To Ohio & Back

I'm just going to pick up right where I left off on my other blog, Grace Upon Grace. The reason I have now switched back to Blogger is because of one thing: convience! Having everything connected (via Google) is extremely convient, if questionable internet-saftey-wise. So, here I am. Happy now that I can put multiple pictures per post into my writing and have all these amazing customizable abilities at my fingertips! I knew I always liked Blogger better. ;) Plus, I can now follow my friends blogs easily as well...

Now, about that "big Ohio trip" I just took!

What was it?
A CollegePlus! approved student recreational gathering, open to any CP! student, nationwide.

Who came?
Quite a few CP!ers! We had a group of at least 22 students, not including their siblings and families that showed up at different times. :) It was amazing! I finally got to meet all these people I've only talked to on the CP! forums or Skype or Facebook. It was great to finally put names to (sometimes hiliarous and crazy) "faces". ;) I made some new friends too!  All of these guys were outstanding, humorous and courteous kids! I thought we felt like long, lost siblings or something; it was awesome. :D

One of the new CP! friends I made at the Ohio gathering: Hattie!
I actually met her first through her blog & Etsy shops. Photo credit: Britt Wellvang

Where was it?
At the home of the wonderful and gracious Sanders family (whose daughter Emily, is in CP!) in Waynesville, Ohio! It was a beautiful area that really reminded me of my favorite place on earth, Sullivan County, PA. :) Lots of sunshine, trees & hills! We spent most of our time at their house talking, eating meals, sleeping etc. The girls, all 15 of us, sleep either in the house in various rooms, or out in the pop-up camper one family brought. The guys (all 8 of them!) slept in a 10'x12' cabin in the would with double lofts--packed in like sardines! But they thoroughly enjoyed the arrangement, you could tell by all the bonding that went on and late night talks we heard about. ;)

The inside top floor of the "Waynesville Antique Mall", where I found several goodies. :)

A walk through the woods to Grandmother
Sander's house for a delicious, huge breakfast!



Downtown Waynesville, which was positively LINED with antique shops!

 What went on?
LOTS went on! It going to be hard to describe it all! I'll try to start by day, and see what I can remember:

Wednesday~ 5pm I head out of PA with three other CP! guy friends (Ben, Noah & Steven) in Steven's white van, packed out with our stuff. :) Lots of talking & jamming to music involved.
7pm ~ We stop for a break and dinner at Burger King. I got a huge chicken sandwich, yum! But I somehow grabbed a coffee straw for my extra large root beer and the soda machine spurts all over Noah's hand! lol We hop back in the van and keep driving. Favorite new thing: hold-your-breath contests through the tunnels. (Noah can hold his breath for 3 minutes flat!)

Yes, Steven drives *that* fast. (jk!!!)

12pm ~ We arrive in Waynesville and find the Sander's home after only one small turn around. :) Turns out several CP!ers are already there, waiting up for us while playing 'Psychiatrist'. Intros all around and then we jump right into the fun. We drove poor Alex nuts with that game! :D Eventually, everyone decides we *should* go to bed soon enough. "Goodnights!" to all... and onto the next day.

Thursday~
8:30 am~ I take a walk down the Sander's road to the main road & back (about 1 mile.) Refreshing! Then by the time I'm back, more people are getting up & looking for the "life juice": Coffee. :D 

The "blue" T-shirt team for a day! L to R: Merry, Emily
(the two best friends & CP! organizers for this event) and Atalie.

9:30~ The boys come out from their cabin and join us for a breakfast of lots of fruit & cereal. (Everyone was just trying to wake up I think.)  Atalie arrives! She lives only a couple hours away in Ohio.  After Ben, Steven, Alex and Amanda head out to pick up people from the airport, the rest of us head into town for antique shopping! This was so fun.

12:30pm~ Lunch at McDonalds downtown (where I organize my fries and get teased for it!! ;) and then back to the house.

1-2ishpm~ Derek & Marissa arrive (they drove) from Canada! :D Not bad time, eh?

To be continued.....