Pine Bluff, Arkansas

 

What a blessing to be able to visit Pine Bluff twice during our furlough.  We would probably still be teaching orchestra and playing cellos here if God hadn't so obviously moved us.

 



Spending time with our teacher friends always brings us such joy.  They have a big, beautiful house with a backyard full of trees, crawdads, and raccoons.

 



And inside our kids always finds loads of books and fun things to play with.

 



Like Mrs. Nuckolls childhood dolls.

 



Hanging out with three of our favorite people in Pine Bluff always refreshes us and challenges us to never quit learning.

 





I love turning around and looking back to see how God, in His infinite wisdom, has brought us together with people in different stages of our lives. 

 



Pine Bluff, Arkansas

 

We met one of our favorite people for a quick lunch when we arrived in Pine Bluff Wednesday afternoon.  This wonderful lady was an orchestra parent when we taught school, and she also had kids in the youth group in the church where we worked.  Love this sweet family and hope that we can see more of them next time around!

 



Jonesboro, Arkansas

Earlier this week, we spent the night with Aaron's grandparents.  His Gran is a whiz at playing spoons.

 



Sarah and Gran formed the kitchen crew and kept us well fed.

 



This visit was special not just because it will be the last time we see them for several years, but also because they will soon be moving out of this house.  The house where they have lived for the last fifty-five years.

 



So when we said goodbye to this sweet couple, we also said goodbye to the house. I've heard so many stories about the escapades of the Choate grandkids in this house. 

 

I'm proud to be a part of this family and to bear the Choate name.

 



Laughter is the best way to say goodbye

We have repacked and weighed everything.  My parents' porch overflowed with our boxes and books and clothes. 

 

 

 I'm glad we got the first draft complete.  But making decisions and sorting into different boxes drained our brains.

 



The packing may have drained our minds and bodies, but the goodbyes are draining my heart.

 



When my mind, body, and heart are drained.  I get goofy.  And I'm not the only one.

 



 

Laughter is the best way to say goodbye.

 

Grandparents

I realize that my situation is unusual.  I have three grandparents still around.  That's three great-grandparents my kids get to enjoy.  Not counting Aaron's side of the family.



 
 

My grandparents live on Lake Conway. 

 

 

It is one of the most peaceful places I know.



My grandpa always makes a garden.  This year it's overflowing with squash, tomatoes, okra, and purple hull peas.  I have great memories of shelling purple hull peas with my grandmother and finishing with very purple fingers.

 



 

My sister and her family came out to join us at our grandparents' house.  

I think Olivia could belong to my sister.  They are both just a wee bit spunky.

 



We played cards,

 



and cars.

 



 


And got lots of hugs.

 

Not enough to last for the whole furlough.

 



 

But enough to fill up our hearts for today.  And today is enough.



 

Sisters

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.  ~Unknown

1992

To the outside world we all grow old.  But not to brothers and sisters.  We know each other as we always were. We know each others hearts.  We share private family jokes.  We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.  We live outside the touch of time.  ~Clara Ortega

 

2005

Sister to sister we'll always be,

A couple of nuts off the family tree.

~Unknown

 

2008

 

"For when three sisters love each other with such sincere affection, the one does not experience sorrow, pain, or affliction of any kind, but the other's heart wishes to relieve, and vibrates in tenderness... like a well-organized musical instrument."

~Elizabeth Shaw

 

2013

More Conway, Arkansas

 

 

Our time with my side of the family has been super full, but full of memory-making.

 

 

And a little crazy, too.

 



My mom is always doing thoughtful things, like sending the last two gardenia blooms of the season back to the hotel with us.  Our room always smelled soooo good!

 



Sunday morning, we all worshipped together with my brother and his awesome girlfriend singing and my sister playing the piano.

 



We overflowed into three rows!

 



After church, we went to Back Achers Ranch

 

 

for lunch

 



laughter

 



 

and some horseback riding.

 

We also began the process of saying goodbye to my siblings.



I don't really like that part.

 



But I'll take every minute I can get.  Five of the six of us were able to gather this weekend, and most of us came from far away.  Like Maine, Missouri, and Minnesota.  My dad said we should have continued the alliteration with Marulaon Village.  But we'll be there soon enough.

 



The kids loved riding the horses.

And a surprise bunny-sitting opportunity.

 



And when my sister suggested we go out for ice cream,

 



we decided she had a great idea!

 



 

 

I think we've eaten ice cream almost every day of our road trip. 

 

 

For some of us that have been on the road for almost five weeks, that's a lot of ice cream.