A Parting of Ways

Our family has parted ways. Its just temporary, in case you were concerned. Faith, Marcus, Jared, and Kenan are with grandparents and cousins, while the rest of us are heading to Chicago for our annual conference/getaway. The conference is for Dave. The getaway is for us girls.

When we got to Embassy Suites, we went into the parking deck and unloaded our things. Then we went up to our room- on the 16th floor!!! After we got all our things into the room, we walked somewhere to eat. I was scared a car would run over me- there are so many cars here! So we got to our restaurant and I got a BIG pizza all by myself. Of course, I didn't eat it all.

After we ate, we went walking to Millennium Park. We loved the tulips along the streets. I like the flowers better than all the traffic.

We took lots of pictures and Dad even took a picture of himself at the Bean. It was a great big bean- just like the little beans I planted in the garden earlier today! But this bean was a lot bigger than that tiny bean! It was like a mirror. Nobody else in my family got to see it when they were in Chicago. 

Back at the motel, I looked out the window a lot and I was so excited I couldn't even fall asleep even though I was tired. I am sleeping in a king-sized bed right between Mom and Dad- right where I like it! -Lily

When we got back to our room for the night, we had an email from the kids saying they were doing great- just one trip to the ER but were now doing great.

We thought they were joking.

Then we received another email - written by Marcus. We'll let you read the story, too!

Well we aren't joking….but it wasn't serious. Jared, Grandpa, and I all went out to Heirs lake to look for a boat that had been washed away when the water went over the dam. We found the boat in some trees and when we lifted it up we found that the paddles were there, too! We tied the boat to grandpa’s van and dragged it to were grandpa wanted it. Then we got in a boat and went fishing (I had to row the boat) but threw everything we caught back in the water. According to grandpa they were the “lucky ones”. We decided around five thirty it was time to head back, and we started to row towards the bank, grandpa throw out his line, just in case there was a three pound bass ready to bite, and just as quick pulled it up with, well, not quite and three pounder, he pulled off the fish, and then sadly showed us the hook deep in his finger.   

Poor Grandpa- at least the hook wasn't in his head!