Alabama Roadtrip--Family and Football

Collin, Bryan, and I, ushered in November 1 with a family outing. For what will most likely be the last big travel event for this year of 2008, we packed up and headed south to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the weekend. We were very excited about this trip and had literally planned this excursion for a year. When ASU announced they would play Alabama's Crimson Tide, our wheels were set in motion for two reasons--family and football.

Our cousin, Jeri, lives in Tuscaloosa and has been on staff with the University of Alabama for several years. She recently completed her doctoral degree and is the Clinical Coordinator for the Athletic Training Education Program. Obviously, we are very proud for her. We love traveling to see her and George, her pedigree mutt, and getting in a visit. And then, what a great opportunity to enjoy football in the 93,000 capacity stadium as ASU met up with UA. Although the Red Wolves didn't exactly chalk up a victory this time, they played a very good game against the then number two college team in the nation.

Collin and I had fantastic seats in the stadium and Jeri made arrangements for Bryan to walk right into the stadium and onto the field with Alabama's Million Dollar Band. Now talk about an experience; there aren't too many college students who will ever get that kind of opportunity. He had a wonderful time. Before leaving to come home on Sunday, we went back to the campus and got to see even more of this university and tour the grounds and facilities.

Back on the home front, we had some fantastic barbecue, two great nights of sleep, lots of visiting and catching up on the news of family and life's happenings, and just general chillin' and relaxin'. We watched a little more football on TV and we even had to stack a little wood. It was absolutely home away from home. We had a marvelous time and all to soon, it was time to head back. In spite of having to say goodbye, even the drive back to Arkansas was a treat. The fall foliage was absolutely beautiful on that sunny Sunday afternoon.

I'm convinced of two things. One, there is nothing quite like country southern living, and two, family is everything. Happy Trails.

Marcia

Red Wolves A-Howlin'

Fall always signals football season. Some get more excited about the sport than others. As long as our children were in high school, we went to all home games for two different reasons. First, because I teach school at Jonesboro, I was always interested in the activities and in watching the kids perform that I teach. Perhaps more importantly, both my children played in the band and I didn't want to miss any half time shows.

Now that Bryan has moved on to ASU and marches in the band, college football has taken on new meaning for our family and has altered our Saturday social calendar greatly. We now take in about five home games a year on crisp, cool Saturdays. This would not be complete without the added festivities of tailgating and (you guessed it), watching the band.

This has been a big year of change. ASU has been the "Indians" for more than 50 years, but this year, debuted a new mascot, the Red Wolves. From the young to the old, you can't help but catch the spirit. Everywhere you turn, you will see red and black. Everyone has on a Wolves t-shirt or sweatshirt. Colorful tents dot the hillside protecting the food tables and flags are flying signaling to passers-by that the pack is on the prowl.

We load our truck with grills, chairs, food, and drinks and head out early on game days to enjoy fellowship with our friends from church at Walnut Street. Collin has done quite a bit of the grilling this year which he really enjoys. Although we arrive early, families begin to drift in throughout the afternoon bringing in potluck dishes and sitting up their lawnchairs to get in in on the conversation and good times. About 4:00 or so, everyone falls into line and then finds a place to savor the goodies on the menu.

Then, it's on to the stadium for the main event. Excitement generates as thousands of people are making their way to their seats, stopping off at the sports memorbilia vendors to purchase shirts and caps, securing game foods from concessions, visiting with friends, and off in the distance, hearing the band warm up and the beat of the drums. Before you know it, Howl, zooms in on his motorcycle, leading the way for the wolf pack through the tunnel as they gear up for kickoff.




I've actually learned a great deal about football in the last two years even though I've been watching for 28 years at high school. I've discovered that a passing game is so much more exciting and I can actually keep up with the location of the ball. But my favorite thing that I wait for in anticipation is still the band. What mother doesn't enjoy watching her child do the thing he loves most. Bryan plays snare drum and I never take my eyes off of him. If you check out my pictures, he will be the second snare drum from the left.

After the game, we go back to our tailgate area to meet up with our friends once again and have a snack on whatever is left over before we break down the tents, load up, and head home. It's been a fun-filled day, but everyone is tired now and ready to go home. And guess what happens; by the next day, we start planning for the next game.

If this sounds like fun, come and join us. It's a standing invitation and everybody is welcome. You'll get hooked, no doubt. Come on now--let me hear you HOWL!

Marcia

On the Road Again

Last weekend, Collin and I loaded the truck, piled in, and headed out again; this time south on I-55 destined for New Orleans. Although we can usually drive it in seven hours, the trip really gets long when you've worked all day, don't leave until 5 in the afternoon, and don't arrive until midnight.

I think just about every time we go to visit Rhyne and Micah, we look like gypsies. On this venture, we carried down a washer and dryer. After living for three years in an apartment of approximately 525 sq. feet, they have moved into a much nicer and larger facility across the campus with washer/dryer hookup, and thus, the reason that we moved the appliances. Their apartment is really nice and they actually have cabinets and closets.

We had a great time and a great visit even though our time spent is short. We always travel on Friday nights, play on Saturday, and drive home on Sunday. Regardless, a little visit is better than none, and it helps alleviate some of the "we miss you so much" syndrome. How fortunate we are to have cell phones and e-mail.

On this visit, we obviously moved in the appliances and hooked them up, toured the apartment, went to see Micah's school and her room, shopped just a little, and ate out at the dinner hour. It was a full day, and all too soon, it was time to head to Arkansas.

As many times as Collin and I have made the trip, one thing or another kept us from coming home across the Causeway, the 20 mile bridge spanning Lake Ponchatrain. This time we crossed it and on this beautiful sun-shiny morning, it was gorgeous. If your ever down that way and haven't had the experience before, I highly encourage you to include it in your travel plans.

Marcia

Lazy Days of Summer

Although I've heard this phrase all my life, I've never quite understood it's meaning as it relates to my life. I suppose that because of the scorching temperatures associated with southern summer days and a drain on one's energy, you aren't expected to accomplish to much and it's a good excuse to sip sweet tea leisurely without a care or a worry. I sip a lot of tea, but usually on the run. I'm so busy in the summer in spite of what is supposed to my three-month school break (another misconception which I must address one day soon) that I often wonder how I manage a full time job teaching high school students, maintain my home, fulfill church responsibilities and social obligations, and find any time to spend with Collin. If I have any talent at all, I do believe that I've mastered the art of multi-tasking.

Summer officially ends today and as I stopped and reflected on all the activity of the the last three months wondering where the time had gone, I thought it was time to evaluate and consider all the good, all the fun, and all the important things that have happened in my life most recently aside from the routine tasks such as cleaning my house, laundry and mowing the yard.

Mid-May, Collin, Bryan, and I, along with my Mom and Dad, made a trek to New Orleans, LA. This seven-hour route has become very familiar to us over the last three years, but never has the journey been any more special than this time when we traveled to see our married children graduate with their Masters' degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Rhyne and Micah have worked so hard over the last three years not only to graduate with honors, but doing so in spite of trying to establish a home as newly-weds, surviving Katrina which involved three to five different moves, and both working two or three jobs each to keep from starving. While we were there, we toured the World War II Museum.

In June, Collin and I went to Lake Norfork four days and relaxed at a camp site just off the lake. It was so peaceful and restful. Collin's mom and dad have a 27 foot camper that they let us use any time we want. It has all the conveniences of home and is perfect for just the two of us. Now the camping experience isn't for everyone, but we love it. In fact, we set around dreaming of the day when we retire and can travel the countryside pulling our camper seeing America. We have a great place to sleep comfortably and we have a stove and refrigerator so we're not going to get hungry. While on this adventure, we'd wake up about 7:30, drink coffee, set under the canopy and discuss life, all the while enjoying nature. About 9:30 we would decide we were hungry and have breakfast. By 4 or 5 o'clock, we would put something on our small grill for the dinner hour. Otherwise, we enjoyed reading, taking a walk, or just being quiet. We've been in a hurry for 29 years and we've decided it's about time to slow down every chance we get and enjoy a little time together.

As we moved into late July, we were off yet again in our home on wheels. We sojourned to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Now many folk have never heard of Oshkosh outside of a label on children's clothing. The city located on Lake Winnebago is like most other mid-size cities except one week out of the year when it becomes host to thousands of airplane enthusiasts as the home of the EAA or Experimental Aircraft Association. Wittman Field comes alive as a small city in and of itself when thousands of airplanes fly in and land at the World's Largest Airshow. These pilots and family members camp out with their planes which by the way takes up miles and miles of land area. There are many more thousands just like us that arrive in campers, set up tents, or whatever shelter they can muster to live at Wittman Field anywhere from a couple of days to an entire week. There is a grocery store built into this mini-city, bath houses on every corner, an open air theater, popcorn included, with nightly major motion pictures usually showing a plane related saga, a theater in the woods with live nightly entertainment, thousands of planes from war birds, to small and mid-size commercial jets, helicopters and more, not to mention the rows and rows of vendors in the fly market and four colossal-sized hangers of more vendors, souvenir shops, workshops and demonstrations. Even NASA is represented. We've seen greats such as Cliff Robertson, Harrison Ford, John Travolta, and Jeff Dunham. You cannot truly imagine this Air-Venture unless you experience it at least one time for yourself. The most amazing thing about this yearly show is the unique bond, interest, and camaraderie among the people who literally come from all over the world to experience the extravaganza. You will not meet a stranger--everybody is friendly, wants to visit, and share something special for just this one week. There are daily air shows and hundreds of people line the runways in chairs, on blankets, or just lying back on the grass gazing up into the sky mesmerized by aerial acrobatics and thundering F-18s doing fly-bys. Men, women, boys, and girls--there is something for everyone. Collin has gone for 13 years straight, and now that we have a camper, even I look forward to this trip and enjoy the excitement. We've met wonderful people that have become our lifelong friends, and for a week, we camp with them, cook and share meals, laugh, talk and have a great time. For two years, I've been the only woman in the camp. This year, I cooked breakfast for as many as 10 guys and 2 children. Now most women wouldn't count cooking for 12 and washing dishes much of a vacation, but I actually enjoyed this challenge and seeing the guys off on their day. At night, we grilled for everyone. Collin always pitched in to help. For those who might not know, this husband of mine is a master chef when it comes to barbecuing.

At the end of the week, we went by my Aunt Sis's house for a short visit before heading home. Family means everything to me and it's always great to see cousins that are distanced from us. And we can always count on more good food. Our family has always kept priorities in order that being, what will we eat and when.

School started for me on the heels of our return home. I did quick laundry, repacked and headed to Hot Springs for in-service meetings and then right back to school. It didn't take long for the kids to return. However, as an ending to summer, Collin and I, once again, bought groceries, loaded our camper and headed for Lake Norfork on Labor Day for the last fling of the summer knowing it is a long haul to Thanksgiving. It was a repeat of June and how we enjoyed ourselves vowing that we must plan more little trips just like this one the next year.

As the leaves begin to change color and summer days are behind us, our thoughts turn to football games and tailgating, hunting season, holidays, and hopefully, a few more road trips. We're headed south to New Orleans this weekend, and in November, we're off to Alabama to see the ASU Red Wolves take on the Crimson Tide. If you see a bright red Ford F150 out on the interstate, give a wave. It just might be the Elder's.

Marcia

The Groom's Side, Please

I've known the groom since he was about a year old. I've known his mother since we were about 10 to 12 years old. We met at summer church camp, but a glitch of time occurred somewhere along the way, and we lost touch until we were both older, married, and had families. By divine intervention, God renewed our friendship through church when we moved to Walnut Street.

I love weddings. Although I played the organ (officially) for this one, I grabbed the camera and made some posed, but mostly behind the scenes candid shots for the groom's mom, one of my dearest friends whom I dearly love.

This was a gift to the family which I hope they can enjoy. It gave me a great deal of pleasure to be able to share a talent and provide some pleasurable lasting memories of the day and the event. There are so many things that actually go on behind the scenes and the "real" photographer never gets those because he or she is so busy getting posed shots of the happy couple.

Mothers, family members, and dozens of friends are usually working behind the scenes to get decorations ready, corsages pinned, food on the buffet tables, ushers seating guests, and dozens of other details not to mention all the showers, parties, videos, and rehearsal dinners that came off before the big day. As you see just a few of the photos I've made, I hope your heart is lightened and romance becomes alive and anew. And that is what I love about weddings.

Marcia