and plantain.

 Some spoke of their three families -- their relatives, their mission family and their Sierra Leone family. Each one an important part of their lives over the years. We missed Helen Trebes and yet rejoiced in all she and Stan had shared together with us  --- teaching us hospitality, marriage that works, hope in the face of disappointments, endurance.

Sunday/Monday found us debriefing at Maumee Bay State Park east of Toledo on the way home. What a beautiful spot on Lake Erie! Sun, beach, marsh boardwalk, nature center, and down time.  Morrisons met us for lunch and following on Monday. Laughter, card games, The Shack, tears, more sharing and laughing --  Home around 11. Tired but renewed for the full week that lay ahead.