Oklahoma and Arkansas

May 27-30, 2010

On Thursday morning we decided to take the time to visit the Science Museum in Oklahoma City before driving to Enid where we were to sing that night. However, we were only in the museum about 40 minutes when we were ushered to the front doors to stand outside of the building with everyone else. We waited there another 40 minutes and finally asked if we could get vouchers to return and finish our visit at a later date after explaining we were from out of town and had very limited time for play that day. Our address was written down and a week later we received our vouchers in the mail. There wasn't a fire, but there was smoke somewhere in the building so everyone had to be evacuated. Thank goodness Hope and Faith got their makeup on before we were evacuated.

We made our third visit to Chisholm Trail Cowboy Church in Enid. The Junior College World Series was being held in Enid and nearly every hotel room was booked. Pastor Dan finally found the last room available at the Ramada. It was a handicapped room on the first floor and it was smoking. However, it didn't smell of smoke, it smelled of urine. It was a lovely and spacious room but that bathroom, or the special equipment in it, stunk! After asking the front desk twice to remove the special equipment, hoping that would take care of the stink, I finally just removed it myself and set it in the hallway outside. But our bathroom was still stinky. The redeeming factor was that the beds and pillows were the most comfortable I've ever slept on in any hotel, including Hampton.

Our concerts at Chisholm Trail, like most cowboy churches are short and formatted because the pastor nearly always preaches. We don't mind the abbreviated concert and we appreciate the opportunity of hearing a message. We try to accommodate and meet the needs of whoever we're serving. We love Pastor Dan and this time met his lovely wife of 54 years. And we were privileged to witness the ordination of Buddy, who would be starting another cowboy church nearby.

After a wonderful rest in that comfortable bed, I rose the next morning to wash 2 loads of laundry. I've learned that since I usually do laundry after the kids have gone to bed or before they get up, I need to pack 2 sets of pajamas so that I can wash the dirty pair while they're sleeping in their clean ones. While the clothes were washing, I found the fitness room, which I almost always have all to myself, walked on the treadmill and then, while the clothes dried, returned to the fitness room to read my Bible. Yep, I love having the fitness room all to myself. Then it was back to the room to wake everyone up and make breakfast as it was not complimentary at this Ramada.

Then we set out toward Tulsa and beyond to meet Dad at his cousin, Susan Detweiler and her husband, Robert's home near Chouteau. This is where Dad stays when he comes out to Oklahoma and it just so happened that Robert and Susan were attending a wedding in Iowa. However, they made it back on Saturday afternoon in time for us to get to see them at the Mazie Reunion.

Being in Chouteau only once every ten years or so, I wanted to eat at the Dutch Pantry, Robert and Susan's restaurant, regionally famous for it's delicious homemade pies and home-cooked food. Then it was on to Mazie to show the children the house that Grandpa Troyer was raised in, the store that he frequented and of course, the Mazie School, which is where we spent the evening. Dad had talked to Gayle, the lady in charge of the school reunion and she had said it would be ok for us to sing a few songs and make our CDs available for sale. We enjoyed a potluck dinner and then Bobby and the kids sang a few songs. While Bobby was packing up, I got Grace ready for a late night drive and the kids took advantage of the playground out back.

We made it to Sheridan, Arkansas, south of Little Rock, by 1:00 AM and got a few hours of sleep before rising to minister at First Assembly of God. One thing I appreciated was that Bobby and Landis were able to drive the 2 blocks to the church and set up while I got the girls ready in the hotel room.

Bobby and I were able to attend the Sunday School class that Pastor Eddie Gwin taught and the kids enjoyed their own classes. And then in the service we had a prayer time and a wonderful gentleman who seemed to be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit prayed and wept over Grace, left, and then came back and prayed over me. It was obvious that he was touching the Throne with his interceding and I was humbled and eternally grateful to be brought before the Father.

Pastor Eddie and his wife, Paula, treated us to lunch afterward and Bobby, who lived in Sheridan for 6 years back in the 1980's, got caught up on the church, the town, and people who lived there.

We drove to east Arkansas to Hughes where we were glad to see Pastor Ralph Stone again and this time we were privileged to meet his beautiful wife, Janice. We did not meet Janice the first time we served at First Baptist in Hughes because she'd been sick and in the hospital.

We enjoyed a laid back but sweet-spirited service followed by some refreshments in the fellowship hall. I, personally, enjoyed visiting with some precious sisters, giving and receiving encouragement before leaving there continuing eastward with the big river in front of us, the big orange sun setting behind us, and the low, green rice fields on either side of us.

It was our original intention to drive back to Texarkana after singing in Hughes, making our trip a little over two weeks but because Bobby's folks had an unusual incident with fleas, there was no way for us to stay with them. Don't misunderstand. Bobby's mother is a very good housekeeper and puts me shame, working circles around me. However, they live in an old house and they think that perhaps something under the house hosted the fleas and they found their way up from underneath.

We decided since we were so close to Memphis we were already nearly halfway home and we should just drive there for a couple of days. However, by the time we reached Memphis Bobby was ready to stop and sleep. By Sunday nights we are all exhausted and Monday morning is our day to sleep in! So we found our new favorite place to stay, the Drury Inn and bought a suite! I asked Bobby if he was feeling generous and he replied that we had all worked hard and deserved a little splurging.

A couple of days at home doing laundry and repacking to head back to Arkansas on Wednesday.