Furlough: Week 1

I will try my best to keep you up to speed with our summer furlough experiences.  However, no promises! With our short and very valuable time needed to be invested face to face with friends and family, summer posting might be spotty.  Although, having started to make our rounds with supporters many have commented that they do indeed read this blog.  And here I thought my audience was mostly grandparents and family.

We arrived safely on Saturday, June 9.  All went smoothly and it took us nearly two weeks to recover from jet lag.  Jonathan's parents were most gracious to us in our initial week of reentry adjustments.  There is nothing like coming back to your parent's house and being covered in great love, care and encouragement.  The kids were spoiled and loved upon our first week.  Here are some of our first week highlights:

Gramma came along to see a brave little girl get her ears pierced

Munga taught the kids to ride bikes and they picked up on it right away.  Apologies to all the neighbors for the bike tracks left across your lawns and mailboxes hit those first few days!

A first time for the kids and I in picking Michigan strawberries.  It was a wonderful experience and the kids had a great time and even sweeter time eating 8 lbs of strawberries in 4 days.

Luca sporting his new big boy glasses that he chose so he could look like Uncle Ben

Baseball in the yard

Belated birthday dinner celebration for Jonathan with his grandparents and aunt

Swimming, squirt guns and soaking up gorgeous summer sun

One week later we repacked up our bags for our trips to Ohio and California.  The 5.5 hour drive down to Chardon was long, but it was so great to reconnect with the Hayes' and the Chardon Baptist Church family there.

Precious time and hospitality given by Pastor and Susan Hayes

Jonathan ran a marathon on his Father's Day.  Sunday school presentation, preaching, driving 1.5 hours to Canton to then present at Whipple Avenue Baptist Church for an evening presentation and then 2.5 hour turned 3.5 hour drive due to a traffic accident back to Cedarville.  We finally rolled into Cedarville around midnight.

One of the great joys of furloughing is to reconnect with supporters, but the drawback is always that our time is too brief.  But thus is the nature of summer furloughs where you feel like you are just flying in and out of places.  Our one week in Ohio went by quickly and I hope to fill in those details in a coming post.  Ciao for now!