We took a trip through the midwest and then to the East as a family at the end of 2017, visiting as many family members as we could squeeze into one trip. After visiting both Guatemala and Spain that year, we made our family motto that Christmas "Collect moments, not things". Little did we know we wouldn't make another family trip for quite a while, after job loss, personal financial setbacks, new jobs and schedules, and then all things COVID.
This current year brought some significant health issues to Mike's parents, leaving us feeling helpless being so far away, knowing they could really use our help. We wanted to get them in a better position to be able to downsize if and when necessary. So when I saw that David and I shared the same week of fall break, I knew we needed to make a trip up to Indiana if at all possible to see Mike's family.
We made a stop in Columbus, Indiana to stay with Mike's brother, Matt, and his family for our first day and a half. Then Matt went up to Warsaw, IN (four more hours of driving) with us where he, Mike, and David worked non-stop to clear out a TON of things around their house and barn. (Juan couldn't take vacation at his new job, so he stayed home with our cats.) They made an incredible team together and accomplished so much more than any of them even imagined possible. It was really neat to see Mike and his brother working together and truly enjoying every minute of it. They both have an incredible work ethic and servant hearts, and David just jumped right in and enjoyed learning from both of them. (Mike's brother Mark would have loved to have helped, too, but it didn't work out with his work schedule, either.)
We stayed in Warsaw all week, and then we went back down to Columbus to spend our last day with Matt's family again before making the 13 hour drive home from there. I could probably turn the whole trip into several blog posts, but with work starting back tomorrow, I'll have to settle for just posting a bunch of pics to remember this trip.
Hanging out in the famous Man Cave (a room above Matt's garage) that Mike and David always look forward to on our visits to Columbus
Somebody didn't get much sleep after driving 13 straight hours
A little boxing
A little dart playing
And a little more boxing
Cousin Dane, with one of the sweetest cats in the whole world
Aunt Chrissy hanging out with her boys after dinner
Daily four wheeler fun
Absolute admiration over the deer that Chrissy is rehabilitating after their mother was hit and killed
David and Kase watching the Cowboys
When we couldn't get the Cowboys game on the radio or on the app during our drive up to Warsaw, Juan face-timed the game from home with us.
You can't go to Warsaw and not stop at Penguin Point for a tenderloin or Big Wally.
Our new little friend in Warsaw, Little Bite. A stray that just showed up at their door and made herself right at home.
Fixing up the steps that weren't safe anymore.
Clearing out the shed, the barn, the garage, and the land all around, with a constant burn pile for about four days.
At least four loads of scrap metal that paid off well!
So thankful for large equipment in the garage to help move all that stuff!
Wherever they were working, those chairs followed so Mike's parents could sit and watch.
Selling things they no longer needed to people who could put it right to use
Broken steps that got fixed.
Breast Cancer Awareness month suddenly became a whole lot more personal.
She has no idea the strength, joy, and positivity she radiates.
A nice walking route
Chai from my favorite coffee shop
A last minute visit with a good friend
Back in Columbus, just admiring the beautiful sunrise.
Morning feeding time at the Deer Diner
Another beautiful walking route
Cherished every moment of "Chrissy time". I love how deeply we can connect with each other, even when we only see each other every few years.
Alspaugh cousin time. There are ten years between David and their oldest. Wow. They sure do love David, though, and they love to gang up on him.
Came home to a fresh breakfast from Juan, and two cats sniffing all our stuff. :)
