Timber

There had been a storm in Arkansas and one of Josh's trees had split apart.  The inner core was dead and the whole tree needed to be pulled down.

Staci's dad had much experience doing this sort of thing, so he guided the guys.

Oh, how he LOVES this kind of thing!

You can almost hear him grunt like Tim the Toolman!!

The tree was tied to the vehicle.

When Dan was ready, he hollered to PULL!

  

 TIMBER!

 The audience cheering for them

 Now the next limb

Timber again!

 Chopping it up!

 and carting those branches off to a pile

 where they will one day be useful again.  Not for shade, but for weiner roasting or for a fireplace.

the stump is burned

 Don't you just see the spiritual analogy here?  "If any one does not continue with Me, he is like the unfruitful branch which is at once thrown away and then withers up. Such branches they gather up and throw into the fire and they are burned." John 15:6

That afternoon, we had a refreshing time at a neighbor's pool!

 

Water is so refreshing, and so is the Living Water!  If you are feeling like a withered limb, unfruitful, no purpose in life, ask Christ to fill you up and make you alive!  He WILL!!

Swim Ranch

After we unloaded the car, we jumped in the car and headed to Elijah's swim lessons.

It was the last day and he had 3 techniques he needed to pass and he wanted to finish them so badly so he could earn his "fish"!  

He had lessons with his buds.

He accomplished all but 1 but his teacher allowed him to try to do it after lesson time and HE DID IT!!  He passed it and earned his "fish"!!

 

Proud family!

The grounds of this swim ranch are so pretty!

 Afterwards, we went out to celebrate!

Going again!

It wasn't too long and we were itching to go on the road again!  Good-bye house!

Before heading to Arkansas, we stopped in Wichita for a little shopping.  I like to make a stop here, at the Korean/Japanese Market, KC's.   

 It is run by Christians.  They give out Korean versions of the Daily Bread there.

And we made a stop at World Market, where I had a birthday coupon.

 And Starbucks for the trip.

First stop (too much coffee!) at a rest area.  

I love this Kansas sunflower!

 Hello, Oklahoma!

 On 412 east toward Tulsa, they have replaced the grassy bump in the middle of the road with spikes.

They haven't replaced them the whole way yet.  I do like the LOOK of the natural grass better, but I have always thought that if you hit the bump going 75-80mph, you would be airborne and probably die!

Aftermath of a fire.

We stopped at the Keystone Dam in Sandsprings.  Recently, they had had to let out too much water and much of the city flooded.

 The water was running pretty powerful!

 Heron

 And another one coming in for a landing

In all the years we have been on this road (22 years), we have never seen the river this full!

 Tulsa

 The flowers at this welcome station are so pretty!

Would you believe this is a HOUSE?

Pretty BIG! 

 There was a little carnival at Siloam Springs.

 Final stretch to our son's home!

My granddaughter was making a chocolate pie (for my birthday!) from scratch!

And of course, Elijah was ready to "fight" Papa!

Always the first thing that happens!

He then had to show me his Legos.

 My 3rd grandchild has now grown  taller than me!