Xfest vacation

 We had a wonderful vacation!

     On our way to Portland/ Vancouver we listened to music including our own Sparkle CD which we hadn't heard for a while.  Wow! I love that CD.  We stopped to see the Messenger family.  We learned about the beauty of living in the same small town for several generations.  We also got to see the 100 year old stone house that they bought 3 years ago and have been restoring.  It's wonderful!  We enjoyed meeting that family for the first time.  We hope to meet the other 2 boys and Mr. Messenger some day.
     After that we went to Leon's parents.  Just before we arrived, Leon's dad had burned his foot badly trying to get a huge ham out of the oven for us.  Later we learned that he was admitted into the hospital where he remains today, waiting for a skin graft operation.
     Friday we picked up Mr. Baxter and headed to Xfest.  I performed 4 stories that I had written. They were full of love and longing.  Leon, Ephraim, Havilah, Asaph, and Zion performed very well.  Their show was full of life.
     My dad and Betsy, my brother Kevin and his family, the Dimmick and Swanson families as well as Roger and Jan pierce, Mr. Simonatti, Mr. Winfield, the Maes, the Rogers, the Childer's, the Allen's and of course the Westcott's and many other good friends.  We enjoyed many bands and conversations.
     On the last day my children were waiting in the food line with Leon.  There was someone with 2 dogs on leashes in the line.  The dogs were growling at the children. The owners did not try to stop them or apologize.  (It's a good thing that I wasn't there or I might have caused a scene).  Later on, I was pulled aside by someone in charge.  I could tell that he wasn't speaking for himself but was put up to it.  I hadn't heard of the incident and thought he was concerned for the children, as should have been the case.  I said, "The children are okay, thank you for your concern".
But, I had it all wrong.  My family was being chastised because we had upset the dogs by making faces at them.  I was supposed to be sorry and tell my children not to upset the dogs in the future.  Keep in mind, Leon was with the children.  That's just how our faces look.
     After tearful goodbye's with the aforementioned folks, we headed to my Dad's house.  He has written two books and honored us by reading some of the stories about his life as a Portland police officer.  Betsy made us fruit and green salads which were delicious and exactly what we needed.
Then we went to my mom's house, enjoyed spaghetti and celebrated my step dad's birthday.
     Early the next morning we all (including my mom and step dad) went to the Oregon Zoo.  The Dimmick and Swanson families came along as well as my brother Kevin, Linda, Lullabye and Kial.  We had a fun and busy time.  While there Charissa Swanson got called that her daughter Havilah had flown over the handle bars while down hill mountain biking with her papa, Jim.  Later we found out that she had broken both lower arm bones.  Not hair line cracks, but clear through.
     Then we went back to Leon's parents and got to visit with his sister Pat.  In the morning we went home.  The drive was so pleasant that I didn't want it to end.  We listened to Greg Koukl and a book called Hannah Coulter written by Wendell Berry, plus a little of Jane Eyre.