Going to the office

On Saturday morning, Josh fixed some waffles and German sausage.  Mmmm!

It had rained a lot the day before so Eli's soccer game was cancelled.

Instead, the family took us on a little tour.

First, we drove by Fellowship's church branch in Fayetteville, 

where Staci's parents attend.

We picked up groceries at Walmart and then went through the car wash.  We noticed a Green Bay Packer fan with a Wisconsin plate filling up.  He accidentally parked the wrong way and had to stretch his gas line around the back of the car.

 Car wash!

I love this road to Staci's workplace.

Staci works part-time as a pediatric nurse practitioner.  She took us to her new office.








We got our height checked.

                                 It won't be too long before the kids pass me up!

The rooms are painted so sweet!

That's a picture of Eli when he was oh-so-little!

Staci's favorite room.  She LOVES the beach! 

 She painted this paint-by-number.  She did a great job!

Next we went to Josh's new office.

 We accidentally tripped the alarm.  It was LOUD!!

 There's the cross we worked on at our house once.  It is made from old computer key board keys.

 Do you see Han Solo among the camera collection above?

 The super eight camera and film strip projector used to be my dad's.

 Event room and worship practice room.

 Room for film making and picture taking for the Creative Arts guys.

 It was fun taking the tour and seeing the places God has the kids working for Him.

Birthday pies

When we arrived at the kids' house, Josh fixed fajitas for supper.  Then we had gift giving for Josh's birthday and for Allen's.   Similar candy card like I gave Sid, Al's younger brother, although a few different candies.

Al got a flannel shirt

 and a new back pack for his next trip to Israel.

 We tend to like pies for birthdays rather than cakes.  A toll house pie from the Bread Basket is Al's favorite.  Josh likes Reece's peanut butter pie and he usually gets that on his day.  Recipe below.

 Before bedtime, Al played the Wii with the kids.

 Emeri knocked her grandpa out in a boxing match.

 Reeces pie recipe (makes 2):

Mix 3.9 oz instant chocolate pudding recipe using pie filling instructions.
Spread on the bottoms of 2 graham cracker pie shells.  Refrigerate.

Next layer:
1 package 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 T. butter, soft
1 t. vanilla
Mix all together.  Fold in approximately 2 cups of Cool Whip or 1 cup heavy cream that has been whipped with 1 T. sugar.
Divide in half and put each half on top of the chocolate layers of the two pies.

Top with more Cool Whip.  Top with broken pieces of Reece's peanut butter cups.  Drizzle with melted chocolate chips.

Whenever I take this someplace, it goes FAST!  It is delicious!!

Kansas "mountains"

We drove to Arkansas last weekend.  We were going to take the pickup and do some off main road adventuring.  But it rained buckets and Al wasn't too keen on going on dirt (mud) roads!

 But as we came upon Fredonia, I said, "I've always wanted to check out those 'mountains'!"

So we drove into Fredonia.

 We looked up the hills on Maps.  We could see that the larger hill (to the left) didn't have any roads on the hill itself, but the smaller one did.

Driving by the larger hill was not impressive from the road.

 We turned around here.

 Drove back into town.

 Drove by a livestock auction place...

 ...that was situated right beside a veterinary clinic.  We found that ironic.

 Eat beef.....or zebra?

 There are some charming homes.

 Tree fairy?

 We took a wrong turn

 I'd like to know the story behind this house.

 Going up hill #2.

 At the top is a little park.  Flag at half-staff.  The Governor ordered flags in Kansas at half staff in memory of Officer Kunze who lost his life in the line of duty.

 We climbed a lookout tower.  We could see Highway 400 that we come in to town on.

 Highway 400 going toward Joplin

 The gas station we usually stop at (using zoom.  From the lookout tower, it is much further away)

A little trail.  

 I told Al I'd meet him at the bottom of the trail.

 Another charming house

 The road that goes to the round-a-bout and the gas station.

 Cool pickup!

 Hope he's not planning to drive the highway with the doggie in the back!

 "In God we Trust" or at least we should.  Yes, I agree.  Trusting Him is not always easy but it is best to know He knows and cares for us!

On the road to Joplin.  We usually take the road to Webb City but decided last minute to go south at Pittsburg to I-44....

.... so we could stop at Starbucks!

 It began to rain in earnest and continued all the way to the kids' house!

I know some laugh at our Kansas "mountains" or "hills".  We do have lots of hilly places, even though people think of Kansas as flat.  This morning I was reading Isaiah 40 where God speaks about mountains and hills.

Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
    Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
    or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?
    Who knows enough to give Him advice or teach Him?
14 Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice?
    Does He need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach Him what is right
    or show Him the path of justice?

Sometime, read the whole chapter.  I LOVE it!  I have especially loved verse 11 and was a verse I held onto when my children were small.  Speaking of children....that's where we were headed to see!