Day 1 -- Thursday, September 17

This is our day of rest. I napped a bit through the day while David read. The highlight of the day was visiting a favorite Chinese restaurant for Brandon's 11th Birthday. I shared Brandon's plum chicken, egg fried rice and vegetables.

This is one of the pictures we took at the restuarant -- L-R is Pastor Andy, his wife Tracy, Birthday Boy Brandon, me (Diane), David, and Michael Sandassie (Andy's dad).

After we left the restaurant, we returned to Andy's home in Gasborough were we toasted the birthday boy with non-alcoholic wine. It was a bit cold because Tracy put it in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes to chill it and then forgot about it until we were on our way to the restaurant.

So what do you get an 11-year-old boy you only get to see once a year? We brought him two DVDs -- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and also Prince Caspian. Fortunately, he didn't have the one.

While the weather is much warmer than the mild fall weather we left behind in Delaware, it was not as hot as it has been in previous visits. All in all, this has been a very good day.