Our summer journey starts this year with a trip to Hagerstown, Maryland where we will be spending some time with extended family. The girls will get to play with cousins which is always a great time for them.

The road trip was a bit hairy going across Ohio. Their was a nasty thunderstorm with high winds. We have a anti-sway system on the hitch of the camper, but a friction sway control is of little help when it is very wet. The high winds and trucks passing on a bee-line made it for some interesting moments. We are looking forward to the day when our 2000 Astro Van gives up the ghost and we can move up to a larger tow vehicle with a bit more road surface and longer wheel base. That should help.

We pulled in to the Mercer/Grove City KOA about midnight on Wednesday night. It was our plan to leave home about 12 noon on Wednesday and get the campground in Western PA around 7pm, but the steel bumper was coming apart at the weld seems so we took it to Freeway RV in Midland, MI and they welded some additional bracing onto it. They did a great job and it is as stable as ever now.

Today we headed for Antietam Battlefield where the single bloodiest day of battle during the Civil War or any war has ever taken place. Over 23,000 casualties, wounded, and missing in action. The memorial and national park there are well taken care of and the rangers are well versed and do a great job of making history come to life. Definately, a place to go and spend some time.

Well, it was the first time out with the Roo this season. We all had forgotten how much effort it takes to get all ready to roll out. Once you get there, get setup, and sit down next to the fire it's all worth it.

Again this year one set of Kevin's parents came out from NY (Dad and Mom Wallenbeck) and hung out with us over the weekend. This year we decided to start out in Tawas, MI at the Tawas Point State Park. It's a beautiful place with a lighthouse and all.

Hard to believe it but the day before we left Kevin pulled out our reservations and realized it was for the next weekend! AAAHHH ... Praise God that someone canceled and there was a campsite ready for us.

While there we headed into town for a craft show and also up to Lumbermen's Monument on the Au Sable river just west of Oscoda, MI. There are actually some hills on Michigan!

Now we are back home and looking forward to our month long trip to D.C. and Philadelphia.

A few weeks ago there was a Family Carnival at our Church and we had the privilege of hosting the Upward Basketball booth. There were over 400 kids and families that came through ... many kids signed up to get more info as the basketball program gets closer in April 08.