Almost Heaven...West Virginia

The Greenbrier Resort. 

Elegant

Old

Historical

No, we didn't stay here.  

We enjoyed a quick unescorted "walk through" the Resort.

check out the web site

The trees were just beginning to turn.

~J

My 50th State

My big 50!

North Dakota

I had been to 49 states at one time or another.  North Dakota is not on the way to any where.  You have to go out of your way to get here - and so we did.

  Driving from Minnesota to Iowa, we drove 2 hours out of our way to get to this state. It was raining, overcast.  Not very many trees.

But, hey, now I have been to all 50 States!
~J

Traveller

While visiting Wyn at Washington and Lee, we had a tour of the city and a quick tour of the campus.

After visiting a small chapel, we were shown the historical sight of where the famous horse of Robert E Lee is buried. 

Traveller. 

There is this one painting/photo that most people have in their mind - of Robert E Lee sitting on the tall horse.

From Wikipedia

Traveller was a horse of great stamina and was usually a good horse for an officer in battle because he was difficult to frighten. He could sometimes become nervous and spirited, however. At the Second Battle of Bull Run, while General Lee was at the front reconnoitering dismounted and holding Traveller by the bridle, the horse became frightened at some movement of the enemy and, plunging, pulled Lee down on a stump, breaking both of his hands. Lee went through the remainder of that campaign chiefly in an ambulance. When he rode on horseback, a courier rode in front leading his horse.

After the war, Traveller accompanied Lee to Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. He lost many hairs from his tail to admirers (veterans and college students) who wanted a souvenir of the famous horse and his general. Lee wrote to his daughter Mildred that "The boys are plucking out his tail, and he is presenting the appearance of a plucked chicken."

Death and burials

In 1870, during Lee's funeral procession, Traveller was led behind the caisson bearing the General's casket, his saddle and bridle draped with black crepe. Not long after Lee's death, in 1871, Traveller stepped on a nail and developed tetanus. There was no cure, and he was euthanized to relieve his suffering.

~J

Washington and Lee

 We made a quick stop to visit Wyn at college. 

 Picnic out on the lawn with Wyn.
Wynn's parents are dear, dear friends of ours.

Glenn and I took a carriage ride through the small university town,  

rich in history.

Quaint little town.
Lexington, Virginia is also the home for Virginia Military Institute.

American History just seems to jump out at you.

~J

The Eyes Have It

While traveling through Virginia we had the wonderful opportunity to stay with Kevin and Shari.  They have traveled down to Guatemala several times and most recently to run an eye clinic for the folks in Santiago, Guatemala.

{photos courtesy of D Foote}

Speaking of eye clinics, Kevin ushered Glenn and I through an eye clinic too when we were passing through Virginia.  Thank you, Kevin and Shari!

Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee and Opie

Glenn and I stopped off for a quick trip to Mayberry, otherwise known as Mt. Airy where the old TV series, The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD, took place.  This was the birth place of Andy Griffin, where characters such as Opie, Aunt Bee, Gomer Pyle, Floyd and others were featured.

The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960 and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in a fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina. His life is complicated by an inept but well-meaning deputy, Barney Fife (Don Knotts), a spinster aunt and housekeeper, Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and a young son, Opie (Ron Howard, billed as Ronny). Local ne'er-do-wells, bumbling pals, and temperamental girlfriends further complicate his life.

From Wikapedia

Glenn reminded me that this small town of Mt. Airy didn't mean a thing to him.  Glenn grew up in Mexico, so the Andy Griffith Show was not part of his "growing up" experience.  Wow, look what he missed.

Billy Graham Library

The Billy Graham Library is a Must See, if you are ever in the Charlotte, NC area.

Glenn with Cliff Barrows

We had the unexpected Surprise of running into my old LHHS music teacher!  

Terry, I still can't carry a tune, but love to sing!

I worked with Karen in the BGEA office in Dallas back in 2002 when Dallas hosted the Metroplex Mission.  We gave her a bag of Guatemalan coffee and we talked about options for her to travel down to Guatemala for a visit.
~J

Best Friends

 

 Mary and Tom

 The family minus 1 college age daughter

 Glenn and Tom grew up together as MKs in Mexico.  

They 

played jokes on each other,

built tree houses together

and "vowed" to be hermits. 

Look at them now!

(still playing, laughing and enjoying life)

Best Friends, even though they don't see each other very often.

Thanks Tom and Mary for introducing us together 33 years ago.

~J

JAARS

While visiting JAARS center (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service), we got to meet several old time friends.

Lori looks just like her Mom.  Over 37 years ago, I stayed with Lori's parents in Honduras.  We have kept up over the years and now Lori and her family of 4 kids are serving with JAARS in Indonesia.  It was good to reconnect with Lori after so many years.

  Lori reminded me of the time when Glenn and I flew down with 1 year old Ellen to Honduras {back in my Delta privilege days} for a short visit and she named her new baby doll "Ellen" after our daughter. 

I had completely forgotten about that short story! 

But the story I will never forget....

about the time when Lori's mom fed me "Pot-pie" and I was thinking it was 

Chicken

all through the meal, but at the end of the dinner time, Carol told me it was their pet - Rabbit Pot Pie. 

Never will I forget that story.

~J

In Whatever State I'm In

for I have learned, 

in whatsoever state I am,

[therewith] to be content.

Philippians 4:11

We continue our travels.....

Off of Main Street

As we have been logging many miles, we have opted to not eat at the major food chains, but instead eat at the Mom and Pop places in the small towns off the Interstates.  {With the exception of In-N-Out in California and Five Guys in Alabama..I didn't realize 5 Guys was a restaurant chain}

So far

• Moss Rose Bakery in a small town before you enter Yosemite National Park
• C J's Butcher Boy Burgers in Russellville, Arkansas with good friends the Hodges
• Stoby's Train Car Restaurant in Russellville with Hodges
• Ted's Mexican Restaurant in Edmond, OK with Robert and Donna {the nabert me doesn't sound so Mexican, but it is very good} 
• Community Bakery in Downtown Little Rock, AR to visit Lindsey

It has been a fun challenge to drive off the Interstate to get a bite to eat.  
Just wish I had internet connection as we drive along so I could pull up "letter-boxing" along the way. :)
~J

Dr. Pepper Is Still My Favorite Soft Drink

Glenn and I enjoyed a tour of the World of Coke Museum in Atlanta, Ga with our friends, Joe and Barb.  It was very interesting and by the end of the tour, we were thirsty.

At the end of the tour we got to taste Coke products from all over the World.  We tasted Inca Cola from Peru, Simba Guaraná from Paraguay (Karen's favorite) and some many strange flavors from all parts of the world.  I didn't care too much for some of the drinks. Some were very interesting.

My Conclusion:

I still love Dr. Pepper :)

{Texas product}

~J