The Purple Cow

We left Henderson, TN around 8am this morning for our drive back home.  I knew we would be hitting Little Rock around lunch time, so I wanted to show Cody, Colton and Bryson a cool place where we use to eat when we lived outside of Litte Rock - The Purple Cow.  Now Bells Drive-In may have the best burgers in Tennessee, but I guarantee you the Purple Cow has the best burgers in Arkansas!  And not only burgers, but shakes too!  The problem is, after you eat their burgers, you are too full for a shake.  Today we all chose burgers.  Everyone was too full for shakes afterwards.

We rolled into Little Rock around 11:30, so we were lucky enough to walk right in and sit down.  By the time we left, they had customers lined out the door. 

 Can you tell these two just woke up from a 3 1/2 hour nap?

 I think all the others have learned to run when I get my camera out.  These two were not fast enough.

 And after a full belly, my co-pilot abandoned me

 As did the others...

 The 8 hour drive seemed like only minutes to Courtney

 Bryson and Colton caught up on their sleep too

It was so great to listen to the kids talk about what a great time they had as we were eating lunch.  They are already talking about next year! 

Horizons Camp - Day 5

Today was day five, the final day of camp.  I thought the cafeteria food may be getting old, so I bought donuts and the kids came over this morning to eat before they began their very busy day.  

 Today's schedule 

 During free time, I met Courtney in the Bible bookstore so she could pick out a new Bible.

 They then headed to their student-led devotional which was at 5pm

 They had a little extra free time after supper, so they headed over to the apt to take a break and re-energize

 They were all so tired, they would laugh at anything

 They had a quick card game

 Michael and I went walking around campus, and I took a picture of every one's dorms.  We stayed in the Tyler Residence Hall. 

 Courtney was right next door in the Porter-Terry Hall

 Bryson and Colton were down the road at the Benson Hall

 Cody was across Main street at the Paul Gray Hall

It has been a fun and uplifting week, and the kids have had the privilege to interact with some of the most Godly teachers, preachers and youth ministers in the Lord's church, and for that I am thankful. So a big thank you to the Elders at Blossom and to Lanny for making it happen :)

Horizons Camp - Day 4

Day 4 of camp was another busy day for the kids, starting bright and early at 8am.  Rod, Lanny and Butler left this morning to head back to Texas, so it was pretty quite around the apt today.  Michael met with the Dean of Business to line out a schedule, while I did some laundry.  It is SO nice to have a washer and dryer and be able to keep everything clean.

Rod and I before his journey home

This evening, Michael and I went to worship with the Horizon campers.  They had awards at 6:30, then worship at 7pm.  I am not how many were in attendance, but there are 750 campers here, and a lot of the parents came tonight.  I would guess close to 1000.

 Michael, Colton & Bryson

 Courtney, Cody and Courtney

 They awarded campers that have participated in Horizons for 5 and 10 years, as well as staff.  Horizons has been going on for 31 years, and there was one man who received recognition for 30 years!

 Courtney looking over her schedule to see when she could get her coke float

 We sang one of my favorite songs "The Greatest Command" during early singing

 We stayed and listed to the Horizons singers after worship service

Headed to Commons to get coke floats

Patiently waiting

Nice, real nice

 We had a few minutes after they got their coke floats to walk around campus before their 10pm dorm devo

Michael headed out to go to a Mixer tonight hosted by FHU Admissions for incoming students.  He refused to let me take his picture before he left.

The kids have one more full day before we head home on Friday.  They all still seem to be having a really great time!

Horizons Camp - Day 3

Day 3 of camp started out with Courtney waking up with a rash on her face, mostly around her eyes.  I'm not sure of she had an allergic reaction to the medicine I gave her, or what it was.  But as the day went on, the rash got better and then went away. 

The camper's activities start at 8am, so between 8am and 2:30 they are busy with sessions/activities.  They have dorm time from 2:30 to 3:15, and then free time from 3:15 to 5pm (this is usually when we get to see them) to participate in sports activities, swimming or crafts.  They then have supper at 5pm, and evening worship starts at 7pm.  At 8:15, the evening activities start and they have several options they can choose from.  They go to their dorms at 10pm for a devotional, and no telling what time they go to bed.  But I figure as the week goes on, they go to bed earlier and earlier just from pure exhaustion.

Michael had his "official" campus visit at 10am this morning.  His student advisor was Margo who seemed very nice and informative about campus life.  She took us to Bell's Drive In after the tour.  Bell's claims to have "the best hamburgers this side of heaven."  And I have to admit, they were pretty good.  The building in the background is the Business building, where most of Michael's classes will be if he comes to Freed.

As we were finishing the tour, we ran into these two kids.  They were walking to their next session.

Today, during free time, we had a surprise birthday party for Lanny.

Bryson on piece #2.  Camp makes you hungry!

Colton

Rod went for seconds too

You really don't want to know what Cody was doing to Bryson

One of the MANY power naps Bryson has taken

The Courtney's

Butler and Bryson (and Cody taking his power nap)

Brotherly/Sisterly love.  It always starts out good and fun...but then somebody gets mad or hurt

Butler woke up from his nap and enjoyed the festivities

Me and the Courtney's

For the night time activity tonight, the kids decided to go to the Clayton Chapel singing.  Since it is close to where we are staying, we snuck over to sing too.  It was AWESOME!!

I think the kids are having a good time, but you can tell the fatigue is starting to set in.  Two more days!