The Olbricht House -- It's All About the Kids: Home At Last!

We had an absolutely wonderful trip to Stuart, FL earlier this week. We left out of here before church Sunday morning and worshiped at Lake City. Got to see Ryan, Michelle, Noah, and Chloe there. It is utterly ridiculous that we are that close to them and only see them about once every two years. We made it down to Stuart in plenty of time and started VBS Sunday night. Terry took us fishing on the St. Lucie River Monday morning. Caught a few snapper and a few blowfish. Kids had a ball. Then we went to the beach that afternoon. On Tuesday morning, I went to the church to teach a class while Stacy wrestled with the kids at the continental hotel breakfast. To judge by the look on her face when she got to the church building, I definitely had it easier. Back to the beach on Tuesday afternoon. Kaitlyn got a little too much sun on Monday, Stacy and I on Wednesday, but nobody got it too bad. On Wednesday, we had to be out of the motel by noon, so we went to the Florida Oceanographic Center so the kids could pet the stingrays. Then we went to a putt-putt place. The kids had been throwing a fit to play putt-putt, then ended up having a much better (and cooler) time in the arcade. Emma was about give out by the time we got home. She has slept A LOT since we got home. I guess she is making up for not getting a nap all week long.

The church at Stuart was absolutely wonderful. If I ever decide to host a hospitality clinic, I know where to have it. They fed us each night after VBS. On Sunday night, we went with the Frizzells (the girls just loved Casey, as I knew they would), Greg and Sharon Moody, and Charles and Sandra Hicks. Greg and Charles are elders there at Stuart, so we had to behave ourselves (lol). On Monday night, Patrick and Cindy LaConte took us out for seafood. On Tuesday, we went with Jim and Debbie Winkle and their brood. Then on Wednesday, we went to Randall and Renee Hunters' house. Playing the who-do-you-know game, we discovered earlier in the week that Randall is the brother of one of the members we knew at Berryville, Shawna Stevens. Everyone at the church was so warm and friendly. Emma actually climbed over the pew on Wednesday night and hugged Carolyn Deem, who had sat behind us all week.

The VBS was very good. They had a lot of interaction with the kids. It is always great to see how much fun the kids are having, and how much some of the adults either think or wish they were kids.

Now we are just trying to recover. Glad we don't have anywhere else to go for a while.

I'm not into the whole slide show things, but here are some pics.