Around the Midwest in 12 days...

8 airplane rides (2 up, 2 to and back from Iowa, and 2 more home!) and three states later (not including our layovers)- phew! What a good trip! It was almost all planned out, but we had some good surprises and randomness, too.  Here's a summary of our trip in pictures :)

 

On our first full day we went to a lake in Indy to swim and cookout with my (Shauna's) family. It was Everly's first time to swim in a body of water like that and she had a lot of fun. 

She also enjoyed smashing watermelon all over her face!

That night, we took Everly to our friends' home to stay for the weekend while we traveled to Iowa to visit with a supporting church, East Side Christian Church in Council Bluffs. Here's Aaron helping fix their 'A' that had come loose--with duct tape. What a great idea...

We had a lot of fun getting to know the East Side family who took care of us very well while we were there. Aaron got to speak for both of their Sunday services and we both talked to the kids that night at VBS about the ministry in St. Bernard. It was our first time to be VBS missionaries, and they were doing the Crocodile Dock/bayou theme so it was perfect!

A neat thing while we were in Iowa was that my college roommate happened to be visiting her parents who live 45 minutes away, so she got to come spend the morning/afternoon with us. Here we are standing in front of the entry way that ESCC had painted for VBS, which actually had a cool story. They hired a guy who did this for a living- painting window fronts for stores- and as he talked with the minister he opened up a little about his own life and problems, having no work, family stuff, etc. When he finished, he decided to donate his services- very cool! 

Another random thing from our trip was that Aaron had been to Council Bluffs a couple different times as a kid to help at the Deaf Ministry there. So, Sarah drove us to their headquarters to see the building and whether or not it was still tan and blue- and yes, it was! But they had built on and two ladies who worked there happened to be there and gave us a tour. As we talked, one lady told us that she was a prayer warrior for Team Expansion missionaries and had just prayed for us in New Orleans- how cool is that!

Back in Indy, we got to hangout more with my family.

We had a short visit with my grandparents--here's my grandpa who calls Everly his girl because they are born on the same day! We were listening to some music and showing Everly what a record and cassette tape is!

Hanging out in New Palestine, we hit up Frosty Boys (a must) and went to my elementary school to play. It was fun to tell Everly that this was where I had gone to school when I was little and to see her run and play where I once did. They had built this school when I was in 2nd grade, and the original playground pieces are still there, quite old and faded!

This used to be orange and we used to have so much fun playing on it! 

We also got to see my cousins, have our teeth (thank you Dr. Harty!!!!) and my wedding rings cleaned and polished, and spent two hours at the Sprint store when my three-year-old phone finally broke. Then it was off to Michigan to visit with Aaron's extended family up there for the Fourth. On our way up we got to stop and have dinner with dear college friends and to meet their two boys for the first time! Crazy good, short stops, which we love!

Well, Aaron's family lives in Muskegon which is on Lake Michigan. Here is Everly and our cousin Donna wading in the Lake- I'm sure it wasn't the warmest but Everly had a lot of fun and was soaked afterward! We had a lot of fun staying with Donna too- she's our age and Everly bonded with her well, possibly a blonde thing :) She even painted her toes one night- it was the cutest thing!

For the Fourth of July we drove an hour north to Aaron's uncle's lake house. The house had been in his Aunt Nina's family since the 50's, and Aaron has lots of childhood memories of spending time here, so it was really special to be back. I don't think it broke 80 that day, so it was a little cool for swimming- not that that stopped the kiddos! Everly and Aaron got in a little, but she wasn't too thrilled about the cold water. 

Nor did she like this "funny man"--she is so funny about the things she says these days. Full sentences that are just so bright! "I don't like that funny man!" She'll tell us. I don't know where she gets all these things!

We enjoyed throwing the balls around in the sunshine though. It was kinda funny because there were aunt hills all over and I had to keep telling myself that it was okay because they don't bite. Funny how living some where very different changes you; I even caught myself wanting some Tony's (local seasoning) for some fish once! 

Everly and her cupcake- I took the star decoration out and licked it when I gave it to her, but she wanted the star back and then proceeded to eat all the icing with the end of the star stick. so funny. 

Well, there are lots of pictures on Facebook of more family if you want to see more. Here's a final one in MI of Everly playing the piano at Donna's house. Sometimes I really wish we could live near our family so that Everly could grow up getting to know them, so that Donna could be the one to teach her the piano that's been in the family for so long, etc. When we first arrived that night, Aaron's cousin Eric exclaimed, "Look at that blonde hair! She's definitely a Johnson!" I hope Everly will get to know her Swedish heritage and family who lives so far away.

Well, to finish our trip, we enjoyed a quick stop in Wabash to see Aaron's grandparents at their church's annual 4th of July picnic, and then some celebrating of my brother and Aaron's birthdays with some ice cream at Cold Stone. Everly really did well on the plane rides being 2 and not wanting to sit still too long. Flying, however, will probably not be in our future for a while with #2 coming! This was actually our only trip North that we are planning, as of now, for this year. We are hoping that both of our families will be able to make trips to see us this winter. So maybe next spring we will make the 12 hour car ride up with babies in tow. 

What an adventure this life is. I think there's a saying about going 'home'--it definitely is nice to be in places that are so familiar to you, to see people who are so loving and encouraging. And yet to be so excited to return to this home that the Lord has given us. Thank you for journeying with us!