Kristi is going on a little trip.
She is going to go see her Daddy!
She admits she is also very nervous -
But she is also very happy

Have a really good time smileykins.
Don’t worry about anything here -
Write down your thoughts to your hearts desire
And bring memories home to share.

Remember God loves you and so do I!
Your guardian angel knows how to fly!

(Mom) Nell

I wish I had some pictures to share about my trip, but only seven of thirty-six turned out. I was greatly disappointed, but I am grateful I have words on paper to share.

SPECIAL NOTE: My parents in Arkansas prefer me not to use their names, so will not do so.

I had a wonderful time in Arkansas. When I got back home, I was also glad to be home, even though my heart, that morning, cried because I wanted to stay longer. My week in Arkansas was fabulous, fun, and worthwhile. I have not seen my parents for a year, and I thought, with my dad’s agreement, I would go visit with them down in Arkansas this year - paid expense trip, and all I had to do was get down there on a jet plane.

Day 1
June 19, 1998

I got to Fayetteville Arkansas at 1:20 p.m.. My plane was a few minutes late, and my step mom and sister were waiting patiently for my arrival. When I got there, we did some shopping right in Fayettebille, then we went home to my parents house. By the time we got home, it was dinner time, and my step mom and dad were making dinner while chatting with my step mom’s Mother, who lived only a mile away down the road. Soon dinner was ready - I was very hungry since both flights to Fayetteville had only snacks and pop. I could not wait to dig in and enjoy a good meal.

Just before dinner, my sister and I went into her room and we chatted about girl things. My sister is eleven years old, and already maturing at her age, and I could not believe that she was already my height! WOW. Then the four of five of us: my step mom, Grandma, my sister, dad, and I played a game of Trivial Pursuit at the dining room table. Dad read the questions, while us ladies rolled the dice and answered the questions, and gave each other clues. My sister and I asked questions in the Young Players Edition. It was fun, and I even won the game. That was the fun part of it.

Not long after the game was over, Grandma left, and my step mom, sister, and I began to watch the a movie called As Good As It Gets. Dad went to bed and read the Bible for a while before falling asleep. I did not watch the whole movie like I wanted because I was tired and I could not keep my eyes open. I don’t remember what time it was when I went to bed, but I fell right to sleep the minute my head hit the pillow, and my step mom and sister finished watching the movie.

My sister wrote in my journal a couple of times. I would like to share some of her words as well. I find my sister a very good writer.

Well, Kristi came. We went to pick her up at Fayetteville Airport. After that we went to the mall. We then went to Barnes & Noble. We then went to Sam’s. We had lunch there. We each had a Calzone. We had supper shortly after we got home. Hamburgers on the grill. After we had cleaned up, we played Trivial Pursuit. Kristi won. We then watched As Good As It Gets. Kristi went to bed early. Mom and I stayed up to watch the rest of it. Then we went to bed. I slept on the floor of my parents room. Kristi slept in my room.

Day 2
June 20, 1998 - Saturday

My first neat here was real nice. I slept well and I was comfortable. Today my sister, step mim, and I went to the movies and saw Titanic. I really enjoyed the movie lots.

Today we went to weed and pick up Grandma’s lawn. We then came home and found a big black snake in the crawl space. We then went to the movie, Titanic. It was the third time I’ve seen it. We then came home and had dinner. Steak sandwiches. YUM!

Day 3
June 21, 1998 - Sunday
Father’s Day

I was glad to be in Arkansas for Father’s Day this year. I am glad to be here for Father’s Day. Being here with my dad on a special day is soooo wonderful.

In the morning, we decided not to go to church. Instead we stayed home out of the rain and thunder, and took some personal time to read from our Bibles. My step mom made pancakes and waffles for breakfast. YUM! Nothing unusual about my step mom’s pancakes, but it has been a long time since I tasted and enjoyed her cooking.

Dad opened his Father’s Day gifts and cards. My sister got him a couple of gardening tools, and I got him a Men’s Devotional Bible. Then we had breakfast. My sister was not feeling well, so she died not eat all of her waffle - only half. So she went to lay down and sleep some more. If my sister feels better when she gets up, Dad was going to take us for a ride in the van.

My sister did feel better after she woke up from her nap, so Dad took us ladies for a ride in the van. Along with the ride, we stopped at the grocery store to get some things we needed for dinner. Dad wanted grilled turkey for supper, so my sister and I allowed to let him grill he turkey as long as he allowed us to cook the rest of the meal for his special dinner - a gift from his girls. We had grilled turkey, Dad’s favorite vegetables of beans, black beans, corn, and peas, a salad, and chocolate cherry cake. My sister made the cake earlier in the afternoon while my step mom and Dad went to visit a friend for a couple of hours. We invited Grandma over for dinner so she could enjoy the company, have a nice time, and so I could see her, and I believe she did enjoy herself.

After dinner, my sister and I cleared the table and did the dishes. Well, actually my sister did the dishes after we cleared the table. She wanted to do everything herself, without help because she has done by herself for a long time. I was practically kicked out of the kitchen. Well - I did what I could to help. I did not realize how independent my sister was until that evening. After that, we played a game of 500 with Grandma while my step mom and Dad watched television and relaxed in the living room. I don’t know how long the game lasted, but Grandma won the game, and the game was dine. It was fun. Later my sister and I got a Monopoly game going and we played for a while before deciding to do something else together. I was about to hear some papers my sister wrote and got excellent scores on. I could not wait to hear her stories. As I was listening to her stories, I believed in my own heart we had another promising writer in our family - maybe not a writer for publication, but a writer at heart.

Day 4
June 22, 1998 - Monday

I got up at 9 a.m.. My sister and step mom were already up and getting ready for the day. We had breakfast before I showered. A shower is needed almost everyday in Arkansas because it gets so hot and muggy, and we get kind of sweaty and yucky. Dad was up and gone to work by that time, so I did not see him until later in the day.

We had errands to run, then came home to eat lunch, and go swimming at the pool. We left about 1 p.m. for the pool, but did not stay very long, about 45 minutes, before we left because my sister was not feeling good again. When we got home, Dad was there, but we only saw him briefly before he was off again going to help a friend with something. My sister had a friend who called and invited over for an overnight stay, so she went for the night. With me staying for the week did not mean my little sister could not spend time with her friends. too. She needed her friends and her time, too. She’s a very independent girl, and I love that about her.

Dad wanted to run to the liquor store quickly, so my step mom and I tagged along. I was not sure about staying at the house alone at the time so I thought it safe to go along. Anyway, I enjoyed the ride very much.

With my sister gone over to a friend’s house, the evening and night was going to be a laid back kind of night. We had leftovers for supper, and it sure did taste good for a change as well as my step mom did not have to cook again. We watched television or read. Being a temporary guest, I sure did feel right at home. I felt comfortable, safe and secure, loved, and a part of the family. I know my visit is only going to be a short one, but I did not want to leave back home at the end of the week, but I have to go back home because I have a home of my own, a life I am very happy with, and a cat to love when I get back.

Day 5
June 23, 1998- Tuesday

I had the house to myself in the morning for a while while Dad was working and my step mom had a meeting and some errands to run before lunch. My sister was still gone at her friends. Tag, the family dog, which was not mentioned at all throughout my trip, and I had the comforts of resting and watching television. Every once in a while I heard a snort and snore going on behind me, and Tag was sleeping comfortably. I got bored with the television and decided to read a while. Grandma dropped by for a minute and then left again. Her dropping by was so nice. We did not talk, but we touched bases with each other for a few minutes. By evening, my step mom learned that Grandma dropped by, and I totally forgot to mention it to her. Oops!

Nothing was planned for the rest of the afternoon or evening. Dad and my step mom were busy looking and discussing carpet and the dining room. Another change in the house is soon to be made I heard, and I am not sure if there is going to be an end to the decision at this time. I have been seeing carpet pieces since I have been here already as well as visiting the carpet store a couple or more times. I am not a picky person so I will take whatever is there for me to take. Good luck with the decision you make.

Day 6
June 24, 1998 - Wednesday

My step mom had a very quiet morning. When I woke up and started for my day, which was already half over, it was 11 a.m. or so. Closer to 11:30 a.m.. YIKES! Both my sister and I had slept in this morning, and it must have been nice because my step mom got some work done on her computer. Just like my day yesterday, my step mom had a quiet morning this morning. She loved it.

I got up and shower, had breakfast at noon and lunch at 2 p.m. An odd schedule, but what else do you do. We should eat three meals a day, right? I was going to do that. After lunch, Dad, my step mom, my sister, and I went to the carpet store, then to the Bible bookstore I visited once before - Saturday afternoon before the movie. My sister was going to get The Chronicles of Narnia set, and I wanted to get another Jeanette Oke book since I was just about finished with the one I brought the Saturday before. We also went to the grocery store. Have you heard of Aldi’s? It is a grocery store with items you can get at a cheap price, and since it was next door to the Bible Book Store, we went over. Dad was, or seemed to be, amazed at the prices for the food he had bought for the family. I have been to Aldi’s before. I was impressed, but they seem to not have the items I am used to using today. I will go to Aldi’s if I had to. The rest of the day was kind of quiet and laid back. It was nice.

I have only two more nights here in Arkansas. PHOOEY!

Day 7
June 25, 1998 - Thursday

Tonight is my last night here. I will be leaving here tomorrow morning, and getting back to Janesville sometime in the evening. - hopefully be 6 p.m. as scheduled. My last day here has been filled with activity and excitement, just like my whole visit this past week. My heart wants to go home and stay here at the same time, but if I stay any longer I would miss my cat Emilee and my friends, my work.

We made one last stop, my last time for a while, to Fayetteville’s Sam’s Club Store. I wanted to get some fruit lollipops and some maple candies so badly for my trip home - to share with my friends and my continuing growing family. I SWEAR - I WILL NOT EAT ALL THE LOLLIPOPS! There are many of them. I had to take something back home that I could enjoy for a while - for days to come.

My step mom will help me pack my suitcase in the morning, since it will only take a few minutes.

I really enjoyed my trip in Arkansas very much! When Friday morning came, my heart did not want to leave. We got to the airport and it was time for me to go catch my plane. Oh those tears just pouring out. HOW EMBARRASSING!! I was so embarrassed. My step mom hugged me and I told her I did not want to go home yet. July 7, 1998 - my heart still hurts - I still want to be with my family. The tears left me eventually, leaving me feeling kind of wobbly and weak in the legs and arms. My step mom saw that I was having some difficulty with my bags - now my suitcase and two bags of stuff - a bag inside another bag - and came to me and helped me. The next thing I knew, my sister came, and later my dad. Boy - my heart felt a little better, but not that much. My plane was ready to be boarded, and I was off for home - back to Wisconsin where my life was. My heart still felt confused, and my eyes were still wet from the tears, but I was glad to be heading home after all.