Jim Thorpe From the Phone (August 2023)

 

My sister Sally from Ohio (a.k.a. Aunt Sarah J.) hatched a plan to bring us to Jim Thorpe,  nearly all expenses paid. The older three girls were gone at darn Poiema, but the rest of us had a few days of getting away from all things wedding. I didn't know how much I needed the respite until we were on the road, and my heart soared to be riding away from all the chores with most of the people I love best. I don't even think I took my big camera on this trip, because these are all from my phone. That's how invested I was in taking high-quality pictures like the one below. 

My brother Pete's doctor's office building has two apartments above the office, and one of them was without a current renter. Sarah and the boys stocked the apartment with beds, chairs, furniture, books, and toys, and made our stay there a true delight. 

We ate our first-ever Domino's pizza thanks to her generosity, too! This was one of the highlights of the trip.

John sent Piper and Luci and I on a date for coffee, so we sent a picture to the oldest three to-- how did you guess?-- try to make them jealous.

We stopped at Rainbow's End for candy and then the library. Sticky fingers and books are a winning combination!

Sarah is an incredible cook with an enviable ability to season and spice, so I took pictures of the food to text to the girls who were down South. I can't remember if I sent them or not, so hopefully these terrible snapshots will still make you three jealous a year and a half later.

Talking in their backyard while the kiddos played in the pool was another highlight. Bliss for my children.

And, YES, that bright thing infringing on the corner of the frame is indeed a bouncy-house.

Spontaneous purchase of a bouncy house to delight children and cousins alike? A resounding YES.

This is Sarah in a nutshell.  (And now you all wish you had a Sally from Ohio, too.)