We left Mukwonago on Wednesday afternoon and arrived at my in-laws late that evening. We got a few hours of restful sleep before hitting the road Thursday morning and are enjoying ourselves here in Penna. Today was a day full of sightseeing. We visited quite a few markets and other shops that Mom and Dad frequent and I’ve already consumed two amazing hoagies since arriving here last night! What a treat!

Tonight’s agenda includes lots of FIRE. A bonfire and the igniting of those two bags of fireworks I picked up in Indiana during Yesterday’s trip! I can’t wait.

Also tonight we’re having homemade tacos with Bob & Lisa Smith AND my Uncle David, Aunt Bea (Sheets) are coming up from the Baltimore/Washington DC area along with my cousin Bethany and her husband Joel (whom we haven’t yet met). We’ll have a house-full and will have a blast enjoying this side of the family that we don’t get to spend a lot of time with usually!

Some pictures from the trip so far are here. Pictures include our quick visit with Aunt Sher at the Oasis Travel Stop in Chicago and a quick pee-break at the French’s house in Warsaw!

Hopefully I’ll find the ability to update again before we head out for the camp on Monday morning!

I’m looking forward to this opportunity and ask for your prayers for the students at camp, my voice, the messages, camp-activities, my parents as they become 24/7 care-givers for Ella for a week, as well as safety on the road!

This has been one crazy Summer!

Download it here.

It’s called “Death Will Never Conquer”, and I wonder what church will be the first to play it as a culture-friendly hymn!

It was an absolute joy to serve 230 hungry people a meal and a smile. Some were grateful, some weren’t. My heart lurched each time a child came through the line and more-than-once I was near tears in gratefulness for what I have been blessed with in life!

My job today was “Shepherd’s Pie disher-outer”. I rocked at my job. I also rocked the hairnet all day too.

Pics from the day are here.

Too bad for them!

Thanks to Jake and Rudy for helping make today’s hunt especially memorable. By the end of the hunt we had over 100-feet of hose stretched across the yard and placed it in more than a dozen holes to attempt to “flush” out these evil rodents.

After today’s slaughter, my Summer ground squirrel death count has reached twelve!

Stay tuned for further updates!

Today we enjoyed the Ft. Wayne Children’s Zoo with Mom and Dad Garrett.

Tomorrow we have breakfast with Derek and Christin Carpenter and lunch with Grandma Garrett and then we’re off back towards home. We’re stopping for the night in Valpo at a hotel with a pool to enjoy some family-time before getting back to our crazy Summer schedule that is looming over us.

Let’s just say that this show is ridiculous.

Obviously the producers have chosen couples that would “make good television” to attempt to care for a child for a mere 3-days and then take on the next-level of adolescent and continue on through senior-citizens.

The show views like an imaginary episode of “Captain Obvious”! Teens and babies that aren’t their own equals phrases like “this is tough” and “I’m stressed”. Watching the teens struggle through their first-night alone with the babies wasn’t even entertaining - it was disheartening.

I will probably give “Baby Borrowers” another episode or two before removing it from the DVR schedule.