Missouri Trip

Well, July has certainly flown by! I'd better get caught up here before things get really hectic leading up to the start of the fall semester.

At the beginning of July, we made a trip to Springfield, MO to see Mark's parents and siblings. It turned out to be a different sort of visit than what we'd all originally planned, but it was so good to see family. Mark and I got there on Wednesday for dinner after making the trip in record time (we've finally figured out how to avoid hitting traffic delays in Indianapolis and St. Louis). Katie was there, too, and we 3 took ourselves to Andy's for frozen custard that night. You might recall that when we met Katie's dog Molly at Christmas, we totally fell in love, so it was also fun to see her again.

Molly and Cody

Mark w/Molly

Cody and Molly (again)

Thursday was the 4th of July, and other family started arriving in town. Some of us went to visit Aunt Sue and her 9(!) foster puppies in the afternoon. Later, we got to see the amazing fireworks all around the neighborhood and the town. Just fireworks everywhere we looked, all from the driveway!

Jill with her favorite puppy
(Aunt Sue nicknamed this one "Big")

Aunt Sue and puppies

The puppies all wanted to chew our shoes!

a bunch of puppies playing in the yard

Damon & Jill watching fireworks
(there's Dad, too, in the background)

Mark took this one at a fireworks stand--look at the ridiculous names!

On the 5th, Katie made sure we took some time to celebrate Mom's birthday, coordinating a lunch out for the ladies at a local place called Lola's (really delicious!) and fixing a strawberry shortcake trifle for dessert. We fed a big crowd of family and extended family dinner (a taco bar--I think that one was Heidi's idea).

Katie, Heidi, Jill, Aunt Sue, Mom, and me at lunch

soup, salad, and a homemade roll--so tasty!

The next day was Gran's memorial service, at Aunt Sue's church. Gran passed away in early June from Alzheimer's. Mom & Dad made a lovely slideshow, and I enjoyed hearing some new stories about Gran as people shared during and after the service. She was a kind, caring, and generous person. I'm blessed to have known her since I became part of the family, and so thankful that Mark and I were able to see her regularly at Bunker Hill and on our visits to Springfield in recent years. As usual at times like this, it was nice to see so many aunts, uncles, and cousins, including some cousins I'd never met. Mom also had the sweet idea of the girls in the family wearing a piece of Gran's jewelry to the service; I picked a pin with the initial A on it (her first name was Anne). The church hosted a nice lunch after the service, and Mom and Dad invited everyone to hang out at their place for the afternoon/evening, so we had a good chance to talk and catch up with folks. Of course, Mom made sure we also took some family photos.

at lunch with cousin Mike and Sarah's youngest

Cook family photo

me and Mark

  

Mom and siblings (and Cody)

Mark and I headed home after breakfast on Sunday, so it was a quick and very full trip, but I'm really glad we were able to be there. I'm always reminded how thankful I am to have married into such a wonderful (extended) family!