Beautiful Drive, Good friends and family

I started out early Sunday morning to drive to Oklahoma City. It is always a two-day trip when I drive, but I also had a few stops I wanted to make along the way.



My first stop was in Rockville, Indiana at the Rockville Correctional Facility. As most of you know, I have been writing to and mentoring a girl at this facility.(well I guess she's a lady--35 y/o, but looks so young!) They are allowed to have visits from family or friends for 2hours at a time. I arrived there about 10:30 am and had a wonderful visit with her.

This is Nichole with her kids, R.J. and Nyla. They are 3 y/o and 2y/o. Nyla just had her birthday. She hasn't seen them for a long time. I am currently trying to work out a visit to see them and get some current pictures for her. I am impressed with the way Nichole has grown spiritually and she has a very positive attitude, in spite of some of the negative things that go on. She is in college there (through Ivy Tech) for Medical assistant. She is also in a work program at a factury there (Penn products), which will help her with employment when she gets out.
One humerous thing is that she always wants me to tell her what I've fixed for meals. They have pretty bad food, and I told her I thought it would make her feel bad. She said, "Oh no! I can almost smell the roast and taste the food" A good imagination I guess.

When I left Rockville, I went to Terre Haute to see my friend Naomi. (This is an older picture, as I am in OKC and forgot the cord to upload pics from my camara. I took her a care package and visited for about an hour.

When I left Terre Haute, I drove as far as I could until sunset. (I don't drive after dark). I got to Rolla, Missouri at 7:30 pm and stayed in a Best Western.

I couldn't believe it, but I slept until 6:40 am (my time--it was actually 5:40 in Mo). I got ready to leave, had juice and coffee at the hotel, and left there about 7:15 am (Mo. time)

Sort of on a whim, I decided to stop to see the Precious Moments Chapel. I knew I wasn't on a strict schedule, and had wanted to see it for a long time. My kids and first hubby had been there a long time ago, but I wasn't with them. The grounds are beautiful, and the chapel was really impressive. We couldn't take pics inside, but these pictures below are from the internet. One room had beautiful stain-glass windows, each one depicting one of the beatutudes.

This was the main room, as you walked in. It had murals along both walls, and this big mural at the back, called "Hallelujah Square". I was really glad I had taken this little respite from my driving. (Besides I really needed to walk for a little while!)

I arrived in Ok. City about 3 pm their time and went to see my mother-in-law, Gloria, and son Tim. I went to her home and he came over to visit with us.

I am staying with my cousin, Donnie and her husband Gene, and had supper there. Her computer modem is broke, so I came to the library to catch up and get my "computer fix".

(I'm really hoping my cord for my camara is in my suitcase, but it didn't get here to the library with me.). I will be spending most of the week here, and leaving again for the drive home next Saturday.