Texas Vacation (the rest of the story)

Day 2

Besides visiting with our friends, we explored the Texas countryside around Austin. Highlights include seeing the junkyard where portions of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre were filmed (Harold’s junkyard in Briggs, TX), experiencing the Bush twins’ favorite TexMex eatery, Chuy’s, and enjoying a Texas steak for dinner.

Day 3

On Saturday, we hung out in our room for a few hours so I could grade some papers. Then we did some more exploring as we drove up to Waco to hook up with Scott and Jenn. Once there, we hung out with Scott all afternoon and evening – watching Drop Dead Gorgeous and Rat Race, eating pizza and M&Ms, playing Settlers of Catan, listening to Scott’s iPod, and waiting for Jenn to return home from Little Rock. Oh, we also celebrated the time change by actually springing forward at 2am.

Day 4

With only 5 hours of sleep, I woke up and graded some more papers. Then it was off to church (with a quick stop at Shipley’s Donuts for some Czech. kaloches for brunch). Scott and Jenn attend Dayspring Baptist Church. The service is far more liturgical than your typical SBC, and the building was gorgeous (a mix of wood, stone and glass that allowed us to enjoy the beauty outside as well as inside). I enjoyed the emphasis that they place on the substance of what is read and sung. One hymn we sang (Here I Am) was new to me and yet ministered to me in current circumstances.

After lunch, we drove through Dallas to McKinney, TX where Janell’s cousin lives. We last saw Billie Jo and John at our wedding (nearly ten years ago), so we really enjoyed getting to know them and their three girls (I also made fast friends with their dog, Dixie). We look forward to seeing them later this year, when they will drive through Nashville on their way to Pennsylvania.

Day 5

We had to leave early this morning in order to get back to the southside of the city. While we enjoyed the skyline views and impressive highway projects, we don’t care to experience the gridlock of morning rush hour again.

Once we were through the traffic, we enjoyed a morning of Christian fellowship with our brothers and sisters at Wycliffe International. They were excellent hosts and we learned so much more about this wonderful agency that we have followed and supported since we were each kids. It is amazing to see and hear about the work God is doing both in Dallas and around the world.

After a quick lunch, we hit the road so that we could return to Austin to catch our flight. You may ask yourselves why we didn’t just fly out of Dallas. The answer is that Southwest Airlines is prevented by federal law from operating direct service from Dallas’ Love Field to states not bordering with Texas. It is an arcane law and you can visit setlovefree.com to learn more.

We made our flight just fine and I finished my grading in the airport (Phew!!!). That pretty much takes to the present where I am composing this post. Thanks for reading.