A busy weekend before Christmas

Last weekend, we made a quick trip to Arkansas.  I had time to go to my Bible study Christmas party, although I had to leave a little early.

We needed to deliver this go-cart that our grandson purchased.  He'd found it on-line and had Papa pick it up since the owner lived about a half an hour away from us.  Papa, him and the owner were on their phones, facetiming and negotiating before we brought it back to our house, where it has been sitting in our garage waiting to be delivered.

Besides delivering a go-cart, we were headed to go see Eli play basketball in Siloam Springs and to go to Branson to see the Christmas lights.  

On the way, on 412, we came upon a deadly accident.  We have seen too many accidents in all our travels.  Makes us realize how much we need to be aware of traffic around us.  We never know when the Lord may call us home.  We must be always ready.  I realized that this day was the anniversary of the day my own mother met Jesus face to face.

Reading about it later, we read that the 2 who were killed were outside 

their vehicle when another car ran into them.  Allen and I decided that if 

we need to pull over when we are traveling, that we need to get off 

on the exit ramp, cross onto the on ramp and pull way over.  Then if 

someone does hit you,  they will be going fairly slow.

Sure was fun to watch Eli!  Brings back memories of going to his daddy's basketball games all those years ago!

When we got to Josh and Staci's that evening, we celebrated Staci's birthday!

Josh and Staci's Christmas tree is so pretty!

The next morning, we headed to Branson.

The road to Branson was a road we had never been on before.  It was very wind-y and I do not tend to get car sick, but I surely did on this road!  Bought some saltines at a store.

We found the VRBO that our friends Chuck and Sharon got for us.  Really nice.

We girls decided to do some shopping so we left the boys and went to Branson Landing.  After a couple hours, we went back to the condo and we went to Silver Dollar City.

All so pretty!  

We met up with Staci's parents and had cocoa with ice-cream!  

I've never had that before!  Staci says it is their tradition.

The next morning, we ate breakfast and said our good-byes.

Good-bye to the hills of Missouri!

We took Highway 60 on the south side of Springfield which was new to us.  And then my GPS took us onto 96 west and then on a country road 266 (paved).  My GPS must be set for shortest route?  Not sure, but it often takes me on odd-ball roads!!

I always want to travel roads I've never been on I don't mind!!

We turned west on Baseline Road.  This is north of Carthage, Mo.

A coyote ran right in front of us.

Close to Pittsburg, we were back on the main road.  And all was familiar again.  Climbing out of the Flint Hills, a truck veered over the center line heading right toward us!!  Al had to veer over and then the driver realized and pulled back into his lane.  Whew!  The Lord was our Protector this day.  

When we got home, we had time to rest for just a bit.  Al had a surprise for me.  He wouldn't tell me what it was.  We drove to Hutchinson to old Fox Theatre.  We used to go to the movies here back when we were dating in our teens!

Evidently this group, The Texas Tenors, was on America's Got Talent and since then, they have been touring a lot.  Allen got us tickets to go!  A fun way to finish out the weekend before Christmas!