The purpose of our November/December trip was fourfold: to give an update to our ministry partner church in Maryland, be at our grandparents’ in Tennessee for Thanksgiving, record testimonies for the Storyteller and sing in North Carolina, and minister in the Florida prison system with an organization called Gospel Express.

So…Maryland. This is where Dad grew up and our whole family enjoys it when we can go there. There is so much history in this state…both American and Fraser! We always love driving around and hearing Daddy tell stories of growing up. “That’s the hill our soccer coach made us run up for drills.” (One time when we were there we all got out and tried it.)

While we were in Maryland we enjoyed fellowship with many friends who pray for and partner with us. In all of our travels one thing that blesses us time and time again is the family of God that we find wherever we go. We also got to enjoy something unique while we were there—that Sunday night, three or four local churches converged for a Thanksgiving worship service, praising God and sharing His Word together. It was a beautiful thing.

We went out for dinner with some dear friends of ours one night, where a couple of us helped ourselves to some East Coast fare (among other things)…

Since we had plenty time in Maryland, we decided to go to Fort McHenry. It was a first for all but Mom and Dad, and it was really amazing to be where the battle happened which inspired our National Anthem.

It was truly a treat to go to Fort McHenry. We are reminded of the sacrifices of so many, that others could be free.

During our time in Maryland we stayed with a dear friends of Dad’s family while he was growing up.  Nana2 (as she is known to us) was such a wonderful hostess, encouraging us in the Lord and making us laugh at her stories. Her son – who was a friend of Dad –  is a state senator, so one night after a Lebanese dinner, he took us to the Capitol building in Annapolis. He’s taken us there before but that was a long time ago so it was fun to go back. Nobody was there except for us and the security guard who turned on some lights and opened up some rooms for us out of the goodness of his heart.

And here’s a few more pictures from our time there…

After Maryland we were off to Tennessee for Thanksgiving at our grandparents’/aunt and uncle’s. Most of Dad’s siblings were there, and we found ourselves playing many games over the weekend, such as…

…as well as football and spoons (which may or may not have had a very dramatic episode in which someone dove for a spoon and, having unknowingly knocked over their chair, in an attempt to quickly sit back down, had an abrupt meeting with the floor).

There were twenty-one people and six dogs. Nana, Grandpa, Uncle Joe, Aunt Kim and the cousins were so gracious to all of us. And as you can imagine, there was a lot of food for the Thanksgiving feast.

And this is only the first half of the trip. Pictures and details of the rest coming soon!

It is good to give thanks to the LORD.

Psalm 92:1