Vacation Update # 3

This pic was actually taken on the way from Philadephia back to Houston but I thought it was a nice way to start the photoblogging of the experience.

Driving through Philadephia en route to Cove Haven in northern Pennsylvania.

Another view of Philadephia

The immediate thing you notice when arriving at Cove Haven is the trees and the mountains. Very pretty.

We also noticed was this nice little pond near our room...completely frozen over...

...so it really shouldn't have been much of a surprise when the LAKE was frozen over, too!

More soon...

Best Wishes,
Allen

Vacation Update # 2

Again, apologies for delays. We also had a nice freak thunderstorm on Friday night. The temperatures had gotten into the 80s during the day and a cold front entered the Austin area at about 35 mph, sparking off an intense atmospheric reaction. I partially pulled our van into the garage because the weatherpeople said hail and damaging winds were "possible." So we lit a couple of candles and got the flashlights ready, in case the power went out. The storm was fast and furious, dropping heavy rain and hail over about 10 minutes. We fared pretty well. No visible damage to our vehicle or our duplex. We had friends whose house had shingles smashed off, a gazebo ripped to shreds and blocks with no leaves left in trees from hail damage. They may have had tennis ball-sized hail, while I think we got hit by golf ball-sized hail.

Saturday started strangely, with our fridge dying a quick death (probably a result of the storm). Kudos to Conn's for having a great price on a new Maytag fridge and kudos to one of my friends for having a truck to haul it home in. We had to do all this before heading out to a 2:00 p.m. Easter musical rehearsal for Sunday's Easter program at our church. It turned out to be an all-afternoon rehearsal but it was well worth it, we needed it. The Lord really blessed the program and the preaching for Easter.

So, now it's a new week. As always, there's tons to do -- but I do want to get some photos online as soon as possible. Look for some in "Vacation Update # 3."

Best Wishes,
Allen

Vacation Update #1

I managed to get over 7 hours sleep last night, so I feel much better today. I was doing good to get to work yesterday, do my job and drive home safely.

The pictures have been downloaded to our computer and I should have some posted within a day or two. Everything is unpacked (we only took one piece of carry-on luggage each) and I am once again getting used to Central Time and the Austin, Texas atmosphere.

Pennsylvania was much colder but being near a lake (frozen though it was) and in the mountains was an incredible relief to our sinuses and boost to our overall health. I almost couldn't believe how much I started coughing once we got back to Texas (via Houston en route to Austin). With some sleep and basic relaxation, I seem to be readjusting to the climate pretty quickly.

More later...

Best Wishes,
Allen

We're Baaaack!

Wow, what an adventure! I'm not really conscious enough to properly relay the experience but I will be blogging on the whole trip and posting some very cool photos Angel and I took over the long weekend.

I can tell you we went to the Cove Haven Caesar's Pocono Resort in northern Pennsylvania and that we left in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) and returned last night, Sunday March 20th at around 11:30 p.m. I got to bed around 12:45 a.m. and awoke at 5:45 a.m. today, so I'm in a near-zombified state.

More soon...



Best Wishes,
Allen

Before I Go A-Vacationing...

It's been a busy and hectic lead up until now but all is in place for my wife's and my little trip to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary! All the little arrangements and big arrangements and plenty of stuff inbetween. Nevertheless, I do apologize for not blogging more regularly.

Anyway, Lord willing, I will thoroughly blog (with photos) next week, after we get back.

Best Wishes,
Allen

Catching Up (Again)

I'd rather not force my blogging, so I've been a bit silent lately. My family and I are fine. Actually, my wife and I are looking forward to Spring Break with our kids. Also, Angel's and my 10th wedding anniversary is coming up. We are celebrating it by going (Lord willing) on a long-overdue VACATION! Yep, we have made arrangements for our boys and we are going solo out of state for a four day weekend!!!! (Woohoo!)

We've made all the reservations, bought the tickets, reserved the rental car and we are majorly revved up.

We haven't had any kind of vacation in nearly two years (you may gasp with impunity now). Yes, TWO YEARS.

I'll blog about (some of) the vacation after we get back. And I may post a couple of pictures, since we do plan on taking our digital camera. Needless to say, on St. Patrick's Day weekend, I will not be blogging. By the way, we deliberately married on March 18, the day after St. Patrick's Day.

Did I mention that Angel proposed to me? It's true -- and I held her to it (to this day)!

Best Wishes,
Allen