Flashback to September - Deputation and Birthdays

We flew from Hawaii to the US mainland, and began the journey by car. Daddy and Aden picked up our vehicle in Omaha, and then drove to Indianapolis in one day to pick up Mommy, Wiley, and Noah. That was a ten hour drive (that took thirteen with all of the stops) and was highlighted by the many cornfields and barns that so easily impressed Aden along the way. He quite possibly pointed out each one, during the times he was awake. It had been a red-eye flight so fatigue was creeping in. Daddy had to stop often at the rest areas for coffee and a nap in the back seat with Aden.
From Indianapolis, we drove to Ohio and repacked for our first Deputation Tour that would take place two days later in East Ohio. We spent one week touring this district of churches and enjoying the end of summer/beginning of Fall weather. During this week, we celebrated Noah's first birthday! Since we had a free day on that day, we traveled down to celebrate it with Bubu Jim, Aunt Kathy, Tim, Cilla, Jo and Lydia. (Others were present at various times like Bethany, G-pa and G-ma Radcliffe, and Megan.) There was cake, a picnic at the university, football, cornhole, even a visit to one of Bubu Jim's classes that he was teaching, and of course the singing of all the birthday songs. I think that Noah enjoyed the cake and ice cream the most.


We were glad it worked out for us to have the day off and to be able to spend it there with special people. Our PNG traditions traveled across the ocean with us.

The rest of the tour went well, with even a special visit from Grandma Karen for a couple of days who was able to relieve the boys from some of the nightly travel. After the tour, we had a few days to rest and repack before we began the big October trip that would take us from Ohio to as far away as Houston. Yes, we seriously did this with three little boys piled into one minivan. Amazingly, no DVD players were used. What held their attention? You will have to read on (and perhaps be patient with us) to find out. Watch for that story to come when we will now have to start a "Flashback to October" series.