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I got up at 4:00 am to get the coffee maker going. This sounds like such an easy job but it took over and hour to get just one pot made. I finally got smart and just started heating water in the microwave and then pouring that over the grounds to have the second pot made in time. Breakfast was left over pancakes, left over bacon, sausage links, sausage patties, left over cantaloupe, scrambled eggs and biscuits. Sarah was the first to pull out with the girls. Rhoda and Lee helped with getting the fridges emptied and the car loaded before they left. Ben got Abe and Jace ready, packed up his stuff and pulled out. Phil and Anna got the bathrooms and bedrooms in the basement cleaned up before leaving. Mark and I stayed behind to make sure everything looked good before we left at 8:00 am. The management company was sent a text that we were out of the house before we pulled away. The trip was mostly easy. Just as we were entering the St. Louis area and downpour of rain came so quick and hard the cars and trucks ahead of us slammed on their brakes. We ended up crawling along and found a few minutes later there was an accident between a truck and a car. We saw one person running down the highway toward the wreck but it didn't look bad so pretty sure no one got hurt. We stopped at a Walley's for gas and a quick lunch. We made it home a little after 3:30 pm. All of the kids made it home safely. Mark helped with the unloading all by 5:00 pm it was done. We walked over to mom's house. Ruth was camping there with her grandchildren and they were all enjoying the lake. 

Joan, Diane and I helped with mom's bath then Faith took over and fed everyone there supper. We left for Marvin and Gale's house for supper.  She and Marvin were hosting Viola and her husband Kent.

They are our tour guides for our Africa trip and it was good to meet her. Amy and Ken drove over from Tremont. Ann came from Peoria, Mike, Diane, Joan, Mark and I all drove together from the lake to their house. Sarah came from her apartment. Gail served a delicious supper. Amy brought the vegetables, Joan brought potatoes, Diane brought salad and Ann brought the dessert. After supper we sat and asked questions, Gale and Viola were glad to answer questions. Answers on what to wear, what to pack, how many shirts, shoes and socks. It turned out we will not have laundry facilities. We can hand wash but the clothes will not dry in time. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and as we were getting ready to leave Gail brought out gifts for all of us. Sweet corn just picked and vine ripened tomatoes from their garden. We will enjoy those tomorrow.  I'm typing this after getting home from our amazing meal and falling asleep each time I blink my eyes. The fingers keep hit the wrong key and it is so tempting to go to bed and that is what I'm going to do.