It's about time!

Well, it is about time! Except for a 3-month period a couple years ago when I intentionally took a blog break, this is the longest I have gone without a blog post over the six years I've been blogging. I've been back from Africa for two months now and life has been full-on since then connecting with kids and grand-kids and a FLAME class (my final one!), and getting to know our new community.

LATEST TRAVELS: Dennis returned to Africa, connecting with our 160 Sierra Leone pastors and the National Superintendent during their National Church Conference. He even had the opportunity to meet the President of Sierra Leone. From Africa, he flew to Vienna, Austria, where I met up with him to spend a few short days with Dave, Dina, and Emma Horne. It was so great to spend time together in their new home and city. From there, the four of us, flew to Birmingham, England, for the weekend of the British Isles District Conference. It was a blessing to reconnect with friends and acquaintances, as well as to be encouraged by the good things that are happening in the BI District.

A joy to be with Dave, Dina and Emma (who is taking the picture:)

DOWNTOWN INDY: I love where we live! Give me a year and a half, and I'll have the lay of the city figured out. They say (whoever "they" is) that it takes 18 months to settle in to a new place. Today I took advantage of a beautiful summer day by riding my bike on the Cultural Trail. You know how much we loved Budapest? Well, when we moved to the city, I was so surprised to find that Indy has a City Market! It looks like a mini of the Grand Market in Budapest. What a gift that was to me! It's not the Danube, but Indy has the White River, as well as monuments, local coffee shops, and friendly people. Not to mention the Children's Museum (top museum in the country!), the Indy zoo, and a great central library.

 Clockwise: White River, Cultural Trail street crossing, Cultural Trail, City Market, & Calvin Fletcher Coffee Co.

OUR NEW HOME: When I sent out our latest newsletter, a few people thought the brick school building was our home. No, we are one of 18 condo units in the school building. We're enjoying living in this historical place. Below you'll see a few pictures of our home.

So happy to have this brick wall for the art piece we bought in Sarajevo, Bosnia!

Lots of daylight with these huge windows.

A small kitchen, but very practical. I created a "window" above my sink with some greenery and birds. The hummingbird on the blue jar reminds me of our Margot.

My Grandma's Lane Cedar chest with her jewelry box, a young photo of her, and a Norman Rockwell plate she gave me years ago. It's entitled "A Young Girl's Dream." The plate is a picture of a young girl sitting on what is probably a train station bench, with a suitcase by her, and a box of tissues on her lap. Grandma told me that the girl reminded her of me, as I left my home in PA to follow my dreams.

Well, a few more pictures of family time, and I'll end this post.

A trip to Grand Haven called for a walk on the pier. Miles loves jumping the rocks.

Birthday #4 for Miles (Stella watching in the background)

Leo

Well, that about sums up the past couple months.

ANTICIPATION! We're looking forward to having Jamie, Evee, and Iris in a few weeks for the month of July! We can't wait! A year and a half is way too long to not see family, especially growing grandchildren.