A Saturday in Holmes County and Normal, Illinois

My grandparent's home and barns.

A quickie update here. I am in Holmes county, visiting my family and recovering after the estate sale of my grandparent's property. This is a task that has proved sadder and harder than I at one time imagined. I think saying goodbye in this direction and preparing to say good-bye in Toledo and move further from my hometown is all coming to a head that is a bit overwhelming for me. I appreciate those of you who have been praying for me and sending me comments letting me know of your prayers. I think today will be a good day. It is warm (close to 70!) and sunny and the 5 youngest kids and I plan to help my uncle clean up the mess at my grandparent's place. I had a wonderful lunch with my cousins yesterday at Breitenbach Winery. The view is spectacular there although I'm not sure if you could replicate the fantastic company I had. We were in stitches. My kids played at the park behind my mom's house and if the amount of dirt they carried home on their clothes and bodies is any indication it would seem they had a rip-roaring grand time too.

Scott on the other hand went the opposite direction. He is in Normal, Illinois this morning for a called meeting of the Presbytery of Northern Illinois for Scott to take his oral transfer exams for entrance into that Presbytery. This will be at 11:00 Illinois time which is 1 hour behind those of us on Ohio time. It would be good for us to pray for him to have an encouraging time with the men there. He is driving as I write this. Our oldest, Anthony, is with him.

For our house situation, we are just waiting on the bank in Watseka to finalize everything. Our papers are with the underwriter. We hope to hear a closing date next week. The house out there is empty so we will get possession at close. We don't have a calendar date yet but we hope to be there the beginning of May. I have managed to pack so much that I'm missing things and needed to slow down my packing.

Must scoot, Saturday is slipping away quickly. I think my uncle is out there doing all the work himself!

The view from my grandparent's property.