LADIES DAY IN FLIPPIN
So I feel like I need to explain how this friendship began........I was at a wedding 2 years ago for a dear friend. While talking towards the end of the night, my old college roommate, Corey told me that she had a blog...."what is a blog" I said and she then gave me the link to view hers. Corey's blog was the first one I had ever read and Kelly's was the second. How did I end on Kelly's blog????????? I have NO IDEA but it was long before blogs were so big and comments came by the hundreds. I read her story, from the beginning, one Friday at school when it was Movie Day! ha! I loved reading about what her single life had been like and instantly knew that I had to contact her.
The post that is forever burned on my heart is the one titled..."Raised to Walk in Newness of Life"............Scott was getting baptized and for reasons only God can explain, those words began to encourage me to write more and more to share with others. The privilege to walk in a newness of life with Christ is so overwhelming at times and Father used that post to speak to me about His direction for me and my future blog. Anyway, I could write forever on that subject....ha...but what I am trying to say is that God said to just write Kelly and introduce myself and let her know how I was feeling about the things of God.......and so I did, just a few weeks or maybe it was days......before I started my own blog.
And we have been friends since.......emailing at work and home and chatting it up. It has been interesting with having friends you have never met before. I remember one particular email when she was entering another month and was not pregnant. I was in class and instantly started crying.....ran to my teacher friend Jana and then and there we prayed in the hallway for her and Scott. And I remember the day she sent me an email in big bold letters that she was pregnant and their soon to be Hawaii trip would be more fun than ever. Again...I was in class and started crying..ran to my teacher friend Jana and we celebrated in the hallway with praises and hugs. And the chats of me following God on crazy adventures, and being encouraged that she knows EXACTLY HOW I FEEL when it comes to the life of a single gal!!!!
We have friendships of all kinds.....this one, for me, is definitely one based on the mutual agreement that we love the Lord and above all want to be used by Him.....in whatever form that takes. That is what we have in common above anything else. Same goal for the same end result.
So I am grateful that God gives us opportunities to have all kinds of people in our lives....people in person or even people miles away. With being said, let me hush it and get on to our glorious day in Flippin.
Kelly and I had tried to get together last June while I was in Arkansas but I was in the middle of buying my first home and it was a crazy time. Then we got to be together that first night in Tulsa which was so wonderful but under extremely stressful circumstances..........so this little day of fun was much OVERDO in our books! ha! Mom, Aunt Chris, and I woke up early Tues morning because Map-quest told us it would be 3 hours to Flippin....................................it was soooo wrong and we made it in record time! We, of course, were so excited to spend some much needed quality time all together.
The post that is forever burned on my heart is the one titled..."Raised to Walk in Newness of Life"............Scott was getting baptized and for reasons only God can explain, those words began to encourage me to write more and more to share with others. The privilege to walk in a newness of life with Christ is so overwhelming at times and Father used that post to speak to me about His direction for me and my future blog. Anyway, I could write forever on that subject....ha...but what I am trying to say is that God said to just write Kelly and introduce myself and let her know how I was feeling about the things of God.......and so I did, just a few weeks or maybe it was days......before I started my own blog.
And we have been friends since.......emailing at work and home and chatting it up. It has been interesting with having friends you have never met before. I remember one particular email when she was entering another month and was not pregnant. I was in class and instantly started crying.....ran to my teacher friend Jana and then and there we prayed in the hallway for her and Scott. And I remember the day she sent me an email in big bold letters that she was pregnant and their soon to be Hawaii trip would be more fun than ever. Again...I was in class and started crying..ran to my teacher friend Jana and we celebrated in the hallway with praises and hugs. And the chats of me following God on crazy adventures, and being encouraged that she knows EXACTLY HOW I FEEL when it comes to the life of a single gal!!!!
We have friendships of all kinds.....this one, for me, is definitely one based on the mutual agreement that we love the Lord and above all want to be used by Him.....in whatever form that takes. That is what we have in common above anything else. Same goal for the same end result.
So I am grateful that God gives us opportunities to have all kinds of people in our lives....people in person or even people miles away. With being said, let me hush it and get on to our glorious day in Flippin.
Kelly and I had tried to get together last June while I was in Arkansas but I was in the middle of buying my first home and it was a crazy time. Then we got to be together that first night in Tulsa which was so wonderful but under extremely stressful circumstances..........so this little day of fun was much OVERDO in our books! ha! Mom, Aunt Chris, and I woke up early Tues morning because Map-quest told us it would be 3 hours to Flippin....................................it was soooo wrong and we made it in record time! We, of course, were so excited to spend some much needed quality time all together.
some beautiful scenery on the way up to Flippin.....
We got there a little early so we checked out the local pharmacy, drove by Kelly's old High School, toured the town, and found the ever popular Sonic hahha!
Then it was time to meet up with Kelly...........
at Wal-Mart of course!
I hopped in the car with Kelly and Harper because I could not stand it any longer and was ready to do some serious TALKING hahahha while we drove deep in the woods to her parents beautiful home!!!!!!
and of course I screamed in excitement when Miss Judy and Aunt Linda came out......apparently there were deer in their yard and my enthusiasm did not scare them off one single bit....Praise the Lord! ha
Harper was thrilled to meet the new faces of ladies....
and she L-O-V-E-D all the lovin and attention she was getting!
Kelly's parents house is sooooooooooooo beautiful, warm and extremely inviting!
within seconds we had our cameras out and the photo shoot had officially begun!
The family girls.....
The blog friends....
and the blog friends "workin it" for the camera! ha
We then took the tour of the house........which is always a favorite event of mine........and enjoyed all the work her Dad put into the house.
Then Aunt Chris put Harper in her arms......
and was filled with J-O-Y
Miss Judy made us the most wonderful lunch EVER! I love this picture because she looks like she is on a cooking show! so cute! I loved that her island was so high....great idea!
I realize that most of you have already seen this picture a few times but lets just pause and appreciate the beauty on this plate!
BIG FAT MUFFIN PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Miss Judy put the recipe on her blog so run over there and make these muffins RIGHT AWAY!!!!! YUM
Harper enjoyed her apple sauce and smiling at us during lunch but told me later that she is VERY anxious to eat like everyone else. But she also said that she doesn't want to get older because she is still tickled to death to watch her mother..............
sing and dance around for her!!!!!!!!!!! She likes dinner AND a show! hahahahhah that is my kind of girl!
This is Kelly during her sing/dance performance of "I'm a little teapot".
Later I sang the teapot song with Kelly.........sadly I did not know the entire song and Harper was not impressed with Miss Caroline.....tear...... I think before I have children that I will have to relearn baby songs.....I have forgotten so many of them! ha!
Then it was time for dessert and J had made us Butter Milk Pie and a Peanut Butter pie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and with my cup of coffee I was such a happy girl.
Harper wanted to enjoy this sweet treat with us but then decided that she would prefer the sugar from her Nonny more!
oh that is 2 HAPPY GIRLS!
Kelly's Dad came home for lunch and at one point it was just Kelly, Pastor Steve, and I around the dining room table. Her parents have a deep love for missions and I always enjoy listening to him talk about his trips to train the pastors in India and his wisdom on how to deal with blog followers that cross the line at times. I enjoyed that convo so much.
Then Harper came back from feeding and the entire room began singing "This little light of mine" to Harper and I wish I had videoed it! Oh I just loved that moment!
after awhile Aunt Linda needed to leave and Pastor Steve headed back to the church. It was nap time for Ms. Harper so we loaded up in the suburban for a ride around Flippin and Bull Shoals Dam.
Aunt Chris enjoying the ride beside.....
Sweet Sleeping Beauty
Driving around was one of my favorite parts of the day because Kelly told one funny story after another and it was just nice to sit and laugh!
Our last stop on the tour was this place/resort area called Gastons.....it is on White River and where Kelly had her rehearsal dinner.
it was so neat. The entire dining area is right on the water with beautiful views. We asked her what they ate at the R.dinner and we all laughed because she didn't even remember eating because she was so nervous about everything going good! ha!
Then it was back to the house time and mom opened the door to greet the newly awakened baby.......
that was smiling after having a great nap!
these photos are just funny to me. I told mom to get on the ground so I could take them hahahhahah why???????? i have no idea but they crack me up and Harper is really in deep thought as she checks Mom out closely hahaha!
This is us wishing Jenna was with us to enjoy the day. We called her and left a voice message! We look forward to getting all together soon because I know that it will be loud and so funny! Love you Jenna!
Harper also wanted to say hello to the funny girl! She told me.."Caroline, get my eyes so that I can mesmerize Jenna with my cuteness!"
hahahahhahaha sadly my camera chose to focus on her cute little hand and not her face but HARPER, we are ALL mesmerized girl!
then it was back to photo shoot time..................
The Girls
Mom and daughter
Then it was my turn with Ms. HBS......as you know my mom does great with the continuous click on my camera hahahahahah
Did you see all those great built-ins behind us???? Oh my next house I so want lots of built-ins!!!!!
We exchanged gifts with each other and Miss Judy got us these super cute aprons with our names on them and we were thrilled! THANK YOU SO MUCH MISS JUDY!
C and J
Later that afternoon it was time to load back up and head to their church before we hit the road.
When you walk in the Foyer they have large banners everywhere and it was just beautiful. I was most taken back by the beautiful stained glass and cross above the baptistry.
They turned all the lights on for us and we got to look around. I love checking out other churches. Pastor Steve joined us too.
and because I never had a grandmother growing up I could not stop taking sweet pictures of these two........oh they are so in love with each other! Grandmothers.........such a special gift I think!
I took one more photo of the family and then it was time to hit the road home! tear..
As you can guess my love tank was OVER-FLOWING ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT I WAS SLIPPING AND SLIDING AROUND!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh it was such a fun day.
Miss Judy,
You lavished us with love on Tuesday. I thank you for welcoming us in your home and treating us like queens. I enjoy your company so much and the fact that your deep love for blue china is as deep as mine! You are so loving, encouraging and warm! I enjoyed the "no rush" day and so glad that you allowed us all the time in the world to just sit and fellowship! Thank you for loving on us! It just made my day!
Kelly,
Friend it is so nice to talk face to face. I thank you for always being open with me about different subjects and making me laugh. It was pure sweet joy to watch you dance around and sing for the joy of your baby girl. You are a WONDERFUL MOM! She sees you and lights up and is so happy to be with you. Thank you for driving in and out all in the SAME DAY GIRL! THANK YOU FOR THAT! It was so nice to have our moms, aunts and us all around the same table. Amazes me away how God works. How we could be strangers one minute and then fellowship the next. Thank you for encouraging me when I get crazy and praying for me! Love you dear!