Road Trip part 2: Missouri/Arkansas

Gracie delights us with her "tootle" (penny whistle) along the way. In addition, Peter or Sarah added the guitar to devotion singing. What a blessing!

After a wonderful, encouraging conference with the Botkin family in Columbus, Georgia, off we headed to Missouri to the new farm and to Arkansas for a brief visit with our expatriated family, the Millers (Well, as long as they are still in the official "South", I guess they aren't expatriated!) The RV crew changed just a bit -- Rosie, Markie, and Kitty went home with their parents, and Peter, Sarah, and Gracie joined Danny, Ashley, Savannah, and me.

En route, we stopped in Tupelo, Mississippi, which gave Ashley and Savannah the opportunity to spend the night with Ashley's family. Then on to Arkansas for a night at the Millers.

These are the faces we were anticipating seeing! Birthday boys, Benny and Andrew, laughing their heads off at a birthday card from Granddaddy and enjoying gifts sent by Aunt Beth.

Andrew and Benny joined us as we trekked on to Missouri and the new farm. When we arrived, out came the chain saw and elbow grease! The ice storm of the previous month left many, many broken branches and spooky-looking trees littering the drive. Here, Benny drags a branch off the drive; in the background is the main house to the left and the guest house to the right.

Everyone joined in helping clear the drive (well, Grandmother took pictures from the RV, since she was confined to a wheelchair most of the trip!) Thanks for all your help, children!

Pillow fight in the "girls' dorm"! Sarah gives Gracie a taste of her own medicine, while Aunt Ashley moderates and Savannah wonders who these strange people are!

The Miller family came up to help clear (and explore for springs!). The manager of the neighboring ranch was helpful in learning about the history of the place, and he even offered this ATV for a reasonable price -- just what we were looking for! Sawing, raking, burning . . . sawing, raking, burning . . . sawing . . . you get the idea!

Of course, there were lots of opportunities to explore. One main objective was to find springs, live water. We thank the Lord for several good springs and creeks on this property! For now, the farm will be used to raise cattle, chickens, and maybe some produce beyond personal needs. In the future (when Granddaddy and Grandmother are in Heaven) it will be divided among our children's families, so we were glad to have water in various locations.

When we got back to Arkansas, the whole family was invited to the Davenports' home for the evening. These are friends of the Millers, who have become our friends. What a blessing to have RG (bass) and Matthew (guitar) join us to back up Aunt Ashley and Aunt Katie singing "I'll Fly Away". Peter played most of the time, but here, his banjo had sprung a string, and he and Mr. Davenport were fixing it.

Here, Mr. Davenport joins in on the guitar (thanks for sharing it, Matthew!). He is quite a character -- an old-fashioned country singer and player who fits right in. The children always have a ball playing with him. Because it was so late and cold, and the roads were so curvy and unfamiliar, the Davenports opened their home to us to stay for the night. We had a great discussion on things of eternal consequence the next morning over a delightful breakfast. These are the times that give children their firm foundation for the future.

Well, we had no idea we would have snow! Not much, but enough for the Florida youngin's to throw some snowballs. This was our last day, and after about an hour's drive to the Millers' church, we were blessed to fellowship with God's people in Arkansas. After dinner with our precious family and emotional goodbyes, it was time to hit the road again. Road Trip Part 3 coming up . . .