Urbana Day 4

We've got lots of names of people we can contact! Doug & Kara have 3 days at home before heading to California, so to help them out Doug and I got started on entering the data. It was a blast for me, and I have to say that Doug had a good time too. : ) Shane went to the session and Doug, Kara and I stayed back at the room to finish the data.











For lunch we met up with Jonathan & Dora for a trip to the arch. We were pumped about getting up it! Well, after security and all we found out that it is atleast a 60 minute ride, plus we still needed to get in line. We didn't have that long.









































Lunch also needed to be eaten and we wouldn't have time to squoosh it all in. So.... we headed out looking for a place to eat. (There aren't many open Saturday morning!) We settled on this Chinese take-out that was really yummy!


















We had another fun day at our NTM booth! Guess who we ran into! Lana! She was there with other college students from her church in Toronto. We had SUCH a fun time visiting and catching up!














A booth right across the rug from us had Henna tatoos, so you guessed it! Kara and I headed over for a Henna. It was so neat to talk with the two gals there, to see their heart to reach others for Him, and to get a bit of their life's story. Now that we've had a henna tatoo, Kara and I are pumped to do them when we do our trip to Florida before we head to Indonesia. I can't wait!! :)












A usual practice in our suite is for Shane & Doug to figure out what we would do the next day. Here's a really funny picture of the guys. We call it the "Shane telling Doug how it is.." picture. :)

Urbana Day 5

Today we packed up a bit. We, along with Doug & Kara, met Jonathan & Dora and headed out for lunch. 'Curry In A Hurry' was not open being it was a Sunday, so we continued our look around and found ZuZu's, a Mexican restaurant. A bit disappointing, but food nonetheless.. I have an awesome picture of Doug making a face that I was going to Elfmorphosize with the help of Office Max, but now that Christmas is over, they have removed the cool site. Maybe next year I'll be able to use your head Doug!! :)











A picture of our hotel right by the America Centre.











Not sure how we missed Valerie over at her booth, but she had been here all week. How fun it was to connect with her again, especially for Shane to meet an old college buddy. : ) It was really encouraging to hear what Valerie is up to and to update on her on what we are up to.












Just thought I'd give you a view of the WELL organized meal lines for supper!!!! We got in line.... (it started way out in the big hall)











Went through a series of lines (about 20) to grab our food....













Down the isles we went, following the guys with the orange flags to our tables....











That night Doug & Kara headed out. :( We were sure going to miss our suite-mates. We have had SUCH a blast with them!!!!!! Since Shane and I had gotten in line and ate supper just before booth take down, we didn't go out with everyone when they went out to eat. Too bad because it would have been nice to de-brief with everyone, however, we had the privilege of helping get Doug & Kara to the airport rental car place with all of their luggage. We had to walk to the metrolink and then ride it for about 40 minutes, walk around the airport to where they caught the rental car bus, see them off and then go all of the way back. That was really fun too, however, I had to keep looking ahead as I get motion sick really easy.. Here's Doug & Kara on the rental car bus.....

















When we all got back to the hotel, after the meeting, one of our elevators were broke! One of the guys with us named it the 'hellevator'. Pretty funny we thought!

Urbana Day 6

Happy New Year! We brought in the New Year in the stadium singing praise songs with the Urbana '06 band. I took pictures of those of us NTMers who were there and we headed off to bed.













We woke early and met Jonathan & Dora to head to the arch. Here's the Macy's building. What beautiful stonework!!!

























When we were almost there, someone spoke up about the arch maybe not being opened today... New Years Day. That was my fear all along, however, I was hoping against hope... It was closed. So, I set up the camera and we got a picture of us anyway, another one. :)




























We then headed to the St. Louis Bread Co. for breakfast. Yum!

















After a great time of talking, we headed back to the hotel. The guys went and picked up our cars at a University parking lot and Dora and I finished clearing out our rooms and getting our bags down to the lobby. The guys met us there, we said our good-bye's and off we went. Indianapolis, Indiana here we come! The main thrust of our trip was over... it sure was a good time!

Christmas Addittion

While at my dad's, we got together with some of my family. Ken came to where my sister is now living, and we all had a nice afternoon. Here's a pic of two of my siblings and I, and then one of my dad.


























This is George. He's very musically and artsily (is that a word?? :) ) talented. We really enjoyed listening to him sing and play for us. My sister and her two boys live with George.

Time in New York

Stayed with our good friends the Riley's.












We went to prayer meeting and shared an update on our selves. :) We also had a gathering at Rileys. It was great to see the Comstocks again!!













Oh.... before NY we were at Conestoga Bible Camp for the Counsellor Christmas Party. I only have a few pics of Dennis giving the scoop on next summer and Kerioke. (Slaughtered that word!) Thanks Dennis & Miriam for the nice warm bed and YUMMY breakfast! It was great seeing you again!

Birthday Boy!!

This year for Shane's birthday, we celebrated it by traveling from Ohio to Missouri! :) We are helping represent NTM at Urbana '06, held here in St. Louis, MO. Shane has been really wanting Bisquits & Gravy at a Bob Evans, so just into Ohio we stopped at a Bob Evans and also had a great time looking around at the huge Cabello's store. It was Shane and I's Birthday outing. : ) We had so much fun.


























We had a super time with Byron, Hieu & Danielle, Kerry & NhuVan, and Hieu & Van's dad.














Urbana began that night, so after registering and going to our Exhibitor meeting we headed out to Sen for Shane's birthday meal. Everyone went and we had such a nice time. :) Shane really enjoyed himself. (Thanks family & Scooly for the e-birthday wishes for Shane.) : )















































The Birthday Boy and his 'cake' which was really Lycee on Ice. : )

Merry Christmas!

Dad reading the Christmas Story from Luke

















The three of us after opening presents. : )












We went for a walk with dad, he had to drop off a letter. Gazebo where Shane asked me to marry him 11 years to the day.

















Bricks down by the town clock.













Street in Manorville named after my great aunt Anne.

Sick again...

We have been fortunate to not have been sick months ago when everyone was starting to get sick. Well, I'm sick now and just when I thought I'd make it to the Training Christmas Party this year, I have missed it again because I got sick. What a bummer!

So I sent Shane off last night with our exchange gifts.....

















....and I stayed home taking my Tylenol Cold & Flu pills and vitamin C. Today I didn't feel too bad after a majorly restless night, but now that Fellowship Groups are done I feel like a rag doll all over again.










Thought I'd blog while I eat my toast. Maybe that will make me feel a little better....

Krista & Martin Gathering

The Martin family came to Durham! It is Krista's birthday tomorrow, so Angie & Jason cooked supper and the birthday cake, and the family came..... :)

Here's the gang....










Krista's cake coming....












The 'after blow'....

















A piece of cake and ice cream... This is Mom Plant's recipe and the usual smarties on top....













:) Thanks for the YUMMY lazagna, rolls, salad and cake! :) Almost a repeat of lunch, but different. :)

Warm visit with Friends..

This is a bit out of chronological order.... It will drive me crazy that it isn't in its perfect spot, but I have to add it nonetheless! : )

This last Sunday evening we went to our good friends from church, the Lichtys, for supper and then to go to our Sunday evening Bible Study Shane teaches at a house just up baseline. (The name of the road.)

We had a wonderful supper.....











A pic with Phyllis...she made this hat a long time ago. It was a hat for one of their kids to wear on Christmas day, as an elf. :) It has real fur around the edges and the poof at the end. :)