Hey Hey Hayes!

Back in the day, Nathan was the youth pastor and Hayes was in the youth group. Nathan and I teen-sat Hayes and his sisters over Valentine's Day weekend a few years ago. I was mesmerized by their Penley painting on the landing. It snowed. Malon, Hayes's friend and one of my students, came over. The kids sledded. The dog got shocked by his collar trying to run out of the yard. Hayes tried his hand at making jewelry for a lovely lady he admired. We spent the rest day in Middle Earth watching all. three. Lord of the Rings movies. After youth group on Sunday night we fed them gobs of leftover wedding cake that we found at church. Then we dug Hannah's car out of the mud at Jenn's house that night on the way home. Good times. It's crazy what comes to your mind when you think back on just one little event...

Hayes was in Durham yesterday on Day 4 of his month-long school trip across Europe. He and his friends were literally on the other side of a wall from Nathan, but they didn't see each other. We finally reached Hayes at his hotel in York last night, and sadly, they were leaving for London this morning. Our hearts were broken! So close, yet so far! I felt responsible, because I'm the social coordinator of this household. So, last night around 11 p.m. we decided to have a little road trip to York.

We left at 5 a.m. and had breakfast - or more accurately, watched Hayes eat his breakfast - at the Royal York Hotel, chatted about life and school and family and college and church and God, took two pictures, hugged goodbye, ordered some McDonald's for the car ride home, and got here by 9:30. It was AWESOME!

Three thumbs up for being the first CCP youth to come see us in England! Sally still wins the award for first virtual visitor (via Skype).

Hayes likes me better. Yes...

Like I said, we love visitors! Come see us! Who's next?