(Pictures aren't included in this posting. Blogger was giving me some difficulty. I WILL post some as soon as I can.)
Last week, was such a highlight of my whole summer! I will never forget the few days that I spent with two families who are very dear to my family and, especially, to me.
A few days after getting home from camping, my parents surprised me by saying that I was going to go and see a friend of mine. "Which friend?" I had asked, never guessing that it would be my dear, dear friend Danielle Hahner and her family who lived all the way in Spokane. Now you have to understand that we have
never met, but have only been communicating through letters, phone calls, and e-mails. When my parents told me that we were going to go see them, I was literally in shock! Dani and I have been planning ways that we could meet, and hoping and praying that someday, God would make everything work out for us to be able to "meet" (although we know each other as if we've been friends for years! :). But the BIGGEST surprise was that Dani didn't know we were coming! :) The whole thing would be a complete surprise to her - which made me all the more excited, because I LOVE surprising people! :) We would spend a couple days with our friends, the L. family, then travel to the Hahners on Monday. (They live only about an hour from the L.s.)
The sad things was that we weren't able to find anyone to stay with our goats (we have two milking at the moment). One of the young ladies who usually watches our animals while we are gone, was in the hospital, and her sister just had too much going on to worry about someone else's goats! We comepletely understood, of course. We were racking our brains trying to remember someone who knew how to milk - and who could, twice a day. The people we did think of, couldn't. And even people that they knew of, couldn't either. So, we ended up having to leave my dear big brother at home. :( But he (and we were too) at peace about it. And he had fun, anyway! A good friend of ours, Micaiah, from church, took him fishing a few of the first days, and just hung out with Noah. So...I felt good that he was with Noah, and that Noah wasn't bored or anything. :)
So! We left on Friday, as soon as Dad got home from work (which was around 3PM or so). It took us longer than 6 hours (the normal driving time) to get there because of 11 month-old Grace. She got fussy strapped to a car seat after a while, so we were constantly stopping and trading seats, so Mom could sit in the back with her. Potty and food breaks were another stop...so by the time we got to the L. family's house, it was around midnight. We just unpacked what we needed right away, said hi to the dad and oldest son (who had kindly waited up for us - thank you, Mr. L and Andrew!! :), and literally, crashed into their downstairs rooms. :) I'm sure they understood, though. :)
Saturday morning, we spent catching up with the L.s who we hadn't seen for about 2 years! It was good to see them, and it was amazing how much everyone had grown! (Although, I'm sure it was just as amazing to them to see how much we had all shot up! :) We were informed that they were hosting a 4th of July party at their home that evening, so the afternoon was busy helping them prepare little appetizers, drinks, etc. Maddie (the oldest daughter) and I tried our hand at strawberries dipped in white almond bark...not too good. At least, it was going fine at first, but since we had never done it before, we were taking our time - just kinda talking, slowly dipping the strawberries, sprinkling them with blue sugar, etc. We re-heated the bark whenever it started getting hard, but all too soon, it was a pretty hopeless mess of white stuff in a bowl. :( Oh well! We did manage to salvage a few strawberries, and they were the first appetizers gone from the table that evening! :) Well, after we had helped with getting stuff ready for the evening, which also included setting up games, tables, chairs, etc., Andrew, Maddie and I sat down and watched a movie that I had brought called "Bella". If anyone reading this, hasn't seen this movie, it is highly recommended by me. Although, I wouldn't recommend it for children under...11 or 10, but for teenagers and older, I think it is a movie worth watching. Anyway, we were able to watch that upstairs on the family computer, while the younger children played fooz-ball (sp?) downstairs. I developed a headache toward the end of the afternoon and went and laid down downstairs, and when I awoke, I heard that some of the guests had already arrived. I felt slightly embarrased, but only a few people had arrived. I met a few girls, and talked with them for awhile. It was nice to make new acquaintances. :) I couldn't really interact in the games, because I had to watch/take care of Grace, but I'm not complaining. :) It was fun to watch from the sidelines. :) It looked like they got a little rough toward the end there, but it still looked like fun! :) After the party, we all went to watch fireworks about 10 minutes from the L.'s house. I was actually able to capture some pictures of the fireworks, and am planning on entering some in the fair tomorrow. But, anyway, back to my Spokane trip...:). The fireworks lasted till about 10:30/10:45PM so we got home at around the same time that we had arrived the night before! :) I slept well that night, and was glad because next morning was Sunday, which meant:
Church! We visited the church that we had gone to the two years previously, with the L.s, but this time, Mrs. L., Andrew, and little Benjamin didn't come with us, because they weren't feeling well. I "re-met" (is that even a word!?) a young lady who I had talked to the last time (two years ago!) that I had been at that church. She didn't remember me, but that was fine. :) I got her e-mail address, and hopefully we'll be able to write each other every once in a while. I would appreciate for you to keep her in your prayers. She is on a missions trip to the Czech Republic with a few other people. Pray that God will touch people's hearts and lives through her and her friends' testimonies. That God will open doors for them to witness to the people of Czech.
THEN, I met a young lady who used to homechurch with my friend, Danielle, who I was going to surprise! :) Small world! I got her e-mail address too, so that should be fun to get to know her. We didn't stay too long after service (which, by the way, was on Colossians 3:16 - a wonderful passage to speak on!) and when we got back home (to the L.'s, I mean :) we spent the rest of the day just talking, and enjoying each other's company because on
Monday: we left for the Hahner's!!!!! :) I knew that I wouldn't calm down until I got there (and even then, I wasn't sure that I would regain my composure after seeing my dear friend :), so I tried (and succeeded!) on sleeping most of the way. BUT, we got lost trying to get to their house. We were lost for almost two hours (yeah,
really lost!) but when we finally got to their house, there was still plenty of daytime left, to be able for Dani and I to spend time together. Of course, her parents and a couple of her siblings, knew that we were coming, so they were sorta in on my plan of surprising her. :) What we did was...instead of driving straight up to their house, we went to her aunt and uncle's who live right behind them. Her Uncle Dan, was waiting for us, and showed us their back door. Mom and I crept up to it, and Mom started filming on our camera as soon as I knocked on their back sliding door. We waited a few seconds before Dani showed up and when she opened the curtain, it took a second for her to register the fact that I was standing in front of her!! She threw open the door and started screaming: "Raquel! Raquel! You're here!" She practically knocked me off their small porch with her hug! :) Of course, I didn't mind. She and I were both SO excited and happy to see each other that we were both, literally, trembling! We hugged each other, then pulled back and looked at each other, then hugged again. We must've done that like 7 or 8 times! :) We were both crying (of course :) and in between hugs I told her how we had been planning since the previous week, how we were going to surprise her. She had aboslutely NO idea!! :) Oh it was good to hug my dearest and sweet friend!! I LOVE YOU, DANI!!!!! And miss you SOOOO much already!!! :(
Well, when we could finally get into the house :), she pulled me to her room and showed me where she had JUST been writing me back to the letter that she had gotten awhile ago. It was neat to be touching something that had travelled quite a distance - that I had written to my dear friend! Then
I got a turn showing her everything that I had brought for her to see! We had previously made lists and lists of things that I needed (or she needed) to bring when we saw each other. I was able to bring everything except about two things (which weren't that big of a deal), so we had a
lot of fun looking through everything that I had brought. So...the rest of the afternoon and evening, we just spent showing each other things, talking, etc., etc. Then, after writing in our journals and going online for a little while, two of her sisters (that sleep in her room with her) Amanda and Emily, decided to go to bed. That was at 1:00AM - Tuesday morning! :) Dani and I made it till 1:30AM, then finally got in bed. But THEN, we got our second winds and talked, and talked, and talked till 3:00 in the morning!! :) Which means that we only got 3 hours of sleep that night (or should I say morning?) because I got up at around 6:45!! I know...we're a crazy pair!! :) (LOVE YOU, Dani! :)
Tuesday morning (around 6:45 :), we got up, and ate breakfast. That day was just spent talking and being with each other. Of course, it was SO much fun having her sisters, Amanda and Emily, in on our conversations. They are a lot of fun too! :) Dani and I were also able to fulfill a long-time dream of dressing up in old-fashioned skirts (I took my Civil War reenactment dresses) and taking walks in high grass fields like Anne and Diana! It was...better than wonderful. :) We took TONS of pictures (which I will post as soon as my little problem is fixed on here! :( ), including getting professionaly ones taken of just Dani and I together, by her brother, Greg. (You can check out his photography at:
www.greghahnerstudios.com) THAT was really fun! And he kindly downloaded them on a disc for me, so I have some on my computer that I'll have to put up for y'all to see. :) He did a great job with them, and I am very pleased! We spent about an hour taking pictures, but it was in the evening and getting cool outside, so we headed back in. By then it was getting fairly late, so my parents and the children went to bed, while Mrs. Hahner, Greg, Dani, Amanda, Emily, Hannah, and I sat and watched "Facing the Giants"!! One of our all-time favorite movies! :) We watched that till about midnight, and when we got in bed, we talked again, for a little while, then fell asleep. We had had a long day...but a wonderful one!
Wednesday morning...my family packed and headed out at around 11, early afternoon. Dani and I waved till we couldn't see each other anymore, and I settled in for a sad drive back home. :( I miss Dani and her family SO MUCH, and can't WAIT till the time that we can see each other again. We got back home at around 7PM, and was rewarded with a wonderfully neat and tidy house. :) It was good to see Noah again - after 5/6 days. We went to bed not too late after getting home, and Thursday was spent unpacking, washing, cleaning, and settling back into the normal routine. Friday and Saturday, nothing much happened. Today was a wonderful Sunday (I don't usually say "Lord's Day" because every day is His! :). Pastor Mullins preached a wonderful sermon on wives submitting to husbands, and husbands loving their wives (Ephesians 5:22-31). Yes, I am not married yet, but it was good to hear and take notes on a sermon that, Lord-willing, will someday apply to my life.
Tomorrow will be busy going to fair. We are entering
so many things this year - including goats. I will try to keep you update on this week, but I don't make any promises, because we will be
very busy. At the time that I finished this posting, it is exactly 11:50PM! Wow! I have been on here for a while, but I know that you have all been waiting so patiently to hear any word from me. :) I hope this posting filled you in on everything that I have been doing lately. Love you all!
Dani and me (taken professionally, by Mr. Greg Hahner :) 
L-R: Emily, Dani, Amanda and me (also taken professionally)
Dani and me (I think this is our favorite :)
L-R: Lydia, Emily, Amanda, Dani and me (I wish you could see Emily's face in this one...she is hilarious! :) Oh, and I thought up this pose. I've done it with my sisters before at a lake near our house, and it turned out well. Also professionally taken)
We Praise Thee, O God
