Another Road Trip -- Part 2

(Mary, the picture-posting queen, assures me that sometimes the pictures go where you don't want them to go, and there is no way to make them go back, so the first picture will just have to stay where it is!)

When we drove back into the property on this trip, we found forsythia in bloom! How spring-y! When my children were little and we lived in Indiana, we would tire of the endless winter about mid-March. We went out and cut forsythia branches and bring them inside. We put them in water to force the early blooms so we could have a touch of spring. Beautiful!

Also, see the brick wall in the bottom left corner of the above picture? It is a retaining wall along the patio in back of the house. In this picture, you can see a few of the hundreds of tulips that had come up along the wall. Hopefully, they did not freeze and die! They will be beautiful also. What a miracle spring is! We tend to forget its magnitude here in Florida, but it surely sends out a message of hope every year!

"For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;" Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Ashley looks relieved to be in Missouri -- finally! She drove the Tahoe and followed Jason driving the U-Haul rental truck.

Jason and Ashley came in about 10:30 at night. Everyone pitched in and started unloading the truck. This was one of those "hit the ground running" trips for them. They had encountered several obstacles along the way, but God's amazing grace was sufficient!

Katie made a special effort this trip to meet up with us every day or so and let one or two children spend the night with us. What a blessing to spend time with them one on one, talking and listening! Here is Joey with Granddaddy in the RV.

Although they enjoyed being with Florida family, these boys were glad to get home! After all, they are men of God with work to do. And besides, there's no cooking like Mama's cooking, right?

One evening, we went to Katie's for supper in the new kitchen cabin. Here little Sam and Savannah get to know each other better. The storage boxes make the perfect size tables for little people!

Andrew and Katie in the cheery new yellow kitchen!

Above, Rachel and her big brother RG, and below, Katie and Samuel. The Millers met us in Flippin Arkansas (yes, that's the real name of the town . . . don't ask me . . .) for supper at a quaint little restaurant named Sodie's, in the train depot. Pleasant times after a hard day's work.

Rachel was our sweet little companion at the home show. Jason and Danny manned this vendor booth for the new business, Wood Re New, a restoring service for log homes, decks, fences, etc. Jason will handle the business in a five county MO/AR area. I think it will do well.

Here are Ashley, Benny, Savannah, Joey, and Grandmother at a nice cafe/grill we found during the Mountain Home Arkansas spring home show. They served their own delicious grassfed beef, so we came back several times.

Well, this does seem to be a time of transition for the Frodge clan. The Millers have been in Arkansas for a year now. The Jason Frodges are now in Missouri, about an hour from the Millers. The Dischers have their little house up for sale, in preparation for a move, as soon as possible, to Missouri, also. (Check our their house blog! http://floridacountryhouse.blogspot.com/ ) The Dan Frodges have been back and forth (!), and the Stricklens are firmly rooted in Florida. What is next, Lord? Thank You for your faithfulness, through quiet times and unsettled times. You have a plan, and we gladly place our family in Your providential hands.

Oh, No!! Not Another Road Trip!!?? Part 1

Well, yes, another road trip!  Cousins Matthew and Peter turned 16 in the last few months, and it has been our privilege to take (well, for Granddaddy to take) grandsons who turn 16 on a canoe trip with cousins and friends.  So Matthew and Daniel flew down for the occasion, which happened to coincide with Uncle Jason and Aunt Ashley's move to Missouri.  Jason and Danny have bought a business in the Gainesville, Missouri, area, which Jason will manage and work (and I do mean work -- it's a wood treatment business, and there are lots of log homes, decks, etc., in the Bull Shoals area of Missouri/Arkansas.)  So this was an ideal time to hit the road and take Matthew and Daniel home to Arkansas!  Here we go!

What a privilege to have Matthew to talk to for two whole days!  Matthew isn't much of a chatter, which is a good thing, but he thinks deeply and comes up with great observations and theological conclusions.  Since they moved to Arkansas, we have missed hearing his thoughts as he grows into manhood. 

One of Daniel's "quieter" moments in the RV.  Daniel, too, surprises us with the depth of his contemplations.  He and Matthew both have a dry wit and love to come up with "zingers".  What a blessing to spend time with them!

Our other traveling companion -- Ashley's good doggie, Spencer.  We had intended to meet them as they came up from Ft. Lauderdale, but they were delayed behind us, so we ended up with a canine companion all the way to Missouri.  Spencer has been living with us the last year or so, but he has been an "outdoor" dog -- both Danny's and my preference.  So the boys washed and washed him so he would be tolerable in the RV.  I must say, he was a good doggie all the way.  He never misbehaved and was always considerate.  He is loving his new farm home in Missouri.  Bye-bye, Spencer.  We will miss you!

Boys love buffets -- at least these boys do!  We ate most meals in the RV, but we had to have one good buffet along the way!

Finally there!  It is much greener than February.  The sun shone most of the time, but when we left on

April 6, it was downright C-O-L-D!!  It was supposed to freeze that night -- hope the hundreds of tulips and daffodils made it! 

R.G. came up after work to help unload Jason's moving truck, but since they had been delayed, he ate supper with us and went back home to Arkansas.  We didn't get to spend a lot of time with him, but we were so blessed by the man of God he is becoming. 

Every evening, I was blessed to watch and listen as Granddaddy broke the Bread of Life and young men asked questions and added insights.  I could not help but think of the strong faithful arrows going into a time I won't see.  Thank you, Lord, for these precious times, and the little glimpse into the future that they give us.

Part 2:  Moving In

Double Blessings

Our church ladies' Bible study class has recently finished studying the Book of Ruth and is now into the Book of Esther.  We wanted to compare and contrast the sovereign workings of the Lord in the lives of the two women for whom books of the Bible are named.  What a beautiful study this has been!  And what wonderful nuggets of truth the Lord is showing us as to how the lives of these women can inform our lives in the 21st century.

Although a book is not named for her, there is another woman in this study who has been a blessing to me.  That is Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth.  She is a wise woman who pours her life into that of her daughter-in-law, in order to see God fulfill His plan in the next generations.  The one thing that is most impressive to me about Ruth and Naomi is the depth of their relationship and their commitment to one another.  It is truly instructive to us -- to me -- as a mother-in-law.

Of course, my thoughts have turned to my own children-in-law.  When our children were born, what precious blessings!  We thought we could never love anyone as much as we do our children.  As they grew and the Lord brought them all together with their spouses, we found that we had received double blessings!  Each in-law that was added to our family became truly that -- family.  And our love for each one has grown in depth the place where we can both say we love them like our own children.

Now, as the parents of our 22 grandchildren, each child-in-law  has become even more precious.  Living in ever-deepening relationship with them, we can see their unique qualities, quirks, and characteristics coming out in the grandchildren, along with those of our children.  Each grandchild increasingly develops a distinct personality, a combination of both parents.  And that's what makes them so loveable!

Yes, children-in-law are truly a double blessing.  Thank you, Lord, for Eddie, Chris, Robert, and Ashley.  We could not imagine life without them!  We love y'all!

Eddie, with his beloved bride, our oldest, Beth.  He is a quiet Canadian, but he brings so much to our family.  His creativity is unique -- he is an accomplished artist, but too humble to let anyone know it.  His firm steadfastness of purpose has been passed on to his children, and we believe that will stand them in good stead in the difficult days ahead.  We love you, Eddie!

Chris, Molly's husband, with his grandfather.  Chris' heritage goes back many generations in Florida.  He is the designated story-teller when we get together.  Everyone loves to hear Uncle Chris get going on a story.  And generous -- he is always, always ready to help someone in need, especially if it means getting under a vehicle!  He is an artist at mechanics, and is a student of the Word.  We love you, Chris!

Robert, Katie's husband.  Here he is teasing his niece, Emma Jane.  Uncle Robert always wants to plan some fun stuff for the children -- giving them nicknames, playing dominoes.  He is quite a musician, but he doesn't like anyone to know it.  He has a sacrificial spirit for his family (as do all the daddies) staying away from home for weeks sometime to put bread on the table.  We miss him.  We love you, Robert!

Ashley, Jason's bride.  Ashley probably thought we were nutty when she first met us -- you know, big families, homeschooling, bread-baking, frugal living.  Now, she's just one of us!  She has been a very sophisticated lady but she knows how to handle a 4-wheeler in the woods!  Next, she'll be bringing home the venison out in Missouri!  She is a talented singer and public speaker and is a blessing to our family.  We love, you, Ashley!

My Kind of Day!

Yesterday (Thursday) was my birthday. At this age, some people want to forget birthdays, but hey, I believe each year is a gift from God, and I wanna celebrate! But not in the way most people do. When the girls asked what I wanted for my birthday, I told them, "Just bring dinner and your families, and give me the gift of time!!" There is nothing I love more than having my family spend the evening with me and their daddy, so that is just what they did!

The day started out pleasantly, with my precious mother and my dear friend, Molly's mother-in-law, Susan, both sending me sweet ecards, with perfect pictures, perfect music, and perfect thoughts of love and friendship. Then the phone calls from my son Jason and daughter Katie, who could not be here. What a joy to just spend time talking with my adult children and knowing that they want to talk and share their hearts!

About mid-day, my sweet husband brought me beautiful flowers and blessed my forehead with a kiss -- this is something he does regularly, and I carry it with me all day!

What a wonderful man to spend my birthday with!

Then sweet little Markie and Rosie came over to help Grandmother straighten up the kitchen before the evening's festivities. What a blessing to listen to them singing earnestly and enthusiastically while they work! It passes so fast -- Mamas, enjoy it while you are able!

They wouldn't accept any pay to help for Grandmother's birthday, but they were willing to enjoy a Dove bar for a treat and a few minutes to read, read, read!

Sweet Gracie made me what has to be my very favorite cake for a birthday cake -- a lemon angel-food cake with homemade lemon curd! It was soooo delicious! Granddaddy and I often muse about the blessed young men who are waiting to be revealed who will be the beneficiaries of these girls' culinary talents! What a blessing our family has in these accomplished bakers!

She decorated it with beautifully fragrant lemon blossoms, which, conveniently, grow right here!

Little Emma Jane (who still thinks it was her birthday) and Margaret Anne watch Grandmother ham it up.

Hey, everyone needs to blow out a birthday candle, even if it is imaginary, right? Homemade lemon curd awaits on the left.



Liberty Dollies came to the party, too, as they usually do. They spent a lot of time enjoy reading fellowship.



We ended the evening watching "Fireproof" together. What a blessing to be able to enjoy a good, God-honoring movie together -- we laughed, we cried, we held our breath and rejoiced when all turned out well. And so the evening capped off just the kind of day I love when it is my opportunity to choose. Thank you, Lord, for my precious family, and thank you, family, for a wonderful birthday! (And thank you, Kitty, for helping me edit this boondoggle!)

Oh, Goodness! Once More . . .

I can't seem to do a post without forgetting one of the pictures I wanted to put up! As we were preparing to leave the Whiddons, they brought out the baby goats, and Savannah decided they were hers! She loved them and didn't want to leave them. Whenever she comes to Grandmama and Granddaddy's, she wants to visit the cows and the "chickies" -- I think she is meant to be a farm girl! Thanks for indulging me again!

Road Trip part 3: coming home!

Before we leave the Ozarks, a few more pictures:

What a surprise to learn that there is a cemetary on our property! Danny and the children took a hike over to see it and found it very interesting. It is a small resting place that has not been well-cared-for over the years and has reverted to the property owners (us now). We plan to neaten it up and fence it, with access for families from the road. This headstone says "William Pitts, born July 20, 1864, died June 11, 1917. In my Father's house are many mansions". Interesting years: born the year the War between the States ended; died one of the years of the great influenza pandemic. Headstones always cause me to speculate! History is not dead!

Joey (right above) and Daniel (below) loved watching their brothers open birthday gifts. What a fun bunch of boys! And their only sister is the sweetest girl in Arkansas!

We were blessed that Robert was able to spend a couple of days with us while we were there. This was the "home time" when they accomplished the Great Yellow Model on their kitchen cabin ( see http://floridacrackercsa.blogspot.com/ ) Not only is this bunch of boys fun, but they can work hard!

After sad goodbyes, we made our way to Leesburg, Georgia for an overnight visit with the Whiddons. They graciously invited us to stay for the night, and we got an extra visit in the next day when we discovered the RV had a flat!! What a good time we had, and what wonderful hostesses the girls were when their parents had to be gone part of the time!

Here the two patriarchs discuss the conference we had all attended and the things our nation may be facing. Being family leaders with an "understanding of the times" is of great importance to these men. Thank you, Lord, for their leadership. Of course, the young people always love to sit and listen to wisdom and godly principles expounded!

The next morning, Mrs. Whiddon had to take the other children to appointments, so Brooke joined right in with the Country Cousins (actually one brother and two sisters!) to do a little bluegrass!

When the other girls returned home, they played some of the arrangements their beautiful string quartet plays for weddings and other occasions. Here Mallory plays harp, Laney plays cello, and Nina joins Brooke on the violin (no fiddlin' here!) These girls are quite accomplished and gave us a beautiful concert.Before we left, all the Whiddon children blessed us with "May the Lord Find Us Faithful". What a wonderful message for a send-off! Thank you, Whiddons, for the Christian love you showed our family with your precious hospitality!

We arrived home safely and ready for Florida sunshine and some rest! What a wonderful trip it was -- especially getting Granddaddy to take two whole weeks away from his office! After a little recovery, who knows what adventure is awaiting around the next corner!

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 . . .