MONDAY - 7 AUGUST - DAY FIVE
I'm not sure why this feels like such a LONG day - but it does.
The day began early with Stacia and I up here in the business center. {g} Then we headed for the guest laundry room and the breakfast bar.
I had a great talk with the parents of Nick, a MC student. They had riden a train out from Iowa and said it was cheaper than driving. Jamin thinks we need to check into this for the girls - but Mike is fairly set with the plan for the girls to drive home and then back at this point.
We had planned to swim all day. The children decided this would be better than touring the museum. Everyone wanted a DOWN day! However...the pool is STILL not fixed. Now at 9:30 p.m. I see they have begun to fill it again. We did spend some time in the spa. We were given PERMISSION to do this but still a grumpy old man complained to the manager about us being in the spa. PEOPLE!
We went to a park and played. At one point Stacia was in a kiddy swing, Jared and Jamin were pushing her from front and back and Josiah was standing to the side. Mike and I laughed at the way Stacia was smiling at them and keeping their full attention on HER....and then a little boy from the playground came over and tried to push her....and Jamin told her "I've got this". We joked about big brothers chasing the boys off and she is only 1. She'll be one on the day we get back to TX if all goes according to plan.
We talked with both my parents today. Dad is still in rehab and a bit discouraged with how much time it is taking him to recover. He's in a wheelchair and not allowed to put more than 30 lbs of weight on his leg...they are saying this will be for months this time. Please continue to pray for him - I think for quick healing from this surgery but also for a zeal and zest in his spirit.
We picked Krista up after lunch. She said goodbye to her host parents. We went to Barnes and Noble. Jamin had gift cards and we don't have a B/N in town. He picked up a Tolkein series....something about middle earth... I think. I picked up a CD radio show series - mysteries....we are armed for the trip.
We had dinner at Bre's host home. Both girls were blessed with wonderful folks to spend the year with. It was very hard for Bre to say goodbye. We enjoyed sitting around and talking about the year and such. Dan even asked Josiah enough questions for us to hear some of the new directions HE is considering for next year. Hmmm....never know how deep those still waters are running. LOL
Stacia fell asleep on the way home. Since the girls were both out until 4 a.m. last night....and since they are so tired....we've decided not to leave until 6 a.m. tomorrow. We don't have a terribly long drive....that should give us time to stop for breakfast somewhere and to stop at Wheat Montana.
Time for bed....
Monday, August 07, 2006
SUNDAY - AUGUST 6TH - DAY FOUR CONT.
We have been enjoying meeting the girls' friends. To continue with Sunday....
The graduation was moving. Frankly, it gives one great hope for this generation. It began with the MC worship team. Bre sang in that as well. The worship was authentic. Loud - but real. :::snort::: Certainly not louder than our student band at the contemporary service on base. I'm getting such an excitement about this generation - interacting with the students on base and now these MC students. Bre also was one of the "up front" spots in a human video they did.
MC is all about challenging students to go beyond their comfort levels. Krista, due to her dyslexia and speech problems, has always shied away from the spotlight. We were surprised to hear that she'd been told on Saturday that they wanted her to give her testimony about what God had done in her life this year. She was near the end of the program. It was awesome to be able to witness the change in her demeanor. She was poised - her voice was strong and sure....clearly enunciated and no stuttering at all. She got up to speak and kids began yelling, "Krista" and "Go Krista". She read from a "Dear God" letter she had written and from her journal. By this point in the service (which lasted two hours) I was in the back with Stacia. The other young Mom back there with me said, "Wow - she's very authentic and transparent isn't she? She's laying it all out there". She shared how she was lacking joy and drained when she began MC....and how she was having a hard time trusting God for various things due to some incidents the last few years. One of them had to do with family. She shared how impossible it seemed to trust God with us and that she was sure that He was going to allow one of us to die. "Afterall You've allowed loved babies in our family to die". By this time I was tearing up - as were several others. She stopped to control her emotions and several of the students began to shout encouragment to her. It was MOVING to see the support and love they have developed for each other. They certainly weren't a team 10 months ago. LOL She went on that now she has learned that she can trust a loving God with her family and the lives of her family. This is huge for Krista and will be put to the test as Mike deploys in a few weeks. When she was done the place was filled with clapping and THEN Josiah stood up.....and all the other children and Mike stood up. I can't even explain how amazing it was to watch the boys give their sister a Standing Ovation - and it moved quite a few others as well.
Now to brag a bit: Out of the 16 students; 4 graduated with "diplomas of excellence". Bre and Krista both earned one. Krista WOULD have graduated as the valedictorian but she told us she bombed the WRITTEN Scripture test....over 300 verses. She mixed some words up (quite common with dyslexia) and wrote things like "all" instead of "every". They grade hard. {g} Her other grades were so good that she was still able to earn the diploma of excellence and Bre graduated with the top honors.
The girls went out to Lance's home for a final time together. There are only 5 of the students coming back for Second year. We'll meet them tomorrow afternoon. Mike suggested they spend the night at the hotel with us tomorrow so that we can get our 4:30 a.m. start out of here. Poor Bre. She seemed to stagger when hearing this - the poor girl earned THIRTEEN Barbara clubs this year. Simply put this means she's LATE to classes. She stays up until 2 a.m. - always has - and then is dragging in the a.m. If you are late you earn a "Barbara club" and you get to come in early and clean with Barbara, the church janitor. She was tops in earned Barbara clubs as well.
As we were walking back to the hotel, all sorts of cars/trucks with flashing lights and sirens went past. Zander was on Mike's back. His eyes got huge and he said, "Oopsey, We're in VERY BIG TROUBLE, now!" :::snort::::
Back at the hotel we discovered that the pool was being drained. It seems that one of the lights had broken and glass was everywhere. They hoped to have it fixed by midnight. We were glad we were nowhere near the hotel when this happened.
Not sure what we are doing Monday.....
We have been enjoying meeting the girls' friends. To continue with Sunday....
The graduation was moving. Frankly, it gives one great hope for this generation. It began with the MC worship team. Bre sang in that as well. The worship was authentic. Loud - but real. :::snort::: Certainly not louder than our student band at the contemporary service on base. I'm getting such an excitement about this generation - interacting with the students on base and now these MC students. Bre also was one of the "up front" spots in a human video they did.
MC is all about challenging students to go beyond their comfort levels. Krista, due to her dyslexia and speech problems, has always shied away from the spotlight. We were surprised to hear that she'd been told on Saturday that they wanted her to give her testimony about what God had done in her life this year. She was near the end of the program. It was awesome to be able to witness the change in her demeanor. She was poised - her voice was strong and sure....clearly enunciated and no stuttering at all. She got up to speak and kids began yelling, "Krista" and "Go Krista". She read from a "Dear God" letter she had written and from her journal. By this point in the service (which lasted two hours) I was in the back with Stacia. The other young Mom back there with me said, "Wow - she's very authentic and transparent isn't she? She's laying it all out there". She shared how she was lacking joy and drained when she began MC....and how she was having a hard time trusting God for various things due to some incidents the last few years. One of them had to do with family. She shared how impossible it seemed to trust God with us and that she was sure that He was going to allow one of us to die. "Afterall You've allowed loved babies in our family to die". By this time I was tearing up - as were several others. She stopped to control her emotions and several of the students began to shout encouragment to her. It was MOVING to see the support and love they have developed for each other. They certainly weren't a team 10 months ago. LOL She went on that now she has learned that she can trust a loving God with her family and the lives of her family. This is huge for Krista and will be put to the test as Mike deploys in a few weeks. When she was done the place was filled with clapping and THEN Josiah stood up.....and all the other children and Mike stood up. I can't even explain how amazing it was to watch the boys give their sister a Standing Ovation - and it moved quite a few others as well.
Now to brag a bit: Out of the 16 students; 4 graduated with "diplomas of excellence". Bre and Krista both earned one. Krista WOULD have graduated as the valedictorian but she told us she bombed the WRITTEN Scripture test....over 300 verses. She mixed some words up (quite common with dyslexia) and wrote things like "all" instead of "every". They grade hard. {g} Her other grades were so good that she was still able to earn the diploma of excellence and Bre graduated with the top honors.
The girls went out to Lance's home for a final time together. There are only 5 of the students coming back for Second year. We'll meet them tomorrow afternoon. Mike suggested they spend the night at the hotel with us tomorrow so that we can get our 4:30 a.m. start out of here. Poor Bre. She seemed to stagger when hearing this - the poor girl earned THIRTEEN Barbara clubs this year. Simply put this means she's LATE to classes. She stays up until 2 a.m. - always has - and then is dragging in the a.m. If you are late you earn a "Barbara club" and you get to come in early and clean with Barbara, the church janitor. She was tops in earned Barbara clubs as well.
As we were walking back to the hotel, all sorts of cars/trucks with flashing lights and sirens went past. Zander was on Mike's back. His eyes got huge and he said, "Oopsey, We're in VERY BIG TROUBLE, now!" :::snort::::
Back at the hotel we discovered that the pool was being drained. It seems that one of the lights had broken and glass was everywhere. They hoped to have it fixed by midnight. We were glad we were nowhere near the hotel when this happened.
Not sure what we are doing Monday.....
SUNDAY - AUGUST 6th - DAY FOUR
The day began with us attending First Church of the Open Bible in Spokane, WA. This is the church that hosts the Master's Commission program that the girls have been attending. A highlight for us was watching Bre sing with the worship team in the service.
After church we headed over to the home of The Browns - Krista's host parents. They had invited us, Bre's host family and the family of the other girls who had been living with them. It was a fun time of meeting those who have spoke so powerfully into our children's lives.
Graduation was long - but very COOL.
STacia is fussing - I'll have to finish this later.
The day began with us attending First Church of the Open Bible in Spokane, WA. This is the church that hosts the Master's Commission program that the girls have been attending. A highlight for us was watching Bre sing with the worship team in the service.
After church we headed over to the home of The Browns - Krista's host parents. They had invited us, Bre's host family and the family of the other girls who had been living with them. It was a fun time of meeting those who have spoke so powerfully into our children's lives.
Graduation was long - but very COOL.
STacia is fussing - I'll have to finish this later.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
SATURDAY - AUGUST 5th - DAY FIVE
Yesterday, Zander began telling us that he wanted to go home. He said he did NOT want to get the girls - they were "stinky Petes". Krista was his "girl" for years before they left home last fall. He was really quite adamant and vocal about the fact that he didn't want to see them and we should turn around and go back home. We continued to drive.
Highlights:
733+ bikers spotted today. I wish we'd counted them on the first two days. Now - they are on the opposite side of the freeway as we are past the SD exits. It's amazing to see all the types of cycles and trailers and such.....With the early starts I've not been able to do my hair etc in the morning. I put make up on at the first stop. Mike commented that I shouldn't fret that I look at least as good as the biker babes....:::snort::: the helmet head/bandana look. I inisted on curling my hair and applying make up this a.m....you'll note why later!
OH - a highlight on the second day is that for the first time in over 20 years of driving with Mike he got tired enough to ask ME to drive. I did fairly well I thought...until he woke up, asked where we were and then said to pull over. I told him I could make it to Sheridan. We went a few miles more and he said, "no - pull over now". I knew I was tired....driving with just one eye resting.....but I didn't realize that I was terrifying the whole van with my creative lane weaving. LOL
We stopped at BK off the freeway and met Cynthia, Emily, Josh and Nathan for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. YES - we slept in until 5 a.m. AND I had time to look NORMAL when meeting Cynthia. LOL For those who don't know Cynthia - she was Bre's first piano teacher. We struck up a friendship during that time that has lasted over the years and our moves. Cynthia and I co-own the homeschooling list Support4HomeSchool (link to the right if you want to check it out). It was fun to see them again.
We left BK at about 7:30. We THOUGHT we had a 6 hour trip in to Spokane...but we had not accounted for ROAD CONSTUCTION. Cynthia warned us about it in Bozeman but it was really much worse outside of Butte......which Cynthia probably really didn't know about because we all KNOW she slept all the way to Seattle in May anyway. LOL And a side note - for those of you from SHS - let Sharon know that we eat NORMAL and not to sweat what to feed us on Tuesday. Yes, at HOME I'm feeding the family a certain way but on the road....may I just say the Bacon revolt is once again in full swing? I'm watching what Zander eats as best as I can but he's EASY....I have crackers and Nature Valley Oats and honey granola bars....whole milk and a box of crispix and he's in heaven.
Josiah got to drive today - see note above about how rare this is.
We drove by Belgrade and I realized that our friends the Stricklers now live there. We'll have to see if we can look them up when we drive back through. I also saw a sign for "Wheat Montana" - bakery and deli. WM is who shipped Prairie Gold wheat berries to AK. Mike said we can stop on our back and see if they have about 50# for sale....because we can't find anyone in TX to ship it to us...and to have WM ship it is EXPENSIVE.
We discovered that getting a later start in the day really did make for more of a "stressful" day in the car with the little ones. We stopped for gas in Missoula and lunch in St Regis, MT. This wasn't the way we PLANNED it but we couldn't find anything in Missoula where we pulled off. We did find a nice little spot to eat in St Regis. I had my first really BIG salad since we left and was much happier for it. While the others are thrilled to have "double ham crossainwhiches" in the a.m. - the egg crossainwhich is getting a bit old. {sigh}
The girls called when we were outside of Missoula. The boys joked about how hyper Bre would be when we got in. I said, "nah - she's grown up". We told them we'd call them when we reached Couer de lane (however you SPELL THAT????). We called and could tell that she was getting a bit excited. They asked us to meet them at the church. We pulled in and the girls began running to the van....then Bre STOPPED and began jumping up and down and screaming - made me cry....made Mike laugh and drive by the girls. :::snort::: We all untangled ourselves from the van and hugged etc. The girls then gave us the big behind the scenes tour of the MC office and the church.
As we left the church, the girls invited whoever wanted to ride with them to come with them. As Zander walked off with them he turned back to Mike and I and said "I'm not mad at them anymore". The girls were a bit mystified but we knew exactly what he was talking about. LOL
We checked into the hotel and went swimming while Mike took a nap. Well - Bre didn't swim because she had a worship team practice later in the day. It turns out that another MC student - Nick was in the pool with his parents. He and the kids got into a huge splashing war.....they had a great time and released a lot of that pent up energy.
The girls commented on how amazed they are at the changes in Zander. Over and over I heard how wonderful it was to have him talking and interacting with them. What a huge pat on the back I felt after the work of the past 6 1/2 months. It also gave me determination to continue the course even on this trip. I heard one of them comment to the older boys "so this is Zander off of preservatives".....and really he's NOT as good as he is at home...because his schedule/routine is off and he IS getting some stuff as careful as I am trying to be. We are avoiding the obvious (flavored syrup, margarine, skim milk, soda) but you KNOW that there are things in the french toast sticks.... He's doing much better than I expected...and I continue to pray about each day.
After Bre went to worship team practice....Krista took us down to the Little Spokane River. It was SO pretty. I love pretty nature and this trip has been a balm. We left the river and went to Pizza Hut and then took Krista home.
Oh MY! We'd been saying for weeks that we were going to Spokane to get the girls. The older kids understood that the girls are in host homes and that there would be a few days here where they would see them but they wouldnt' be sleeping with us. Zander didn't understand. He sobbed and wailed when Krista got out of the van. We tried to explain but I don't think he will get it until he sees her again.
Yesterday, Zander began telling us that he wanted to go home. He said he did NOT want to get the girls - they were "stinky Petes". Krista was his "girl" for years before they left home last fall. He was really quite adamant and vocal about the fact that he didn't want to see them and we should turn around and go back home. We continued to drive.
Highlights:
733+ bikers spotted today. I wish we'd counted them on the first two days. Now - they are on the opposite side of the freeway as we are past the SD exits. It's amazing to see all the types of cycles and trailers and such.....With the early starts I've not been able to do my hair etc in the morning. I put make up on at the first stop. Mike commented that I shouldn't fret that I look at least as good as the biker babes....:::snort::: the helmet head/bandana look. I inisted on curling my hair and applying make up this a.m....you'll note why later!
OH - a highlight on the second day is that for the first time in over 20 years of driving with Mike he got tired enough to ask ME to drive. I did fairly well I thought...until he woke up, asked where we were and then said to pull over. I told him I could make it to Sheridan. We went a few miles more and he said, "no - pull over now". I knew I was tired....driving with just one eye resting.....but I didn't realize that I was terrifying the whole van with my creative lane weaving. LOL
We stopped at BK off the freeway and met Cynthia, Emily, Josh and Nathan for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. YES - we slept in until 5 a.m. AND I had time to look NORMAL when meeting Cynthia. LOL For those who don't know Cynthia - she was Bre's first piano teacher. We struck up a friendship during that time that has lasted over the years and our moves. Cynthia and I co-own the homeschooling list Support4HomeSchool (link to the right if you want to check it out). It was fun to see them again.
We left BK at about 7:30. We THOUGHT we had a 6 hour trip in to Spokane...but we had not accounted for ROAD CONSTUCTION. Cynthia warned us about it in Bozeman but it was really much worse outside of Butte......which Cynthia probably really didn't know about because we all KNOW she slept all the way to Seattle in May anyway. LOL And a side note - for those of you from SHS - let Sharon know that we eat NORMAL and not to sweat what to feed us on Tuesday. Yes, at HOME I'm feeding the family a certain way but on the road....may I just say the Bacon revolt is once again in full swing? I'm watching what Zander eats as best as I can but he's EASY....I have crackers and Nature Valley Oats and honey granola bars....whole milk and a box of crispix and he's in heaven.
Josiah got to drive today - see note above about how rare this is.
We drove by Belgrade and I realized that our friends the Stricklers now live there. We'll have to see if we can look them up when we drive back through. I also saw a sign for "Wheat Montana" - bakery and deli. WM is who shipped Prairie Gold wheat berries to AK. Mike said we can stop on our back and see if they have about 50# for sale....because we can't find anyone in TX to ship it to us...and to have WM ship it is EXPENSIVE.
We discovered that getting a later start in the day really did make for more of a "stressful" day in the car with the little ones. We stopped for gas in Missoula and lunch in St Regis, MT. This wasn't the way we PLANNED it but we couldn't find anything in Missoula where we pulled off. We did find a nice little spot to eat in St Regis. I had my first really BIG salad since we left and was much happier for it. While the others are thrilled to have "double ham crossainwhiches" in the a.m. - the egg crossainwhich is getting a bit old. {sigh}
The girls called when we were outside of Missoula. The boys joked about how hyper Bre would be when we got in. I said, "nah - she's grown up". We told them we'd call them when we reached Couer de lane (however you SPELL THAT????). We called and could tell that she was getting a bit excited. They asked us to meet them at the church. We pulled in and the girls began running to the van....then Bre STOPPED and began jumping up and down and screaming - made me cry....made Mike laugh and drive by the girls. :::snort::: We all untangled ourselves from the van and hugged etc. The girls then gave us the big behind the scenes tour of the MC office and the church.
As we left the church, the girls invited whoever wanted to ride with them to come with them. As Zander walked off with them he turned back to Mike and I and said "I'm not mad at them anymore". The girls were a bit mystified but we knew exactly what he was talking about. LOL
We checked into the hotel and went swimming while Mike took a nap. Well - Bre didn't swim because she had a worship team practice later in the day. It turns out that another MC student - Nick was in the pool with his parents. He and the kids got into a huge splashing war.....they had a great time and released a lot of that pent up energy.
The girls commented on how amazed they are at the changes in Zander. Over and over I heard how wonderful it was to have him talking and interacting with them. What a huge pat on the back I felt after the work of the past 6 1/2 months. It also gave me determination to continue the course even on this trip. I heard one of them comment to the older boys "so this is Zander off of preservatives".....and really he's NOT as good as he is at home...because his schedule/routine is off and he IS getting some stuff as careful as I am trying to be. We are avoiding the obvious (flavored syrup, margarine, skim milk, soda) but you KNOW that there are things in the french toast sticks.... He's doing much better than I expected...and I continue to pray about each day.
After Bre went to worship team practice....Krista took us down to the Little Spokane River. It was SO pretty. I love pretty nature and this trip has been a balm. We left the river and went to Pizza Hut and then took Krista home.
Oh MY! We'd been saying for weeks that we were going to Spokane to get the girls. The older kids understood that the girls are in host homes and that there would be a few days here where they would see them but they wouldnt' be sleeping with us. Zander didn't understand. He sobbed and wailed when Krista got out of the van. We tried to explain but I don't think he will get it until he sees her again.
FRIDAY - AUGUST 4th - DAY TWO
Can you believe we got another bright and early start out of CO? Yep - up at 4:30 a.m. and on the road by 5. Ken, Lynn and Matt even got up to see us off - though we tried really hard to be quiet. We took the time to fuel up - and take a picture and headed down the road. Our goal: Hardin, MT.
Highlights: more cows, wheat fields now, open praires, mountains, Bikers EVERYWHERE - more today than yesterday as we neared the turnoff from CO/NM to Sturgis....and lots coming FROM MT on the opposite side of the freeway.
Somwhere along the line I said "and on the left we have cows"...Zander was evidently getting a bit frustrated with the predictablity of my comments....a few minutes later he said "And on the left we have...RHINOS and a LION!"......
Jamin had expressed an interest in seeing "The Little BigHorn Battlefield" - "Custer's Last Stand". We'd studied the westward expanision and the whole resettlement issue of the Indians this year in school. Don't you love homeschooling? All of a life can be a field trip! We found ourselves arriving in Hardin at a decent hour so we stopped at the battlefield. This led to some interesting discussion of Mike and the boys for the rest of the day (and since I'm catching up I may as well say into the 3rd day of our trip).
In Hardin we toured the town. We felt like we were in a time warp. Some things simply never change much - and yet we were changed. Sort of. We left Hardin with 11, 9, 7, 5 year olds and pregnant....we were back with 12, 9, 7, 4 and baby....just different names and faces. We saw our old house (paint still holding), the community center, Dollies (where the kids would walk for candy), the church we pastored in, the park we played in, the hospital Jared was born in...and more. It was especially meaningful to Jared to visit his homestate and home town. He was two when we entered the military. "Home" is a rather fluid concept to him.
We went out to the cemetary and visited the gravesites of my Grams and my Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill and I had planted a lilac bush and a rose bush by Gram's grave and they are doing well - huge now. Mom, the rocks that the kids had given grams...that you glued to the tombstone are still there. Surprisngly, we found that walking through the cemetary was a great way for the children to remember Hardin. They had been saying they didn't remember or remembered little...but as we saw names we recognized (and we were surprised at how many we saw) we told stories of each person. This was really our frist stop and was a very positive experience. It was sad - but happy....truly bitter sweet.
We had tried to stay at Super 8 but it was booked full. We found two rooms at the American Inn before we left TX. I'd forgotten that shortly before we moved the owner had built a casino on the property too. We were so glad I'd make reservations as we watched several in the process of discovering that everything in the town was booked. YES - this weekend is the opening of the annual big event in Sturgis for bikers. It was us and the Bikers at American Inn.
Sam and Evelyn invited us over for dinner....these were friends from our years in Hardin. They had the Bullshows (more friends) over as well and we had a great time catching up. Debbi (who was in the youth group when we were youth leaders) drove down with Heidi's daughter (twin sister) and her children were there as well. It was a fun evening. We had way more people we had hoped to catch up with in Hardin....but we had to get an early start the next a.m.
Can you believe we got another bright and early start out of CO? Yep - up at 4:30 a.m. and on the road by 5. Ken, Lynn and Matt even got up to see us off - though we tried really hard to be quiet. We took the time to fuel up - and take a picture and headed down the road. Our goal: Hardin, MT.
Highlights: more cows, wheat fields now, open praires, mountains, Bikers EVERYWHERE - more today than yesterday as we neared the turnoff from CO/NM to Sturgis....and lots coming FROM MT on the opposite side of the freeway.
Somwhere along the line I said "and on the left we have cows"...Zander was evidently getting a bit frustrated with the predictablity of my comments....a few minutes later he said "And on the left we have...RHINOS and a LION!"......
Jamin had expressed an interest in seeing "The Little BigHorn Battlefield" - "Custer's Last Stand". We'd studied the westward expanision and the whole resettlement issue of the Indians this year in school. Don't you love homeschooling? All of a life can be a field trip! We found ourselves arriving in Hardin at a decent hour so we stopped at the battlefield. This led to some interesting discussion of Mike and the boys for the rest of the day (and since I'm catching up I may as well say into the 3rd day of our trip).
In Hardin we toured the town. We felt like we were in a time warp. Some things simply never change much - and yet we were changed. Sort of. We left Hardin with 11, 9, 7, 5 year olds and pregnant....we were back with 12, 9, 7, 4 and baby....just different names and faces. We saw our old house (paint still holding), the community center, Dollies (where the kids would walk for candy), the church we pastored in, the park we played in, the hospital Jared was born in...and more. It was especially meaningful to Jared to visit his homestate and home town. He was two when we entered the military. "Home" is a rather fluid concept to him.
We went out to the cemetary and visited the gravesites of my Grams and my Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill and I had planted a lilac bush and a rose bush by Gram's grave and they are doing well - huge now. Mom, the rocks that the kids had given grams...that you glued to the tombstone are still there. Surprisngly, we found that walking through the cemetary was a great way for the children to remember Hardin. They had been saying they didn't remember or remembered little...but as we saw names we recognized (and we were surprised at how many we saw) we told stories of each person. This was really our frist stop and was a very positive experience. It was sad - but happy....truly bitter sweet.
We had tried to stay at Super 8 but it was booked full. We found two rooms at the American Inn before we left TX. I'd forgotten that shortly before we moved the owner had built a casino on the property too. We were so glad I'd make reservations as we watched several in the process of discovering that everything in the town was booked. YES - this weekend is the opening of the annual big event in Sturgis for bikers. It was us and the Bikers at American Inn.
Sam and Evelyn invited us over for dinner....these were friends from our years in Hardin. They had the Bullshows (more friends) over as well and we had a great time catching up. Debbi (who was in the youth group when we were youth leaders) drove down with Heidi's daughter (twin sister) and her children were there as well. It was a fun evening. We had way more people we had hoped to catch up with in Hardin....but we had to get an early start the next a.m.
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