Geo: 34.6814, -86.0793This posting was NOT prof-read by Glenn, so please disregard any grammatical mistakes that I have posted.After visiting the Abbotts, we drove directly to Scottsboro to go to the famous warehouse, Unclaimed Baggage.I cannot tell you how disappointed I was. The prices were overpriced. I will just settle for Garage Sales. Glenn looked for tennis shoes, but didn't find a pair.As we were walking in, an employee met us and asked us where we were from. With the reply as "Guatemala", she said "Have you eaten lunch?" and she handed us cards for 2 free meals at the coffee shop.After exploring the warehouse, Glenn and I each had a sandwich there in the coffee shop, then we continued towards the Wilkersons.We did do a Letterbox called "The Boys of Scottsboro" It was at a ... read more

Geo: 35.9243, -86.8709Today was kind of a relaxed day. We ate breakfast and then I did a load of wash. While the clothes were being washed, I was working on my thank you cards. Glenn was sitting in the living room and was talking "shop" with Jim.The Cooks - Jim and Glenna. I know them from Billy Graham when I worked at the Metroplex Mission in Dallas. Jim would volunteer and help organize the "Ushers". He came in early into the office. When I heard that he was from Nashville and was a professor at Belmont University, I made a quick connection. Meredith Marr was heading to Belmont. In 2002, when we were taking Karen to NC, and driving through Belmont, we connected up with Jim at that time. And then we came here and stayed ... read more

Geo: 35.8808, -84.5086Our day here was fabulous. We saw no one. I got caught up, or tried to get caught up on my correspondence.WhiteStone Inn has been a wonderful break from our day-to-day meetings and talking with folks. It gave me a chance to get caught up on some correspondence. I did research on where to meet up with Lacie F in Birmingham, plus choose a place to go watch the new Tom Hanks movie "Sully" that is coming out on Friday.After a delicious breakfast, we came back to the room to get re-organized.So far...Slept in 38 different bedscrossed thru 26 different statesvisited personallly with 131 friends, supporters and family along the wayWe will have 3 more weeks of travel32 more folks (15 families) to visitMission Conference Se... read more

Geo: 34.5936, -83.3583We slept in until 7;30am this morning. Benji fixed everyone some sweet rolls that Bill just had to heat up. Very good. Looks like 17 year old Benji has his father's cullinary skills. Way to go.We all sat around the living room and just sat and told old stories. It was great. It reminded me of sitting out on the country porch or even after a big meal during the Holidays.I had asked Beverly if we could invite Gary and Nancy Lengkeek to come over along with Joe and Barb Royer. The Lengkeeks were missionaries with South America Mission from 1978-1990 in Bolivia. He was our field director. I remember telling him that we did not name our son after him, but instead of our dear friend, Gary Beekman. The Lengkeeks have since worked ... read more

Geo: 34.5772, -83.3325Editor's NOTE: Normally Glenn proof-read's my blog and does some major editing, however I am not asking him to do this for me, since he needs a break. So bear with me if there are misspelled words and the grammar is incorrect. Thanks for reading.We are glad we waited out the storm, as Saturday morning greeted us with a BEAUTIFUL day to drive. Clear blue skies. We drove along I-85 towards Greenville, SC. We had an 11:30pm appointment to reconnect with Mark and Bethany Boerckel. Mark is the son of Scott and Carol Boerckel, our good friends from LaPaz, and now pastor in Illinois. Their family is the cutest thing. They have 2 girls, ages nearly 4 and 1.5 Susanna and Clara. Susanna is a spitting image of her grandmother, Carol. She has so ... read more