Arkasouri Part 2: The Whiddons

So . . . Off we went to visit our "sweet facies" in Arkansas and Missouri! This little sweet facie was waiting in Missouri. She has been waiting and waiting for her cousin Emma to come be her playmate in the Ozarks, and we had been waiting and waiting to squeeze her and enjoy her husky little laugh. Her parents sent us this "little star" picture, and we thought it was too adorable to keep to ourselves! (See previous post for the sweet facies we were going to see in Arkansas)

Sarah and Pete do their part to keep baby Paul happy on the road (Sarah's favorite position for travel!)

Rosie does too, only a little more pro-actively than Sarah and Pete! Baby Paul loved the RV!

The Whiddons, dear friends who live in Georgia, always prevail upon us to stop and enjoy their abundant Southern hospitality -- and their lovely home is a perfect oasis on the way. Here we are doing what we love best, enjoying sweet fellowship and God-honoring music with them. Mallory on the violin and Mr. Whiddon on the guitar. Oh, thanks, Mallory, for posing in the preview picture of the last post!

Here Discher and Whiddon maidens join together. Brooke and Sarah fiddle, and Gracie and Laney "mandolin". The Whiddon girls love to join the Country Cousins in playing old time bluegrass, but in actuality, they have wonderful talent in the performing of beautiful chamber music. They add the harp and cello (and little sister Nina) and bless people around their area. Brooke also plays the piano as the whole family sings.

On this trip, we were blessed to have my mother join us. She had not seen Katie or Jason's family for quite a while, and she had not seen the Missouri property, so she jumped at the chance! Here, she and Markie enjoy the music. In addition, Mother got to know the Whiddons' grandmother, who lives with them. What a blessing to have multiple generations spending time fellowshipping together!

The girls always bless us with a wonderful, home-cooked meal, and the adults get to spend time doing what we deeply appreciate -- discussing things of eternal significance and updating each other. God is so good to bring precious, faithful families across our paths to establish long-lasting relationships. His people will need each other more and more in the coming days.

Thank you, Lord, for faithful, like-minded fellow believers who are raising their families with the future of the Kingdom in mind. Thank you, Whiddons, for another wonderful visit -- we keep saying it's your turn to come our way!!

Next . . . the Ozarks!

Back Home -- Arkasouri Part 1

Thanks to the mercy and goodness of God, we are back home. We returned on Tuesday evening, Aug. 25, but we couldn't find our cord to transfer pictures from camera to computer, so that had to wait until today! Anyway, it was a great trip but my own little beddie-bye feels so good!

This is just a preliminary notice that more is coming! Pictures soon . . .

On the Road . . . Again!

Quick post . . .

Well, some people think all we do is travel, but, actually . . . sometimes it does seem that way! We told our son Jason that we would come out to "Arkasouri" this month, since he and Danny are in business together, and he wants us to see how much he has done! So off we go. And what a blessing that daughter Katie and her family live only an hour from Jason and his.

Here is the "chauffeur-in-chief" -- doesn't look like he is enthused about this trip! Actually, this is from a trip earlier this year, and he was tired! He says he is happy to hit the road on Monday, and we are bringing a crowd with us this time. Our oldest daughter and family, the Dischers, will be going along, including that "Star of the Moment", baby Paul. And Great-grandmother Harris (my mother) will be going with us, too, so we are excited about introducing them to friends along the way.

I am taking a cue from daughter Katie (http://crackercountry.blogspot.com/) and posting some old pictures. Here is granddaughter, Kitty, the old lady, one of the Dischers that will be coming with us. Cute, Kitty!

I love this picture! Here Sarah French-braids Kitty's hair, while Gracie does Sarah's, as they prepare for a Country Cousins performance. Sisters do amazing things for one another! They will be performing in "Arkasouri" for friends -- it is always fun to get together with the Millers and play some good bluegrass.

We can hardly wait to see this little facie, Joey. He is quite the precocious rascal, loving to shock
Grandmother with unexpected declarations. What will be his latest outrageous pronouncement??

We love to spend time with this precious facie, too -- sweet Rachel, rose among 7 thorns (well, her brothers are not really thorns, but they aren't roses, either!) Maybe Rachel will spend the night with us again and sleep up in the Chipmunk Nest! And she will have those blankets folded in no time -- Rachel is already a competent and enthusiastic home keeper.

Big boy Andrew with his sweet mama. We are surely looking forward to seeing these faces! We hope Robert will be able to be there, so we can visit with the whole family. Thank you, Lord, for the ability we have to travel and visit family. Please give us your angels as our traveling companions. More as we go . . .

Boston! Part 4: Homeward Bound

What a blessing our trip was! Thank the Lord His people find a way to come together and commemorate great things and great providences, even in hard times. We will never forget the things we learned about God's strong hand through the centuries, guiding and preserving, building and establishing. All the tendrils of His sovereignty, weaving through the ages and drawing, drawing us to Himself -- as a nation and as families.

Here are a few last pictures as we head home!

All the sweet (and manly) Stricklen children in costume in front of the authentic replica ( ! ) of the Liberty Bell.

CJ, God's purposeful older brother, guiding Wills in their testimony march through the Boston Gardens.

CJ dutifully keeping William in step with the parade! What adorable warriors! (Hmmm, do those words go together?? Grandmothers think so!)

Purposeful maidens step out of character for a second to acknowledge the grandfather behind the camera! When these young ladies joined together in singing hymns of the faith, the streets of Boston rang like they haven't in years! What a beautiful testimony!

Colonel John Eidsmoe, one of our favorite speakers. He is currently working with Judge Roy Moore in Judge Moore's run for the governorship of Alabama. May the Lord bring it to be -- we need such godly men in the gates!

One of my father's heroes of the "conservative" movement (actually, the movement to restore America to the faith of her fathers), Howard Phillips (in wheel chair) with his son and founder of Vision Forum, Doug Phillips (in white jacket). What a blessing that some of the old warriors are still here to see the fruits of their labors!

Here is Danny, right, with Geoff Botkin, center, (another of our favorite speakers!) doing what men do: discussing how to implement the principles and precepts of the Word to the saving of their families. Thank God for faithful men who understand the times!

After the Stricklens got on the road home, Danny and I, along with Susan, Chris's mom, were left with a day to relax and enjoy with no obligations. We had dinner at the restaurant I had been wanting to try all week! It was Maggiano's Little Italy, across from our hotel, and it was wonderful! Susan, whose late husband John Muccino was (real) Italian, says the food was authentic, and the atmosphere was as good as the food. We had a lovely meal.

The train route followed the New England coastline for quite a ways, which allowed us to see things we don't see in Florida. This is the "Block Island Ferry" (don't know where Block Island is, but it looked interesting.)

Neat rows and rows of sail boats. I know we have lots of marinas with lots and lots of sail boats in Florida, but these just seemed, well . . . New Englandy! I mean, I don't know if I will ever get to New England again in my life (or if I even care!), so I thought these made a nice memory.

Ahhh, palm trees! The Winter Haven train station! And beyond the (intrusive but dedicated) conductor waits, once again, our lovely chauffeur!

Granddaddy was happy to see her sweet, smiling face . . .

And so was Grandmother! Home again! Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful trip and such precious treasures to come home to!