Furlough?

I bet many of you are wondering, "What exactly do missionaries do on furlough?" It's a question that probably has about a hundred different answers. For most though, furlough means time on the road. It is a year to visit family and a year to touch base and make contact with supporters. We have been doing a bit of traveling while back in the US. Our latest trip was to the Scientific Assembly of the South Carolina Academy of Family Practice Physicians. That's just a fancy way of saying a conference of Family Medicine Doctors. Allan had been asked to speak at a luncheon. He was able to challenge these Doctors to look beyond the current "healthcare crisis" in America into areas where no healthcare exists - to expand their vision to not only the Philippines but many areas that need even the most basic of primary care.

About a month ago, we spent a week in Auburn, Alabama at Lakeview Baptist Church's missions conference. This church has played an important part in our lives. It was here that we met Christ and each other. Through the ministry of this church, we felt our first call to missions and were united in marriage. They have been a great support and encouragement to us over the last 4 years of preparing and going overseas. It was a wonderfully refreshing week as we got to share our stories and visit with other missionaries from around the world. We were also encouraged by the staff and congregation. It was a great week to walk down memory lane with the kids and revisit some of our old haunts.

During this week in Auburn, we had the opportunity to go to an Auburn University Football game! It was the first time the kids had been to any football game and they loved it.

Will loved hanging out eating hot dogs in the Alumni tent.

When you are in Auburn on game day you have to go to:

Tiger Walk

(the guy in the sports coat hidden behind the people

is head coach Tommy Tuberville)

and to see the meeting of the band

It was a nail biter of a game and, typical of this season, we lost in the final minutes. The kids didn't get to participate in an Auburn tradition after a win...rolling Toomer's Corner, but that just leaves something new for next time.

It was an exciting time and we all left slightly hoarse from cheering so loud.

A final Picture from our week in Auburn:

Just because we are on the road doesn't mean a vacation from school. Homeschool can happen anywhere, even the bride's room of a church

That Little holiday in October

The excitement began soon after our arrival in the US in August. It became a constant source of conversation and planning; building and growing until it I almost screamed "ENOUGH!" The topic....that holiday that falls on the last day of the month of October. Was it any wonder? It had been 4 long years since the kids had been able to participate in this event. The last time was when they were in 3rd and 1st grade. Shortly after touching down in the US, it dawned on Emily that this year we would be able to dress up and beg candy from our neighbors. The kids and the cousins began planning and scheming..... Costumes, dinner, trick or treating, the "after party" (that's what Em called it) and camping out on our Living room floor watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". The day has now come and gone and it lived up to all of Emily's hopes. Just thought I would share a few pictures from that week.

On Wednesday night the kids dressed up as M&Ms to go

to the church youth group party

Everyone in the family came to our house for dinner,

including the grandparents, Mimi and Pop

The menu included: Mummy dogs, Personal Pumpkin Pizzas,

and Mini Monster Meatball sandwiches

The kids created these rock star personas
and named themselves Biff and his Chicks

The Beauty of Fall

I have so many pictures and things I want to blog about, but life keeps moving forward full steam ahead and things like blogging and emails seem to be pushed to the bottom of the stack. Tomorrow I am leaving for my Grandfather's memorial and I wanted to dump some pictures off the camera before leaving. I just had to share a few that I have taken over the last few days. I need to preface this by saying WE LOVE FALL!!! I always loved this season, but this year it is better than ever.

Here is the gorgeous view from our patio: The colors are spectacular,

but the camera just doesn't do them justice.

God has really blessed us with our rental house.

The view of the woods behind the house is amazing.

This afternoon the kids and I went out to my parents' house for a few hours. They are already in Gulf Shores, but the kids felt the need to canoe on the lake a bit. I was helping Em finish a bit of schoolwork when looking outside, I saw Will raking leaves up in the yard. I thought, "How sweet! He's helping out Pop without even being asked."

I should have known better. He had ulterior motives. Those golden, orange, red and brown leaves were just crying out to be raked into a pile and jumped into.

The kids had a grand time jumping, throwing, and sliding in the leaves. At one point in the afternoon, Emily said, "I just love the sound of walking in crunchy leaves." If you haven't made it up toward the Carolina mountains this year, you are missing a great treat.

It's beautiful!