Johnson House Weekend

The weekend isn't even over and it's already been a great one. A participant's birthday, raul's birthday, dancing in the street at the gingerbread festival, and hiking in red river gorge. We've definitely stayed busy at the Johnson House.

Yesterday was my first time meeting Faye, one of my participants. When I saw in my file that it was her 66th birthday, I called her to see if she wanted to go out for lunch. She did, so I picked her up and treated her to McDonalds. I'm sure that doesn't sound to exciting to y'all, but considering that our other options were Dairy Queen and Long John Silvers, and that the only time Faye gets out during the week is for dialysis, it was pretty big time for her. Anyways - after lunch I gave Faye a gift bag full of avon products from op. sharing. Faye doesn't have any children. She never married, but rather spent most of her life taking care of her parents and grandparents. I've noticed this is sort of a pattern for women in Appalachia who don't marry. Faye's mother and grandmother passed away three years ago. If she lives as long as the women in her family seem to do, Faye may very well live another 20 or 30 years. Most of those years will be in solitude. Yep - an outing to McDonalds and a bag of avon is big time for Faye.

So the birthday celebrations continued last night as we took Raul out to the Mexican restaurant in Prestonsburg for his 22nd birthday. We all enjoyed ourselves and Raul was especially excited about his stuffed hippopotamus and pink precious moments bible (courtesy of op. sharing). I'm sure nothing would have made Raul happier than to go out salsa dancing after dinner, but as it turns out salsa dancing isn't so popular in eastern Kentucky. But clogging in the streets to bluegrass is!!! After dinner we headed out to Knott County to hear the bluegrass concert at the Gingerbread Festival. We listened and joined the locals in the street dancing to the pickin'. Several men had on clogs (tap shoes). It was no Frame 52 or Senor Frogs, but a good time nevertheless.

This morning we drove about an hour and a half to Red River Gorge to meet up with some volunteers from the Jackson House to do a bit of hiking. Quite a bit actually. We had some issues with figuring out the trail - but we made it in the end. Great views, Great people, Great Gatorade waiting for us in the van after a 4+ hour hike (thanks jackson house!) - what more can you ask for?

Oh, I know!!! How about a week of new volunteer orientation at Camp AJ? Done. We'll be heading out tomorrow afternoon and won't be back until Thursday night. So until then...love and prayers!