LABOR DAY PICTURES!!!

Let me tell you a short story about a girl from a tiny city in Arkansas, Glenwood.
I met Tammy 5 years ago when I was working as a music/youth director at a small Baptist church in Bonnerdale, Arkansas. Tammy had a very rough life and she also had a 7-month-old baby boy on her hands. She needed someone to encourage her in her spiritual walk, and I needed someone over the age of 16 to talk to. :o) So, we hit it off as friends. I left Glenwood 3 months later to go back to Brazil to marry you know who. Tammy however, being resourceful as she is, kept all of my videos (movies) that I had from college. She said, "If you ever want to see your movies again, you better come back to Arkansas to visit!" She kept my movies as ransom....and I eventually made my way back up hwy 7.....5 years later.

Well, we are missing a few pictures from Ouachita Campus, because Rachel forgot the camera, but Grandma (GG) Evelyn had her disposable camera, so we'll see if we can get you caught up on those later.

After an Arkadelphia/OBU tour, we went down to Lake Degray. This was the first time Hava was getting in any water besides bathwater.This is Hava and her buddy Ryan (5). Ryan was Hava's age the last time I saw him, so it was loads of fun to play with a 5-year-old! Hava, however, didn't care one way or the other. :o)She really didn't want to get in the water - I think the massive "bathtub" to her was frightening, but I finally got her booty in. Then, papai took her way out in the middle and got her good and wet.
I think they had a good time, but they both still new this WASN'T the Amazon. (Wait til next summer, Hava!)
After it was all said and done, she was a wet, but happy camper!Grandma (GG) took it easy up under the shade, which, later we would discover, was the homeland of some little tiny black bugs that bite and left us all itching.
This is the gang (minus Al): Grandma, Tammy (Ryan's mom), Hava, Rachel and Ryan.After a nice church service and some fast food, this is all of us saying goodbye the next day. We are in the TINY Hot Springs Mall: Rachel, Al, Hava (looking at the floor), Dexter (Mr. Tammy to you!), Tammy, Ryan and Grandma.This was Ryan's last attempt at conquering Hava's heart. :o) All I can say is: "Kefa, you know we love you, but you might need to step up your game a bit!" :o)Papai, Mamae and Hava at a hot spring in Hot Springs, AR. The water behind us REALLY IS hot! It is falling down from the mountain rocks above our heads.

We walked around down at the bath houses and took a little tour of them and the Arlington (old hotel still in use) and then drove up to the top of the mountain.

Last Arkansas pics:

Papai and Hava overlooking Hot Springs.
Mamae and Hava overlooking Hot Springs.GG and Hava overlooking Hot Springs.
Mamae, Hava and GG overlooking...um (Hava scratches head)...oh yeah, HOT SPRINGS!

And finally we found a good samaritan to take a picture of the whole family ending our Labor Day weekend in Arkansas. (We actually finished it off with a nice meal at, where else? CRACKER BARREL in Caddo Valley!!!)

So, I now have all my movies back and some wonderful memories to go with them. We hope to not take another 5 years to make it up that way - there is a very important event coming up soon - Tammy and Dexter are getting married! So, we dedicate this little trip down memory lane (even though it was just a few days ago) to Dexter, Tammy and Ryan:

Thank you for letting us spend some time with you. Thank you for making us feel so welcome and loved. Thank you most of all, for putting Jesus in the center of your lives as you seek to obey G-d's will. Your lives are proof that He never leaves us or forsakes us and we can always come back to live in His loving arms. May our G-d bless you abundantly on your new journey together!