When The Master Comes Home...

The last time we went to Searcy was mostly a wonderful visit for us. But we also had some sadness.

It was about a year ago that we bought our current house. It took us several months to sell our house in Searcy. We absolutely loved that house. It was incredibly nice for a very low cost. We had to spend 50% more in Nashville for a comparable house, which in some ways is arguably inferior. Don't get me wrong. We're very blessed to be where we are, and I don't want to sound shallow or unappreciative. We like where we are, but our first home will always have a special place in our hearts.

Carolina had always said that maybe one day we could move back to Searcy, to our first house. Yes, it's romanticized, but we really have some good memories there. I have never really thought it would happen, but who am I to stomp on someone else's dreams? It was a beautiful place to live with wonderful neighbors.

We sold our house to a really nice couple working for the natural gas company. We were excited to learn that they were even making some enhancements, with new sinks and a new shower in the master bedroom. But work caused them to have to move very quickly.

They sold our house to the guy whose parents own the liquor store in Augusta. Though he went to a prominent private school in Searcy, he doesn't have a favorable reputation. People who've known him for a long time only use derogatory words to describe him; most of which I'd prefer not to share. They say you're lucky if you can ever find him completely sober.

So we drove past to see our beautiful home...to find it looking like this. No telling how long it's been since the bushes were trimmed. Weeds have taken over the yard. The tree in our yard is falling apart. And it STILL HAS OUR NAME ON THE MAILBOX!

1 Year Ago

Exactly 1 year ago on Mother's Day, I preached my last sermon at Rose Bud.
This is what it looked like outside of our house, as we were putting all of our earthly possessions into pods and moving vehicles. I think this summer is going to be much better for me than last summer. I'm not as new. I know who more people are. I have more time to get ready for things. I'm not in the middle of moving again. It's hard to believe it's already been a year!

Since then, we've already been back to Searcy four times; one teen college tour trip, one wedding, and two funerals. A lot has happened. We love the people where we are, but we don't love the people where we were any less. I still get teary eyed when I see pictures like this one. We really loved our home in Searcy.

Back from Arkansas

Carolina and I went to Arkansas this last weekend. It was the closest thing we've had to a vacation since December, and it was much needed. I went there to perform a wedding for some of our friends from the church in Rose Bud. As far as I can tell, everything went smoothly.

In between wedding events, we made it a point to see as many people as we could. It's amazing how many friends you can make in one place. We made the rounds at Harding's campus, and went to as many people's houses as we had time to. Some we managed to see out in public, but only briefly. And of course, there were several people we didn't get to see. Hopefully, none of them will take it personally. There are only so many hours in a weekend.

I think the highlight of the weekend for both of us was getting to go to church again in Rose Bud. We have really missed everyone there. It was great to see that Phil Thompson is doing a good job there. (Not that I really doubted he would) The church is still strong and friendly. Attendance was good, so we got to see almost everyone. I think the most important people we got to see were Wayne and Ruby Davis. Wayne has Lou Gehrigs' disease. When I got to Rose Bud, Ruby's health was already not so good, but Wayne was pretty lively. He's a true cowboy. At this time, the disease has caused his muscles to deteriorate to the point that he can barely take a few steps, and has to use a wheelchair most of the time. He's kept an amazing attitude, and has been truly inspiring. Before we left Rose Bud, he asked me if I would do his funeral, and we talked about some of the details. In all likelihood, the next time I go to Arkansas may be for his funeral. He's ready to go whenever God calls him.

We went and had lunch with a crowd of Rose Bud people at the Rambler, and I sat next to Wayne. It was very special to me, because I'm aware that every time I see him might really be the last time. I really care a lot for him and his whole family, and I'm glad I had another opportunity to tell him so. He always lets me know that he thinks of Carolina and I like his children. In fact, most of the Rose Bud church views us that way. They take a lot of ownership in who we are, and they have every right to.

It was a visit that we had really needed to make. Things are going well for us in Nashville, and things are going well for our loved ones back in Arkansas. I see all of this and I know again that God is good.

S-E-A-R-C-Y

For some reason, rap seems to be the music of choice in describing Searcy, Arkansas. The lyrics in this video aren't as funny as Kodak and D'Lee, but I still find it entertaining.

I just got a big dose of reality delivered to my driveway.

All of a sudden, it's finally hitting me that I'm not going to live here any more. A truck driver just dropped off my PODS pod, and over the next few days I'm going to be loading all my possessions into it.

Our house has had lookers, but it hasn't sold yet. We're going to be renting a place in Nashville, and only after we sell this house and buy the next one are we going to get them to drop off the pod so we can unload it.

It's making me really sad. I absolutely love this house, and I have yet to find a house in Nashville that I like as much as I like my current home. It is going to be heartbreaking to think about my house sitting empty here in Searcy while I'm renting a second home from someone in Nashville. I have good memories of this house. I love my neighborhood.

I guess this is one of the sacrifices I'm having to make moving to Nashville. There's a lot I'll love about Nashville, but it's going to be bittersweet. I wish I could have my friends and home in Searcy and all that I'm looking forward to in Nashville all at the same time. I wish I could keep going to Rose Bud while we're starting things up at Old Hickory. Unfortunately, life forces us to accept the results of our choices, and I can't have both.

I think this move is going to be a blessing for us. It's just hitting me hard to know that right now, a major phase of my life is ending. Frankly, I feel the same as I did on the day I graduated from high school. I'm sure God has something in store, and I'm sure it will have some good and some bad. The hard part is just having no idea what's going to happen next. At this particular moment, that scares me to death.

We sold our car...and hopefully soon our house.

It was really an answer to prayer today when a Harding student purchased Carolina's Escort. We've had 3 cars since January, and really only needed 2. We're trying to get everything ready to move, and it's really nice to be back down to 2 cars. I'll be getting a refund from State Farm for the rest of the money I had paid to insure it, which is nice. We'll also have the cash from the sale to help us get settled in our new place in Nashville. It was pretty emotional driving it for the last time.

I guess the big thing we're praying for right now is that our house sells. We've been blessed with a beautiful house, and I'm optimistic that someone will make us a good offer before too long. But until it sells, it will be hard to figure out our living situation for when we get to Nashville.

So if by any chance you plan to move to Searcy, Arkansas, you might want to consider buying our house! You can see it here.

Bed-Making Etiquette For Visitors

Living in Searcy, we have extremely frequent visitors. A regular part of having visitors is washing the sheets on the guest bed. When I was younger, I was bad about spending the night at people's houses, then not making the bed the next day. I've made a real effort to do that more regularly, but even as I do it, I wonder if it's a waste of time since they're just going to unmake it and wash the sheets anyways.

This last weekend, a dear friend of ours stayed one night with us, then left without making the bed. I noticed, but wasn't bothered. He sent me an e-mail and said, "Thanks for letting me stay. By the way, I know that you always wash the sheets, so I didn't make the bed in order to make your life easier." And actually, it did.

The best experience I've ever had with visitors was with our friends, the Dills. They stayed for about 3 nights when Bryan was holding a Gospel meeting, and they made the bed every day. Then, on the last day, we arrived home to find the bed made with a note: "Thanks for letting us stay with you guys! Just so you know, we took the sheets off the guest bed, washed them, dried them, then put them back on so you don't have to worry about it." That was awesome.

So how about you, O Reader? Is it better to go ahead and make the bed? Should you get the sheets off and put them in the laundry room for the host? What is your preference?

I'm Home From Mexico

Carolina and I are now home from Mexico. I have all kinds of things I want to blog about related to my trip. I went down last Monday, January 1st, and we drove back starting Sunday the 8th until about 8:30 Monday evening. The total drive time from Durango, Mexico to Searcy, Arkansas was about 24 hours.


One of the most striking things to me about Mexico's terrain is the fantastic mountains. They generally aren't that big compared to the large mountain chains in the USA, but they are very sharp, as if these huge rocks were just thrust up through the surface.


This last picture was an important moment. It's a view from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico across the Rio Grande to Laredo, Texas on the other side. We sat in line for what seemed like forever, but we finally made it across.