Yesterday was a pretty cool day. Here is my Friday, roughly categorized into 3 sections: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
So, Friday morning, I had breakfast with relatives near Richmond. We'd had a great time the night before, catching up about all our interests and involvements. My cousins shared about everything from the Air Force and beekeeping, to music and blacksmithing.
Afterwards, I drove to Staunton (my "hometown"), and got a standard physical exam. A medical intern happened to be at the clinic to shadow the physician. The doctor especially wanted him to be there during my examination, because of how unusual my health is!
Then, I had an amazing lunch in downtown Staunton at "Taste of India". I was able to meet up with my dad and my brother Daniel. Regrettably, I didn't take pictures of them. But I took pictures of the food!
All-you-can-eat Indian buffet, $7.95. <cheers>
Over lunch, my dad told me that my old Nissan pickup (the same little blue truck I had during high school and college), has been turned into a tap-tap bus in Haiti! After the last major earthquake, he set up a non-profit, to receive donations for projects to help the poor there. Among other things he's done, he bought and donated several used cars in order to start a tap-tap service, to help fund a medical clinic there.
After lunch, I went with my brother Daniel to visit my mom's house in Swoope. Oh, memories!
I didn't have time to mow the lawn...sorry, Mom!
From there, I drove to West Virginia to spend time with my grandparents (mom's side). I took Route 250, which is a very windy road through mountains, with plenty of steep, hairpin turns. Google maps claims that it takes about 3 hours to get there. But I don't think they factor in the "Suggested Speed" signs (e.g. 15 mph) along the way.
This was one of yesterday's mountain-top experiences: entering West Virginia.
It was pretty cold...
When I arrived to my grandparents' house in Lost Creek, West Virginia (close to 10 PM), we had a great dinner/late-night snack of vegetable beef soup, with cheese and crackers. (Note: For people who haven't lived in the South, I don't think you can quite appreciate this sort of cuisine the same way. Just trust me...it's really good!)
My grandparents, Jim and Virginia White, are retired Methodist ministers, and always have fantastic stories to share. And I heard once again, with at least as much appreciation as ever, the story of my grandma Janie (his first wife), and her death. In 1974, while they were in Vienna, Austria, she encouraged him to go behind the Iron Curtain. He was ready to go, but she was sick, and needed to stay behind with friends in Vienna.
He had begun his trip, to preach and to encourage underground Christians in several countries. But he received news that my grandma Janie had died of a brain tumor (CT scans were not common in those days, so they had no idea of this until her biopsy was done). With no way to reach his underground contacts, he simply had to return to Vienna, and then to the funeral in Virginia (which my mom coordinated while a college freshman).
He had begun his trip, to preach and to encourage underground Christians in several countries. But he received news that my grandma Janie had died of a brain tumor (CT scans were not common in those days, so they had no idea of this until her biopsy was done). With no way to reach his underground contacts, he simply had to return to Vienna, and then to the funeral in Virginia (which my mom coordinated while a college freshman).
The course of my grandad's ministry eventually took a very different turn, and he ended up being planted as a minister in West Virginia for many years. This calling, although not what he had envisioned, was certainly part of God's purpose. He and my grandma Virginia (his second wife) have raised up an extended family with a strong dedication to God, and service to the needy. They are now both retired Methodist ministers, and serving the Lord wholeheartedly.
I am truly blessed to be in this family!
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