South Dakota

I keep forgetting to take pictures, so I don't have any proof, but we're in South Dakota!

We arrived in the Black Hills area Saturday night and spent Sunday with Grandpa L's side of the family. Monday we drove across the state to the farm, where we're celebrating Ellie's birthday with Grandma L's side of the family. Ellie, Clar, and their cousin Riley saw cows and tractors up close and enjoyed stepping in great big tractor tracks in the mud. Now the girls are taking a bath and the boy is asleep.

Tomorrow we'll get back in the car and drive further East.

Colorado Springs

We made it to CO Springs yesterday just after 4 pm. The kids did great in the car. We stopped for a picnic lunch and to stretch our legs, and stopped a few other times for various reasons. They played and slept and sang along to "The Sound of Music" during the drive. Well, Ellie didn't sleep until about 8 miles from our exit here in the Springs, but she had a great attitude in spite of going without a nap.

Tomorrow morning we'll get on the road again!

Quote of the Day

Our church has small groups, organized roughly by geography. We got together yesterday after church to spend time with one another and pray before we leave on our big trip and two other families move out of state. Our neighbors across the street , who are in our group, were right behind us on the drive home. As we got out of our car, Ellie said,

"Mommy, our whole Covenant Group lives on Choke Cherry Pie!"

Six Years

Happy Anniversary, Luke!

Okay, now that the rush of the day is done, I can add this: Six years ago, I married my very best friend. We talked this afternoon about how on that day, we could not have imagined this day. I am so thankful to my husband for his leadership, his service, and his care for me and for our children. I thank God for bringing us together when we were young, and pray that I will joyfully serve with him wherever God calls us in whatever He calls us to do.

Great Adventures II

I guess it's a family tradition that when Luke deploys, I take the kids on a long, cross-country road trip to my family's house in Massachusetts and stop along the way for a brother's wedding. Every time!

Here's where we're headed this time. I placed the markers from memory, so those of you better acquainted with Michigan geography can show me where Battle Creek actually is on your hands when I see you. (You know who you are!)

Hopefully I'll take the time to blog our trip. It should be a... well, an adventure.

Reminds me of... me

I found this when I was not going to sleep the other night.

Kids and Their Puppies

And this is the picture I'm going to pull out and show them when they're older and think they don't get along:

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. There's no relationship quite like that between siblings.