Feb 4-5 Cary, North Carolina

What a delightful stay with Shevaun and Jan and their children Klara and Declan. Shevaun is the late Jerry and Jan Neupert’s daughter from West Side. Sunday morning I left Dumfries at 6:00am and 26 degrees, arriving at 9:50 and 43 degrees, just in time to join Shevaun and Jan for worship at Devoted City Church, Cary, North Carolina. Jan plays cello with the worship band once a month and this was the Sunday! Jan is so talented! After church we headed home, home was just about 2 blocks from their church and looking out the backside of the house was a forested green belt! Once home both Klara and Declan practiced piano and recorder! So fun! Again so talented! Then it was off to brunch at a family favorite La Farm Bakery to enjoy tasty delights of Crème Brûlée French Toast and we all shared a bite of raspberry danish pastry! I quickly learned why it is a favorite as we enjoyed brunch sitting outside in the sunshine!  Next stop was the library for books! Klara 5 books! Declan 1! Next to the library was a brand new outdoor kids park/playground and on a nice sunny day it was packed! I’ve never been to such a well constructed, extremely large park with manmade rivers, dog parks, amphitheater, outdoor ping pong and foosball, covered area with a firepit, bridges and walkways! It was truly amazing! 

Then it was home for the Pro Bowl game! Declan made sure we got home in time and both he and Klara were “into the game” throughout! They were disappointed the AFC didn’t win! While the kids finished watching the game Shevaun and I took a walk through the green belt and around a couple of ponds behind the house. It was a full day and new adventures still ahead! 

Supper was fun as I experienced Raclette, a dish native to Switzerland, using a Raclette grill in the center of the table in which you cook sausage, veggies (onions, green peppers), have boiled small potatoes, put in your individual serving dish a mixture of the above with a slice of Raclette cheese on top, put it under the element and let the cheese melt. You have to watch it closely as not to burn it! It reminded me of the days of sitting around the fondue pot in the 70-80s. It’s a great meal for sitting together chatting, creating and savoring! Might just have to buy a Raclette table top portable electric grill! And then have some Raclette parties! The fun didn’t stop with supper! 

Next we broke out a fun geography board game called The World Game that Klara got as a birthday present earlier in the week. I was pretty apprehensive due to my lack of geography knowledge but proved to be fun learning together, laughing together and sometimes getting very animated and excited together! Needless to say with all the adventures of the day I slept well!

As with each stop and connection I love the conversations, sharing life, strengthening friendships and being present and in the moment!