So long for now, Leslie and Megan

We've said our 'see ya later's to Leslie for the next 3 months or so.
Beka Dean picked up Megan at her house in South Bend this afternoon, then drove to Evan and Emily's where Steve, Carol, and Lana waited with Leslie. Beka is driving Leslie and Megan to Lana's in Bloomington for the night, then to Beka's house in Greenville, SC tomorrow. On Tuesday Beka will be the one to take Leslie and Megan to Springer Mountain to begin their epic Appalachian Trail trek. Thanks, Beka! You're the greatest!

Leslie Beka Megan

Yesterday we had an awesome combination AT Send-off party for Leslie and a "welcome home" party for Mom and Dad Cummings who just returned from Texas on Wednesday. We fed about 35 people with everyone pitching in!

Dad, Mom Cummings, Janet catching up on news.

Roger Donn (baby Corbin-4 mo.) Judy

Debbie and Jim Frost had just returned from St. Thomas where they visited her brother Kevin and his wife Terry. Zac had left before this picture was taken. He had returned from a Spanish Club trip to Costa Rica a couple of days before!

This crew played games and had a great time with cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandpa and Grandma and others. Grandma and Grandpa Gottschalk called Leslie during the festivities.

Others attending included Roger and Judy, Donn and April, Andrea, Michael, Abby (in a bunny costume), and Corbin (the youngest), Janet and Steve, Rita and Wes, Mark, Shelly and Claire, Anne and all her children except Margaret (we missed you, Duane and Margaret), Alaina and Andrew, David and Deana, Fred and Mary Ruth, Keith, Patty, Natalie, and Phil Keim, Jack and Phyllis Brown! We missed all the family members who could not join us (especially Emily, Franz, Madeline, and Katie).

Leslie commented that by the time she returns Andrew and Alaina will have two children, Mark and Shelly will have a new baby, and Rita and Wes will be close to having their first little one! Amazing!

Brian presented Leslie with a trail patch with her trail name "Dirt Diva"! He also gave her one for Megan with her trail name of "Compass Rose"! His aunt and uncle in the embroidery business made them for him.