Thought some photos would be nice!

Carli and Jeremy are in Michigan this week. Helped in the kitchen at Camp Friendenswald and now Carli is looking at a PT program at Andrews University. Today they were doing some canoeing. Sounds like fun before she has to hit the books again!

Our family guests left last evening. Is always sad to see them go, especially since they live in Hawaii and coming to visit is no easy feat! We had a great time with 60 members of the extended family here on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, the visiting very nice and we saw some relatives that we hadn't seen in a long time! It is always so great to get together and such a nice time. We are so fortunate to have wonderful families.

Work started yesterday for me...I don't know where the summer went...

Carli has a chest x-ray and appointment with Dr. Stallings next week. Keep her in your prayers.

We're back!! Had a wonderful time in Santa Rosa de Copan. Carli had told us that she wasn't coming to the airport, but she surprised us!! Not hard to spot her in the midst of Honduran faces! She looked great, very tan, her hair has grown, and she seemed to have boundless energy! I think that she forgot that we are not used to walking miles upon hilly miles-she sure made sure we got our exercise~

We saw the painting that our church youth group completed at the hospital...quite a task...it looks great. We went with them to the town of Gracias and Saturday to the Myan ruins. Very interesting and very hot and humid. On Sunday we travelled to Tela, a quaint little town on the coast. It is absolutely beautiful, and was a nice place to relax. On Tuesday we took a small boat to Punta Sal, walked through the rain forest, and spent time on a little secluded beach. The ride back in the boat was a killer...the ocean really churns up by afternoon and it was scary! I think that I was the only one that was afraid...the kids loved it!

The week flew by, and it was hard for Carli to say her good-byes. WE were very impressed by how much Spanish she really knew. She hopes to go back some day and see her new friends. She was detained at the airport and they made her pay $120 to exit the country...quite a scam as we only had to pay $34. She is mad, and hopefully can contact the embassy to see if they can return some of her money as this is not the usual way it happens. We'll see...

Ted's family will all be here this weekend...very nice as one brother is from Hawaii, the other from NJ and we don't all get together very often.

Almost packed and ready to go...we are driving to Detroit tonight for a 6am flight. I am getting excited! Things have been so hectic and I've been worried about my dad and having the house ready for family guests that I haven't really stopped to think about it! Neighbors of ours just returned from Santa Rosa and they saw Carli and said that she looked good. That was very nice to hear!!

We'll be sure to post about the trip...pray for travel and food/water safety please!! Also, pray that Jeremy's knee doesn't cause him too much discomfort...

Be sure to check out Carli's blog...it's a long one this time!! She seems to be realizing that she was meant to be in Santa Rosa this summer, even though she didn't always feel like she was doing much. It will take her a while to readjust to life in the US. I think that it is harder coming back than it is going. It is always good to realize how wonderful we have it here and all of the things that we take for granted. I wish that everyone could have the experience so that we as a society would quit whining!

My dad is back home but not doing well. Please pray for us as we try to figure out what is best for him.

Please be in prayer for my dad...he fell today at his house and had to use his medical alarm as he couldn't get up...they squaded him to Dunlap and found some labwork (kidney tests and electrolytes) was out of whack, so they kept him. His legs have been getting progressively weaker the past few weeks and today he said his knees just buckled. He is trying everything not to have to go back to the nursing home. His PCP is out of town, of course, so someone that doesn't know him is taking care of him. HIs medical history is quite extensive...hopefully they will get to the bottom of his weakness. Pray for acceptance for him and patience for all of us. Thanks!

Just a reminder...Carli's blog address is carlihonduras.blogspot.com

She updated today and sounds like she is really getting to see the country. I can't wait...

Tara had an interesting "small world" experience today. She was at the dentist making small talk with the hygienist, when she found out that the girl was originally from Wooster. Tara thought that she would know me from working at the high school, and when she said my name the hygienist said "is Carli your sister?" It was Erin Pycraft, Carli used to date her brother!! So, Tara updated her on Carli and said that it was so funny to run into someone in downtown Columbus that knew us! Just another reason why I say that you always have to be on your best behavior...you never know who is paying attention!!

Jeremy had a great week at camp and said that now he knows that youth ministry is what he is supposed to do. He and Kelsie went tubing on Sunday, it is fun to watch her with a "brother" since this is fairly new to her! It is different than with Todd as she is here with Jeremy without Carli being around. She has abrasions on her elbows to prove that she can keep up with him!

Carli called yesterday but talked to Ted. They spent the weekend at Tela which is on the coast. She said that it is amazing, and wants us to try to go there when we visit. Since it is close to where our flight leaves, we will probably try to spend the last couple of days there. I am really getting excited thinking of seeing her and watching how much she has learned about the language and the people. I can imagine it will be hard for her to reacclimate to Ohio and Pennsylvania!!