Three friends and I --we call ourselves The Fab Four-- have been going together to scrapbooking crops and other events for several years. We usually try to get together for a week end in Branson in the Spring, too. This year, we didn't plan a Branson trip because we usually stay in condos where Ron and I are members, and this year we are using nearly all of our 'points' for a trip with our kids and their spouses to celebrate our 50th anniversary in August. We were all 4 disappointed to not be able to go on our annual adventure/gab fest/relax together/ get away.
Melissa, an RN who works in hospice care, had to go to Springfield to take a state EXAM at the end of March. It was for two or more days of testing so she was researching places to stay on one of those 'discount' internet sites and found a place with 2 beds, a couch that made a bed, and a kitchen for a 'reasonable' amount. She discussed it with Pansy and they decided to make a reservation for all of us on the weekend we would normally be going to Branson. Then they talked to me, and I talked to Earline and we were ALL able to go on THAT weekend. [I think it was "A GOD THING!"] We had a really good time. Melissa had to see an eye specialist the morning we left so her eyes were dilated the first day and she didn't feel the best for a while either. We ate an early dinner at the Heritage cafeteria and then we went to see "The Lucky One" at the movie theater. [based on a Nicholas Sparks novel] We loved it, and [based on the reaction from the rest of the audience] so will almost anyone! We made a trip by Target on our way back to the motel for some 'snacks' and other supplies and spent the rest of the evening 'catching up' with each other.
The next morning, after continental breakfast at the motel, we hauled our scrapping stuff into the room and set it up for 'work'. Melissa knew she would be having trouble after her eye appointment so she picked up some plastic canvas, a needle, and some yarn when we went to Hobby Lobby the day before and worked on a project [with lots of stops to rest her eyes] while the rest of us worked on our 'scrap' projects. We fixed huge sandwiches, and chips etc. for lunch and kept right on 'working' till around 2:30 P or so. Then we took a break to go to Mardels Christian bookstore. We could see Mardel's and Hobby Lobby from our front window as we were only a block off of Battlefield. We spent an enjoyable hour or two wandering around exploring that huge store! Afterwards, we drove out to Cheddars restaurant for our dinner. None of us had ever been to a Cheddars before, but I had been given a really great reccommendation for them from several friends so we decided to try them out We were all very impressed! The food was great, ample portions, good variety on the menu, reasonable prices, and our waitress was excellent, too. We went back to our room and our 'projects' until about 10 P when we packed stuff away and headed to bed.
Sunday morning we had the van packed up by 8:15A and ate breakfast, again, at the motel office. The church we decided to visit was only 4 or 5 blocks away and they had a 9 AM 'traditional' service. We were about 10 minutes early for the service, but we were made to feel very welcome with several people coming up to introduce themselves. The service was very worshipful- the music was great-, and the sermon was lively and biblical. All in all...a great experience.
After service, we headed back toward home with a stop in Buffalo for lunch buffet.
It was a great time together! Thank you Melissa for coming up with a plan for us to get together!
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