Greg Loves Sarah

Notice to all interested people: I just managed to make it all the way from the kitchen, across the house, upstairs to my bedroom, and over to my desk without spilling my coffee – not even one rogue sploosh. Thank you very much ;)

On another note – though it is still to the tune of coffee – My dear brother-in-law has an interesting theory. His theory is that coffee always tastes better when made for you by someone else. For example, his mom would brew a pot of coffee in his house and it would be delicious. Chris would make a pot of joe in exactly the same way his mom had done it and it wasn’t good.

Here’s another example: I am in LA right now (I head to Big Sandy in the morning). After a crazy busy few days, I was SO grateful to sleep in this morning. Well, around 10 am I fixed the aforementioned cup of coffee. My mom brewed the pot at like 7:30ish this morning and had left the pot on for me. The coffee is delicious even though it sat there in the pot for 2 hours. What is the key, you ask? Answer: My mom made it for me.

I think Chris is onto something here. It could be called the “Theory of Coffee Given with a Spoonful of Love”

I am a believer. :) That’s my brother-in-law, the scientist!!!!! :)

WOW!! What a week of wilderness wanderings, wonderful wildflowers, wild wriggles, wacky wonderings, worshipful watching, and fabulous fellowship!!! I so enjoyed my visit with Sarah and her family that I’m tempted to go again tomorrow!! Unfortunately, I missed my family greatly, and I am rather overwhelmed with my To-Do list at the moment . . . but that’s beside the point. The point IS to catch you up on the rest of the Perkins-Overby-Butterfield-Bogner Arkansas Adventure!!

On Thursday, we went to Branson, shopped, and then saw “The Promise,”—an incredible musical drama covering Christ’s birth through His resurrection. We loved it! We then saw an Imax film, “Kilimanjaro-To the Roof of Africa” which was also very good. Many thanks go to Neil for his amazing stories of living in South Africa, and for trying to teach me how to talk with a South African accent! Lacka Bru!!

“The Promise”

On Friday, Sarah and I shopped, ate MORE “Cherry Up-Chuck” ice cream (as Chris calls it so delightfully) and POSTED for the first time on our trip! YAY! Chris, Cat, Neil and Kristy came back from canoeing with quite a rosy glow! Hearing about our ice cream, they decided to get some themselves!! Later that night, the Thomas family came by for some good chat time and brownies and EVEN MORE ice cream. It was great to see them again! Though next time Kevin, you might not be so fortunate as to evade the sink sprayer . . . now I have the idea!! :-D

Two Cute Couples, Canoes and Ice Cream

Saturday morning, the Duggar family drove over for lunch. The Duggars have 16 children, (and one on the way) and they are each a TREASURE. It was my first time to formally meet the Duggar family, and I absolutely loved the picnic, hikes, jokes, rides, and sun time that we spent with them! Kristy amazed us all with her ability to learn each of the children’s names within the first 20 minutes…I think I knew them all by the time they left, but I think I’m missing someone now…bother. The youngest Dugger, is a DOLL, and I loved snapping pictures of her sweet smile!!

The Littlest Duggar

Fun times . . .

Sunday was a very sad day indeed. *SNIFF* Despite the fun of the trip, going-home days are “depressing” as Neil said on the drive home. Neil and Kristy kindly gave us two poor “hobo-ettes” a ride home, and we greatly enjoyed the stories, conversations, jokes and games that we swapped on the way! Despite hating to leave the pleasant vacation home of our wonderful hosts, Keith and Watty, I was SO grateful for the blessing of getting to spend time with Sarah and get to see Catherine for the first time since she was expecting!!! (By the way, from all appearances, Little “O” is growing quite well!!

Sunday night, Sarah and I went straight from arriving at her house to a nearby family’s home where we spent the night. Sarah was asked to baby-sit for 6 adorable and energetic children while their parents flew to Guatemala to pick up 4 siblings that they have just adopted! The parents left to catch their Houston flight at 3am, so Sarah and I crashed in triple story bunk beds. (Note to any builders: Don’t build bunk beds 3 inches from the ceiling fan.

This morning, I had the grand experience of watching Sarah herd cattle (I got to pet one calf!), seeing goats at milking, watching a 9-year-old cook fresh eggs (yum!) for 8 people for breakfast, and enjoying seeing Sarah interact with the kiddos. She is GREAT, and so creative! I never before saw 6 kids show such enthusiasm for scrubbing walls!

A Country Morning

Perky-the-Great-Louisiana-Calf-Herder :)

And now for a few of my favorites . . . you can’t ever have too many pictures, can you?

Perks and Malloo

That’s all for now folks! Three cheers and a pet elephant for those who read all the way through this epistle!!

Once upon a time—a time so amazing that you’d never think it could be—there was a girl named Melanie (a.k.a Mellie-Malloo) who God blessed with a GREAT friend named Sarah (a.k.a Perky). Well, one day Perky asked Malloo if she would go on an adventure with her and her family to Arkansas. Malloo was thrilled with the idea, but didn’t see that it would EVER work out because of all her schoolwork. Thinking it could never be, Malloo and Perky gave up on the idea. However, as is common with many great dreams and desires, a small piece of that dream couldn’t be totally snuffed. Before she could even pinch herself to make sure she was REALLY alive, Malloo mentioned it to her parents who said she could go. Talk about shock!! So, Malloo is with Perky and her family in Eureka Springs AS SHE TYPES! Malloo is incredibly grateful for this special gift of God in this time of fellowship with her sisters and brothers in Christ! And, is having a WONDERFANTABULOUSUPERINCREDIBLEXCITINGMARVELOUS TIME~!!!!!!! (even though it does include some of the aforementioned schoolwork!!)

Once upon a time, there was a Perky named “Me”. [OK – So, I need a new starter sentence.] Now that Malloo (a.k.a Melanie – only because her parents couldn’t imagine calling their first-born infant “Malloo”) has filled you in on the shock aspect of our current venture into the wilds of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, I shall fill you in on the details. :) …

On Saturday, I headed home to LA from Big Sandy and Melanie headed to our house from Houston. Sunday morning we headed with my parents to NW Arkansas to meet up with Catherine and Chris and Neil and Kristy. It has been a GRRRREAT time as is evidenced in the pictures below! FUN STUFF!!!! We have shopped, visited, laughed, sat in the parking lot of a Motel 6 borrowing a wireless connection, worked (some things just must be done), watched a 4 hour long movie, basked in the sunshine, enjoyed mountain views, enjoyed the company of family and friends, and lots more of stuff and nothing :-) Ah…..sometimes a girl needs to do nothing and enjoy doing it to the fullest!

On Wednesday, Melanie and I ventured into downtown Eureka Springs for a little shopping excursion. At the end of our pursuit (after purchasing matching rings made of blue beads and teal sequins) we ventured into a little Café for ice cream and liquid refreshment. We got our deliciocious ice cream, biggish cups of Coke and Root Beer, and each purchased a little over a pound of Jelly Bellies (we got QUITE the deal on those! You would be SO PROUD!). As we sat there enjoying our culinary delights and waiting for the sugar rush to hit, I asked Mel what the name was of our ice cream. She pondered a second or less…and then said, “Cherry Throw-up…or something”. BOY, DID I EVER GIVE HER A FUNNY LOOK! Who in the whole wide world would dare to name their ice cream CHERRY THROW-UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????? I stood up with a vengeance and a quizzical look, marched over to the freezer and read the ice cream’s label. Its certified name was “Cherry Chocolate Cascade”! Some people’s friends!!! CHERRY THROW UP!?? Ugh. I was like maybe “cherry toss up”. Note to self: If you ever start an ice cream company, don’t hire Malloo to name your concoctions.

Yesterday we headed to Branson, Missouri for another splendiferous day! :) More about those adventures later! Here are some pictures of our week up through Wednesday! Enjoy! [Yes, Mel is a genius at collage creating and motorcycle hijacking] ;) hee hee

Any questions about the pictures??? We’d love to tell you their stories! Have a marvelous day!

Perks and Malloo

BTW and most IMPORTANT information to all my readers…..Y’all are PRECIOUS to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My heavenly Father is good and each of you is a gift from Him. <3 <3

…..and my dear friend Melanie will be HERE – in MY HOUSE!!!!! [“Here” being Duson, LA not Big Sandy, TX – I drove home this afternoon.]

What’s on the schedule? VACATION! *insert 3 yoo-hoo’s, 6 hollers, 29 cheers, and a broad smile for each member of our travelling party!*

Wow – this is going to be a GREAT week :) I am a happy camper :) *cheerful, contended sigh*

On another note, I really do need to take the time to post about what all has been happening with me over the last three weeks – THREE WEEKS! Whoa, TIME FLIES!!!!!!!

Maybe tomorrow as we travel [10’ish hours on the road], I can take the time to write. :)

Have I mentioned that each of you is a treasure?…………..You are. And now you know it. :)

Just a little message from your kiddos…..

Love you, Mom! :)