A Bedtime Story p2 | Springfield, MO

For readers: Without sharing all of the details. We've had a small temporary change around our house and I wanted a little special something for the family. I thought a bedtime story might to do the trick. I hope you don't mind. :)

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HI MY LOVES

I miss you SO very much and can't wait to come home. 

TOMORROW!

I was able to squeeze in story # 2!

(It's more like a collection of pics from the remainder of the trip.)

Ethan, my first day here and before I got a rental car, I rode with another lady who rented this! 

(I know your excited)

And Sophie, you've already seen it but look at this trash can again!  

PINK

And nearly every house has one!

I keep seeing post cards with pretty pictures of waterfalls. 

Each image says "The Ozarks".

When I ask how to get to there, I am told that I am already in them.

I have not seen any waterfalls though.

I've passed this dump truck a couple of mornings on the way to class. 

It's the first one that I've seen with a trailer behind it. I thought you'd like it.

You can barely make it out. Daddy might have to zoom in.

  I don't know if you remember "Route 66" from the Disney Cars movie. 

But that's based off a real road that runs through here. 
I got the impression that there would be more memorabilia or souvenirs. 

But there are none, except this.

And no, I can't bring it home.

Even the RT 66 Information and Tourist center recommended that I go to Bass Pro Shop instead.

Evidently, it's the largest one in the country.

I was looking for Route 66 pictures that might mean something to you. Maybe from the Disney movie. I came across this one instead. This is NOT here and so I didn't see it. -But it's pretty ridiculous.
 I thought you'd laugh. 

Welcome CHICKEN BOY!!

We ate here:

Which is a place known for throwing their bread at you.

Believe it or not you've both eaten here when you were younger.

(Except that you went to the one in Alabama.)

People outside playing checkers.

A picture on the wall that I thought some parents might like.

(Me)

Ashley caught her roll. See her hands in the bottom left and her bun in mid-air!

(Go Ashley!)

They served my dinner in a frying pan!!

They must know I like to eat!

An old building that looks pretty cool and sad all at the same time.

Believe it or not, this place is beautiful. I wish that I had've brought my camera. 

I'm going to try and take some more pictures before we leave. 

**fingers crossed**

Look at the mountains here!! They're so small!

 They aren't really any BIG mountains. But technically it's rock.

And they are every where!

Guess what else???
Missouri is home of the 
THE WORLD'S LARGEST FORK.  

(35' tall)
I bet that chicken boy could use a fork this big.

(That's Ashley on the right.)
She's the lady that works with me. 
She's fun and I think you'd like her.

This is a mural someone painted on the drain cover. I thought it was cool.
I bet Carson wishes we'd let him sit like that at the table.

There is a donut place in town called "Hurt's Donuts".

They fixed up an ambulance and made it their delivery truck.

Down the side it says "Emergency Donut Vehicle".

That was pretty clever!

I bet you wish that it would deliver to you, huh? 

Some friendly mutts! They wagged their tails for you.

Ashley and I decided to go roller skating.

Imagine our surprise when we got to the lot and found that they had just torn it down. 

(Sigh)

Don't worry-

We found another one!

We're pretty cute, huh? That Ashley has been a LOT of fun! I am glad that she is silly too.

I know that the last few days have been hard for you all. I am so proud of your strength and courage and making it through. Sometimes it's hard to be happy when we have something to be sad about. 

But Ecclesiastes 8:15 says: "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be GLAD. Then JOY will accompany them in their toil all the days of their life God has given them under the sun."

Even when we're sad we can still find things to distract us and make us laugh. 

We only need to look around. 

You're also not allowed to stop being silly.

It's a pretty handy tool when you need a pick me up! 

I'm glad that God sent Rachel and Kaitlin your way to help keep you company.

The good news is, I will be there chewing on your cheeks and popping your toes before you know it. 

You can go ahead and give Daddy all of your snuggles. 

I'm pretty sure that I've got enough to go around for all of us when I get home!

I love you ALL so much.

(SQUISH)

Love, Mom (and the wife)