KENTUCKY!

“We who came home must never forget those who could not.”

-Inscription on a memorial, Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

-George Santayana, 1905

"INTEGRITY FIRST, SERVICE BEFOR SELF, EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO."

-United States Air Force Core Values

Before heading south on I-75 today Jonathan, Jim, Jennifer, Paul, Lori, Carver, Katie, Carly, and I went to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. That is a big, big place and a person could really spend a week there and still not see everything. I used much of my time to visit the planes on display outside. I also visited the memorial park where I spotted memorials for all of the units in which I served: Eighth Air Force, Strategic Air Command, 301st Bomb Squadron, and the 376th Bomb Squadron, all at Lockborne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio.

We finally departed Jim and Joyce’s home in Xenia around 3 o’clock (late) and arrived at Todd and Summer Anders’ home in Lexington, Kentucky around 7:00 P. M. Next stop, Steak-N-Shake with the whole crew: Todd, Summer, Dakota, Rider, Scout, Indiana, Ireland, Jonathan, Carly, Katie, Margaret, me. Back at the house we watched fireworks until 10:00 P. M.

We are now headed down I-75 to London, Kentucky where we will camp at a Hampton Inn. Margaret is driving and I am writing this post while going down the road to our motel. Talent and technology! What can I say?

I just asked Carly about the highlights of the trip for her and her first response was her visit to Fenway Park. "Seeing Michael Chiklis, from the TV series 'Commish' was cool," she said. She also said, “Seeing the Apollo space craft at the Air Force Museum was great.” Her favorite thing to eat was her cheeseburger at Twister in Maybrook, New York and Carman’s Ice Cream at Dwaine and Sarah’s home.

Jonathan’s highlights include putting our tires in the Atlantic Ocean, the Air Force Museum, seeing Rachel and her dad, and touring the U. S. S. Constitution. His favorite food (he loved everything he ate) was Carman’s Ice Cream and Mom’s gingerbread waffles.

Katie said her favorite thing was flying with Carly and “surprising Papabur and Nana.” Touring Fenway Park was great for her and so was hanging out with Jim, Joyce, Lori, Paul, Carver, and Jennifer. She also loved meeting Uncle Donnie (my brother). Katie’s favorite food was breakfast at First Watch this morning. Of course she also loved Carman’s Ice Cream and gingerbread waffles.

Margaret’s highlights for the last week included seeing Jonathan and I dip our tires in the Atlantic Ocean, being surprised by Katie, Picking up Barry and Sarah in Portland, and visiting with her family in Ohio. Margaret’s food favorites were all the different foods we’ve eaten with friends and family.

When I asked about lessons learned, Carly said, “I learned I need to read more, not only to gain wisdom and knowledge from God’s Word, but also about things like the history of our nation.”

Katie told us, “God has shown me how much my family means to me after not being with them the last few months.”

Jonathan’s response, “God’s really shown me how everything in life is planned out and if I will trust in him everything will work out just right. There’s a lot more but that’s the main thing I learned.”

Margaret said, “You know that verse, ‘I know the plans I have for you . . .’ that’s it. That's what I learned.”

“‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

We’re about seven miles from our motel and Margaret asked me if I was going to answer all those questions myself. I said, “No, I’ve been answering those questions the whole trip.”

God is good . . . all the time. All the time . . . God is good!

Lord willing, we’ll be home tomorrow.