Age has it's benefits!

You know, getting old stinks and I can think of only one benefit to it, and that is the senior citizen discount! I've heard some folks say, "I don't feel old", but I have to admit that I do! Oh, I don't feel old in my mind but I sure do in my body. That traitor!

Well, the day came when Glenn was willing to admit his age (a mere 55 years old) to a cashier at Belk's on the first Tuesday of the month, which is Senior Day, in order to receive a 20% discount on some clothes he was buying! Today was the first of many such discounts he plans to take advantage of during our time in the U.S.!

We spent a week in Virginia at the International Learning Center for reorientation back to the States. We saw about 15 families we knew from either our appointment service in September, 2006 at FBC North Spartanburg (SC), or at ILC during our 8 weeks before moving to Hungary, or from one of the many meetings we've attended over the past 3 years, 9 months! It was like Homecoming, only without the formal dresses and corsages.

Beth, one of my friends from Ukraine who is now back in the States came out to visit with Wendy and me for an evening. It was good to see her again and get caught up on her news.

The week was full of seminars on helpful information, such as how to speak in churches in 2 minute modules, where to order special display materials, what's new in S.B. circles, and recognizing stress and how to relieve it. Due to security issues for some of our personnel, I really can't show pictures of everyone there.

We had 4 days back in Marietta before we left again so I took a couple of random pictures to show you. This is the Chapel of FBC Marietta, which is our host church. Isn't it beautiful?!? Can you imagine how gorgeous the sanctuary is??? Glenn and I were married in the sanctuary of this church almost 33 years ago.

We were headed up to New Jersey to visit with Chris and Kate and to attend Chris's White Coat ceremony, and I needed something "dressy" to wear. Glenn found these shoes for me, but unfortunately, they wouldn't go with my brown dress pants!!! One pair had 4" stiletto heels with pink and blue feathers on the toes, and the others were purple leather ankle boots with 3" heels!

On Sunday, we went to West Cobb Church and I was able to catch up with my buddy, Adam. He has gotten so tall and has grown into such a polite young man. I try to collect refrigerator magnets for him and his mother from each of the countries we visit in hopes that his mother will help him locate on a map where the countries are located. I know, for me, it is more interesting to study geography if there is some connection with it, so maybe this will help Adam. Who knows? Maybe not. Probably not.

Pastor Ken is doing a series on Parenting during the worship services and had asked Glenn and me if he could interview us. Little does Ken know that it is less about Glenn and me having great parenting skills and more about God giving us great kids! We really can't take much credit for how our kids have turned out!

Kari (our daughter) was there in the congregation, and I could just imagine her wanting to add her two cents too! Maybe Ken should have interviewed HER for the real scoop!

It was good to be able to reconnect with friends from 4 years ago!

And because we do not have any pictures of Glenn and me "in action", doing member care, we asked Kim if she would pose with us for Kari to take some pictures for some of our speaking engagements. All this week, I have been either thinking about or working on our display that we will need for a World Missions Conference later this month in Valdosta. We will be using this picture in one of our displays.

And lastly, this is our bedroom after the bomb went off. No, not really. This is our bedroom after the burglars emptied all our drawers. No, not really. This is our bedroom after one of our shopping trips to buy winter clothes for our trip to New Jersey, New York, and Canada! Yes, really!

After we got back from our trip to Virginia, during which the weather went from summer to fall, I realized I didn't have any winter clothes for our trip to see Chris and Kateso Glenn and I had to go buy some! Everything for this winter is either sleeveless, short sleeve, or 3/4 length sleeve and in non-flattering (ugly) colors so I am not buying much this season! And I'm going to be freezing!

I didn't find anything that I liked so I didn't buy much. (Thanks to my sister Karin, I have plenty of winter pants already!) I'll be wearing the same 4 shirts over and over again all winter long unless the stores get pretty sweaters in stock later on!

I am writing this from Canada, but I jump ahead of myself! My next update will be of our time in New Jersey with Chris and Kate, and our day trip into New York City, and then our 3 day, 2 night trip to Quebec, Canada. Coming soon....I hope!