Dear Father,<\/p>\n
I learned more about Jeff today and I think I have a better idea of what I’m doing here.\u00a0 I’m going to try to talk to him more this evening when he gets home.\u00a0 If You could maybe break a pipe or zap a wall outlet so I’d have a reason to enter his apartment, I’d appreciate it.\u00a0 0:-)<\/p>\n
I think I left off at Wednesday in recalling the camping trip.\u00a0 It was Laura Ingalls Wilder Day for us.\u00a0 Jessie was thrilled to see so many of the places and things that were important to one of her favorite authors.\u00a0 We had to tell the kids to be careful, though, because I was leading our tour and sometimes they’d make comments that raised some eye brows like “Andrew, did you ever have an assignment as a teacher in a one room school house like Laura?” or “Did you ever take any of the Ingallses Home?”\u00a0 I got more than a few chuckles out of it.<\/p>\n
Then we had lunch at a cafe and that was sure interesting.\u00a0 The waitress seemed to think all the kids were Laja’s and that I was their father.\u00a0 I quickly set her straight but not quickly enough for Laja to become bothered and Owen very amused.\u00a0 The waitress made a comment about Laja’s ring at which point I realized it was in the “someone has my heart” position instead of the single one.\u00a0 I never understood the claddagh thing until Monica explained it to me a few years ago.\u00a0 I don’t know when Laja switched it and I guess it’s nothing I don’t know but it was jarring for a moment.\u00a0 But there wasn’t much time to dwell on that with kids needing to be fed.<\/p>\n
We ate dinner around the campfire that night.\u00a0 You know, I think the dogs got spoiled having so many little hands feeding them people food!<\/p>\n
Thursday we did some souvenir shopping for our friends.\u00a0 I think I found a little something that will be appreciated by everyone.\u00a0 I was most impressed by the little ones.\u00a0 The Tunnel people do a great job of teaching them that it’s the thought that counts in a gift, not the money that went into it.\u00a0 And we also did cheese shopping, too.\u00a0 0;-)<\/p>\n
Since it was our last day in Wisconsin, we broke into smaller groups so everyone could do the things they loved best once more.\u00a0 I was in the fishing group with Shelby, Asher, Portia, and Persephone.\u00a0 Then we made sandwiches for dinner and hiked up our favorite trail and had dinner on the hill.\u00a0 It was really a wonderful moment that I won’t soon forget.<\/p>\n
Friday morning we left to visit Raquel.\u00a0 Between stopping for lunch and at parks for the kids, we didn’t reach her house until shortly before dinner.\u00a0 After that, Owen and Portia took the kids outside so Raquel, Laja, and I could talk.\u00a0 That’s when she told us the big news about her pending marriage!\u00a0 Thank You, Father, for bringing someone into her life.\u00a0 I know Raquel’s been very lonely since Dawn died and while we try to do our best by calling and visiting, she needs someone to share her life with.\u00a0 So thank You for Capt. Leo!\u00a0 I can’t wait to meet him and share in his and Raquel’s special day.\u00a0 Laja and I were both resistant at first to their hosting everyone on the cruise ship but Raquel insisted that she needed us there so we’re going!\u00a0 I hope everyone can make it.\u00a0 She said she’s inviting Monica, too.\u00a0 It’ll be nice to see her again.<\/p>\n
Saturday Raquel took us all around town to the children’s museum, the zoo, and other places she thought the kids would enjoy.\u00a0 I think it did her good to be surrounded by so much excitement and joy and gratitude.\u00a0 I enjoyed it myself although being back there and walking around town made me remember that assignment.\u00a0 It also made me want my friends there with me again like they’d been last time.\u00a0 Laja seemed to feel the same way.\u00a0 I think it was a good thing we went home the next day.<\/p>\n
It was hard saying good bye to Raquel again on Sunday but it was important the kids and Owen, Portia, and Laja spend Father’s Day with Vincent and Father.\u00a0 And I know we’ll all be seeing Raquel soon!\u00a0 That’s… wow… that’s just really great.\u00a0 The miracles You’ve worked in her life are amazing, Father.<\/p>\n
Thank You for giving me a couple of days back in Dyeland after the trip.\u00a0 I tried to get in touch with everyone there and at the Phoenix and Tunnels to let them know I’d missed them.\u00a0 I hope I can do the same when You decide the time is right again, Father.<\/p>\n
Love,<\/p>\n
Andrew<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Father, I learned more about Jeff today and I think I have a better idea of what I’m doing here.\u00a0 I’m going to try to talk to him more this evening when he gets home.\u00a0 If You could maybe … Continue reading