Hello...here it is nearly September and such a long time since I last posted.

Obviously I survived the trip to Uganda, although honestly it was considerably more challenging than last year. We camped out in the bush, the remote village where we were nearly mobbed last year. The medical team was a very small part of this outreach, which was primarily an evangelistic crusade that a number of Ugandan pastors and evangelists participated in. Many people responded to the gospel and work is now in progress for a discipleship program for the new believers. There was about 70 of us camping out on a rocky hillside (if you even need to know,those little self inflating air mats that they sell for camping are pretty worthless when you have grapefruit-size rocks under your bedding. However the torrential rain blowing thru the netting on my bug hut was a fairly good distraction. After several nights of discomfort I managed to move some of the bigger rocks out from under me and a tarp was made more secure for the 3 of us that were sleeping outside without a tent. All in all we were really glad we went....it was wonderful to be part of the very first baptism service in that village before we left

We had one extra day in Uganda at the end of our trip and enjoyed a beautiful day visiting the source of the River Nile over near Jinja. We put our feet in the water, had a nice boat ride with some sightings of unusual birds and just a fun day of relaxing together. Long trip home with about 7 hrs of layover in Holland, but we hopped on the train and went down to the canals and looked around a bit. My sister Mindy had made welcome home signs for the team and was there with her 2 youngest kids, my mom plus Larry and Anne to meet me. It was fun!

David, Emily and Jamie had been rehearsing all summer for "Joseph" and 2 days after my return, they moved into the theater and started dress week. Anne was very involved too as she was on backstage crew, doing props,etc. It was an outstanding show...I think I saw it 6 times and could have enjoyed it a 3rd weekend if they'd done that. The girls then worked another week of CYT day camps (they've both had work this summer) before their teen camp this week down at the coast. They are at a camp in Cloverdale and their showcase is tomorrow at 1pm. Mom and I drove down to Lincoln City today just to enjoy an overnight here before heading over to the camp for program. It's chillier than I expected, probably in the 60's, but sunny.

In other Julian family news, we just enjoyed time with my niece and her husband and 4 children who were visiting Portland from Boston. We hadn't seen then for a couple years and so it was wonderful to enjoy one of mom's great breakfasts the other morning and to meet their youngest daughter, Sophia for the first time. Kristin is doing well...really enjoyed the Autistic Children's Activity Program this summer. I heard several times that she was one of the 'best kids there', so we're encouraged that she's doing well participating and keeping a check on her impulsivity and emotions. She's EAGERLY anticipating her 14th birthday next Friday. I made a local hotel reservation so she's excited about it all. She'll be in the same classroom with the same teacher this year, so not much adjustment hopefully in returning to the school routine. Ben is going to middle school, which seems so funny. He's so little. He's had a VERY happy summer. Emily has worked with him alot and he is just one happy little guy. Lots of just smiling and cracking up for very little reason. We have fun together :o) Wedding plans are picking up now that Joseph is over and David is done with his summer intensive spanish classes. All 3 of our older kids as well as Emily and her sister Amanda will be at Mt Hood CC this fall, so they'll enjoy that.

Larry is doing well. He's been working hard in the yard as trees needed to come out in prep for the new lawn going in hopefully soon. I learned that I love to powerwash the other day when Larry rented one. I spent about 5 hrs. working on the driveway mostly. Lots of moss, but it was SO rewarding. I told mom I'd do hers :o)

I've put a picture up of Larry & I yesterday down on the Willamette. We went with friends on their boat all the way from Fairview on the Columbia River down to Newport Bay Restaurant on the Willamette where we had dinner. Such a beautiful day and so much fun to enjoy it with friends.

The sunset photo is this evening, just awhile ago here in Lincoln City.

Take care and catch us up on YOU when you are able! Warmly, Janelle