WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

August 10, 2021

It has been almost 3 months since we arrived in Illinois and we are departing Sunday. The time has gone quickly.  We have had a great time visiting with friends and family, and attending our home church.    We have eaten out way to often and just all around had a great visit back in Illinois.

Before telling you about our visit here I have to back up and tell you a story I forgot to mention in the last blog - and thankfully there are no pictures to document the story I am going to share:  We were in Illinois so of course there were tolls to pay.  We had our I-Pass in the window as always but when we pulled up to the gate it didn't go up!!  Now What!!  We are in a 40 foot motorhome towing a Jeep which means you can only back up a very few feet - Jerry did and pulled forward and still no luck.  Yikes!!!  We won't even talk about the people behind us waiting.  So I remove the I-Pass and go outside and am swinging it all over the place - I have no clue where it has to be to get read!!  Of course Jerry does but he is in the coach laughing his head off at me outside swinging my arms around trying to get the gate up.  He finally composes himself and points me in the right direction - gate goes up, he quickly pulls through and I hop back in and we are on our way.  See why I said I am glad there was no proof of this! The reason we discovered the I-Pass didn't work was Jerry had installed a little dash cam camera and it was blocking the single.

Of course seeing family and friends is a big motivator in our returning every summer -

Here we are with Calvin, our oldest grandchild, who will be a senior in high school this year!!

And our youngest grandson, 4 year old, Vincent

Here we are with Jerry's son and daughter-in-law Rob and Amy.  

Always enjoy hanging out with these two.  

This was Father's Day when they treated us to a great steak dinner.

         

 Our dear friends, Peter & Becky Wright 

 who are also Calvin's grandparents

                                                                        Vincent and ..............

Nana being silly

Friends Jeff & Mary Peace - fellow SOWERS

Enjoyed our visit with Amy

The town I grew up in, Lake Forest, has a wonderful parade and carnival every year.  

As a child it was right up there with Christmas - couldn't wait for it to come.  I haven't been to Lake Forest Day in years but a friend asked if I would help sell tickets this year - 

Proceeds go to the American Legion Post so I said sure.  

I went and I can not explain the emotions I felt as I stepped out of the car.  

So many wonderful memories and it made me think of many people I hadn't thought about in years.  

Hope I get the opportunity to do it again.

Had a wonderful time at a picnic hosted by Brad and Jan Depke - Got to see many friends

Had several opportunities to get together with Lauri & Shaun - love these two so much

Celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary with our dear friends Laura and Eric 

(our anniversaries are only 2 weeks apart and we were in each others weddings)

Lunch with Brian & Kim Dorn.  Super Great Couple

Brian is my cousin and I used to watch him when he was little 

Worked with these three for many many years.  Had many lunches together during those years.  

We started zooming when Covid hit and haven't stopped - almost weekly.  Carol & Audrey live near where we stay in Illinois but Mame is in Iowa so we don't get together as often as we would like.

But Mame drove in and we had a wonderful lunch and the Cheesecake Factory.

                                                                    

Saw more friends and family but I don't always remember to get pictures - it was such a blessing to see each and everyone of them.

We spent time volunteering at a wonderful organization here called Love In The Name of Christ.  

I help in the office and Jerry and several other men spend several mornings a week refinishing furniture that have scratches so that look almost new when delivered to the clients.

So after 3 months we are hitting the road again.  First stop is 250 miles north of here in Wisconsin where we will be taking my son Stephen, who will turn 50, while we are there and Vincent camping for 5 days.  We will be near by cousin Mary and niece Val and her family so looking forward to more family time.

We will then continue north and travel Hwy. 2 across the northern border of several states and once in Montana will start a slow trip back to Benson, AZ where we will spend the winter.  We have lots of things planned on this journey but you will see those in future blogs.

We are sad to say goodbye but anxious to go explore more of God's wonders -

Love and Blessings to each of you, Jerry, Carol and Teddy too!