Most of these places were a big part of mine (and Joe's) past also. Because we moved fairly often, this tour of old stomping grounds required a road trip.
You know me, I hate to travel, especially spending hours sitting in the car. But I wanted to experience this trip down memory road with Joe, Britney and Juan Carlos, while also spending time with our two from abroad.
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Thursday 10/15 - I was reminded on my Facebook memories pop-up that two years ago today, Rico arrived at Mountain View Ranch. He had been on a long road trip from Kentucky to get here.
Britney and Juan Carlos began their trip very early this morning and sent this photo once they arrived at the airport in Costa Rica at 7am.
They would eventually be flying into St. Louis where Joe was picking them up. He got there plenty early and spent some time at the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis.
Once Britney & Juan Carlos got to Houston, they had lots of time to kill, so they had a big, hearty lunch.
My trip began at 3pm with Patty at the wheel, driving us to Nashville. 
We arrived at Courtney's, had a snack of home made banana bread and eventually got carry out from Zaxby's.
I tried to get to sleep early because we had a 3:15am wake-up time, but I tossed and turned almost all night.
Friday 10/16 - We three girls were in the Uber at 3:45am. Kent caught up with us at the airport. It was a smooth flight to Cedar Rapids, arriving at 7:20am. Tracy picked us up, dropped Patty at sister Mary's house, and took the rest of us home to his and Teresa's house in Hills. Seen here watching the movie Edward Sissorshands.
Meanwhile, Joe, Britney and Juan Carlos arrived at Greenville College.
They did a little tour of the campus. 
They met up with Dr. Iler and his wife Martha, and Dr. Reinhart for cafecito. Later they had lunch with Brian and Crystal Grove.
Britney showed Juan Carlos the Legacy of Women in Sports Wall, a permanent display installed during Homecoming Weekend 2024, in the lobby of the H.J. Long Gymnasium. Britney has a page about the impact of the cross country team on her.
Tracy picked up pizza at Casey's. Courtney wanted us to try the taco pizza. It was actually quite good, as was the pepperoni for us more traditional pizza fans.
With full bellies, us travelers from TN all took a nap. 
Back at Greenville, a stop at a thrift store was made, to get a winter coat for Juan Carlos. Then they met Coach Patton at the Cross Country meet in Hillsboro. It was a cold, windy afternoon. They watched the girls race then headed for Iowa.
Tracy and Teresa with Courtney and Kent headed up to Cedar Rapids. The 'kids' were dropped off at the Doubletree Hotel (where we will all be staying tomorrow night). This is the view from their 10th floor window. T&T went on to the rehearsal dinner downtown.
Mary and Patty stopped in at the Hill's house and then we went to dinner. Afterwards, I struggled to stay awake working on this blog while waiting for Joe's traveling group to arrive at 9pm.
Saturday 10/17 - Nature Photographer Weiguo Fan had posted this photo of 'Henry in flight' before 8am. Teresa contacted him to get the location of this sighting. After a leisurely breakfast, we drove down to the Iowa River in Iowa City and did some Eagle watching. Henry and his mate were perched (resting) in a tree, probably digesting while doing a little grooming.
A selfie in front of Tracy and Teresa's house was taken before going Eagle watching.
We then did a driving tour of Iowa City, seeing the house Joe grew up in and some Iowa campus highlights. In Coralville we looked at the first house Joe and I had bought. The concreted rock retaining wall I built was still standing. Then we met Patty and Mary for lunch.
We were able to get early check in so headed up to Cedar Rapids and got into our room by 1:30.
After resting, we walked around the hotel to find the restaurant, gym and pool.
Getting ready for the wedding. With the ceremony outside, Britney put on sweat pants until 'go' time.
The wedding venue was at the Carriage House, a mile from our hotel.
When we signed in, blankets were available, a very nice (and thoughtful) touch. 
Sitting in the front, left to right are:
Mary, Patty, Hanna, Charlotte, Courtney, and Nick. In the next row is:
Juan Carlos, Britney, Joe, and Daniel.
Here comes the bride, Mikalya. 
Nathan and Mikayla about to exchange vows.
The ceremony was lovely and did not last very long. Presenting Nathan and Mikalya Volk.
While photos followed after the ceremony, drinks and hors devours were served. Joe didn't waste any time in getting started on libations while our family group (minus Vale, Ava and Layla) had a few impromptu photos taken. 
It's hard to get everybody looking their best at the same time.
When you have characters like Daniel, being Daniel, you are going to have some photos like these.
While professional photos were being taken outside, guests found their seats at the dinner tables and also milled around, hitting the bar, photo booth, and socializing.
Below is another 'family' shot minus Vale, Ava, and Layla.
Lauren and Danielle were also sitting at our table.
Brother/sister moment - Lauren and Nathan.
Father/daughter moment?
The photo booth (in an adjoining room) was a real hit. You had about three seconds between shots to strike a new pose. Here are some enlarged, single shots from the groups..jpg)
Courtney and Kent.
Britney and Juan Carlos.
The bride and groom, Nathan and Mikalya.
Patty and I.
Teresa, Tracy and Patty.
Lauren and Danielle.
After dinner, dancing began while socializing and drinking continued at the open bar.
First the light sticks were brought out.
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Next the bubble guns appeared.
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Then Herky the Hawk (the official mascot of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes) showed up.
Nathan had been Herky on the cheer squad with the University of Iowa for three years. .png)
The party celebration just got more wild as the night progressed. .png)
Joe and I were the last to join the dancers in the anniversary dance (being 'longest married')..png)
Courtney and Kent had not been able to join in on the long (marriage anniversaries) slow dance (two songs). 'Club' music had started up, but the DJ promised another slow song later. Apparently she thought that the old song she played was slow, so a slow dance never happened. However Courtney and Kent went out in the courtyard and slow danced to their own music.
Before the party started 'breaking up' we all went out in the courtyard for a group photo. The professional photographer was up on the roof.
This photo I took of us returning back to the dance hall.
By 9:30, the only music played was 'Club' music. The younger generation was having a great time. Many of us older folks grew tired, and soon after 10pm, headed back to the hotel for the night.
Sunday 10/18 - Mary and Patty went up to the 16th floor restaurant to have breakfast. I joined them a little later and Britney & Juan Carlos soon followed. Tracy and Teresa eventually joined us and then Joe. Courtney and Kent arrived as we were finishing and ready to head out. They were staying another night at the hotel, but we needed to get to Bloomington normal for an afternoon commitment. 
Upon arriving in Bloomington/Normal, we went to Subway for a late lunch. 
Then we got checked in to our hotel and rested a bit, each in our adjoining rooms. 
As usual, I tried to get some blogging done, but had so many photos from the wedding to sort through and organize, I didn't make much progress.
We were back on the road so to speak, for a short drive across town to the Eastview Church Bloomington campus. 
We got a tour of the church and then had a wonderful chill dinner. 
Britney and Juan Carlos both presented their mission/pastoral/community work to a small group of people from the congregation.
A slide show behind them (that was on a loop) showed various photos of their work. 
Below is a photo of them with Mark and Karen, who had been Britney's small group leaders back in 2011.
Mark is now the minister of this smaller church, an off shoot of the mega Eastview Christian Church.
We were back at the hotel by 8:30 and soon off to bed.
Monday 10/19 - We got a pretty early start and first went to the park near Heritage Road and walked the Constitution Trail to the back of our old house. 
It was a little chilly out but the sun was nicely warming things up.
I was amazed to see that the playground Joe and I built was still standing.
Even the little path I made on the hill along the fence line was still fairly visible.
We continue walking down the trail and around the block and into the neighborhood from the front.
1307 - the house we lived in for ten years, getting the kids through much of their schooling.
We walked down to the end of the cul-de-sac.
Joe went up to the door of the DeVore's old house (where the kids, when young, went before school) and knocked, but nobody answered. We went back up to the trail and returned to the SUV.
We hit the Normal downtown area to meet up with Britney's high school Spanish teacher. Dan and Ava arrived (passing through town on their way back to Tennessee from Chicago) so Britney could see Ava.
Julie Howell arrived at the coffee shop and Dan and Ava soon hit the road for TN..jpg)
We enjoyed coffee and pastry while visiting with Julie for an hour.
From downtown, we went to see the kid's old elementary school.
I thought the building had been tore down, but it is still standing. It is no longer used as a school however.
We then drove past the house on Linden Street where we lived for a few years and where Courtney was in kindergarten. 
After a quick stop into the post office so Juan Carlos could get stams for his collection, we went to Kim Brandon’s house for a few hours. We had a nice visit and wonderful lunch.
We had plenty of time before our next scheduled visit so these two jumped out to get a photo by this Route 66 sign in Bloomington.
We also stopped by the Bloomington Zoo where Britney had worked as a Junior Zoo Keeper along with Mary Alice DeVore. 
Then into Fleet Feet, Julie's store, where Britney bought a new pair of running shoes.
Then we showed Juan Carlos Eastview Christian (mega) Church in north Normal, where Britney attended with Joe and I.
They left some of their missionary information before we headed down the road to the Normal Community High School.
School was about to let out when we got there. While waiting to get let in, we walked the brick memory walk way. To this day I regret screwing up the dates on the brick for the kids. I was one year early for each.
Once inside the building, our first stop was Ben Luginbuhl's room where Britney sang choir and practiced play performances.
Then down to Amy Scott's room where we visited with her and Tom Patten, Britney's cross country coaches.
A group photo before we headed out.
We went down to the athletic area and got a look at the track/football field where Britney ran, marched, and danced in color guard.
One last photo before going back to the hotel.
We got word from Patty that she had successfully flown home and picked up the dogs from our house. She would be keeping the old gal and the young trouble maker for the next four days. 
Courtney had questioned our choice for Subway when we first got into town so we went to Avanti's (what would be her first choice) for dinner.
Feeling stuffed, almost sick once back at the hotel, I did a mile on the elliptical, in 15 minutes, burning 107 calories. Well every little bit helps, and I did feel a bit better.
Tuesday 10/20 - As we left the hotel parking lot, we saw geese flying overhead in their V-formations. Juan Carlos was hoping to see Canadian geese up close.
We hit the road heading from Normal Illinois to the Indianapolis Indiana area.
We hopped off I-74 and took US 150 from Downs to Leroy to go past our old farm out in the country. I noticed they had painted the out buildings green and converted the corn crib into some kind of living space upstairs. This is something Dan had wanted to do when he lived with us.
After an hour of driving, we got off I-74 and drove into Catlin. It was a pretty morning and nice to get out and walk around at the park.
We then walked the two blocks over to see the house where we lived when Daniel was born. I was thrilled to see the rock wall around the berm I had made, was still there. The trees had gotten quite a bit larger.
Next we drove into the farm country of Catlin to see the house we had moved into from Iowa. This is where we lived when Courtney was born. 
They added an above ground pool and playground. 
We took the country route from Catlin to Westville, going past Fairview Methodist Church where we had attended with Courtney. We also saw the old CO-OP where Joe had his first manager position. 
Arriving in Westville, we then showed Juan Carlos the house where we had lived when Britney had been born.
We had a nice brunch in Westville and were soon back on I-74 heading to Carol's sheep farm, an hour's drive away.
Once at Carol's, we were quick to go on a walk, to the T and back.
Finn was happy to stretch his legs also.
Our walk was followed by a tour of Carol's farm. 
A look at and into the big concrete silos.
And of course Britney had to tease Juanca by starting a climb up the 'ladder' which he highly objected too. She once went up to the top years ago.
What used to be a cattle operation many years ago, is now a sheep operation that Carol owns and runs.
After a very short visit, maybe 90 minutes, we hopped back in the car and drove the 50 miles to Chris' apartment in Carmel IN. It took us over an hour with the traffic. Carol had made and brought dinner, a very good Shepard's pie, with bread and a fantastic cranberry pie to follow.
Chris has a lovely, 3rd floor apartment, perfect for him. He has this nice view off his little balcony. We enjoyed drinks and a walk around his complex while dinner cooked.
Cathy and Ralph had come to join us and see Britney and Juan Carlos. Travis was also part of the gathering. We were booked at the same hotel as Cathy and Ralph, but the Expedia contract had ended and our reservation (made over a month ago) had been canceled. We were notified an hour before check-in.
Joe had hustled to get us another reservation, choosing a hotel in Noblesville, closer to where we needed to be in the morning.
As were most of our visits, it was way too short. We had to be up early so headed to our hotel in Noblesville, 30 minutes away.
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I felt bad that we weren't with Cathy and Ralph, and as it turned our, their hotel was not all that great. We had gotten an 'up-grade' due to the mistake Expedia made, so actually had nice accommodations. Sharing a room, it was helpful to have the extra sitting area to spread out in. The two queen beds were on the other side of the 'window/wall' in front of the desk you see in this on-line photo.
Wednesday 10/21 - We were up before the sun. Some took turns showering while we had breakfast in the lobby.
As we drove the hour from Noblesville to Uplands IN, we went past exits to Muncie.
The sun came up, burning off the morning fog as we drove to Taylor University. We arrived at the private, interdenominational Christian liberal arts college a few minutes late.
The university sits on an approximately 950 acres campus on the south side of Upland. The bell tower (seen in this photo I took of a picture hanging on the wall) sits about in the middle of campus.
We were met by Dr. Hank Voss (Associate Professor of Christian Ministries) who took Joe and I to the library where we could computerize while he met with Britney.
Juan Carlos sat in on Britney's presentation and took some photos.
They went to chapel service (occurs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 10 am) and Joe and I moved out of the library because it closes during chapel.
Hank with Britney and Juan Carlos at chapel. They said it was packed.
I had found a good spot to continue blogging.
We joined Hank, Britney and Juan Carlos for lunch in a conference room where students interested in study abroad and some professors, met and talked with Britney about the program while we ate. 
Shortly after 1:00, we were on the road for a three hour drive to New Richmond, Ohio to visit Patrick and his family. 
Loosing an hour with the time change, we arrived at their cozy trailer about 5pm. 
We visited for about an hour as the kids gradually warmed up to us four strangers in their house.
Britney and Juan Carlos with Patrick, Tamika, Jayla, Patrick Jr. and Alicia.
Tamika and the kids had eaten an early dinner and the kids were ready for a nap, so just Patrick went with us to dinner. We went a few miles down the road to The Green Kayak Grille & Pub, a downtown New Richmond hangout that faces the Ohio River.
This is a device charging station that Patrick had put in this establishment, and manages. The Portable Power Bank Rentals: App-based kiosk, lets people rent a portable battery and return it to any station in the network.
We enjoyed a beer and then had a tasty meal.
After dinner we went across the street to the river front for a look around. New Richmond is a nice town and I didn't realize it was so close to Cincinnati.
We drove 35 minutes to the Cincinnati (Kentucky) Holiday Inn airport hotel and got checked in. What a nice place. I did 15 minutes on the elliptical and then called it quits for the day, and joined the others in our room, with lights out early.
Thursday 10/22 - Britney’s alarm went off at 3:15am and she and Juan Carlos were up and dressed and out the door in quick time. I was awake so got up to hug them goodbye. I decided to just stay up. After a shower, I went down and got tea and worked at my blog for three hours.
Once Joe was up, we hit the road and made the five hour drive in relatively good time. I got a short nap in. Stopping for lunch was a bit of a fiasco because it did not indicate which way the food/restaurants were, and we went the wrong way and lost probably half hour of time searching and backtracking.
Britney and Juan Carlos had made it to Houston without any delays and were soon to board their flight to Costa Rica.
Joe and I arrived home just after 12 noon. He and driven 2,000 miles and we had slept in six different beds. Quite the road trip, but it was great to visit old stomping grounds and see friends from the past.
