Week 14. Tennessee & Arkansas

We were blessed this week to be hosted by friends Russ and Kathryn Jones in their home near Memphis where we had our own rooms, home cooked meals together and enjoyed some local sites.

We had freezing temperatures this week. Our lowest day was 13F. BRRRR! Even our wet wipes left in the van froze into a solid clump!

Before we left TN and moved onto Arkansas, we were told to visit the famous Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis.

One night in the 1930's, the general manager got drunk and decided it would be funny to bring ducks into the hotel lobby and let them swim in the fountain. The next morning he woke to find the ducks still there - and many hotel guests gathered around actually delighting in the new addition, and so it stuck!

Everyday, twice a day, they have a duck master who brings the ducks in and sends them back to their holding place using the elevator as the grand entrance and exit. We ordered Shirley temples for the girls as a special treat for the occasion. I enjoyed a sip for the sake of a photo op. ;)

We decided to head over the border to Arkansas for a couple of nights to see the state capital and Little Rock Central High School where the well known incident of The Little Rock Nine occurred n 1957. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Rock_Nine

Below is the school. The statue in on the grounds of the state capital in honor and memory of their bravery.

While at the capital we met an older gentleman who told us about a free natural museum just down the road that was designed with kids in mind - so of course we checked that out! And after that we took a trolley ride- just the fun of taking the ride and hearing the history of the town.

We found the remains of the tornado that hit Arkansas just this last spring. It was pretty surreal to see so many pieces of peoples homes abandoned. Several shoes with no match, kitchen utensils, dvds, busted furniture, books and bibles.

We're back in Tennessee, this time in Nashville being hosted by a friend of our realtors.

People ask us what we miss the most about home. Friends and family top the list, but to be honest, we are really enjoying this adventure. We get to explore new places each week and meet new people. ...And we travel really well together! 

I've been wondering what life will be like when we get back home with no jobs lined up and thinking about a possible 3rd hip surgery (because I can hope not to be in so much pain each day), but I know I can trust God no matter what. Life isn't guaranteed to be easy nor comfortable - we as humans just wish it was!

Until next week! Marilyn