Time for an update

Where do I begin!? So much has happened since my last post. We just arrived at the home of our long-time dear friends Dan and Karin Donovan in Sanborn, Iowa. We’ve had three long days and no good means of getting onto the internet since Saturday night at the Jekel’s. So let me bring you up to speed with some narrative and a few great pictures.

We had a truly blessed Lord’s Day at Redeemer OPC in Carlisle, PA (where the Jekel’s worship). Jody Morris is the pastor there. Ironically, Jody and I took First Year Greek together at Northwest Theological Seminary in Lynnwood, WA in 2001. Afterwards I moved to PA to attend Westminster Seminary in Glenside and he moved to CA to attend Westminster Seminary in Escondido. He brought us a message from Phil 2.1-11 and then administered the Lord’s Supper. The sermon called us to stand in awe of a God who, while so great and exalted, humbled Himself to redeem us and make us His own. My heart was warmed by the much-needed message. Thank you Jody.

After the service we drove an hour to my sister’s home in McConnellsburg, PA. I haven’t seen Lyn for a few years so it made for a special visit with her and her husband Sam and Helen their daughter. Unfortunately their two boys, Cody and Sammy, were visiting other family. We enjoyed good fellowship, great food, and a restful afternoon. We were also joined by David, Sam’s brother (whom we’d met years ago but hadn’t seen for a long time) and got to meet his lovely wife Buffy and their two children. We have Buffy to thank for the awesome banana pudding and for bringing the strawberry jello pretzel “stuff”– thanks Buffy! Love ya Lyn! and you too Sam, Helen, Cody, and Sammy 🙂

We left Lyn’s place and drove to Martinsburg, PA for an evening of fellowship and a night’s sleep at the home of our good friends Seth and Denise Gorczyca, who have eight children ranging in age from 15 to 2. We met this lovely family several years ago in MA through the mutual friendship of our good friend George (Oak) Wilson. Thanks Oak! The kids haven’t seen each other for nearly 2 years (though they’ve been writing letters) and thoroughly enjoyed playing together again. Seth and Denise provided us with a wonderful evening meal, good holy conversation, and a good night’s rest. In the morning we enjoyed an early breakfast, family worship, and were on the road by 8 AM, right on schedule. Thanks Seth and Denise!

Martinsburg is up in the mountains. Our Suburban is loaded to the max with three touring bikes, a full roof box, eight people, and all our stuff. Obviously it took a good bit of speed to make it up those mountains; and then it naturally picked up a lot of speed coming down the other side. Do you see where this is going? Unless you keep a close eye on the speedometer, you can easily get going too fast…

Yes, that’s a State Trooper in my mirror. Yes, I got a ticket 🙁 Before I realized it, I had picked up a considerable amount of extra speed coming down one of the mountains out of McConnellsburg. Thankfully he lowered the citation to just 5 miles over–resulting in no points on my record. In any case, lesson learned. Happy Memorial Day 🙂

After that sobering run-in with the Trooper I stopped at the first Starbucks I could find to lick my wounds and invest in my alertness so I could keep a better eye on my speedometer.

 

Monday’s drive started in Martinsburg, PA and ended in Des Plaines, IL (571 miles). It should’ve been a 9.5 hr drive but it turned out to be a 12 hour trip. We were stopped in traffic twice for construction and an accident for a total of 3 hours.

When we finally got clear of that traffic the first stop we made was Starbucks 🙂

Just before reaching our B&B for the night we made a prearranged stop at the home of a Kathy Mendes for a refill of Kangen water. She was delightful and very kindly filled up all our bottles and sent us on our way to Des Plaines, less than 30 minutes away. She lived in a most beautiful home. Thank you Kathy!

Our hosts for Monday night were Ed and Maureen McHugh, members of Westminster OPC in Indian Head Park, IL. Their hospitality was superb and their son Eamon made the most of our children as playmates 🙂 We arrived around 8 PM to a delicious dinner and great fellowship. Since their home was too small to accommodate all of us they arranged to have the girls stay at the neighboring home of a good friend of theirs. In the morning Chantry and I enjoyed a good conversation with Ed and Maureen over a cup of coffee, she prepared a full breakfast for all of us, we did family worship together, and then Ed sent us on our way playing Amazing Grace on his Highland pipes! Thanks Ed and Maureen!! God bless you.

We left Des Plaines, IL at 8 AM and headed to Sanborn, Iowa, arriving at 5:30 PM. It was a very long drive on 20 W.

But along the way we stumbled onto the home of Ulysses S. Grant in Galena, IL and a cool looking building in a park in Peterson, IA.

We’re so thankful to be at our friend’s home in Sanborn. It’s late now and we’re all in bed so I’ll have to get pictures of the family tomorrow and put them in the next post. Thank you all for your prayers. Tomorrow we hope to visit the Badlands and Mount Rushmore on the way to Gillette, WY.

Until next time 🙂