Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Our Incredible Journey to the North

Bill and I left Kelli's home in Michigan at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, October 14.  After stopping for the night at Hampton Inn in Lebanon, Missouri, we arrived home at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15.  Fall is a wonderful time of the year to travel because kids are in school, and the weather is about perfect. 

We began our journey on Saturday, September 28 and arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Sunday evening.  Monday morning, I peeled freshly picked apples and baked an apple cobbler while Kelli worked on a magazine at Cornerstone University.  That afternoon, we joined Keri's family, Kelli and Hannah at Caleb's tennis match.  He is a senior this year, and it was great to see how tall and athletic he has become.  Caleb is also a great writer like his mother.  After the match, we all went to Sparta (Kevin's hometown) where we had pizza at a beautiful Italian restaurant.  For dessert, we had the apple cobbler.  Then, Bill and I handed out birthday gifts.  Selah put her bracelet on and told me she would always take care of her "precious gift".  Selah just turned 6 years old.

On Monday, Bill and I took Sofia, Selah and Isaiah to the lakeshore.  We all love Lake Michigan!  However, there was a cool breeze blowing so we just ate hamburgers at Wendy's and enjoyed the scenery from the car.  The kids enjoyed telling us about their trip to Virginia for 10 weeks of training at Missionary Orientation. They had toured Washington D.C. and learned a lot of history.  That evening, I made spaghetti at Kelli's for the gang.  Kirk called and we got to watch Ezekiel.  The family was enjoying their pool.  That pool is huge!  It looks like a hotel!  We learned that Kirk and Tamra both have new motorcycles and Tamra was taking riding lessons.  Be careful, you guys!

The next day, we took the kids to a park playground that was super!  Then, it was time for everyone to cry and say goodbye.  Before leaving, Keri and Kevin gave us a big wooden butterfly that Kevin's father crafted.  It is beautiful!  We plan to put it on the wall of our screened patio. Keri, Kevin, and the kids have arrived safely in Africa now.  The girls have enrolled at the British school in the city.

The next morning, Oct. 3, Bill and I flew to Buffalo, New York to see Niagara Falls.  A taxi drove us across the border into Canada where we stayed at the Embassy Suites for 2 nights.  Our window was complete glass and a perfect view of both the American Falls and the Canadian Falls.  We were on the 35th floor and couldn't believe the colors on the water at night.  We floated on the "Maid of the Mist" in pouring rain right next to the falls.  We were given blue raincoats with hoods, and looked like aliens.  On our last evening, we ate prime rib in the Keg Steakhouse which overlooks the falls.  I watched people from all over the world enjoying one of the great wonders.

On Oct. 6th, we flew from Buffalo, New York to Manchester, New Hampshire.  After renting a blue Nissan, we drove in the dark past the city of Concord to our mountain resort an hour away.  We arrived safely at the Steele Hill Resort which dates back to the 1700s.  King George granted the mountain to Bryan Steele.  It became a resort for the rich and famous in nearby Boston.  We were given a 2 story condo with a fireplace and a large deck for taking pictures.  We spent an enchanted week in this colorful paradise.  It was peak season for the fall trees.  I have written so much that I will continue tomorrow.  I'll write about our train trip, our boat tour and the Shaker Village.    Then, I will put the pictures on the net.  Only God could create such organized beauty!   My "bucket list" is shrinking!  My life has been so blessed!    

  

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