The Places We Go

Our family members have been crazy busy the last few months. Here is just a taste of what we've been doing:

In April, David moved back home from the dorms. His physical and mental health were very poor by the time he finished out the semester. We were glad that he strove to finish out the school year but it is nice to have him home where we can help him to go to doctors and he can concentrate on getting healthier.

Brian and I went on a cruise together. We like to go someplace by ourselves at least once a year. We saw this cruise on sale and it helped us get closer to our goal of visiting every state. We flew into New Orleans then cruised to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. After our cruise, we drove over to Mississippi. Brian is now at 48 states! We liked having this time together since we would spend the next month apart.

Trying a Po Boy in NOLA. We liked them so much we got another before we flew back home.

We got to see where the Mississippi River merges with the Gulf. Brian was excited!

A week after our cruise, Michelle and I left for Ireland. We have been planning this trip with my Mom for years but the trip has always fallen apart for one reason or another. My Mom was nervous about meeting us in Ireland so we were excited when Michelle found a super cheap flight to Ireland that left about 2 hours from my family's house. Although the timing was poor, we felt like it was important for us to get my Mom to Ireland to see where her ancestors lived.

Michelle and I took a red-eye to JFK (Brian and I raced to the airport straight from Elena's Hope of America performance!) then we drove to Stewart airport. My Mom and Dad drove down and met us there. We spent 2 days in Dublin then 2 days in the west by County Mayo and Galway and the last day in Athlone. My family lived in incredibly remote areas- Ballyhaunis, Curruan, and Cloonkeen. Curruan has a population of 6 homes!! It was an incredible experience to walk where our ancestors walked and share stories about their faith. We also learned more about the Potato Famine (or The Great Hunger as it is called in Ireland). Some of my family came to the US as refugees with only the ragged clothes on their backs. This trip gave me a greater love and appreciation for those who are displaced by crime or war or famine.

Michelle and I by the River Shannon

We drove along these teeny one lane roads to get to where my family lived.

Sheep in Curruan

Statues depicting The Great Hunger

While I was in Ireland, Brian left for Singapore. That was stressful for everyone- especially for Rebekah who took her Calc AP that day. Katherine and Rebekah joined Brian a week later. The two girls sat in on lecture with Brian but had plenty of time to explore the country together and with Brian. Both Rebekah and Katherine enjoyed the freedom of traveling around on the MRT (metro) and trying out new foods!

Brave travelers headed to Singapore. It took them about 30 hours.

Everyone was home for about 10 days then we headed out to Florida for an Andreadakis family reunion. My parents and 4 of my 5 siblings came. It was the first time that Lukas met most of my family but he fit right in. Michelle arranged for us to all stay in a motel located next to Crystal River (North west of Tampa). The motel had a grassy area and pavilion with a BBQ grill where we gathered together for meals and fun! We rented kayaks and canoes for the entire weekend. The kids loved spending all day out on the water with their cousins. There were just a few manatees in the river but it was amazing when one would travel right under a canoe!! 

Common area at our motel in FL

Visiting a Greek Community in Tarpon Springs, FL

One week after the Florida trip, Brian, Rebekah, Eric and I went to Wyoming for our Stake Youth Conference. I don't usually work with the youth so it was a blast to be there with them! It was very hot, we had heavy winds that broke some of the tents and we had thunder storms and lightning with rain and hail on the last day for good measure. However, all of the kids we worked with had a great attitude and they grew closer to God from their time on Trek. Each youth "trekked" for either a rescuer or member of the Willie and Martin Handcart company. Eric "trekked" for an ancestor on the Anderson side: Paulinus Allred. Paulinus was in Brigham Young's company when he arrived in Salt Lake. Paulinus was one of the first people who heeded Brigham Young's call to rescue the saints out on the plains. Rebekah "trekked" for one of RaNae's ancestors.

Spending time under the stars at Trek

Jennifer with the girls in our Trek family

We have been home for a week but July will bring 4 more camps. Elena is headed to Clear Creek, Rebekah has YW Camp, Eric has Student Council retreat as well as a combined YM Camp with Brian. I will be trying to reclaim our house with our poor dog who has no desire to ever see another suitcase again. 

Between traveling, Eric has been working at Camp Jeremiah Johnson (a Cub Scout Camp). Rebekah has been hosting weekly Improv groups (she was elected one of the club presidents) and she has an interview for a job with BYU catering (fingers crossed). Elena has been busy learning to quilt, swim lessons, kayaking at the lake with neighbors and all of the things she can craft. Katherine is interning in a Biology Lab and teaching Taekwondo. Lukas is working at BYU as a Calculus TA. Brian is working on getting ready for more bike races. I was recently called to be a Webelos leader. David is working on goals to get healthy. We appreciate all who have prayed for David or sent kind thoughts for his recovery.