The Family Gathers.....

This evening kids and grandkids enjoyed time together at Pleasant Chapel....

......Seth showing Alyssa the fish....

.....the grillmeister prepares the meats.......

.........as Pat's Dad readies the dessert......

The Girls Spent Time With Heather...

.......While I Just "HUNG OUT" With The Grandkids!

It's .....INTERESTING....what little kids can get you to do.....!!!

A Special Thank You Party Was Held At Wes And Cheryl's

We were greeted at the door by the the greeters and seaters.......

Arlena, Cheryl's sister, and the girls had prepared a very special 4 course meal in thanks and celebration for recent family support.....

.....and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all in presence......

......especially these two!

Reuniting

Daddy's sister was in Columbus and swung by to reconnect with he brother......

........and family. Thanks to Francie for providing the escort.

The Hanover 4th of July Red White and Kaboom...

.....the parade was lead by a bevy of political hopefulls.......

........followed by .....GUESS WHO...... Go Bucks!

Cousins at a Ball Game...

Hailey watches......

.......and sisters and cousins chat.......

.........as Zoe takes a swing........"At the Ol' Ball Game...."

"....and hey it's good to be back home again...." John Denver Wrote

.......to the wrens who have a new brood in the acorn......

.....the cardinals bathing in the falls.......

.........and the finches feeding at the thistle feeder......

....and the shots below around the pond..........

....the line up......

Home Again ...Home Again....Jiggity Jig....REFLECIONS ON OUR TRIP AND LIFE....

It's Saturday morning in Ohio and I sit here looking out the window at OUR Le Jardin (The garden in French! ....this picture was taken in Normandy) and I want this blog entry to be a reflection on the insights I jotted down on the paper napkin I wrote on while flying back. The words may not describe the pictures....they are more a description of what's inside me as I reflect on the lessons brought home to me on our travels.

First...this blogging business....

Why would you think that with 207 emails waiting for me, yard work to catch up on, etc etc I would choose to be here at 6 AM BLOGGING!!??

PARTLY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY LIFE......MY (OUR) RELATIONSHIPS!!

.........It's because of YOU! Let me try to explain....

As we prepared for our trip we used google earth. When you first click on google earth you see the whole world from space.....then you simply type in an address (Nancy's...Mel's Mom who graciously let us stay in her apartment in downtown Paris) and in it zooms....and I do mean zooms!....right there...to her very apartment building. On the way zooming in you see the Eiffel tower just blocks away and then her place! Paris is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world with MILLIONS of people. We made connection with people from many continents and countries while riding the metro, climbing the Eiffel etc...... some of whom we got to know in those brief yet meaningful encounters. There are those millions......in the world community.....there are those we have met.....there are those who we.....consider dearest of friends.......there is our immediate and extended "family" of which you are a part. Among those connections we have made IN OUR LIFETIME their are those who are deeply important to us.....some who follow our lives through this blog.....like YOU! Some who are even children of friends whose paths we have crossed. A couple of years ago Pat and I made an acquaintance with a gal whose blog we found through another blog. If you follow this life story you may know we got to visit Beth and her 5 children, went to her house in Virginia and now consider her one of our very dear friends. When I got home last night I checked the blog and found this comment from one of Beth's 3 daughters, Sydni......

"Bill and Pat!!!

Remember me? I'm Beth Brawleys daughter and I just started blogging.I loved reading about your trip to Paris, traveling the world has always been something I long to do, seeing and hearing you talk about your encounters with the French and all of their qualities has only inspired me even more to go see the world. "

(You can see her blog here.)

.....and this morning I ask again......What stuff on this planet REALLY matters anyway???

Answer...

......YOU ........you who are OUR family and friends.....who we care so much for and who care enough about us to check in.....CAUSE THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY DO, RIGHT....

.......THEY CHECK IN ON EACH OTHER!!!!

YOU go through life with us....we go through stuff....TOGETHER....through the fun and the laughter and the great difficulties which make this life such a tapestry of color. ...and provide one reason for the importance of this blog! TO STAY ......CONNECTED!!!

.........IT'S ALL REALLY ABOUT...LOVE....

Love for our kids whose faces and lives are reflected in the archives of pictures throughout this blog....and their families.....and the relationships they have with each other.......

....like Meg and Mel.......

.....it's about adventuring life together.....WITH ALL OF YOU.....

Pat and I have been in love with each other for 46 years now. That love has GROWN....and grown to extend to who knows how many others God has brought into our lives.......over that time.....

.....to all of you.....we want to say what's on our hearts this first day back......

WE LOVE YOU!

........and thanks for adventuring with us........

Closing Thoughts from Paris

I am blogging from Sam's computer on our last night in Paris.....thus no pictures. Today Meg and I went to the Louvre, the largest collection of art and antiquities in the world. Pictures to follow. Pat stayed at the apartment and did some shopping. Sam and Mel are fixing supper as they have each evening. MERCI!

Some points........

- Claudia - The very French looking man in the pictures taken at the B & B was with his wife the owners of the farm. She tends the B & B and he the farm and grounds. As you can see Mel and he hit it off and it was fascinating to watch them talk....even though I couldn't understand only an occasional word!

- The trip has honestly gone very well. Weather...perfect....transportation....easy using the Metro. We stay at Mel's Moms. Mel took time off for a trip to the coast with us and has worked doing her research the other days. They both have been the most gracious hosts fixing the most delicious suppers. Tonight it is rabbit with mustard cream sauce, boulgour wheat and light creamy whipped lemon delight poured over ginger cookies! (Mel just let me lick the spatula as she prepares it)

I'm hungry!

- A highlight of the trip has been the time together. Pat traveled hours in the car with Sam while Meg and I traveled with Mel and Eloise. Great conversations. We have played cards together, discussed French/American cultures, child rearing, politics, the lives of family and friends (including several of YOU reading this blog) etc. etc. The pictures tell only the story of what we've seen. More important is the way we feel while with our kids and grandchild. (Supper now being over...DELICIOUS!) Tonight we sat around the table laughing and reminiscing and laughing more.

It's been a great trip!


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Pics from along the Normandy coast at San Marlo...