A Little Bit of Heaven - Table Rock Lake

Dear Ones - ever wonder what heaven is going to be like? Surely it is going to be a lot like the Cape Fair Campground on Table Rock Lake!

Back in about 1969 or 1970, some families in our church in Aurora, MO invited us to go camping with them, using their extra trailer..and we were hooked! We got our own trailer (a tent up off the ground actually) and started spending every vacation at the same campground. At that time, it was because Pop Hilton had boat there we could always use..but after the boat bit the dust, we still kept returning. And here you see our campsite for this spring. It was the perfect site--wonderful view of the lake and all the boats, very quiet (excluding Memorial Day weekend), and we felt like we had found a little bit of heaven right there.

During our two weeks there, we had lots of neat times--Sally and Scotty Campbell from Marshall MO (bottom right picture) showed up one late afternoon to spend the evening. Sally is some kind of kin to Jerry (from Crane MO of course) and Scotty and Jerry are fraternity brothers from Missouri Valley so we go back a long way together. We have camped together over the years numerous times (our daughters are all one year apart and all their names begin with the K sound--try calling for them to come in from the woods: Carolyn, Karen, Carla, Kathy...eventually it just became 1-2-3-4!) Mike Price (another Missouri Valley grad) and his family also camped with us--their daughter just graduated from high school in Springfield and we got to share that special occasion with them.

We had several delightful days at Silver Dollar City. This time the Bluegrass festival was going on, and we did enjoy the Ricky Skaggs concert this past weekend. We were there with the Campbells...and one day with daughter Carla (on the climbing swing, NOT to be confused with the BIG SWING new ride SDC is offering!)...and with Mike and Phyllis Garrett from Monett.

We celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary in Monett with the Garretts, which gave us an opportunity to drive out to Camp Barnabus. The top-left picture is taken there with our college friend, David Bingham. David was about 4 years old when his Dad chaired the PNC that called us to FPC Midland--so he and his family have been special friends for many years. David will be a sophomore at Oklahoma State and working this summer at a wonderful camp for special needs kids. I recommend you check out the camp's website if you want to see spectacular and life-changing camping opportunities for wheel-chair bound children. Its a joy to see David involved in this ministry.

And now we are on our way home...last night we were camped on the parking lot of Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Wichita and today we head west. I just finished reading Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time about the dust bowl days, and want to stop at a couple of museums in Guyman - the XIT Museum and the No Man's Land Museum - and another one in Canyon TX..and then home.

I hope each one of you has your own little bit of heaven someplace on this journey - always knowing that God saves the best for last--when we arrive Home with Him! God bless you!

Memories of the hardware store

As many of you will remember, Jerry was raised in the hardware business. His Grandad opened the A.B. Hilton Hardware Store in Crane MO in 1906. After his Grandad's death, his initials were dropped, and the Hilton Hardware continued for many years. Last Wednesday, our long-time friends from seminary days, Pete and Bonnie Fey (who retired in Newton KS) gave Jerry a real treat--a trip to Halstead KS to visit the Old Halstead Hardware.

The original store, from the 1880's, has been restored--the tin squares in the ceiling; old fixtures--like screw holders with pie-shaped drawers and glass-front drawers to see the pulls and handles inside; the pot-bellied stove near the back, around which the old men used to gather in the cold weather; even the spittoon!

Jerry took a real trip down memory lane wandering through there--seeing many items that the Hilton Hardware used to sell. It was so nostalgic for him, and we all enjoyed watching him with all the items. Jerry and Pete, who now fit into the category of those "old guys" who hung around the stove, even stopped to do that (they did not, however, use the spittoon!)

Time with the Feys was so special, as was the rest of our time spent in Wichita. We were treated royally by our dear friends there...and what fun to spend time visiting with several of them over various lunches and dinners. Our time with Bev & Richard Spann gave Jerry and Richard a chance to do two of their favorite things--fishing and golfing (the rain is finally over), while Bev and I got to go shopping and peruse the scrapbooking store.

Attending morning worship at Eastminster PC was a joy--the Spirit was moving in their joy, fellowship, preached Word, and a glorious men's choir. We were able to say hello to many dear folks whom we grew to love during our year in Wichita. (It goes without saying that the next interim has a LOT to live up to!) What really surprised us both was the number of Wichita folks who said they kept up with our travels by following this blog--thank you to each of you!

Now we are leaving Wichita, and heading for Table Rock Lake (our "home away from home").

Mother's Day was also our Jo's birthday, and of course the girls were on a Carnival Cruise ship in the ocean celebrating Carla's 40th--but with cell service! Isn't that amazing? We were able to talk with them, as well as receive pictures of their cruise...which made my Mother's Day complete!

May 7 - Kansas City - rain and more rain!

We are beginning to feel like Mr. and Mrs. Noah! I cannot recall having been in such rain ever before....we have seen the sun for a few brief moments one day last week..and we had one day without rain when Jerry was able to mow Carla's back yard (which needed to be harvested but he mowed instead!) The rains came down Saturday night, all day yesterday and last night as well - so we are now in flood warnings. I just hope this clears up whatever drought the area has been in! We have been camped at Heartland Presbyterian Center. It has been a perfect place for us to be, for we have been able to leave the RV and come in to stay at Carla's for a few days last week--we got the upstairs guestroom painted in anticipation of her new roommate who will arrive this afternoon. She is short-term, doing an internship here in KC, but it will be nice for Carla. Check out Carla's blog as well - she had a fabulous 40th birthday in Orlando with her American Red Cross friends, and in two days she leaves for San Antonio where her sister is treating her to a 40th birthday surprise (I could tell you, but since Carla will read this, I better not!) We worshipped yesterday with Carla at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church, where Carla serves as DCE. They are in a building project and their new sanctuary is taking shape--it will certainly be a beacon for Jesus along Barry Road, as it is visible for some distance. First the city came in and redid Congress which runs along the east side of the church (to accommodate the new Zona Rosa shopping center directly across the street from the church) , and now that it is finally finished, the city will begin remaking Barry Road - so instead of getting them both done at the same time (as they said), this whole thing will end up being years in the making! Isn't it always that way? Meanwhile, the contractor needs some dry weather! Carla and I attended a Dave Ramsey financial workshop at the Municipal Auditorium on Saturday afternoon - the largest one he has ever held with 10,000 folks in attendance. He is marvelous--full of enthusiasm and common sense ideas. It was a joy to see all the ages represented--it would be marvelous if all those young people learned how to manage their money responsibly at their age, instead of learning the hard way (as many of us did) as they got older. We had a great time there. We had another project at Carla's house as well - getting the downstairs toilet NOT to leak. Carla and Jerry spent a great deal of time on that..I had a great picture to include here, but I can't do it from the computer I am composing on (which is not mine)..so use your imagination--Jerry contorted on the tiny floor space to get under the tank with a wrench with Carla kneeling on the seat trying to hold the pipe inside the tank steady while he tightened something. All this took place just before they called the plumber! It is now repaired! We have arrived in Wichita..and Carla has arrived in San Antonio and is with Jo and Scott tonight--the girls leave in the morning. Thanks be to God for His gift to us of family and friends--what a joy! Love to all of you...