So it’s that time of year for us – our annual Freedom Fest Party where we invite our family and friends over to our house for an afternoon into the night of food and fun, while the airshow and fireworks happen behind our house at the Goshen Municipal Airport.

This year NO ONE in our family is coming!

• No Mom & Dad Morningstar – they’re in Costa Rica on a missions trip right now.
• No Luke & Gretchen – they have a band gig that day.
• No Danette & Chad – they have previous plans with family.
• and no Mom & Dad O’Toole – well, they live in Florida, and didn’t make it up to Indiana this year.

But we expect a good turnout of friends, new and old. As always, we will be supplying the Guamanian ribs (Uncle Joe’s recipe, yummy!!!), rice and Hawaiian-style not Amish-style potato salad, while everyone else brings the rest of the food. We’ll also put up our kiddy pool for any of our younger friends whose parents will let them wade and splash around in it.
Although there’s a lot of work to do before the party, like cleaning the house, setting up the volleyball net, and preparing the ribs, we look forward to this event just because we love our friends (and family who aren’t joining us) and we love to hang out.
I promise to post pics after Saturday!

across the globe!
Some of you know that I am planning to go to Mozambique from March 15th until April 1st. If you haven’t read my newsletter, feel free to check it out here and even make a contribution to help get me there!

During Tanneken’s last visit to Goshen in November, I went on a mini-shopping spree for some of the blind girls in her care. Not having any children of our own, it’s always a blast for me to shop for others, especially cute little girls. (In case you wondered, my outfit is the bright turquoise one and both sets of shoes.) I’ll have to try to keep myself from buying too much for them before I leave in March!

The photo posted is two of those beautiful girls! Aren’t they precious? I am so excited that I will the opportunity to meet these girls, along with the others, when I am in Dondo. Of course, I am looking forward to the entire experience, but there’s something special in getting to hug a person you’ve prayed for and even bought something as common as shoes for.

Well, until my next post, keep me in your prayers as I continue to collect my funds and my wits for this amazing trip.