Saturday, February 11, 2012

Special Visitors

The week's highlight was the visit of blog-friend Sara and son Jared all the way from Arkansas, our first face-to-face meeting!
More about that later. Let's rewind to last weekend--Super Bowl Sunday.
Indianapolis saw thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of visitors for this exciting event. We enjoyed watching with friends at their house, and all rejoiced in another Manning win. Can you believe I have no photo to show for it?

Monday I started back to Zumba, now that we are more settled after an entire month in our new house.


Tuesday, a wonderful surprise for me--a piano! It is perfect in every way. So far I have enjoyed playing some every day.


 It was fun to see the guest beds come together.

The Ship Room
The theme of this room represents the five years of our life on board a missionary ship, the M/V Doulos.
I hope Sara doesn't feel sea sick.

The craft room/Argentina Room
I've already hung a map of Argentina and gathered some of the memorabilia, but there is much more to be done.
The click 'n clack sofa doubles for a cute bed. The colorful bedspread has a neat story. People all over the world prayed for us when they heard about our house fire. My cousin shared with her church in Tennessee and an elderly lady asked if she could give us a quilt.

Sara and Jared traveled eleven hours on Thursday and when we met it was like we already knew one another like old-time friends.


Friday they were busy with two university visits: Anderson, primarily, and also nearby Taylor.


Mike and I went along for the latter. We were all so impressed with our tour guides. Here we are fighting the cold wind. The twin wind turbines were named, in jest, Mary Kate and Ashley due to their proximity to Olson Hall.

We had a memorable time chatting, sharing, cracking nuts, scattering shells all over the kitchen, laughing.

Jared dipping hazelnuts in Nutella

In the evening we attended an excellent theater performance of "Proof".

That brings us to today, Saturday, big day for Jared--his audition for the music department at AU. I don't know who was more nervous, mother or son. He did very well!

Relaxing after the BIG day
One much anticipated, not-to-be-missed Upland eatery--Ivanhoe's! We enjoyed the real experience, long lines, crowded tables, but great service and fabulous food.

We shared...

...a cowabanga
And even made room for shakes and a sundae!

11 comments:

  1. So cool that you are getting to hang out with Sara and Jared... it sounds like you guys are having a blast.

    Ivanhoe's is GREAT... I remember you guys taking us the last time we were visiting.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  2. I love your aquatic guest room. How neat!!! I have a patriotic room since so many of my family have served in the military plus I was raised in it & married to it.

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  3. What fun! I enjoyed seeing more photos of your house, and the photos of your time with Sara and Jared. The cowabunga burger made me hungry! LOL

    Have a great week!

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  4. Looks like a fun few days with Sara and Jared. I got to meet Lisa from Blessed this summer. It is great to meet F2F. And like you said it is like we had been friends for a long while.

    Maybe someday we will all meet up together.

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  5. cowabungas are big enough for four people...hahahahah!
    looks like lots of fun with s&j...
    love the Tennessee quilt. and your 'under the sea' bedroom is presh!!

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  6. Too much fun to get the F2F with Sara!!!!!!

    I know you both had a wonderful time!

    Great room, those look like fish tanks????? Are they???

    Blessings
    R

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  7. Robin, that is just wall paper that makes it look like you're inside a ship.

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  8. So glad you and Sara got to meet! I met her last spring and instantly felt like I knew her and loved her.

    You guest bedroom is amazing!! So happy to see it all coming together for you!

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  9. Loved your week. The bedrooms are amazing. I am working on mine and can't wait to post my progress too.

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  10. I'm glad your visit went well - I'm still pouting that I wasn't able to go :( Next time!!

    LOVE the ship room! So cool!

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  11. Wow! Love the ship's cabin bedroom. Very unique and well-done!

    How great you got to have a visit with Sara. Very fun!

    I'm definitely going to have to try that burger/shake joint if I'm ever that far north. ;)

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