After hanging out at the beach for a while, we headed over to the airport. We had still a little time before the flight, so Claire and I played various games. Inevitably, they had to leave so we said our goodbyes. We will see you again, but we will miss you until then!


Here we are, still at the beach, enjoying the sunrise
















...and here's Claire running around,
waiting for me to catch her and bring her back to jail (she was speeding).




















...after we checked in the luggage, Candice had some technicalities to
deal with, so here we are playing. I think a part of this game-playing was throwing Claire's pillow at my head



















...and here's Philip catching up on much-needed sleep.

Okay, so here we go again, and this is me being extremely slow and behind. Here are some pictures of our trip to JFK airport in NYC. We left at around 9-10ish and got there at around 5ish. When we got close, we decided to stop in at a gas station and take some time to nap. We stayed there for a while and then drove down to the beach to see the sun come up.

Philip and Claire got ahold of my camera - ain't they a cute uncle-niece pair?

Contemplation

the bros

Watching the sunrise

The sunrise

We miss you!

Anything's Fair Game

So, it's been since the beginning of the summer since I last blogged and I'll try to cover some missing spots since then.

The first spot I will address is the Youth Retreat. It went very well and I think the youth had a lot of fun and hopefully they got something out of what we said. The group of leaders consisted of Myself, Philip, Meredith Campbell, Jason Slabach, and Tabitha Driver. Our topic was identity in Christ and a lot of the fun discussions came about in our planning sessions. We talked about what shapes our identities and how we should let Christ shape ours. We also did some skits that included some of the youth. The only pictures I got, however, are from one night when we played indoor ultimate frisbeeAction Shot (Philip's in the brown/orange cords)

Our team really meshed well together and we all felt that God had done a good thing that weekend. All glory to Him.

An endnote and prologue

It's been quite a while since I posted. Could it be laziness? possibly. business? maybe. hmmmm. oh well. Today I finished my last two exams, one take-home and one final in-class exam. I'm not quite sure how I did on them all, but I'm not worrying. It's nice to be done and now I feel like I can contribute more to the new housing arrangement. The past few weeks have involved some hard work by Martin and Sylvia, moving everything in and getting it organized and taking care of two little boys while I have made Bridgewater my home, worrying about final papers and ignoring innumerable typing and editing errors (I never was one to edit my papers). Every year seems the same; same old postponing and forgetting of papers until finals week; same old lack of sleep and dull, listless eyes staring through a computer screen; same old good feeling when it's over and I can sleep without worry...of school anyways. I can now start worrying (thinking, pondering) about the summer. I really haven't even begun looking for a job. I'm still working at Sharp Shopper but I'm thinking that God has something more for me this summer. I would love a chance to use my language skills more often. Perhaps I will be surprised. I will keep you all updated. For anyone wondering about my love-life...call me and find out!

Maybe some softball pictures coming soon! - the rhodes bros take to the field

God's peace,
Dietrich - although i have been getting called Eliot a lot more recently :).

2 Musketeers on a Sunday Afternoon

Hanging out, frolicking and the like.







Thanks to Bek for taking all the pics and for having almost as much fun as we did.

Newest blog in the family:
http://whatsupphilip.blogspot.com/
Anita, go there and finally find out what was up on my birthday. :).
Philip

Is It Spring Yet?

...ooh, just a sec :)

Dear Family, Sorry about the long gap in communication. I also feel just a little weird posting on here without pics and am usually absentminded enough to forget the camera when I go somewhere cool. I took my camera to Jamaica but only took a few because I knew I had teammates who would share some with me when we got back.

I had an excellent time in Jamaica March 6-16! I was sick for the first 5 days or so, but I enjoyed seeing all my Jamaica family at one place at the Conference. It was nice to not have to run all over the country trying to find everyone--they were almost all there. I was especially excited to see my Mommi Viddi (who always gives me a great dancing hug! :), and my Maranatha kids! We spent the weekend at the Conference, then drove over to my home in the southwest corner of Jamaica...back in Ridge, St. Elizabeth and Maranatha School for the Deaf.

These were the four crazies that hung out together the whole time. Monica Unzicker (top), Boomer Bauman (right), Melanie Heatwole, and me.

Here are three of the Maranatha kids--JP is saying he loves you.
A unique photo op at a place known as the Giddy House. In a 1907 earthquake, this house was shaken a bit and part of it sunk down into the ground.
An incredible shot taken at Montego Bay by Monica.
Some others:
Beautiful evening


This is a shot from where we stayed our last night in Jamaica

Other things:
-Basketball season is well underway and we're having an awesome time in A-league this year. None of us ever want to go back to B. Last night we were ahead of the best team in the league until about 3/4 of the way through. We think we can beat them next time. :). I think we're 3 and 6. We could probably do a little better if we had more than 6 players, but I'm not making excuses--haha.

-My work at VMMissions has included helping to coordinate and promote Perspectives these last several months and I've enjoyed meeting many area pastors and "mission commission" leaders and groups. We are getting great response and expect a full first class beginning in August!

-We are very very excited about Martin, Sylvia, Elliot, and Julian moving in very soon!

-Easter with the Early Church was a beautiful time...fellowship, feetwashing, a community wide church vigil from 10 to 12, sleeping in sleeping bags up on EMU's hill (very cold!!), and a shivering sunrise service (it's fun singing and shivering at the same time).

-Betsy and I are in touch by letters (unlimited), email (limited), and a monthly Skype date (very limiting). She recently took a crazy adventurous trip with her teammates to Lesotho. Wish I could've been there. Here is a waterfall she got to see on a hike:
Love you all!
Philip

Icy Landscapes

Dear family, I post this blog as an appendix to Dietrich's last one. The over-night freezing rain this past weekend left everything amazingly beautiful. We were surrounded by so many scenes that made me wish I was a professional photographer. But I gave it my best shot anyway and took these pics while taking a walk in the lingering light rain:

(to get the best effect on some of them you need to click on the pictures to make them larger...especially "red".)

silver lake (or, for Betsy's sake, "silver pond")

silver lake, ice and raincattails


silver lake mill #1

silver lake mill #2



cold ducks


swings


silos





blue




red




bright swirls #1

bright swirls #2


fence

fireplace
together


captured buds


brick house

brick house #2

brick house #3


untitled #1

untitled #2

untitled #3

It would be fun to know which are your favorites. :)
Love to you all.
Philip