Big Trip Pt.2

Day 2 of our trip was driving, and driving, and driving.  We started in Madison, WI and ended in Bedford, PA.

Felicity says, "Wait, I'm going to be sitting in this car seat for how long?"

Pics of kids first entering vehicle to begin this leg of the trip.  No after pictures were taken.  Just imagine.  We drove halfway through WI, all of IL, IN, OH, and part of PA.  2 adults (one of whom is 25 weeks pregnant), 5 kids, 11-years-old and under.  I think you can picture what we looked like.

We pulled into a motel which we thought would be just great only to find that it was awful.  We switched to a less awful room than the first one, but I'm pretty sure it's just as awful now because one of the kids was car sick, and well...no more details. 

Day 3 found us in Bedford, PA, the place where George Washington led (as president) 3,000 troops to put a stop to the whiskey rebellion.  This was the first major "test" for the newly formed union.  From Bedford we went to Gettysburg.  We could have spent a couple days in both of these places, but we did as much as we could in the short amount of time that we had. 

Big Trip Pt.1

I'm not sure exactly how this trip came to be, but we found ourselves at the end of the school year and planning a cross country adventure to Philadelphia, PA.  Okay, so I guess it started when we received an email from Archbishop Charles inviting us to come and hang out for awhile.  Brett grew up serving for him in SD and then they both moved to CO and we've all stayed in touch throughout our moves to TX and WI.  It's been 4 years since we've last seen him, and we decided that was way too much time.  Miraculously, we both had the same week in June available for a visit so we decided to just do it! 

Stop #1: An Ordination!

A friend of ours was being ordained to the transitional deaconate, and the oldest two kids were serving.  The ordination is usually held at our Cathedral, but because David was the only one being ordained it was held in his home parish which is about 3 hours from home.

The kids had a rehearsal at noon, and then we headed to a local park to let every one let off a little energy.

I don't actually have any pictures of the ordination, or the reception.  Pictures during and after a 2-hour-long Mass are not something that is likely in our current season of life.  So, there ya have it.  It was beautiful and touching and amazing.  You'll just have to believe me.