Pennsylvania

So my posts are a bit out of order, but I will do my best to catch up!

Today is our first full day in Reading, PA. I could live here in a heartbeat - it's absolutely beautiful. This is my 2nd trip to the area this year, but I'll be here much longer this time. I'm attending the quarterly affiliate network session for the next four days, one day off (on Sunday), and then six days of fast start training on all of the new processes and products I'll be representing. It's going to be busy and probably exhausting, but I can't think of a better place to be.

Our flights were perfect yesterday and we despite having to get up super early yesterday, I have no complaints. We arrived in Philly around 4:30 p.m. and started the 75 mile out to Reading/Wyomissing. The highways here, similar to Maine, don't necessarily have an exit every mile.... or every two miles, or every five miles, for that matter. D and I were lost in an in-depth conversation when we realized we drove by our exit. It wasn't a simple matter of turning around at the next exit, because by then we were in a completely different area. Despite being a bit directionally and map challenged, we found our way to Reading through beautiful farmland, rolling hills, and green trees and grass. To me, it was worth getting lost, I mean taking a detour, to see more of the countryside. Once we got to Wyomissing, we came upon a beautiful park, with grass, a brooke running through the middle, weeping willow trees, flowers and benches. We decided that after dinner, we would come back and take a walk.

The hotel is very quaint - a rambling, old one to two story structure that provides the necessities but certainly doesn't represent the upscale establishments I normally use when traveling on business. However, I like it so much more!! We have a big room, free Internet, a little refrigerator, and free breakfast buffet each morning (which was delicious!).

We went to Friendly's for dinner - my choice, of course! and then took a nice long walk in the park. On the way out, we met a lady who talked to us for quite awhile and ended up inviting us to her church on Sunday (and to Israel in December!!). God's work, I have no doubt!

The best part of the day, however, was the call I received on the bus to pick up the rental car - I finally heard from BRANDY! It was so amazing to hear her voice again, although she still sounds hoarse. She said she's not feeling too great, but they tell her it's her sinuses not her throat. They gave her some medicine. She has become the "faith officer" or something like that and said she really loves the work she's doing with the church. She is the section leader in the church band, helps organize the services, makes sure people know when to go to church, and is constantly cleaning and doing stuff there at the church to help out. Her Chaplain gave her a new bible and she told me she reads it a lot. It's so great to see how God is working in her life. At the end of the call she started crying and it broke my heart. I miss her so much and can't wait until I can see her in a few weeks.

I'll post later about the reunion!