Last night, Friday, we got a chance to head down toward New Baltimore to visit some old (younger) friends. About a decade ago, we became friends with a family at church, and really hit it off with the two eldest children, who were both in high school. Since then, we have stayed in touch, and Zac has gotten married to his wife Erica and moved to London, and they now have two young sons. Anna has earned an advanced degree in French and studied in Switzerland for years before taking a job in Boston. This is not typical of rural Ohio children, and you can see why we love these folks. The two younger children of the family are now in Columbus, one working to renovate homes for the poor, and the youngest still in school. It’s a remarkable family.

Recently, Zac’s and Erica’s visas ran out, so they returned home. They are in Northeast Ohio for a few weeks before heading off to California to be near Erica’s family. They invited us down for supper and swimming and ice cream, and we eagerly accepted. We thought we would get to see Zac and Erica and their family, and Zac’s parents as well (who are very good people and much fun), but we were quite pleased as the rest of the clan drifted in over the evening. Anna was in town to see her nephews and to buy her first car, and even Joel and Becky pulled in just before we left to go get ice cream. It was really good to reconnect with everyone, even if it was only briefly.

Mer and I did join Zac in the bath-like pool (the water was close to ninety degrees) for quite awhile, while Erica and the boys stayed poolside. After the swim, we changed back into normal clothes, and we went to New Baltimore Ice Cream with Zac and Erica and the elder boy, where we got to visit for another half hour or so. Since the ice cream stand was on the way home for us, we said goodbye to them there. I’m sad for Erica and Zac that their visas ran out, but it was great to see them again.