One BIG event last month in our household (that I haven't had a chance to blog a/b yet) was our 2nd annual MBSF 'Family Wknd.' here in NWA. We asked all of our students (and recent visitors) to invite their entire family to Fayetteville/Springdale for the wknd. for a small cost per person. Patrick has done so great the last two years planning out the entire wknd.! The amount of people fluctuated throughout the wknd. this year due to work schedules and/or when families were able to get into town. However, we had approximately 70 people that participated consistently in each scheduled activity. Wow!
We kicked off the wknd. Fri. night w/ a fabulous prepared BBQ dinner (which our friend Hutch and Patrick smoked all day Fri.). Then, the students and their families set out on a competitive scavenger hunt around town. (Unfortunately, I was a little too busy to remember to get any pictures from Fri. night. I was bummed, but oh well.)
We woke up Sat. morning and took a group of over 100 people (some church members/family/friends included) on a train ride through the Ozark Mtns. on the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad. Patrick's Dad has worked for the A&M RR for approx. 22 years, and helped Patrick get the train ride set up. They even served breakfast to everyone on the train as well. It was such a beautiful, sunny day and the ride was so relaxing! And as far as our 2 kiddos were concerned...they loved it! Will wasn't even extremely bothered from the loud train whistle when approaching or crossing intersections surprisingly. He fell asleep on Pops near the end of the ride through it all!
And after a quick lunch back @ the church, each family had some free time Sat. afternoon to spend together around town or simply doing nothing @ all. Then, we all met back up for a fish fry supper @ church. This was quite a hit w/ everyone! We were able to share in a time of singing praise and worship Sat. night after dinner as well. Patrick and I figured that our students and their families probably don't get the chance to worship together very often any more since they left for college. Therefore, it gave us even more of a push to make time for it during the busy wknd. The voices overpowered Patrick's guitar easily and resonated throughout the entire church. What a joy Sat. evening was!
And after dinner and singing...we set out for a little cosmo (black light) bowling. Everyone had SO MUCH FUN! A sweet family that we truly appreciate helped Kennedy out as she bowled on their lane. And therefore, Patrick and I were able to get around and visit w/ everyone some more. Will certainly didn't feel his greatest unfortunately, as his new tooth was trying to come through @ any time. He was a trooper each day & each late night, but wasn't himself the entire wknd. for sure. : (
Sunday brought a much larger number than usual in our morning service as our students and their families joined us for church. It was an extremely special day being in the company of so many new friends and fellow believers as we worshipped our Savior together. And afterwards...a delicious Mexican meal. Once lunch was over, everyone loaded up and drove back to their own homes.
We are so thankful that our students encouraged their families to be a part of the special wknd. And we're even more thankful for the many families who devoted their love and attention to their college student by giving up their entire wknd. to spend it w/ them (and us)! It meant so much to each of our students...even if they didn't fully express that to their parents @ any point of the wknd. Always looking fwd. to the next one!
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