Anniversary Road Trip!

What do you do for your 32nd wedding anniversary when there is a COVID-19 pandemic?

Well, when your wife says "we need to go somewhere!" you get creative and figure out that you can drive across the state on Route 32 for your 32nd wedding anniversary.

State Route 32 Sign

So, on the day of our wedding anniversary, August 20th, we drove from Newtown OH to Marietta OH and saw some interesting sites along the way.

Our first stop Thursday morning was East Fork State Park just east of Batavia.

After a short break at the lake (see what I did there), we continued our drive east and stopped by the historic Buckeye Furnace State Memorial, just southeast of Jackson.

Once we left the Buckeye Furnace, it was a short drive to Athens OH. Between Athens and Belpre we stopped at a rest area and found The Healing Chapel, "Ohio's Smallest Church"

Once we arrived in Marietta, we found our lodging (The Lafayette Hotel) and then took a walk through historic downtown and enjoyed dinner by the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers. 

Here's a picture of Victoria sitting on the USMC bench in Veterans Walk of Honor in Marietta the evening of our trip across the state of Ohio.

The next morning, we had a nice traditional breakfast in the gun room of the hotel. Here's a picture of one of the gun displays.

After breakfast, we took another walk to find The Castle, which was built in 1855.

On our drive back home, mostly on Route 50, we stopped at Lake Hope State Park. The lodge and cabins sit atop a hill which is almost surrounded by the lake itself.

After enjoying our brief time at Lake Hope, we made our way to Chillicothe, the first and third capital of Ohio. Adena Mansion & Gardens Historic Site was our objective there. According to historical lore, the Seal of Ohio was based on the eastern view from Adena. Here are a couple of pictures of that view.

Our last stop of the day before arriving back home was for Victoria. She was very excited to learn of the Country Crust Bakery near Bainbridge OH. It is located in a small Amish Mennonite community.

 

We enjoyed apple (Barak) and peach (Victoria) "frye pyes" and brought some cinnamon bread and apricot jam home with us. 

Overall, a very enjoyable trip commemorating our 32 years of marriage. As Victoria reminded me, we're now halfway to our 64 years :-)

50 Things I Love About My 50 Year Young Wife

In honor of my wife's 50th trip around the sun I'm sharing 50 things I love about her...

• She bakes the best apple pies and cinnamon rolls
  
• She brings me good and not harm
• She can bake some mean breads

• She can be "smexy" on short notice
• She cares for her children well
  
• She cares for my parents
• She climbed the "M" with me

• She does not drink...to excess
• She doesn't have real pinky toes
• She does not make me go dancing
• She dresses me well…if I cooperate
• She enjoys reading and learning

• She fears the Lord
• She fights through pain and suffering with grace
• She forgives me even when I don't ask
• She gets up while it is still dark to meet with God 
• She gives good advice to younger women and mothers
• She goes to RV shows with me
  

• She has noble character
• She is an early riser
• She is an excellent wife and mother
• She is dignified and okay with grey
• She is growing in confidence
• She is my personal Holy Spirit
• She is okay with staying home and not going out
• She is the extravert to my introvert
• She is the hostess with the mostess
• She is trustworthy
• She is wise and kind
• She is worth far more than precious stones
  
• She laughs at my jokes
• She lets me light candles and build bonfires

• She likes cats…especially Samoa
• She listens to me
• She loves Jesus
• She makes the bed every morning
• She makes the house our home
• She married me 
• She only speaks well of me (that I know of)
• She packs great snacks when we travel
• She planted a vineyard and is cultivating a crop
• She provides good and nourishing food
• She raised two wonderful and productive children
  

• She recovered from injury and set her career path early
• She requires few expensive jewels
• She shares with the poor and needy
• She speaks my love language
• She speaks with wisdom
• She stays in shape
• She walks and talks with me

Happy Birthday Victoria!

Merry Christmas From Our Family To Yours!

Another year is fast approaching its culmination.  2014 was definitely a big transition year for our family. Here are just a handful of highlights:

• Kayla graduated from Miami University in Oxford, OH, with a degree in International Studies and Diplomacy and another one in Latin American Studies.  Just a few weeks later, she moved to Boston, MA, where she is gainfully employed and loving life.
• Darren was selected to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Officer Candidates School (OCS), which he successfully completed in November.  He is a newly minted Marine Officer and has begun his multi year training to become an aviator with the USMC.  He currently resides in Quantico, VA.
• Victoria was awarded her post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.  The time and energy that went into studying will now be channeled into building up her private practice.
• Barak continued his employment with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and currently supports several C-5M Super Galaxy modernization projects.  His business trips during the year took him to Delaware, Georgia, California, and Oklahoma.

 Wishing you a most wonderful Christmas Season and a blessed 2015!