Vacation Report (finally!)

OK, here's a (not so) quick post on our recent family vacation to the Natural State, Arkansas (some of you didn't know that one!), or "Arkanstraw", as out kids kept calling it. This was our first family vacation where our lodging plans didn't involve staying with family or friends. Nothing against our family and friends, but its nice to do your own thing once in a while.

We dubbed this trip the Nations' Family Treasure Hunt Adventure, complete with treasure maps, clues regarding each day's activities, and the chance to earn secret "Travel Treasures" with good behavior. It all began with a trip to the Crater of Diamonds State Park outside of Murphreesboro (don't quote me on the spelling). Sorry for the fuzzy pic, I think my camerawoman was convulsing with anticipation; she couldn't wait to find a retirement-sized diamond inside the park.

I'm quite certain this was the hottest day of our trip. Imagine our family running around in a giant dust bowl, digging holes in the dirt while the sun beats down on our heads. Jenny and I traded off chasing Cole all over the place (the boy doesn't have the patience for diamond digging). It really was a fun diversion and a great break from the car ride. But, aside from some calcite and other unidentified rocks, we came away emptyhanded. I guess I'll have to keep my job after all.

That afternoon we got settled into our home away from home (Cole kept calling it home, anyway) in Fairfield Bay. Fairfield Bay is part resort, part town, part retirement community. There were quite a few things to do, such as putt put, feeding scary big fish at the dock, bowling, running around the playgrounds, and, of course, swimming. You can check out the gallery for pics of all these activities. So let's move on.

Day two was a relaxing day at the resort, checking out many of the activities mentioned above. We put together a perfect routine of a day at the resort, followed by a day exploring the sights and sounds of Arkansas. Almost every day involved swimming, which our pool puppies approved of.

Day three was a trip to the Little Rock Zoo. The Zoo trip was fun (except for the mugging we took at the snackbar! "No food or drink allowed, but bring your wallet because, if you get hungry or thirsty in the park, you'll help fund our next exotic animal exhibit. But, sorry, it won't be named after you." No, I'm not bitter at all!). The LRZ, turned out to be a bit, small, but I think it was just right for our tiny travelers.

Day four, as you probably guessed, was spent at the resort. More swimming, some putt putt, swimming, and swimming.

The next day, "five" if you're keeping track, was an undergound adventure at the Blanchard Springs Caverns (you can see the wonderful shot taken by my expert camerawoman). Now, if you've seen one cave you've seen them all, but this was a fun stop for us (except for the part where Cole got carsick 2 minutes prior to arriving at the caverns--no pics of that. He did get a cool, new, glow-in-the-dark lizard shirt out of the deal, though. Of course, Cloe wanted a shirt, but wasn't willing to perform the required feat to get one.). It was nice to be in the cool caverns for a while. We took the shortest tour--just at one hour. Our guide was very informative. And we got to see some bats! They weren't in the caverns, but we did see them.

"Sixth day, sixth day, God made something something and something that day." I never can remember that silly song. This was all an attempt to say, "We spent another day at the resort" without saying "We spent another day at the resort." Moving along...

For our final day in Arkansas, we went back to Little Rock for worship, a trip to the Arkansas Museum of Discovery, and a viewing of Ratatouille. The museum was really a lot of fun. They had everything from interactive electricity exhibits, to "guess the skull" animal games, the "Bug Zoo" with giant, nasty-looking Brazilian cockroaches (just ask Jen about those), to places where you could make crafts or do kid-friendly science experiments (we didn't get to do this :()--a great place to spend several hours. We had a great time at the movie as well, although I'm disappointed in Disney-Pixar's obsession with fitting "h-e-double hockey sticks" into their latest animated movies (Cars was the other one). As if moms and dads can't be entertained without it, but that's a whole other subject. Our trip ended with a night at a hotel. And then it was back on the road.

Vacation

We just got back a couple of days ago from our summer vacation to the 'Natural State'. Stay tuned for pics and details from our 'treasure hunt adventure'!

Iron Springs Christian Camp

This past week the kids and I went to Iron Springs Christian Camp. Camp directors are Oma and Aunt Sharon, who did an amazing job once again. The kids were so excited about going to camp, they didn't really know what to expect. Cole thought it sounded so great he wanted to know if Santa Clause would be there... I told them everything that I knew before going, we practiced taking showers, how we would say goodnight among all the things I could think of to keep my two kids safe. We were packed and ready for take off to NEW BEGINNINGS session #1. Cole was my bunkmate, and if I say so myself he did a great job with the crazy schedule. They provided preschool camp in the mornings, so he walked around and did the same classes as Cloe did with her age group. He learned so much and had so much fun doing it. His amazing moments were finding frogs, lizards, and of course many many bugs. Cloe had a great time making new friends, swinging on the big swing, and of course swimming. I loved watching the kids just be kids. It was a very unique camp in that the older kids had the liberty to be big if they felt, or they could just hold your hand the next minute if they needed that too. I really loved how it just let them be who they are. Let me tell you about a no fuss shower time, they have this down like clock work, the girls would get in, get cleaned up and get out.... Now at all the high school camps I have ever been to, I know this part of our day took at least an hour if not more!!!!! I mean to tell you we were in and out in about 30 minutes. All 17 girls showered, dressed and on our way to dinner! AMAZING! I found myself smiling and laughing so much at this camp. I love how taking people out of the normal races they find themselves in and bringing them to camp, brings a whole new level of friendship, laughter, and usually more appreiciation toward that person you have gotten to know better. I love camp for that very reason. God is so good bringing people together who have never met before and sealing the friendship with HIS love so that it was if we were best friends from years past. God's love is so amazing.

A Little Possessive, Maybe

One night, a few weeks ago, Jen went into Cole's room because he was crying. Nothing unusual there; he sometimes cries in his sleep and requires a little (or much!) consolation to return to his peaceful slumber. When she arrived in his room, Jen noticed that Cole's blanket, 'Baaa', was twisted up and entwined in his bedsheets. As she got closer, she could hear Cole, still asleep, saying, "I had it first!" A carryover from time with big sis, I'm sure.

To the Country (and Grandma's House)

While Jenny made a trip to OKC last weekend to visit her college roommate, the kids and I skipped the city and headed to Grandma's house in Desert, TX. Desert, where I grew up, is nothing more than a couple dozen houses spread across the north Texas countryside, along with a Presbyterian church, a few herd of cattle, and a maze of dusty, white-rock roads. In the past couple years, a traffic light, convenience store and welding shop have been added to the landscape. I suppose it won't be long before Desert becomes engulfed in the ever-expanding suburban sprawl of the DFW area.

We had a great time outdoors, soaking in the sunlight, riding trikes, scooters, and four-wheelers, shooting hoops, hitting golf balls, swinging, sliding, and running. The kids saw dozens of different kinds of bugs--it was fun to see them marvel at the little things underfoot that rarely exist in the concrete jungle.

Being in Desert reminded me of the things I miss about the country. Open spaces, natural variety, simplicity, and life at a manageable pace. In the city, our lives are often overrun by a myriad of things that are small and insignificant compared to the more important things of life. But we're moving at such a frantic pace that we seldom take the time to realize it. More often than not I find myself engaging in things, trivial things, as if to keep my mind from fixating on the reality that this life, and the way I live it, are not what they are supposed to be or intended to be; a sort of holy discontent that forces me back into the fight to hold on to the things that matter and that leaves me feeling unfulfilled when I don't hold them close. Do you know what I mean? Probably not. My short stint in the country reminded me that few things are really worth the trouble; I have renewed my striving to focus more of my time and energy on those more important things.

A Day at the Nelson

Yesterday I attended my very first PGA event--the EDS Byron Nelson Championship in Las Colinas. A good friend of mine, Chris Owen, came by some tickets via his wife's work, and so we spent the day cruising the beautiful course architecture of the TPC Four Seasons Resort. And best of all, we didn't spend a dime!

After arriving and watching some warmups, we checked in at the "Chairman's Guest" tent (yes, we were the special guests of the Chairman) to receive our colored wrist bands. Those bands were our tickets to breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks. All you could eat and, yes, all for free. (Thank you Mr. Chairman!) Following check-in, we parked ourselves next to the 1st green and watched some of the early groups play through.

After a while, the group we had been waiting for finally came through. Phil Mickleson, Vijay Singh, and Cory Pavin were approaching the green. Phil hit an amazing approach from the cabbage (for you non-golf types, it really wasn't cabbage, just a very lush, thick, DEEP layer of grass off the faiway that can gobble up a golf ball in an instant) that lipped around the cup; an easy tap-in birdie for Lefty that greatly excited the gallery.

Well, we followed Phil's group for a few holes, then took up residence at the 8th green to bask in the sun and enjoy some conversation. Once our group caught up again, we watched one more hole and then headed for lunch (mmm...lunch!). Following lunch we found a seat on the balcony of the Chairman's Tent overlooking the 17th green. It was great just to sit and chat without a million things competing for my attention. I can't remember the last time I was able to spend 15 minutes, much less 7 hours, of uninterrupted time with a true friend. After the day I could feel the comfort and joy in my soul. Its somthing that I've been missing for a long time; I just didn't realize it.

After some time our group came through. Phil lost a stroke on the par 3 17th and another on the par 4 18th--not the way you want to finish an opening round. Chris and I poked around a while longer, watched Phil graciously sign autographs (even after the tough end to his day), and then headed out.

Yesterday was a great day.