November 30, 2006

Mom's New "Do"!





Mom took the plunge today and came back from a town a new woman! :-) We all love her new hair, and I couldn't resist the urge to grab the camera and take some pictures!









November 25, 2006

Bikin' High

The boys have enjoyed racing their bikes over a homemade jump they've set up. My jaw dropped at the air they caught. ;-) Go boys go!









Here's our little "Jacobi" with his equipment on, biking with the big boys. :-)



November 22, 2006

Sunday

Gals in the kitchen preparing the yummy Sunday lunch.



Mom and Mrs. Thomas enjoying a dramatic conversation.




Melanie Thomas




The Ladies


The Gents

The Mothers :-)




No evening is complete without laughter and song.

I heartily enjoyed the company of these submitted, womanhood embracing,God loving and fearing young women. Praise the Lord for His work in raising up princesses for His glory!









November 21, 2006

Hello, Saint Louis!


"We made it!" says an overjoyed Jaelynn, who was delighted to be out of her carseat. After two days of driving, we finally drove into Saint Louis. Walking into the beautiful hotel where the 2006 National United Church and Home Conference was to be held, we marveled at the graceful interior. We had decided to attend this conference during our trip, and were looking forward to it! It was the last event before flying back home to California. Bedragled from travel, we entered our room to find the most inviting beds we had seen the entire trip. Kendra and I flew into them, turned on the relaxation CD that was provided and I felt like I was sleeping on an enormous, billowy cloud. Lovely!

The main conference room . . . the "Crystal Ballroom" What I would've given for a twirl in there! :-)


After a few hours of needed downtime, we all received our nifty binders and nametags and headed down for some supper. While in the resturant, which, by the way, was named after Max, ;-) we met some fellow conference goers. Stopping by the registration booth, we had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Zes,
Serven, and Erber ladies. Our anticipated weekend had begun!



Taking a break for some helicopter rides. :-)



Conference notes

The Klaty's were also on a "Round the USA" trip, and had decided to attend the conference also. They made the conference extra special for us. We hadn't seen them for a while, and it was great to catch up, and fellowship with our 'family'. :-) We love you Klaty's!
Here is a close-up of Mr. Chase Klaty.


Takin' a stroll out and about Saint Louis.




After the last session of the conference, we headed out to the town to find a place to fill our hungry tummys. On the way, we met up with the family of a young lady I had just met a few minutes before in the Crystal Ballroom, the Thomas family. We continued on to have supper at a Mexican resturant, who was overwhelmed by our numbers. ;-) After our meal, we all trooped back to the hotel, chatting a hundred miles an hour! We had a blast getting to know the Thomas family, and talked with them into the wee hours of the morning. :-)




The Mom's enjoyed some chattin' time.


The conference finished up with an intense, life changing message from Doug Phillips. Onward Christian soldiers!!!

November 16, 2006

On The Road Again

As we entered Pennsylvania, we headed for the home of the Lundquist family. It was so special to get better aquainted with each one of these sweet children and their parents for an evening. Mrs. Lundquist had just given birth to their newest blessing, little Stephen, and we were privilaged to meet him. Their hospitality was amazing, and Christ's love shone in their household. Thank-you for the sweet fellowship Lundquists!

Dad and Daniel plan out our route to our next destination . . . Indianapolis!


On the road again

The next night we spent with Brent and Kezia Beardslee. Our late night conversation about . . . well, everything (!) was great, and their fellowship was encouraging and uplifting. It was so special to spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ all over the nation! Thank-you for your hospitality and love, Beardslees, it means so much.


As we traveled from Indianapolis, we passed under a sign which captured our attention. :-) Even though we seem to be miles away, dear friends always are closer than they appear. We missed you Hubers!


Here we are Saint Louis!!

Over the river and through the woods to the conference we shall go . . . ta tiddily dee, ta tiddily doo, de dum, de dum, dee dee.

November 07, 2006

The Shenandoah Valley~ Breathtaking!


On our way through the eastern states, we had the awesome experience of driving through the Shenandoah valley. Wow . . . what an incredible, jaw-droppingly beautiful sight! We Californians could not get enough of the richly vibrant colors, crisp in their autumn beauty. Our version of the fall spectacle is a scattered "here and there" scarlet tree, and a few orchard's that turn orange for a couple weeks.







As we drove through the valley, we would come up over a hill sometimes and enter quaint little villiages with the prettiest little churches; their pointed steeples rising into the blue sky. Some of the peaceful settings we came upon looked as if they came straight from "Country" magazine. From the people rocking on their front porch swings of their white farmhouses to the sleepy little towns, the evidence revealed a slower paced but perhaps greater savored existence.


Daniel and Max on their phones once again! They both were receiving frequent calls from their workmen who had questions or urgently needed their rapt attention in some matter. ;-) No vacation for the working man I suppose. The interesting thing about it was, they both seemed to get their calls at the SAME time! How does that work I wonder?