Saturday June 17, 2006

 

Surprise!

On Wednesday our oldest daughter, Diane, called from Maine and asked if we could put up eight or nine people overnight – Thursday and Saturday!  Her husband Mark had offered to charter and drive a CYR bus (where he is employed) to the funeral and burial of their pastor’s wife, Angela, in her hometown area of North Carolina.  (She diligently fought a long battle with cancer, and was in her 50s).  Before long they had a full bus.  Mark tried to get a second bus driver so they could drive straight through, but that did not happen.

 

By Friday Morning There Was a Bus in Our Yard.

 

 

They got in after midnight and were busy getting repacked by early morning.

 

 

Our daughter Diane labeling sandwich bags.

 

Breakfast in the garage – Diane, Hezekiah, Abigail, and Franzi (a friend).

 

 

Others had breakfast in the kitchen – Elizabeth, Cerwin, Hannah, and Wendell (friend who stayed with a neighbor overnight).

 

Josiah making sandwiches for everyone on the bus.

 

 

Snack bags ready to be filled.

 

 

Our son Jere and his wife brought their family to see everyone.  (Jana, Abigail, Hezekiah, Ian, Jared, Elizabeth, Lydia, and Franzi).

 

 

Hannah and Abigail gave Ian and Jared a tour of the bus.

 

 

Everyone (and their overnight hosts) met at our church for the continuing trip to North Carolina.

 

Beds Are Waiting for the Return Trip

 

 

When we expect nine guests, we put carpet on our garage floor and set up mattresses from the attic.  We asked them to bring one air mattress.  This is where the five girls slept.

 

 

The living room has two beds for the boys – the couch and a mattress on the floor.

 

We pull the trundle out from under the guest bed.  This is where Mark and Diane sleep.

~ ~ ~

They will be moving in again at midnight.  I expect we will be sleeping, and not hear them.  They all know where to find their beds!