Monday was the 4th of July, so my office was closed and I was able to partake in the day’s festivities!

One of the chapels hosted a rally for all the other chapels, so it was quite the gathering of folks!

It was overstimulating, yet exhilarating to see so many familiar faces all in one room.

Two faces were particularly heart-warming to see: Josh and Ethan! These guys are involved in the same campus ministry as me back in Rio, and they came up for the day for the rally!

It was so sweet to see them and hear about what life for them and Rio has looked like for the past couple of months. Tears threatened to emerge multiple times and though I don’t think I’ve ever experienced home sickness, there was a bittersweetness to seeing them and having to say goodbye again.

After the rally, some fifty of us went to the nearby softball fields and spent the afternoon playing softball and chatting with one another.

Then, after going home and cleaning up, a group of us gathered together and watched the firework display the neighborhood put on.

Friday evening, my parents came to visit for the weekend!

They got to join for our fellowship dinner and meet the people I’ve been spending time with these past two plus months!

Saturday, we ate at Maple Street Biscuit Company, which has easily become one of the top five best dining experiences I’ve ever had!

The food was delicious (pictured in the grits bowl I ordered), the staff was amazingly attentive and engaging, and the atmosphere was great!

A manager came by our table and asked us how our food was. When we told them we were from out of town, they brought us out cinnamon biscuits, on the house! And boy, were they yummy!

Afterwards, we headed over to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum!

Before we even had a chance to make it in the building, we found a familiar name by the statue at the front entrance!

“Band of Brothers” is a treasured mini-series in the Burke household. A few years back, it became an annual tradition to watch the entire series over the course of Memorial Day weekend.

The show depicts the stories and realities of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, and the part they played during World War Two. It’s a gritty, but great, watch and these rocks are from the the mountain the soldiers had to run up and down during their training at Camp Toccoa.

Afterwards, we found a nearby BBQ restaurant called Fowler’s!

To pass the time while we waited, we took some pics.

Our food was tasty, particularly Mom’s sandwich!

That evening, we had dinner over at the Allen’s! It was great to see my worlds overlap and for my parents to see what makes these peeps worth the commute and commitment!

Sunday morning, Mom and Dad headed home, ending a packed but sweet week!