Pickin' In The Panhandle

July 16-19, 2010

Last spring when we learned that our calendar was open enough for Landis and Hope to attend Kid's Camp with our church, I talked it over with Bobby and then gave him the dates saying, “Just remember not to book anything too far away.” The children had to be at the church around 11:00 AM on Monday, the 19^th and if we had too far to travel after a Sunday night concert, we wouldn't be able to get the kids to the church on time.

The next thing I know we're booked in western Oklahoma! At first I thought we'd have to drive all night long to get the kids home but even that wasn't going to give us enough time. So Bobby said the only thing we could do would be to leave Landis and Hope with someone like Pat and Mary Johnson for the weekend while he and I and Grace and Faith made the trip.

Oh, the packing and preparing to be done. I tried my best to make it simple for everyone, including Pat and Mary. I packed a bag for Landis and Hope together for the weekend at the Johnsons as well as packing separate bags for Landis and Hope for the week at camp. There was nothing, not even toothbrushes, that had to be moved from bag to bag. The weekend luggage was totally separate from the camp luggage.

Friday evening with the rain pouring down we drove to Bellevue to leave two of our babies while we headed west. It was a big deal for me but I didn't cry.

The girls and I settled down to sleep in west Tennessee and Bobby drove until about 3:00. That was a little earlier than usual but he figured we got an earlier start than we usually do so he figured he ought to quit a little earlier. I started driving just before Little Rock and found out later Bobby was sleeping very little back there. I drove as far as Shawnee, Oklahoma and then Bobby drove some more until we stopped in Elk City to have breakfast.

We arrived at the Best Western in Guymon in plenty of time to shower and refresh ourselves and then drive another 80 miles to Felt where we were happy to see again, Orden and Gayla Hartley and their youngins, Sherry and Orden J.T. I think Sherry was a little disappointed that Hope wasn't with us but Faith and Orden J.T. remembered each other and seemed to pick up where they left off as kids can so well do.

Pastor Orden grilled hot dogs and the ladies brought all the stuff that goes around that, including dessert. In spite of the fact that the meal and concert were outside in the church yard where the thermometer read 98 degrees, it felt better than the weekend before in Mississippi where it wasn't quite as hot. The low humidity out west is a wonderful invention.

Bobby sang to us while we ate our hot dogs and then it was Faith's turn to sing. We'd been preparing her weeks in advance telling her that Landis and Hope would not be with us and that the children's part of the program was all on her shoulders. Every time we told her this she insisted that she would NOT sing a solo, so one night at bedtime I asked her why. She said she didn't want everyone looking at her, so, remembering an episode of the Brady Bunch, I told her that when she sang she should just imagine everyone in their underwear. This cracked her up so hard that she was shaking with laughter.

Then on Thursday, the 15^th, the day before we left for the Oklahoma trip, we sang at a nursing home in Goodlettsville and we coaxed her into singing her solo while sitting on Mama's lap. She did it! And we were hopeful that this one time would build some confidence in her and encourage her for the coming weekend. It did, and when Bobby called her up to sing at the Felt concert, she sang her song beautifully. By the way, the song has a LOT of words, is entitled “My Day” (a Veggie Tales song) and is recorded on the kids new CD. When Bobby started introducing her and her song, he usually says, “This song has a lot of words.” And Faith will inevitably interrupt him and say, “No...it just has two words.” She's referring to the title.

We had the 80 mile drive back to Guymon that night and then drove back west again the following morning but only about half that distance to Keyes. We met a very young Pastor Nichols and his beautiful family. We were shown to our Sunday School classes and then had a good church service. Before the service we were introduced to Leland and Loretta Arthaud who said they would take us to Guymon for lunch since there were no restaurants any closer. I felt kinda bad for them to go that far but Loretta insisted that they were used to that.

However, immediately after church Loretta approached me and asked me if we liked spaghetti. She said she'd thought about it during church and decided that it would be more pleasant for all of us if we just came to their home for lunch and she figured she could find something to prepare quickly. She went on home ahead of Leland who was brought home by his son and family who lived next door.

We were led down straight dirt roads to a lovely but humble farm house and were made to feel right at home. The Arthaud home reminded so much of the farm houses of relatives in Indiana and Michigan where I grew up. All that was missing was the sound of the FM radio over in the corner hissing and blurting out gossip and information. After lunch Grace and I lay upstairs, she surrounded by toys and me on a sofa and Leland and Bobby lay in recliners down in the living room. Loretta and Faith made play dough, colored red and had a good time together in the kitchen. We snoozed about an hour, and waking, realized we'd better hurry to Balko or we'd be late for the evening service. How pleasant it was there in that quiet and comfortable house under large shade trees. We thanked Leland and Loretta for the yummy lunch and the moments of rest and then it was off again to sing and minister in another church.

Balko Baptist Church was where we met Mr. Dale Naylor in March over a year ago. Dale was the gentleman, who, after visiting with Grace and I, told his pastor that he wanted to offer us his aged parents' motor home. We were delighted and grateful and enjoyed having a motor home for a few weeks but it became a problem for us as it began breaking down and costing us more money to maintain than we could afford. Through that experience though, we have enjoyed getting to know Dale and Jackie. This time we had the great privilege of meeting Dale's parents Dick and Opal and his sister, Bertha.

Before the service, we were reacquainted with the Blosser Family. Their son, Tanner, has a big heart for children with special needs and couldn't wait that evening for Grace to come out of the bathroom where I was combing her hair and washing her face. Had I known he was out there I would have hurried a little more. When I finished getting ready for church and joined the others on the front pew, there was Tanner sitting in my spot next to Grace at the end of the pew! He offered to move but I insisted he stay right where he was. He sat there in the front with our family for the entire service and was such a sweetie to Grace, who enjoyed the attention.

After the service, we followed the Naylor's to their home just a few yards shy of the Texas line to enjoy a meal with them. We figured we'd have some sandwiches and tea but Jackie had prepared fried chicken, mashed potatoes and everything that goes with it. All this at 9:00 at night! We were surprised to say the least but loved it and ate our fill. We had a great time visiting with the Naylor family around their dining room table in their lovely ranch home.

Following dinner and lots of conversation, I had the opportunity of looking at some pictures of Dale's brother, Darrell, when Darrell was in the service in Vietnam. It was in battle that Darrell sustained injuries that left him unable to walk, talk or care for himself in any way. He could not even turn himself in the bed and his parents cared for him for 36 years until he passed away over 4 years ago with congestive heart failure.

It was a privilege to finally fellowship with Mr. Dick and Mrs. Opal Naylor; to thank them face to face for their generosity toward us and to receive encouragement from them regarding caring for Gracie.

We followed sister, Bertha down some country roads into Perryton, Texas where Mr. Dale had purchased a room for us at a brand new Baymont Inn. We rested there and our family of four headed east toward Nashville the following morning. I had a bit of a lump in my throat when I got to speak to Landis and Hope for the last time until Friday evening, blessing them for a wonderful week at camp.

We arrived home at 3:00 AM - exactly 24 hours after Timothy, Kristy and family LEFT our home. They had spent the night at our house on Sunday night in order to be close to the motor home. They rose at 2:30, put the boys in the bus and headed out at 3:00 AM heading to North Carolina to see family. I thought I would not see them again until next summer, but I've been wrong before...