June 29, Day 3

It's Sunday morning and we started the day attending (Covenant Christian Church) with Tim, Tina, their children Tristen and Trevor, along with my brother Paul and his two children (Jordan & Logan). Sharon Overly, my stepmother, also attended with us. Tim preached and it was one of the best sermons we can remember. Tim has turned into a powerful preacher and we were very proud of him. Tim took this church over 3 years ago with just $56.00 in the bank and most of the congregation gone. Now the church is thriving again and is very much alive and well. Tina leads the music program and has a wonderful voice. Heather and I really enjoyed ourselves this morning. So far, it has been one of the high points of our trip.

Bob's brother Paul Overly

In Ohio, this is what they call a "Buckeye Babysitter"

The 3 Amigos

Paul, Tim, Logan & Jordan

Cemetary at Kirtland Temple at our Great-Grandfather "Gomer T. Griffiths'" Grave

Kirtland Temple, built in 1834

Kirtland Temple garden

The Ziccarelli's Home

in Kirtland Ohio

Bob, Tim and I stopped to visit Heather's longtime friends, Mark and Shawn Ziccarelli, at their beautiful home in Kirtland, Ohio. We intended to stay 15 minutes, but had a nice visit with them for an hour! (I thought their dog, Tiger, was going to mame us when we entered their house, but he ended up being very sweet!)

Mark & Shawn Ziccarelli
and their HUGE, GREEN backyard!

Day 2, June 28, 2008

The old house
outside of Centerburg, OH

Tim, Tina, Trevor and Tristen

This is a steep driveway!

What was Tim thinking?

Tim & Tina have very helpful children.

Tim & Tina's Home
Lake in Apple Valley

Drove to Apple Valley to (Bob's Brother's) Tim & Tina Overly's home. Very pretty countryside! I forgot how green things are in Ohio. Visited with Tim, Tina, and their 2 children Trevor and Tristen for a bit then decided take a trip to a very large mall (Easton Town Center) and walk around and have lunch. Weather was wet and windy but we managed to stay dry. Drove back to Mt.Vernon by way of my old town, "Centerburg" and drove by the house in the country I lived in for 8 years. Couldn't believe how big the tree are. Made it back to Tim's house around 7pm and relaxed awaiting Bob's brother Paul's arrival from Cincinnati. Very nice easy day.

Day 1, June 27, 2008

Arrived in Columbus at 8:40pm (5 minutes early but a bumpy flight) Picked up rental car and took off for Mt.Vernon, OH by way of State Rte. 62 (Johnstown Rd.). Decided to stop in the little town of New Albany at a nice little pizza shop (Eagle Pizza). Placed our order and sat down to eat and I remembered that my father had a cousin that had a pizza shop in New Albany. Just for the heck of it, I asked the server who the owner was. She told me it was her husband Dennis Keesee. I ask if he was related to Tom Keesee and she said Tom was his father. I told her I thought that Dennis and I were cousins and she went in the office and Dennis followed her out to meet Heather and I. He sat down with us and we had a very nice talk. Turns out that he is somewhat of an expert on the Cival War and has written books and travels all over the country on lectures. Very nice people so we exchanged e-mails and took off for Mt.Vernon. FYI, My father's mother's sister is his grandmother. She was my "Greataunt Catherine. I guess that makes us 3rd cousins. Small world!