Settling In

For my first blog post, I thought I would explain the name. Juli Kalbaugh and John Childress may remember our "Hayes Family Odyssey" to IOP one year for a church planting retreat. We had only had our Honda Odyssey a few months and Silas was just a baby. We sang a lot of the way down there and had an amazing time turning a road trip into an adventure. Well, I thought about that - how much fun road trips with friends and family can be. And I thought, "this is the biggest road trip we have EVER been on!" We don't have our Odyssey any more, but the road God has us on is the biggest adventure we have certainly had yet. Moving to Germany has already proven to have so many ups and downs, it feels a little like I am still on the most stressful roller coaster I have ever experienced. However, recounting another road trip last summer with the Kalbaugh's for Andy and Michelle Heck's wedding, Luke started this most awesome game - we would clap and cheer for whatever we liked. (ie, who likes ice cream? Everyone in the car claps and cheers. who likes football? everyone claps and cheers. who likes asparagus? well, not everyone clapped on this one, but you get the idea). We had the best time, clapping for each other, encouraging each other (Who likes Juli's laugh? EVERYONE claps and cheers!), it turned what could be dreary, dull and terrible into a fun and memorable trip. So that is how the name came about - 2 car trips that weren't all fun, turned into great times. So I have decided today, anything I can applaud, I will. And if it feels like I cannot applaud it, or I am having difficulty, I will search for the blessings in all He has given me and applaud that. Like not having a washer but getting to know my great neighbor Colleen and being blessed by her allowing me to use hers. And not having a car but walking home today with 3 great ladies and walking along the Rhine and seeing the ruins of a castle and all the beauty this great country has to offer. CLAP CLAP CLAP YEAH YEAH YEAH!!! Here is to the beginning of a great Odyssey - so excited to see what God has in store for us! CLAP CLAP CLAP WAHOO!!!