Thursday, November 3, 2011

Trip to Bella Vista and into Kansas and Missouri

After Colors rally, we headed north and spent one night in Bella Vista, AR, to visit my classmate Prissy Shoulders and her husband Dave. What a wonderful time I had reconnecting with Prissy. We had a delightful meal on her beautiful deck and Gil and I were delighted to get to know Dave. He too is retired USAF (pilot) and rides motorcycles so the guys had a lot in common. Prissy and I had a lovely talk catching up on the past 45 plus years. She is working on a book about her twin grandchildren's survival of a premature birth and illnesses afterwards. What a testimony to her faith and God's grace to bring these children and their family through some really rough times. I am eager to see the book published as it will be a help to other families who are going through a similar time of testing.

Then we had a delightful visit with Gil's family in Ft. Scott later that week. Glenda prepared a lovely dinner for us and Doug and Dianna, along with us and Bill had a special time of fellowship. Seeing Helen in good health after stints last spring was a delight and we had a good visit with her. Carol and Dan had us out for a meal too and we got to visit with them and their daughter Kim and her two delightful children. Helen joined in the family affair that evening as did Doug. We truly had a wonderful visit.

One day while in Kansas, we took the opportunity to drive into Independece, Mo., to visit our dear pastor friend Bro. Stewart Wine who had just lost his wife the previous week. We were unable to be at the celebration of Miss Norma's life but enjoyed so much the visit with Bro. Stew. He looked very well considering he was recovering from open heart surgery not long ago. He is getting physical therapy at the Golden Living Center due to a stroke he had recently suffered. Soon he will be entering his 57th year in the pastorate. What a testimony he has and what memories we have of serving with him at Friendship Baptist Church in Melton, England. He is now on facebook and there is a special fb page for FBC friends who attended that lovely church and were blessed under his pastorate. We love you Bro. Stew and will miss you greatly Miss Norma.

2011 CMA Colors Rally

Our annual vacation to Mena/Hatfield to the CMA Colors Rally was just the respite we needed this year after a teribly hot summer in Arkansas. The weather was wonderful on Sunday for our trip there and our Monday ride across Wilhemena Mountain into Oklahoma. We rode with Todd over to Rune Stone State Park and had a picnic lunch before returning to Iron Mountain. The trees were just beginning to turn and it was a wonderful ride on a beautiful sunny day. Just what the doctor ordered!

Then on Tuesday we had much needed rain which allowed us to have a camp fire later that week. There had been a fire ban due to the excessive hot and dry summer. On Wed. our trike began to have a problem and we ended up on foot most of the rest of the week as it will need some repairs before next spring. We had a wonderful visit from our CMA buddy from McKinney, TX, who stopped by to see us. She let us borrow her truck to go to the annual lunch in Oden.

The church services were wonderful as usual and the gospel singing Friday night was really special. But the sad part of the rally was the loss of CMA's dear founder Herb Shreve. He had not been well after open heart surgery earlier this year but had been able to attend his birthday party earlier Sat. afternoon. I had a chance to speak to him briefly Sat. evening in the pavilion just prior to his going home before the evening service. He appeared very tired when we spoke. We found out later that evening that he went home to be with the Lord. Praise God for his obedience and his service to the Lord all these years. We will never forget him and his special ministry to bikers that begun in 1975 with him and his son and is now a ministry around the world in 26 countries with thousands of bikers "riding for the son."