Just in time for dinner....

Ok, so Indiana wasn't really on the itinerary, but we were tempted by the sign that said Indiana - 10 miles - and we just couldn't resist the detour. We drove across the Ohio river and enjoyed stepping into Indiana, just because we could! :)

We made it to Cincinnati, Ohio just in time to have the most wonderful dinner with a good friend ...... Dame Isabelle Paul. We do charity work with Isabelle in the Order of St John and she is a generous philanthropist and an extraordinary woman. We visited her magnificent English Tudor estate and she graciously gave us a tour of her home, complete with a chapel and a hand-etched plastered breakfast room.

We had an enjoyable dinner at her private club and enjoyed many hours looking at pictures and notes from all over the world - Pictures of Isabelle with Gorbachev, Queen Elizabeth, Robert Schuller (She donated the 'Widow with the mites' statue in front of the Crystal Cathedral) and George W. Bush, as well as a member of the Nigerian royal family, who she describes as a Christian with a big job ahead of her. Isabelle is a big supporter of the Haggai Institute, which "obeys the great commission by training people of influence within their own countries to lead others to Christ" (See http://www.haggai-institute.com/ ) While the Italian frescos on the wall were impressive, the biggest gem in the home was actually Isabelle herself. We came into her home with awe and left with complete humility of her generous nature and love for those less fortunate. We are priviledged to know her and to call her our friend.

One more picture of interest - As we were driving through Kentucky, we saw many of these barns. We finally figured out that they had tobacco drying inside. Not something we see in Texas! :)