Friends

We met with Doug and Becky G. at Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO. Doug worked there for many years. Our friendship goes back to the 80's.

Heather always wants the sundae that Whit's End offers. It's really TOO big, but it looks so yummy. We had sweet fellowship (yep) and reminisced about the years gone by - where did they go??

Focus let us spend the night in their parking lot. We had to leave by 8 and the store didn't open until 9, so we pretty much wandered around and then returned. 

On Tuesday we drove to Kendall's place in Littleton, CO. We hadn't seen them in many years, so there was lots to update. They took us to a favorite walking place by the Platte River. Kathy packed a picnic lunch for us. There were no flies or mosquitoes to ruin our time. The weather was perfect. It was a good time of encouraging one another. In the evening we played several games.

Wednesday we were back on the road. Toward late afternoon Roger started looking for a church where we could attend prayer meeting. He found one in small town Torrington, WY. It's good to meet with fellow believers. They let us spend the night on their parking lot (unpaved).

McDonald's

We spent the night in a gas station/truck stop in CO. Around dark a farm truck pulled upwind from us (think manure)! Gag me!! He didn't stay all night. Early this morning a skull stopped by for a too long visit! Several car alarms went off. But we slept well. Now we're at McDonald's again.

McDonald's has been our friend for many years. This year, with the intense heat, we have gone inside just to cool off (although the manager said the a/c couldn't keep up with the heat). I've been told a/c only cools 30 degrees below the outside temperature.

In years past, the kids and now the grandkids enjoy/ed the playland. Happy meals (or as our granddaughter called the place "Happy Donald") have always been a favorite.

We are so grateful to go to a place that doesn't sell liquor! Today we had their coffee to save on starting the generator and use their internet. It's strong enough (the internet - lol) that we can operate inside the R.V.

Thanks, McDonald!! Roger (almost) always gives them a good review.

Church

Attending Sunday School, services and Wednesday prayer meetings is a highlight of our travels.

Last Wednesday in Warrenton, MO, we were loaned a car to go to a local church. The pastor was teaching, but he's currently answering questions that various folks have submitted. One was about voting, specifically pro-life. He had a lot of good things to say to strongly encourage us all to vote as Jesus would. Other topics were tatoos - should Christians get a tatoo? What does the Bible say about sexuality?

Today in church we had a Sunday School lesson on future events. It was good to have our past knowledge reinforced. The sermon was on forgiveness - I don't think we can ever hear too much about that! We were blessed.

CEF IHQ

Sunday was spent in the church parking lot in Columbia. We enjoyed the morning Sunday School and service, but were disappointed to learn that they don't have an evening service. 

So, we watched the Zoom Good News Club taught by CYIA youth. There were children riding their bikes in the church parking lot and along the street. We told them briefly about Jesus, encouraged them to visit the church for themselves (most of them don't go to church), and gave them "Jesus loves you" cards. Be great to meet them in Heaven! It was hard to be there with Mary and Scot gone - felt like a loss of sorts.

Since we had lots of down time on saturday and Sunday...meaning the RV was not moving, we did two jigsaw puzzles.

Monday we drove to CEF and got all hooked up. That evening our R.V. neighbors, Tim and Mari Dekle, hosted a wiener roast and invited us. We brought pickles and marshmallows to add! About 10 CMI students joined us and we had a great time getting acquainted and visiting.

Tuesday and Wednesday Heather worked with housekeeping. They had had a full house, and it took 2 days to get all the bedding and towels washed and folded. But by 8 p.m. Tuesday we were done. Roger went through the entire volunteer lodge, checking the plumbing and cleaning out drains that needed attention. Then he weeded the front gardens in preparation for the International Board's arrival.

Thursday we worked together in production. That involved loading the binding/cutting machine, making boxes, and packing the books that came off production. This was the day's work!

The next day Heather finished that production. Then she worked binding books and besides some other work, made up over 400 boxes in preparation for the next print run. Roger worked in the warehouse. They were preparing a shipment for overseas.

It's been a busy 4 days, and now we are packing up, heading to CO. The sun is shining, but it's not blistering hot anymore!

Silver Dollar City (SDC)

We arrived Tuesday and hooked the R.V. up. We were in time to catch the bus and take in a few concerts. The weather was brutal - hot and humid! On Wednesday I rode the swing - several times! Roger doesn't do that one...

On Thursday we rode a number of rides together, including the sunken mine, the carousel, and the train. There's always a train robbery, but this was the funniest ever!! Kids were donating their candy to the robbers - but then someone gave them a cinnamon bread loaf that SDC is famous for. That caused the whole acting cast to crack up and tell everyone they were on break while they enjoyed the bread!! It was a great experience! We also attended Spoken4's concert in the Playhouse. Great music and lots of humor! 

Later, in the Opera House, after the concert, we were told there was an incident which closed the regular exit doors. So we all exited the entrance. This had never happened before and they are very crowd control conscious. Friday morning we found out what happened. During the concert a lady took her final trip home to Heaven! What a time and place to go. Of course, the husband and family are left to grieve.

The last concert was by Triumphant. It was very inspiring and the music was good. Up to now, at the Red Gold and Amphitheater concerts the sound was poorly managed and we had to plug our ears to make out the words. But this final one (for us) was wonderful. 2 hours before the concert, it was moved to the Opera House because of a threatening storm. But then, with less than an hour before starting time, it was moved back to Echo Hollow. Lightening had already closed the metal rides, but the rain held off until the very end and the concert ended upbeat. One of my favorite songs they do is "Why not wave that old white flag of surrender?" and they did it!

We tried out the cinnamon bread, since it was such a hit on the train ride!! And Hannah's ice cream shop is a favorite, so we stopped in there, too! I have a favorite taco chip plate that I always get when there. The hymn sing in the church is such fun - hymns by request with a very fast playing pianist!!
SDC has so much to offer - you can never take it all in.

We always like staying in SDC's campground. Roger got in a short swim on Tuesday, but the rest of the time we were at the park, enjoying the music.

Sunday and beyond

Sunday morning we were excited to attend a small church Roger found online. They had Sunday School as well as the service. When we arrived, we were welcomed - and told the pastor was on vacation. However, the Sunday School teacher was great. He's teaching through Ezekiel and as a "show and tell" brought along a sample of Ezekiel bread that God told Ezekiel to eat (Ezekiel 4:9). That bread is available at Walmart and is called Ezekiel 4:9 bread!! I'll be looking for it (frozen section). 

The substitute pastor was also very inspiring. He spoke on Hebrews - starting with chapter 2:1-4 and going back over why chapter 2 starts with "therefore" by reviewing chapter 1. All the OT references to Jesus. The question was "Who is Jesus to you?" One thing I learned was that Psalm 110:1 is the most oft quoted OT verse!

Scrabble is part of our Sunday events. The R.V. was so hot, we stopped at a rest area, took the game to a shaded part, and played outside. While there, the Blue Angels flew overhead and we enjoyed their show as a benefit.

Sunday evening we couldn't get to a church service, so we settled in a McDonald's and listened to the Zoom Good News Club being taught by past Christian Youth in Action grads. It was fun to listen in!

The heat over the past week + has been almost too much. Even McDonald's was not able to keep the place cool. It's often 100 degrees. However, nights cool very well and we've been able to sleep.

Monday morning we headed south to my (Heather's) ancestors' home grounds - NW MO. My g'g'grandparents are buried here. My g'grandparents were married here and then migrated to Canada. The g'g'grandparents were godly people. The g'grandparents left because they didn't want to be godly. In the line going back to the g'g'g'grandparents and further, they are the only break in Christianity on my mom's side that we know of going back to the 1600's.

Now we are parked at a friend's house in the country. He has about 20 goats and a dog to keep him company. The raccoons got his chickens!

Sioux Falls Water Park +

We met Alan and family in Sioux Falls for a day in the water!! Actually, they drove over for an evening wedding, but this was a great place to spend the time beforehand.

Not only does this outdoor water park have many slides - some almost suicidal!! - there are several "water falls", a zero depth pool, and many other fun things.

Wyatt loved the water bumper cars - once he went with Alan first. After that, he was on his own, repeatedly lining up to go again. There was mini-golf and go carts.

Zoey was happy to go on her own. Little Odin loved the water and has no fear of it. Roger was teaching him to put his face in the water (Roger's a good swimmer and loves the water). Baby Harry slept and watched everyone and all the activity. 

It was a good day. We're spending the night in Sioux City, IA, at Walmart! Across the road is Aldi and the Dollar Tree. What more could one wish for (except a little cooler weather!). Last night cooled so much that we covered with a blanket. Hopefully tonight will be equally cool.

Roger's looking up a church for us to attend tomorrow. A highlight of our trips!