Avon Park, Florida

I'm just going to jump back into "real time", and maybe someday later I'll be able to catch up on pictures from our choir trip.

 
 
 
 
 
 

We arrived in Avon Park, Florida, Wednesday afternoon to find friends standing outside with a sign and silly string.  Wow!  Did we feel welcome!

 



Our hearts have been knit together since college, 



and through weddings.

 



 

They even drove all night to be at the hospital only a few hours after Sarah was born in Arkansas.

 

And they've been one of the few families who believed and acted upon the old adage that "the road goes both ways".

 

Olivia and her buddy, Hannah, in Mississippi in 2003



Dutch Blitz tournaments,

 



grilling ribs,

 



and hanging out with extended family (which feel like our very own),

 



 

just a few of ways we shared life together.

 

For our evening celebration of Independence Day,

 



we visited a sweet lady who opened her beautiful home and allowed us to bring

 



red velvet-berry cobbler and cream cheese ice cream

 



to combine for a red white and blue dessert.  It felt so good to cook after several weeks on the road!

 



Avon Park puts on quite a fire works show,

 



 

and sitting by the lake with fabulous company was a great way to wrap up the day.

 

This hospitable prayer warrior has been praying for our family for years, and we finally got to meet her!

 



 

All too soon, July 5 dawned, and it was time to pack up the vehicle in preparation for the next stop.

 

 

Our faces are always hurting by the time we leave because we've been smiling so much.

We love you guys, and we appreciate your grateful and generous spirits, even while dealing with the situation God has given you.  What a gift friendship is!

More Ottawa, Canada

Monday, June 24, was filled with sightseeing and museums.  We began with a tour of Canada's parliament.

 



Normally, visitors can't take pictures or talk inside the library because of people actually working there, but today was a national holiday.  Oh, my, it was beautiful circle of books.

 



 

After the tour, the choir dispersed into smaller groups to watch the changing of the guard

and to explore the beautiful statues scattered all over Parliament Hill.

 



This bell hung in the original parliament that was destroyed by fire.  The library, in the background, survived.  I think I just found the floor plan for my future library.

 



My girls were such hams,

 



 

I think their favorite part of the morning was climbing trees.

 

For our afternoon activities, we drove over to the Canadian Museum of Civilization, just over the river from Parliament Hill.

 



Too bad my group lacks personality.  Never a dull moment with these girls.

 



Ottawa, Canada

 

The boat ride to Boldt Castle was very familiar to us.  The ferry was only a little bit smaller than one of the boats we often take out to the village.



I began taking pictures of the gorgeous houses to be found on most of the little islands in the river.  As I snapped this photo, the guide mentioned that the bridge (can you see the flags painted on the bridge?) is the international line between Canada and the United States.

 



The boat ride was beautiful, but the best part was the joy on the kids' faces.

 



Can you imagine having something like this to welcome you home?  To unload your groceries and carry them up into the underground tunnel leading to the castle?

 



Or how about this lovely organ, with the mechanisms in the basement?

 



 

This bibliophile absolutely adored the bookshelves flanking the fireplace.  I could SO live in this castle!

 

Sunday morning, June 23, we met in the lobby before going to a church to participate in the service.  The girls loved their twirly skirts!

 



 

 I think the kids always sing best when they wear their formal uniforms,

 



 

and they sounded great as we worshipped together.

 

After a thoughtful lunch provided by the church, we changed clothes and dove over to a retirement center in Ottawa to sing for the residents.

 



We always meet the most interesting people.

 



 

We had some time after supper at Byward Market, so the girls and I found a yummy gelato shop,

 

and spent a few minutes in a bookstore

 



before heading to the third performance of the day.

 



Benjamin regularly read one of the poems from "Heartsongs" by Mattie J.T. Stepanek in between songs. 

 



Even after a full day of performing, the kids did a great job!

More Canada

We began Friday morning with a performance at Canada's Wonderland.





The adjudicator was really, really good, but the kids (ok, me, too) were ready to hit the roller coasters when they finished singing.

 



 

This amazing group of girls got were stuck with me all day long.

 

 

We're working on Olivia's roller coaster riding skill level,

Sarah is already my full-fledged roller coaster riding buddy, ever since last summer's inaugural ride in Arkansas.

 



 

After a great day at Canada's Wonderland, we changed clothes and rode the bus into Toronto to attend Andrew Lloyd Webber's Wizard of Oz in the beautiful Mirvish Theater.

 



 

Early Saturday morning, June 22, we loaded up the bus and drove to Rockport, Ontario, a beautiful little town on the St. Lawrence River.  After a cruise through the Thousand Islands (yep, this is where the dressing was invented) we enjoyed the gorgeous Boldt Castle.  The story of the castle made me think of my husband, because he would do something lavish like that for me.  Every day he does little things to show me his love, and I'm so grateful.

Canada Tour

 We're safely back from our tour with the Southwest Children's Chorus.  It's so nice to be a complete family again!  On June 19th, we flew with the choir to Niagra Falls, Ontario. 

We ate supper on top of the Skylon Tower



 

 with a lovely view of Niagra Falls.  Can you see the shadow of the tower?

 

 

Thursday morning, we woke up to a gorgeous view of the falls and went down for a closer look.

 

 

Four fabulous girls were a permanent part of my group, and throughout the tour, different children floated in and out of my responsibility.

 

Sarah and Olivia were always in my group, we explored the Hershey's store



found a Canadian Mountie,

 



 

 and laughed together

 

 

before we boarded the bus (and played a little chess)

 

 

for an afternoon performance at St. Hilda's Anglican home in Toronto.



I love hearing the kids sing, but I especially love watching the kids interact with the audience after the performance.

 



 

After we left St. Hilda's, we drove to CN Tower,

 

 

the tallest free-standing structure in the western hemisphere.

I think the kids' favorite part of the tower was the "glass" floor, where you could stand and look 116 stories down to the ground.

 



I preferred the beautiful view of Toronto.