We have been on vacation in Minnesota the past two weeks. It was wonderful to get back to see family and friends and also attend our annual church convention. And it was so good to see the "land of 10,000 lakes" in the beauty of summer!
There is a song entitled "Back Home" that I learned many years ago that goes something like this-
"Back home where the grass is greener,
back home where the air is cleaner.
There's no where else on earth that I'd rather be...
...Well I don't mind city living for a week at a time,
but apartment life for me is simply way out of line!
I feel the open spaces calling out to me,
back home where I live."
small town America
signs of summer--a robin
We took a "red-eye" flight, so we landed at our destination at dawn. Our first morning in Minnesota, we were anxious to see family members, so did not waste alot of time sleeping. (something we paid for later on...) After driving several hours (on very uncrowded freeways), we stopped to have lunch with our youngest son Jared, in the town where he is presently living and working. It was fun to see the latest renovation that he is working on and also to catch up a bit on his latest news!
Then we traveled further north to visit my (Marilyn's) parents.
Dad and Mom work very well together as a team...
Dad has a little woodworking shop in the basement of their house where he is always putting together some kind of craft. When he finishes with the woodwork, Mom varnishes or paints the wood, and then usually decorates by rosemalling.
Although they are both in their 80's, they still plant a garden behind the house, and also harvest fruit from their three fruit trees in the back yard! They are very busy for being retired people.
While staying with the folks, we had our first of the three nights of severe weather storms. Fortunately, we never had more than winds and some rain.
However, one evening, as we were eating out at Applebee's, we did have to seek shelter because a tornado was spotted only a few miles from the town we were in and moving in our direction! It certainly added excitement to our evening!
On Friday afternoon, while Jim was in board meetings, Marilyn visited the clinic where she used to work, and also was able to visit with several friends. Later in the evening, we had a great visit with these good friends Doug and Barb!
On Saturday, Marilyn attended our church's annual women's convention. The speaker and the music was awesome; and of course the fellowship was so good!
And so was the food! Our theme for this year was "Flourish" and the text was Psalm 1. When we came into the banquet area, our plates had a chicken salad coissant sandwich, some fruit, and a salad that consisted of a hollowed-out cucumber chunk with sprigs of salad green "growing" out of the top. It looked like a tree, and fit so aptly with our theme for the day!
That evening we enjoyed spending time with Jared in his cozy room in the dormitory.
Sunday was Father's Day, and Jim enjoyed spending most of the day with his youngest son!
While at the convention, we were hosted by our dear friends Les & LeeAnn. The whole family graciously shared their Father's Day celebration with us. Thanks for a wonderful time in your home, L&L! We really appreciate you!
On Monday morning, the church convention started. The theme for the convention this year was "Thy Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Business sessions and committee meetings were held during the day, and each evening a worship service with wonderful music and the best singing that you've ever heard! We enjoyed great fellowship and were spiritually challenged and strengthened by the corporate worship.
A wide variety of seminars were available each afternoon. (The above seminar was a unique time for pastor's wives to share with each other.) 
And of course, convention always gets to be a time when old and new friends connect with each other!
A time of sharing a meal together, and also many memories...
...and renewing friendships from childhood. We had a wonderful time at convention and are so grateful to our church and to our God that we were able to spend those days there.
Later in the afternoon, we traveled to Pasadena to meet with friends there regarding a missions project that their church has undertaken.
The afternoon was warm and lovely and we enjoyed the discussion and fellowship together.
On Monday afternoon, we were pleased to welcome Richard and Randee into our home. We spent several hours together catching up on family news, looking at pictures, laughing, and remembering past events...Our friendship goes back many years, and we have enjoyed renewing this relationship again. 
Even his uncle got some special "Jayden time" before leaving for work.
That evening, we attended the graduation ceremony of our friend Jean-Baptiste.
We've known this man since he was a teenager in Africa, and have watched him grow up. His parents were wonderful friends of ours, and it was such an honor to see him receive his masters degree in Theology. 
We joined these friends from the Pasadena church who were at the graduation to celebrate with Jean. We know that the Lord will continue to use Jean as he returns home.