Friday, November 20, 2009

Tim & Don visit!



I didn't realize how much I missed home until Tim Evon and Don Kern's came to visit this past week! What a blessing to have such dear friends here to encourage us and see our life here in the south. We had a great time, especially going to the Columbia zoo on Wednesday. We got a backstage tour of the gorilla and lemur exhibits from a friend of a friend who is a zoo keeper there! We had to wear the face masks pictured above so as not to infect any of the animals with "new germs". We were inches away from the gorillas (behind a barred door) and lemurs and tarpins were brushing against our legs! The most memorable moment however was when we were all watching a gorilla through the glass and he charged at us and body slammed himself against the window! We were all thankful for the excellent shatterproof technology saving us from sure doom! It definitely gave our hearts a bit of a jump, but also made for a great laughable memory.

I was thankful that Tim and Don were here when Rob sliced his hand taking his bike pedal off Thursday morning! They carted him off to the urgent care facility and brought him home sewn back together with ten stitches...no fainting though...PTL! We seem to have a propensity for medical kerfuffles here in Columbia! Needless to say no bike riding for awhile.




4 comments:

  1. The pictures and description of the zoo were great. I would love to have all those birds landing on me. I miss our parakeets.
    I just want to briefly recount my gorilla experience at the milwaukee zoo many years ago in the age of less high tech glass. Samson was the gorilla then, and I guess he didn't like his audience, because when he slammed the glass dividing him from us the glass totally broke, leaving a hole big enough for a gorilla to escape through. Everyone watching him started screaming and running out of the building he was housed in. I guess that was a good enough response for him, because he just sat down and watched us. He didn't even try to escape. It was a truly scary experience. I am glad zoo glass has improved and now really keeps the animals locked up.
    I'm glad to hear that you all have settled in so well and had a good first quarter in school. I would be happy to exchange our weather for yours. We have had some nice days lately, but know the snow could be coming any day. I got a new dog, so appreciate the decent weather for taking him outside.
    This is a long enough note. Love to you all. Kelly

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  2. Wow, Jackie!! What a great time with Tim & Don, for the "heart check," and the great pictures of your adventure. Will you tell those "boys" of yours to stay away from the ER!?! We will continue to pray for you all. :D - The Vanderveldes

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  3. I hope everyone can stay out of the ER while we are in South Carolina! We are almost all packed and will depart at 6 AM. You are sure having lots of visitors!

    Love,
    Grandma

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  4. Hey, thanks for hosting Tim and Don. Don enjoyed the visit so very much. He and Keri return home tonight, and I can't wait. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Oh, and great job on the HR blog today, Jackie! Great food for thought.

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