Family Fun in the Ozarks

 Monday June 26, 2023

We drove from Mississippi over to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  We made it as far as just west of Little Rock when, due to severe thunderstorms we got a hotel room and ate one of the worst meals I'd ever had at a Waffle House restaurant. The next morning we drove over to Ft. Smith and worked our way up through the country looking for property we might like to buy, finally making it to Eureka Springs where we had a delightful time walking around old town and enjoying all there was to do at our hotel. We stayed at the lovely Inn of the Ozarks, a place I would highly recommend for any family. 

Above is a country trail we were on somewhere in Arkansas. 

Below is the pool at the Inn of The Ozarks!

The Inn had a very nice restaurant and an outdoor picnic and recreation area/game area.

We walked around downtown Eureka Springs in the evening and had a delicious dinner.

It was hot and humid, but we enjoyed it!

On Wednesday morning I took Darryl over to see the Christ of the Ozarks. Later in the Day Cody and Alisa and their children and Mike and Angie Egloff joined us at the hotel.

We had so much fun hanging out at the pool and outdoor dining area with Mike and Angie and Cody, Alisa and kids. Darryl and Mike went for Pizza and BBQ and we had quite a feast and visited until after 10:00 p.m. 

Thursday Morning we took everyone to Thorn Crown Chapel, just outside of Eureka Springs. What a beautiful, peaceful and reverent place it is. 

I think everyone enjoyed it.

Liam started to get a little noisy, so Grandpa and I took him outside.

The children were very good and respectful of this spiritual place.

From there we took everyone over to The Christ of the Ozarks, where we had our photo taken in front of the big statue and walked the grounds of the Passion Play and Bible village area.

We were having such a good time being together that these are the only photos I have with Mike and Angie in them.

The kids are checking out Goliath of Gath. He was big!

Oh Look! It's just Grandpa Darryl!

Mike and Angie had to leave for home from the Religious Center, but the rest of us ventured forth to the old Fire Tower that is now a tourist attraction. We climbed the 100 ft. tall tower to the top and had a beautiful view of the countryside. 

Everybody Smile!

It was a delightful visit but much too short. 

Friday June 30, 2023

Darryl and I headed up to the Arkansas-Missouri border and along the way visited this beautiful Civil War Memorial at Mammoth Spring State Park and the amazing spring there.

Beautiful clear water flows out of the ground and into this pond at a rate of 322 cubic ft. per second. It is the 7th largest natural spring in the world and it is beautiful and awe inspiring!

From there we worked our way east to Interstate 40, stopped for the night just outside of Cookville, TN when the thunderstorms got so bad (and we had driven in the for a few hours) we just didn't feel like driving in them any farther. And... the Interstate was backed up.

We made it to Cami and Jacob's on Saturday July 1st, which means we were their to eat their Low Country Boil on Sunday after Church! 

Do we have Great timing or what?

Happy & Sad Times In Florida & Mississippi

May 20, 2023

Saturday, Darryl and I decided to do some sightseeing and ventured down to Ft. Desoto State Park, St. Petersburg. It was a fun adventure and lovely day.

And then we walked across the bridge and down to the beach. 

Sunday... I curled my hair into a new hairdo for church.

Sadness filled our heart when I heard the news on the local Radio that friends of ours, Randy and Jill Scott, had been killed instantly when their car was hit head on by a dump truck on the highway. Jill's sister, Judy Cook, was with them and passed away too.

Randy and Jill were long time volunteers at the Florida Strawberry Festival and who worked with the Redhead Express every year they were there. They were kind and loving and made us all feel welcome. They were true disciples of Jesus Christ and will be greatly missed. 

Randy was known as "The Voice of the Strawberry Festival" and each morning sung the National Anthem for over 20 yrs.

Their viewing and funeral were so large that it was held in the large showcase building on the festival grounds. The day I went, representing not just Darryl and I but the entire Redhead Express Band family, and waited in line for nearly an hour to give my condolences to the family. They will be missed.

May 27, 2023

Saturday

Darryl found a car show - (not hard to believe) and so we took the morning and early afternoon to enjoy the festivities.

One of the highlights for me was finding the 1969-70 Pontiac Catalina. My Dad bought a brand new car just like this, fire engine red, and I remember it well. He would load all of his Veterinary Supplies in the trunk and drove that care everywhere. That is, until my brother flipped it on a country gravel road. The car was totaled, but dad went out and bought another one.

Happy Memories indeed.

Monday - Memorial Day 

May 29, 2023

On Memorial Day Darryl and I walked down to the Riverview Cemetery and listened to the Military Ceremonies to honor our fallen veterans.

We then took the small American Flags we brought and put them on the Military graves we found that didn't have any on them.

June 13, 2023

Darryl I had been living in a nearly empty 3 bedroom apartment. It had a bed and table and chairs and a huge 72" Big Screen TV. My cleaning chores took about 20 minutes in the mornings, so since I didn't have much else to do while Darryl was at work, I would go to the Bishop's Storehouse once a week to volunteer. 

Saturday June 17, 2023

The Saturday before we left Florida before heading to our next project, we were invited to lunch with Brother and Sister Stock. They lived for several years on their boat before building a tiny house that they are now adding on to.

We got in their cute little speed boat to go across the river to the restaurant when the boat broke down and we had to be towed back home.

Not to be deterred, we got into one of his bigger boats and went to lunch and then spent a little time admiring their lovely home and property.

Monday evening I went to my last Southern Company Chorus rehearsal. I will miss these ladies!

We left on Friday Morning, June 23rd and Pascagoula, Mississippi where we attended the baptism of Iris and Romeo Whitted. We just love this sweet little family.

It was a delight to be with my sweet primary children again. Roxanne, Ella, Iris, Romeo and Rhett.

Later that afternoon we visited some friends in Gautier, checking in on Becky, who was our downstairs neighbor at "The Pointe" apartments, and visiting with my art teacher, Marguerite Pavarnik and her husband. On Sunday we went back up to church in Lucedale before heading over to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to meet up with Cody and Alisa.