People keep asking what we're doing between now and when we leave for Peace Corps. It's hard to answer because it's such a random mix of things - going places, seeing people, hanging out at home, getting little things done that have to get done. We haven't been bored, I can tell you that!

Last weekend we had a great time visiting Wheaton. It was kind of like a second homecoming to get to see all our favorite places - Wheaton public library, Northside and Adams park, the French market, India Palace... Our main reason for coming to town was the wedding of Colin Marlowe, one of Dylan's friends from Egypt who also graduated from Wheaton. The wedding was beautiful and there was a decent crowd of Wheaton grads there. We ran into one Wheaton professor who recognized us, and then in trying to place us he asked, "Were you two dating freshman year or something like that?" We said yep, that was us. His eyes lit up. "Yeah, I know you!" =) We stayed in Wheaton with some good friends from our church and enjoyed having a chance to catch up with them too (they've been missionaries to Bogota, Colombia for the last two years). I got to hang out with my old roommate, Christy, who is now planning her wedding, and my co-Bible study leader, Sarah. Lots of good conversations!


No sooner did we get back from Wheaton than we were off again for an anniversary trip to a bed and breakfast in southern Indiana (courtesy of my wonderful parents). Our anniversary is actually on Monday the 25th, but that's close enough! We had a great time. We went cave exploring in Marengo Cave and Squire Boone Caverns, canoed down the Blue River, and enjoyed our B&B's selection of movies and fresh afternoon cookies. In the middle of a heat wave the caves felt wonderful! We were right on the Ohio River and enjoyed dinner looking out on the river and watching the huge barges go past. Most of all we really enjoyed getting away by ourselves and celebrating our two years of marriage!

Now we're looking forward to a Tin Caps game with fireworks on Monday night (the Tin Caps are Fort Wayne's baseball team) and the arrival of Dylan's sister, Abby, on Tuesday! In the next few weeks we'll be in Wheaton again (gotta get Abby to college!), Cincinnati, and hopefully Chicago Heights. Before we know it, it'll be time to head out to Namibia and the unknown, so we're definitely enjoying this time while we can.

Our time back in the States is almost half over already! And we've thoroughly enjoyed it so far. =) After spending a week in Indiana, and stocking up on audiobooks, we road-tripped out to New Hampshire to see Dylan's family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc, gathered for our annual vacation week on Squam Lake. We had a great time visiting, playing games, and enjoying the great outdoors. You get really spoiled having a beautiful lake just feet outside your front door that you can jump in whenever you want! We also got to stay in Acton, MA for a while as a family, going to see fireworks, holding our own 4th of July Olympics, and spending a day at the ocean. 

Back in Indiana, we've been spending time with my family - playing games, visiting grandparents, running with our dog, chilling at home. We've also been getting to know Fort Wayne a little better. They have a fantastic library system, for example. Yesterday we went to the Three Rivers Festival, a week-long party downtown including shopping, rides, junk food alley, art, and historic reenactments.