I had to share this photo of a beautiful Valentine’s evening
spent driving with my son in the country!  This is my favorite time of day!

I hope you’ve all had a good weekend!  Thought I’d share with you a summary of this past week.  Having Ian home has been fun, but the time is soon coming to an end, and he’ll be flying out tonight around 6:30PM, for California.  I would so appreciate your prayers for his safe journey, and for God’s will to be done in his life.  We’ve had some good times together while he’s been home, and I hope you don’t mind if I share a few highlights from the week:

*Filming, taking photos, and enjoying Ian’s good friend’s wedding … Rodney & Adria … here is the adorable couple! 

*Going to church together again, as a family, last Sunday.  

*Ian was able to spend some quality time with his close friends … he was missed.

*Lewis had to work on Valentine’s Day, but he got away long enough to have dinner out together at Carrabba’s Italian Grill … notice the  shaped chicken?  Lew and I had that heart shaped herbed chicken, with lemon brocolli, and garlic mashed potatoes … Ian had their steak, and we all had the best salad, with hot bread dipped in herbed olive oil … it was a delicious meal!  After that Lewis had to go back to work, so Ian and I just took a drive in the country … {*see photo above of the beautiful night that we had here!}  


                      

  
*Dinner with Grandma & Grandpa’s on Saturday … {it was the last time in their condominum that we can do that, as they are moving to the assisted living apartment this next weekend.  They will be much closer to us, so we’ll be able to see them more often without driving almost an hour away!}  We had a wonderful dinner … ham, sweet potatoes, fresh green beans, homemade coleslaw, a pineapple/cherry fruit dish on the side … and brownies for dessert.  Ian enjoyed every morsel, and so did we!  We cleaned up the kitchen for them while they sat and visited with Ian.  Here Ian is getting ready to enjoy that delicious meal that Grandma and Grandpa prepared!

Out of all of their grandchildren, Ian is the only grandson who will carry on the family name, so you can imagine how special he is to them!  Grandma sat down with a box of family pictures and we enjoyed going through those!  Here are a few photos from that night, and a ‘photo within a photo’ of both Ian and his Grandparents … this is their wedding photo … Ian was 6 or 7,  {I’ll have to check on that to be sure!  I should know that, now shouldn’t I?!! } 

And, I have to share a smile in this photo here!  The ‘Lewis of today’, is holding up a photo of when he was in highschool, and also a photo of our family back in the mid 80′s!  I still don’t think that’s really him in the highschool picture … so, what do you think?!!    Remember those oversized, gargantuan glasses that I was wearing … boy have things changed … thank goodness!!

*On Sunday, yesterday, Ian had to take a trip up to Granger Community Church to a meeting on how their video communications program worked and will take the information back to the church in California … Granger is a ’mega’ church north of us here in Indiana, and I’ve never even heard of it until Ian told us about it.  They have an extensive website, one you could get lost in!  Lewis said you could get lost in the church as well!  Dave Ramsey’s seminar was going on this particular day … they enjoyed that, and learned a few wise tips about finances! {We’re starting ours at church next Sunday … good stuff on how to get debt free!}  Well, during the course of the meeting with Ian yesterday, they said they needed more help in that department … so that may be a future possibility for him … (at least it wouldn’t be 2500 miles from home … only 3 hours away … I could handle that!)  Lewis went with him yesterday … I definitely would have, except, (sigh) I’m feeling like I’m getting the flu, you know achey and chilled …  so we thought it best that I stay put! 

*Finally, just spending time here at home with him, cooking together, movie night, and also a little shopping together … just being able to be a mom again to my son, was the highlight for me!

He spent most of the time here with a bad head cold, so we didn’t do as much as we had planned … but he is hoping to come back in May for another friend’s wedding.  He was asked to film that one also.  He wanted to come back in April as well, in order to work with the youth at the Children Conferences at our annual homeschool convention.  That’s where all of this started … about a year ago!  It’s been hard adjusting, as a mom of one son, but God has grown me though it all, and I’m learning to trust Ian to Him!  

Well, today, I’m feeling a little better … I’ve been working on getting Ian’s clothes cleaned and packed before he heads back this evening.  He was at a friend’s house most of the day yesterday after they got back from Granger, and I haven’t seen much of him today, either … he had some errands to run with Lewis, but we are all going to The House of Toyko for lunch together … he’s been wanting to go there since he’s been here.  They cook the most amazing tasting Japanese food right in front of you.  I’ll get some photos!  After that we’ll come home and finish the packing, and then head for the airport.   I really thank you for your prayers for him, and for a safe journey back!  I’ll be around to see you all soon … things will get quieter starting tomorrow, and I’ll be back with more photos to share.  Have a blessed Monday, everyone! 

Hugs,
~ Deborah <><