In August, we were able to take a family vacation to the U.S. We spent time in Texas, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, doing some of our favorite things, eating fav foods and visiting friends and family. On the way, we stopped in Houston for a 15 hour layover and visited with good friends, the Burbanos! Last year during our Sabbatical, Joel and the kids were able to visit places in Ohio, including where Joel grew up, where he spent summers and the kids wanted me (Kim) to be able to experience those things with them. So, we spent our first week in Ohio. We visited Madison, OH and Geneva-On-The-Lake. We went to some hometown favorites that have been around a LONG time including Eddie’s Grill, Madsen donuts and a putt-putt place that is one of the oldest in the country! We went to Cedar Point and a Cleveland Guardians game. We also visited high school friends of Joel’s including DB and his family and Candy and Pete and their family! We drove by Joel’s old home and played in Lake Erie where he used to!
We also spent time in Indiana with family and friends. We went tubing and boating, learned how to play pickleball, ate yummy Amish food, picnicked in the rain, made pizza together, went fishing, worked on new ideas for reusable menstruation kits and really just enjoyed making sweet memories together.
We then were in Illinois where we had our favorite Sushi-Sushi Station, visited with those who first welcomed us in to the Covenant Church, received amazing generosity from friends who allowed us to stay in or live in their house for a week. We took the kids camping for the first time! Had amazing food and coffee! Enjoyed summer nights chatting and Chicago sunsets and skylines. We went to a movie in the park in Chicago, went to a dog park (without a dog, just to get the kisses), tubing, boating, fishing and catching fireflies!
Here was our top 10 from the Summer vacay:
- Cedar Point
- Seeing Family and Friends
- Guardians Game
- Camping
- Tubing
- Flying (#tellingthestory) of getting to the U.S. from Ecuador which included failed Lyft drivers, throwing up in a plane and canceled flights
- Mini golf
- Madison/Geneva on the lake
- Seeing DB (Joel’s high school buddy)
- Eating at U.S. restaurants we miss!
Check out some of the pics:
We have to celebrate BUCKEYES in OHIO!
And we got yummy Ecuadorian treats to introduce to the Bilek family (for like 3 times the price of Ecuador)
The Santiago Partnership