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 picture
s 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.
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 picture
s 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
