Pics and Thought from our 8 stop, 2 week road trip

We spent a weekend up in Seattle before leaving Colorado with our great friends Ryan and Diana Decrona. We enjoyed a good time, went mtn. biking, walked around downtown Seattle, rode the ferry across the sound, met Riley, Mark, Amber, Wes, some of the coolest people in the world.

Our kids with friends Eden and Piper in Wichita, Kansas

Our kids with the Hawkins

The ever beautiful Hawkins family whom we met in 2003 as they were on their way to be missionaries in Ireland. We had a great weekend together in Oklahoma at their beautiful work-in-progress farmhouse

We spent 2 days in Hot Springs, AR with Kenneth's sister Pam, her husband Tommy and son Erich. We had a good time going to the lake, playing Nintendo Wii, and jummping on the trampoline

Red faced Israel is feeling the effect of the 96 degree Arkansas heat

Zion

Ezra loves life, regardless of the weather

Nevaeh had smiles once we let her wade in the lake

Our kids with the Funderburke kids at their farm in Coldwater, MS. There's nothing cold about that place. Davy and Laura grind fresh whole grain flour (mostly organic). check out funderfarm on the web. yum

Paco, Amanda, and Esther - friends of ours since college. We stayed with them for 2 nights in Lafayette, Louisiana

The Jacksons: Wallace, Amanda and kids Taylor, Jackson and Josiah(he's in bed). Wallace is a Captain with the United States Army stationed at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. We were encouraged and inspired by their love to do ministry among the men and women in the service. Wallace will be deploying this year to Afghanistan, so be in prayer for them.

Our trip through the south was an incredible time for us to visit friends we haven't seen in awhile, to say goodbyes, and to receive encouragement from strong believers in the faith.  In this group we have done missions with some of these couples in South Africa, Nepal and have been a part of other's lives as they have gone and done missions in places like southeastern China and among the Gaelic people of Ireland.  We received much encouragement from every place we stayed.  We are feeling more and more ready every day to take the big trip over the pond.  The only people we don't have pictures with are the Bankstons and Deanna.  Keith and Michelle Bankston were friends of ours from college whom we love dearly.  Deanna was our beloved summer missionary that lived with us the second half of last summer.  Thanks everyone for making it a good trip for us!