I haven't posted for a long time, and I am having trouble doing it again. We had the kids and grand kids in Orlando 2 weeks ago, and spent some time at Disney. The pics are not in order, as pic 1 is Grammy at the end of a day, exhausted.


This one is all 3 grand kids having fun with Grammy.

Even little Aiden started liking the animals.

And Abby likes the chipmunk's.

Little Caleb liked all the animals. Somehow I posted 2 pics that are the same. I couldn't figure out how to delete one, so just ignore. Great time had by all.

Kenya Trip

1-Modest Hotel ( OK, I'm cheap)

2-Beautiful tree, and wife

3-Trafalgar Square

4-London Bridge

5-Pocahontas & beautiful wife again

6-Long stay at the airport

7-Dee Plane-Dee Plane

8-REALITY

9-Our Room

10-Kitchen

headed WAY EAST

No pics on this one. Mel and I have done the kid and grand kid thing, and now are pulling things together to head overseas for 2 months. We leave Chicago on Monday 4/13, and after overnight flights, and 2 nights in London, will arrive in Nairobi, Kenya Fri AM, and will be there for 7 weeks. We are looking forward to the trip, not the long flights, but we'll survive. God has been good to us, and we trust He will remove all obstacles, and keep us safe. We will send e-mail updates, hopefully each week, so don't watch the blog. If you were not on our test e-mail list, and would like to, respond to ruge.ken@gmail.com but do it soon.

Ken

More time in Indy

We decided to travel back to Indy for a couple days with the kids before leaving on our trip. Here is Grammy making sock puppets with the little guy,

Then she and Abby were playing chef in the play room.

Finally, each got an Easter Basket, as we won't be here for the right day

Heading North

We headed to Georgia last Friday, and spent 2 days with Mel's folks. Her dad had his acting debut in a church Easter music/drama. It was great to see him in it, and even the pastor said they brought out the "geriatrics" for this play. Then Sunday afternoon, our niece was in the state gymnastics meet, so we went, and saw her get a gold medal in the vault.

We then drove to Indy on Monday, and you can see Grammy made cookies with the kids. They helped add the chips to the dough, and even got to sample them as they went in.

Little Aiden is getting big, and enjoys his exerciser.

Finally, little Caleb got a button down oxford shirt, and he wanted us to look alike.

Wed, we head to Rockford, and start Dr, and other events.

Roofing in the Carolina's

We moved to Waxhaw NC, on March 9, to help re-roof some apartment buildings for retired missionaries. The first shot is part of the team from week one, Dave Hoffman, Chuck Barker, me, and Dale Buchwalter on the scaffold. Then we had more folks come to help from our home church in Illinois.

These shots don't show who they are, because they were working. On the left is Marshal Newhouse, center is Dan Meyers, and me down in the valley.

This is Marshal and Dan helping install another valley.

And finally, a shot of all 4 of us. Norm Hansing was the 4Th guy, and he was a cutting guy on the ground. Because they were steel shingles, all the valleys, and end pieces had to be cut with a shear, or saw. Those on the ground were kept busy by 3 different crews on the roof shouting cut sizes. The weather didn't cooperate completely, but we were able to complete the job, and had a day to spare.

From Mel; Wow, an opportunity to write on our blog! Most of the time, Ken updates our blog after I have turned in for the night so I don't know he's doing it.

I think Ken has written earlier that I was the mail courier while we were in NC. What a hoot. I enjoyed my time there and now have a new job on my resume'. I used to say that each new job wasn't even on my top ten list of things I wanted to do with my life...guess what? I have thrown the TopTen list away. I guess God has lots more things for me that didn't make my top ten!

Only 14 more days and we will leave for Africa...hmmm. I have said many times in my adult life that I certainly am glad that God didn't call me to be a missionary in Africa 'cause I HATE snakes. Now I AM going to Africa. How funny is that!? So I have come to the conclusion that God is worthy of my trust, even about snakes. So I will be posting a SNAKEMETER, like 0/1, 0 snakes-1 day in Africa! Hopefully at the end of our stay it will be 0/60! I'm trying to be proactive. I've been talking to people who spend lots of time in the wild about how to NOT look offensive to snakes should I encounter one. A former resident of Kenya also told me that the reason all those African huts are surrounded by dirt isn't because they can't grow grass. The residents "broom" all around their property every day so they can SEE snakes before the snake see them. How ingenious is that? So I am walking in the dirt and avoiding grass.

Anyway, if you are of the praying kind, pray for no snakes for me.

We are in GA at my parents' today. My dad is in the Easter production at their church. I saw it last night and it was really moving. Am going to see it again today with some friends we made with the RVICS group two years ago. They are in this area for a month long project. Tonight I am going to the State Gymnastics Meet to see my niece compete. Tomorrow we go to Indy to spend a couple of days with the kids. Ken goes for his next dr. go round on Thursday.

Lots going on. We'll be in Africa before we know it.

Grandkid Fix

After moving to North Carolina, and working on a roofing project for a week, we drove to Georgia for the weekend to help celebrate Melody's mothers birthday. Our grand kids happen to be there as well, so we got lots of hugs from them as well. Here is the birthday girl enjoying great grand kids.

Grand pappy went to town and got donuts for breakfast. Both kids liked the chocolate covered ones.

Abby liked them more than Caleb, although she likes EVERYTHING.

I got a chance to hold little Aiden as well, but he's not so little. He is only 3 1/2 months old, and is a chunk.

Mel got her Grammy fix as well. We had a great time, and returned to North Carolina Sunday night.

The day after we got here, they called Melody, and asked her if she would be the mail lady. She agreed, and picks up and delivers mail all over the JAAR'S campus every day. She now knows that neither rain, nor cold, nor cold can stop the mail. Hopefully the weather is better after today. RAIN

Key West

We had my brother and his wife Peggy in for a week. We played some golf, and one of the rounds was at Bay Hill, home of Arnold Palmer. We were fortunate enough to meet Arnie in the club house, and as you can see, got a photo with him. The second shot is the 17th at Bay Hill, and you can see the stands being set up for the Invitational in late March.

We then left Orlando on Wed, and headed south on cycles for Key West. Shot 3 is all the bikes at a rest stop, and our friend Jim threatening to stomp his wife.

We then stopped at a nature habitat, where they have gators, air boat rides, and as you can see Peacocks.

We had a friend Stacy along, and his wife hasn't ridden for a long time. She tried the back of a Gold Wing, and thought she could do it. So the bought a helmet, and here she is getting ready. Unfortunately, he rides a smaller Harley, and she thinks he should now get a Gold Wing.

Here we are on a train, taking a tour in Key West, and our friends Jim and Beth watching us from a bench.

We also stopped at a Tarpon fish facility, and got up close and personal with a Pelican, and a Tarpon

Then, as the sun went down over Key West, we saw some beautiful views.

I guess the photo's are out of order, but I think you can move the words to match the pics.

Ken

Day with family

Finally pics. We spent the day at Epcot with my brother and his wife. One of Mel's favorite spots is Finding Nemo.


We then moved on to the Canada exhibit, and this is a Canadian Mountain.

Of course there was eating. This is French pastry, and boy was it good.

We then visited the Norway exhibit, and Rick thought a new motorcycle helmet was in order. Then Mel felt the same way. Doesn't she look good in Pig tails? We had a buffet meal in Germany, and lots of other fun. More this week, as we are doing lots of stuff.

Ken