On to our next stop . . . .

After spending a few days with our friends, the Moitozo's, we were on our way to some new adventures . . . we arrived in Charlotte at Uncle Dave and Aunt Joyce's house and the first thing to do after hugs and hellos . . . is head straight for the vintage Ms. Pacman arcade game! The boys can't get enough of it each time we are visiting, and I'll admit that Katy and Karl and I all take our fair share of turns on the console! :) We love hanging out at the Draxler's, especially when my cousins come to play . . . Abby played Twister with the kids, and Jeremy trapped Joe in a corner, and Rachel brought her adorable puppy "Major" over to play! We all shared a family dinner and hours of catching up . . . I love this family! Also, while we were there was when Karl and I got to go to the Nascar race. Aunt Joyce and Cousin Abby volunteered to hang out with the kids for the day and night so we could enjoy the race with no worries. They went to the park and to Chuck E. Cheese, and to the Dollar Store . . . they had a blast! The boys were especially thrilled when Mr. Matthew (Abby's significant other) showed up at the park to play for awhile. They enjoyed seeing him with hair, for the first time ever! (He's a Marine, so we often see him with little to no hair!) Anyhow, all in all the trip went very well, although, somewhere we picked up a bug, and it traveled through our family as well as the Draxler's family over the next week or so . . . As Uncle Dave said "Thanks for sharing." :) But we'll just say . . . Thanks for helping! We love to be close enough to this part of our family that we can get to know them a bit! Thank you, thank you, thank you! We love you! And, we can't wait to see you again.

NASCAR!!!

Okay, so there are plenty of you out there who have no idea that I am a Nascar fan! I love it! I record it every weekend that it's on . . . the practice and qualifying and all! I usually end up watching (sleeping through) it on Sunday afternoon. I am a Jeff Gordon fan . . .I know, BOO! HISS! Anyhow, and Karl like Jimmie Johnson - teammates. Katy likes Kyle Busch (although for the life of me, I can't figure out why.) Anyhow, we got tickets to go to the Charlotte Motor Speedway race in October . . . it was my first Nascar race, and Karl's first as afan. Itwas spectacular! I'll admit, thecrazies that come out for the races are hilarious and scary and weird and well CRAZY!!! But, I had a blast . . . we were in the 11th row, just about 75 yards past the start/finish line, so the sound was incredible, and jarring, and amazingly powerful! The anticipation, along with the adrenaline and the excitement, all brought me nearly to tears as the cars ROARED past us at the sight of the green flag! I was amazed at the display of power - to think that man could take credit for such a machine (or 43 of such machines) just blows my mind . . . how much mightier is The hand that created the sun and the moon and the stars?!?!?!?

Wow!

As I type this, the final race of the season is set to take place tomorrow,

and while my driver doesn't have a chance at the championship for this year, Karl's does,

so for today and tomorrow . . .

GO Jimmie Johnson!

Monday, I'll be back to my old favorite!

Fun with the Moitozo's!

So, backing up just a bit, we're going to head back in time to October . . . I know, I know . . . Halloween has been and gone, but we (Us Wards) had a hugely eventful October, and so much fun, that I just have to share with all of you!

We went to North Carolina to spend nearly a week with our dear friends, the Moitozo's. Steve (Dad) wasn't there, as he was traveling for work, so Karl, Katy, Hunter, Andrew, Josiah and I headed to Monroe to hang out with Glenda, Steven and Evan. We had a great time! We played outside, visited museums, took a tour of the Wycliffe/Jarrs facilities there in Waxhaw, and I think the highlight of the week was driving up to the Lazy Five Ranch! Some of you may wonder how we got friends in NC, so I'll explain. When we were stationed in Maine, we went to the same church as Steve and Glenda - we quickly became close with their entire family, and have grown to love them. We count them among our closest friend, and as a blessing from God! This spring, following God's calling they'd had for some time, they moved their family to NC, where they serve in missions with Jarrs/Wycliffe Bible Translators! We were so pleased that they moved, as they are closer now, than when they were in Maine, and we will likely be able to see them a couple of times a year still! So praise The Lord for his supplying of friends that uplift and support us in our calling, as we try to do the same for them. Moitozo's, if you read this, just know that - We love you guys!

There's are tons of pictures below, and I don't want to take (nor do I have) the time to caption each of them, so here's a list, in no particular order of the pictures below.

Cat caught in live trap, albino elk, Karl feeding a cow elk, scottish highland cattle, karl with a giraffe, Luther the rhino, zebra, watusi cattle, tortoise, on the ranch, Joe in the corn bin, pumpkin slingshot (super fun!), three-wheeler fun, Katy playing mommy/doctor to Evan after a spill, and a few group shots. Hope that helps!

No, no, I haven't forgotten that I have a blog. But, as usually happens when I start something . . . I let life get in the way . . . so this week, I am going to TRY to get one or two posted. It will be all old news to most of you, as I talk to my friends and family more than I blog these days, but just in case . . . expect some posts of Our trip to Charlotte, My first NASCAR race, Hunting update, Journey, Starbase, kitchen and home update, Andrew and water, Hunter and guns, Eggs, and Halloween . . . in no particular order, with no promises expressed or implied!