Vermont's Charming Towns

September 24  The beauty of not being on a schedule:  the points of interest that you thought you were going to can be switched!  A conversation at our RV park led us to BROMLEY Ski Resort rather than Stratton Mountain, where we had a little fun on the alpine slides.  Who says old folks can't try new things?


Vermont was pretty amazing as we drove through many mountains and stopped frequently at little spots along the way.  Seeing a farmers market in LONDONDERRY prompted us to stop and get local organic veggies and share the best bowl of sausage chili w/ homemade corn-bread crumbled over!  Yum!

WESTON was the home of the Vermont Country Store (one of about 5 businesses there!) which boasted every imaginable item you could want with lots of Vermont gourmet food samples.                














An old fashioned --very SLOW train ride in CHESTER
was our last stop.  We rested and watched the small towns
go by, then turned around at the OKEMOS Resort, and headed back down the mountain.

Ending the day as we headed towards New Hampshire was this quite glorious sunset--billowy clouds with sun peeking through, tinges of pink and gold.  Who could ask for more?

Welcome to VERMONT

Psalm 4:7 (Message) "I have God's more-than-enough".  Our verse for the morning as we headed into a restful, relaxing and refreshing day.

In BENNINGTON, VT we took a 3 hour break to visit some highlights, strongly recommended by the visitor center!  Of course, we WILL stop to browse at antique stores!

Such a slice of Americana as we enjoyed lunch at the Blue Benn Diner, yes- there were personal jukebox choices in our booth!  On to 3 covered bridges,  and several "pull overs" while I took photos of the HUNDREDS of white houses with black shutters--so cute!

The Bennington Battle memorial honors the Green Mountain Boys who held the British in this town, 2 years after the Boston Tea Party; along with help from NH and MA patriots.  It proved a turning point in the American Revolution--quite a memorial.

The final stop was at First Church (Congregational) that was the first formed Protestant Church in Vermont, and Pastor Bill was allowed to "preach down" to the congregants!! The cemetery there held the grave of Robert Frost and also a funny little story about an early female "rebel"!

Last Stop in PA ~~ Only Stop in NY

Camp Orchard Hill played an integral part in the lives of our kids for 13 years while we lived in PA.  How absolutely excited we were to stop in DALLAS, PA and see what God has been up to in the ensuing years.  Back in 1996 when Bill served on the Camp Board, the camp was reaching about 2000 campers annually -- now, it is 12,000!!  More staff, more facilities, more donors, more creative programming-- but the same Unchanging God.


Heavy eyelids on the NY stretch caused us to stop for a 5 mile bike ride in BINGHAMTON.  Geese, ponds, sunshine, soccer kids...


We also made a few pit stops for...well, you know why!  This shows the continual mountains we traveled through and the funny sign (well, I thought it was funny)--not only were we in a town similar in name to ours, but it also boasted our fav MSU spartan!!

PS....Forgot one photo

Several of the Costa Fam: Laura & daughter, Ricky Jr., Janet and Sarah

Tri-Valley ~~a Continuing Legacy

We still remember when Pastor Randy Ott and his wife Lynne (living in heaven now), welcomed us into the Schulkill County area in 1989.  Our kids played soccer together, our churches supported one another, and our families celebrated 6 years of Thanksgivings together at their family cabin in the Pocono mountains.  #sweetmemories

What an amazing visit with friends in the Tri-Valley area where Bill served as pastor for 8 years at Calvary Chapel Ev. Free Church.  Unbeknownst to Bill, daughter Mikkel contacted the Athletic Director and asked if her dad could be honored for his part in establishing soccer there 20 years ago!  Memorable. Uplifting. Humbling. Tearful.

Kimmels, Carol & Carla Hoy

Ricky Costa

Millers with Katie and youngest son

Bowman family

Angie Geist, Kara Harmon & son

Klingers, Glen & Diane Ebert

Dave & Patsy Williams

Thx for the goodies!
Buddy with Carl & Carol

Dave & Pat Hummel

Kara, one of our "kids"

Servant Extraordinaire!

Dave & Annette Wolfgang

Janet Costa, mercy is her middle name.

Phil Barry, assistant coach in 2010

An even greater joy than this award and tribute was finding out that the legacy of our “pioneering efforts continues on:  Kids Klub in this area has grown to 2 weekly clubs of over 50 kids each; the High School SWAT Team Bible Study, started in1994 with a See You at the Pole event, is still ongoing with 60 kids.  In all honesty, we left this valley in 1997 feeling like we had not accomplished what we had envisioned at the small church there—a bit defeated and broken.  Yet God again proves how much BIGGER He is than what our perspective feels like.  Ephesians 1:15-16, “Because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints, I (we) do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my (our) prayers…. #Godisgood  #Godkeepsdrawingus #Hiswaysarepastourunderstanding

Presentation by Wayne & Girls Coach

Pennsylvania People & Places

Our "neighboring" friends from our Valley View, PA days, Phil & Kim Krause, hosted us for 3 days while we traveled around mid central PA.  Bill and Phil worked on many projects together and enjoyed hundreds of cups of coffee at area restaurants from 1989-1997!  They have been "Barnabus" friends to us, always an encouragement.  Loved catching up with how God is using them!


Many thanks to Paul & Deb Haken, friends for over 40 years, who drove an hour to have breakfast at DutchWay Restaurant in Myerstown yesterday.  Lots of deep conversations over the years about current issues, theology, politics~~they remain lasting friends who have supported and prayed for us, and always challenge us in our walks with Jesus.

Freshmen "roomies" at Columbia Bible College in 1969!!

Rev. Grover DeVault, Godly example to us, mentored Bill as a co-staff pastor during our 5 years at Faith EFC from 1984 to 1989.  We loved sharing with him and hearing the story of Nancy's home-going two months ago.  Bill has had three amazing mentors over the years—and this 87 year-old lover of God played an instrumental role in his growth as a pastor.  #grateful.

Beginning our Journey

Blue skies and fluffy clouds were our companions as we headed out on Thursday, September 15th! Cuyahoga National Park, OH was the first stop, with a bike ride along the beautiful trails~~ I inadvertently dropped my new RX sunglasses into the Cuyahoga creek while trying to take a selfie of us (!!), a minor setback for the first day!

Friday, September 16th found us in Shanksville, PA at the Flight 93 Memorial.  It was a solemn and moving reminder of the heroism of those 33 passengers on 9/11.  A powerful tribute.  Our 24 hours with Paul and Marlene Wenzel, forever friends from Marlita's Columbia Bible College days, was both restful and painful, with laughter and tears as we shared ministry stories.  So grateful for our God who has been faithful and full of grace throughout the mountains and valleys of our lives



 







Faith EFC, Trexlertown, PA was our destination on Sunday, September 18.  What a great day of memories and chatter as we saw how God has been moving and growing this church since Bill served as youth pastor over 30 YEARS AGO!! Delightful, Energizing, Satisfying, Challenging.  Especially touching was catching up with Tiffany, Nancy and Amy:  #ourkids  #cantheyreallybeover40??

Muthards, Holts, Landts, Geigers, and Bill Kline joined us for lunch at Panera!

Adventure Preparations!

We are one week out!  Bill is busy checking out all equipment in the van, positioning the TV monitor and checking out connections to the computer; trading favors with friends to keep the yard immaculate; installing a few new lightbulbs on the porches for security; and training a bus driver to replace him!!  Marlita is making calls to utilities, notifying post office and police, filling the cupboards in the van, checking out possible spots of interest, and getting all of Mom & Dad's details in order!!
Bill created this sign for our campgrounds so our various camping neighbors will know where "HOME" is!  He is so creative!  Our mission is to laugh, relax, encourage those we meet and take opportunities to see God ....and give thanks.