Our Little August Getaway

After a rip roarin' summer typical of the life of a youth minister's family, we always take some time in August to refresh, renew, and revitalize (actually, I think that's what it says on my Mary Kay bottle!!).  In the past, we've visited Holiday World, the Beltz family, and other refreshing renewing destinations.  This year, we visited Isaac's roots....we went to the south suburbs of Chicago.

After we got married, we lived in Park Forest, IL, for three years.  Tim and I were both on staff at Deer Creek Christian Church, me as the children's minister and Tim as the worship minister.  We were actually at different campuses, but I don't have time to explain all of that.  Isaac was born while we lived there.  When it came time to move, something happened with the timing of our houses selling and buying (I can't even remember now, although it seemed quite monumental at the time), and we found ourselves homeless for three weeks.  

So....we moved into a two bedroom apartment with some newlyweds named Josh and Jacki.  Josh was the youth minister, Jacki was in design school in downtown Chicago, Tim was still working as the worship minister, I was trying to figure out how to be a mama and managing to cook dinner for everyone each night, and Isaac was peeing, pooping, and crying loudly enough to convince Josh and Jacki not to have any kids for several years!!

Those were the days...the guys played video games, we got Taco Bell at midnight, we stayed up late talking...the stuff that makes deep friendships, you know?  We stayed with Josh and Jacki (and their new addition, Joel) this August, and things picked up right where we left off.  The Nintendo 64 (or whatever it was they played back then) was replaced with a wii and the Taco Bell was replaced with Dunkin' Donuts coffee, but we still stayed up late talking.  I love loVE LOVE friendships that can just pick up where they left off, and that is what we are blessed with in Josh and Jacki.  It certainly was refreshing and renewing, and, on the way home, we discussed the possibility of making this our yearly August tradition.  We have not, however, informed Josh and Jacki of this plan yet, so keep it on the down-low!!

 

The 3 Big Kids...Simon was sleeping.

Showing the boys our old house...

This is a mural I painted at Deer Creek.  That seems like a lifetime ago.  I could not believe it was still there.  The boys were kind enough to pose for a picture in front of it.

Shaved Ice at Zarlengo's in Chicago Heights...