Road Trip Recap and Pics

Our family of six packed out a minivan and set out on a 7-week road-trip of over 8,000 miles.  We had 3 goals:  show the kids their homeland (which they've never seen before), visit as many Oki/Harbor alumni as possible, and receive training in Orlando at the Pioneers headquarters.  All 3 goals were met in excess and we had a blast!  Here are some highlights from our journey.  

Map view of our route

First Morning - In St. Louis

Mark getting his KC BBQ on

Getting spoiled in the Merrill's kitchen

Mark with Mark and Beth Merrill--getting his BBQ on again in Birmingham

Easter egg hunt with Julie and Jonathan Ennis

Easter worship at Louis Giglio's church in Atlanta

Mark and the kids go Back to the Future at Universal Studios in FL

Abigail was a star in a stunt show

Hannah and Mommy having a blast!

The Harry Potter area in Universal was very cool.

Butterbeer is delicious.

At the Kennedy Space Center touching the moon.

The Gospel Coalition Conference with Dan and John

David Platt was bringin it.

Disney World!

Jen working at Pioneers with our pre-field coach.

Gaston was as humble as ever.

Classic Splash Mountain--Hannah hates us for taking her on it.

Visiting Steve and Abigail Haack in NC.

A quick stop at the Migliore's farm in VA.

The Oshman kids were so blessed by the Migliore kids.

Riding the Migiliore's horse was a great memory.

Laura and me and our broods.

The Capitol!

Zoe is strong enough to hold the Washington Monument in her hands.

Visiting Ben and Amanda Levno in Quantico.

Visiting John and Danielle Tigue in Washington DC.

Mark and George.

Visiting with Scott and Ali Blankenship in VA.

3 out 4 of our grandpas served in the Pacific in WWII.

Our 3 grandpas served in these 3 places.

Lincoln Memorial.

We marched on Washington.

The White House is way back there.

This crazy tunnel is pretty much all we saw of Baltimore.

Michelle Crecelius and me in Maryland.

The girls in front of the Liberty Bell in Philly.

One World Trade Center in NYC.

We watched the spire travel to the top of the building.

The 9/11 memorial.

The Statue of Liberty. The girls thought she was pretty small.

Visiting Mark's BF from high school. His boy Gavin and Hannah.

His daughter Evelyn with Abigail.

All the kids (and one runaway).

The parents--us with Chris and Vanessa Kelly in NJ.

Apple Store, woot!

Rockefeller Center with the kids.

Mark rocking the American Girl store in NYC.

George Washington bridge in NYC.

Visiting Preston and Lynda Trotter in NJ.

Plymouth Plantation in Mass--very cool.

Standing next to Plymouth Rock.

Sitting in the North Church in Boston.

The Bova Bakery in Boston--Mark's mom's family is Bova too.

The Boston Common--make way for me and my ducklings!

Niagara Falls--so huge!

The Oshman kids and the Smith kids in Cincinnati.

Visiting Andrea and Oliver Smith.

Visiting my college roomie--Sandra George.

Our packed out Odyssey.

With Victoria Sherman--our sweet hostess the very first night.

Passing the St. Louis arch.

Eating gourmet popsicles with Beth Merrill.

Kids and Popsicles.

The men already ate their popsicles.

Party time in the van.

Hannah loved Julie Ennis.

Jonathan and Zoe painting eggs.

More egg painting.

Lots of Rockets and the Space Center.

Snoopy loves Space.

It's a Small World After All.

It's a Small, Small World.

Our family's favorite ride.

Beautiful Epcot.

Japan land at Epcot.

Zoe and I in a Japanese Family Mart.

So sweet Japanese store clerk.

At Pioneers with our future teammates--the Williams family.

Sam and me.

Catching up with Nelson and Sam Torres.

Torres kids and Oshman kids.

Buds.

Everybody loves Goofy and Pluto.

Inside our favorite ride.

Heading on to Toy Story.

It's a Small World is really the quintessential ride for missionary kids.

So excited to see pregnant Paige!

The Wright Brothers' first plane at the Smithsonian.

Rebekah and baby Micayla Levno.

Smithsonian.

Smithsonian.

The Alexandria home of George Washington!

George's pew in VA.

On the water with Kristen Singley and Martha Hepler.

Mount Vernon with the Heplers and Singleys.

Visiting with Nate and Martha and Eva and Oliver.

Singley kids and Oshman kids.

Kristen and me.

Thomas Jefferson and the kids.

The Declaration of Independence.

Independence Hall in Philly.

Where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Some Czech history mixed in!

Watching the spire travel to the top of the WTC.

In front of the NYSE.

Gelato in Little Italy.

The Met.

Fresh cherry blossoms at the Met.

Loved the statue gallery.

Eating the best cheesecake NYC has to offer.

Visiting another college roomie--Mary Anne Potts.

In front of the American Girl store in NYC.

Central Park. The girls walked 6 miles that day!

Trying out an NYC hotdog stand.

Outside Paul Revere's house in Boston.

Gabbing with Melissa Randall in RI.

Saying goodbye to Melissa, her family, and RI.

Visiting Tyler and Autumn White in Cleveland.

Quality time with the Abrahams in Tennessee!

Hannah's 6th birthday at Pioneers.