Carli called again yesterday...they ended up just staying and exploring Santa Rosa for the weekend. She was happy just to relax and catch up for the weekend. When I asked her what she wants to eat when she gets home, she said without hesitation, "steak". And she doesn't normally eat much red meat! She loves the food, but said that there isn't much, if any, red meat and that it will taste good. I'm sure that she will be in the mood for a Dari-Ette cheeseburger, too!!

Jeremy is on his way to Camp Friedenswald for the week. He will be Camp pastor for the 5/6 grade campers. He is taking 2 fifth grade girls from our church...wish that I could be a little mouse in the car! They will either be in awe and not say much, or talk his leg off!! Growing up with 3 brothers, this should be an interesting time for him.

We are back from a week in Hilton Head and it flew! Was so nice to have Tara, Todd, and Kelsie with us. Todd could only stay until Tuesday evening and flew home, but he did manage to get in some great golfing while he was there.

Carli called twice while we were gone, and it was soooo good to talk to her. I can't imagine what parents used to go through before cell phones and email. It is nice because I can hear things in her voice that you can't tell via email. I think that she is doing well, but it is still frustrating for her not to be able to communicate like she wishes she could. I know that by the end of her time there she will be doing fine...she will probably want to go back again because she will finally be speaking Spanish. I am so jealous b/c I know about 5 words that aren't English.

Please continue to pray for her health and safety. Also for Kim, too!!

I know that there are some great prayer warriors that check this site...please keep Lisa (Pike) and Dan Christy in your prayers...Dan left for Iraq yesterday...they have only been married for 1 1/2 years. She is Tara's best friend from Grove City and was Tara's Maid of Honor. She is a great friend and a strong Christian, but no one can prepare you for watching your husband go off to war. They live in Texas now, so she is far away from her family here in Ohio. Please pray for Dan's safety, as he drives tanks!

Carli called again yesterday and I couldn't get to my cell in time. So,she left a voice message and said that she will try again in a few days. I miss her so much.

Carli called yesterday afternoon and it was good to hear her voice. She is feeling better, but still not eating much. I could hear in her voice that she is tired. Hopefully she will perk up soon!

The most frustrating thing for her is the language barrier. She said that she would like to be able to ask more questions of the therapist that she is working with. But with hours of Spanish lessons each evening, I'm sure that she will be communicating soon.

I was in Columbus at Tara and Todd's for a few days and just found out today after church that Carli has been sick. I am so thankful that Kim is down there with her, because she called Kathy (CAMO's founder) and Kathy had a physician from CAMO see Carli. We had sent some Cipro with her, so she started that and I guess that she is starting to feel better. Keep her health and Kim's health in your prayers. Moms just worry about such things when they are hundreds of miles away and have no control.

Cell phones are great when they work...but mine doesn't pick up Carli's phone calls when I am in my office at work...so this morning she called and it didn't go through...and she had to leave a voice mail! I was soooo disappointed!! But, she said that they got to Santa Rosa OK and were going to find out about their work sites. She sounded good but said that she was tired...

She will be starting work every day at 7am, has a lunch break, and then to a different job from 1-5. Then 2 hours of Spanish lessons...will be long days for her. But, the weekends are free and then she will have time to rest or travel...gee, wonder which she will do?? Ha!

Jeremy drove Carli and Kimberly Yoder to the Detroit airport Friday night. Their flight left soon after 6am. Carli called from Houston to say that they made it that far...haven't heard anything since they arrived in Honduras.

We have had Carli around so much in the past year that it will be hard not to see her for 9 weeks! I felt like a part of me was gone after they left...I didn't think that it would bother me so much. It does help that Ted and I have been to Santa Rosa, but a lot has changed since we were there in '94 and '95. I just hope that she doesn't take her health for granted.

She starts work tomorrow morning bright and early. I hope that she has time and access to a computer so that she can update her blog. I will continue to update this one if there is anything of interest, otherwise now we can update by reading her blog! how fun!!