Moore, Oklahoma Makes Me Cry

On our way back to the airport from Ardmore to Oklahoma City, we stopped in Moore, Oklahoma.  It isn't very far where Melanie and Ryan live.  A few months ago a horrific tornado hit the town of Moore and left in its path a great deal of devastation.  We drove a mile or so from the freeway where we located the site of where an elementary school had been and a bustling neighborhood.  There were crews working on rebuilding many of the homes, but many lots were vacant.  The school was completely gone and in its place was simply a fence with flowers and notes to those who lost their lives.  I saw a lot where a house must have once stood with an American flag at half mast serving as a reminder to all of the events of that dreadful day a few months ago.  I saw an underground storm cellar that undoubtedly saved someone.  It was sad but also good to see that the people of Moore are rebuilding their lives and carrying forward.  It seemed to be about enduring to the end and counting one's blessings despite such loss.

A Quick Trip to St. Louis

A few days before we left for Oklahoma, Steve asked me why we were hurrying home.  He suggested that after the wedding we fly to St. Louis and spend Halloween with Heather and her family.  It seemed like a great idea, so we began making travel arrangements.  It definitely was a spur of the moment vacation, but it was so much fun being with the grandchildren on Halloween.  St. Louis is a beautiful place in the fall.  There are so many trees everywhere you look.  The autumn is absolutely breathtaking in the Midwest.  I was really glad Steve suggested a side trip and that it cost us practically nothing since we had free travel points with Southwest and didn't need to rent a car or hotel.  How lucky are we????  Heather also surprised her dad with an early birthday party.  

Melanie and Ryan Get Married

The real reason for our trip to Oklahoma was for Melanie and Ryan's wedding.  It was very nice.  I think Melanie and Ryan did a great job of planning their wedding exactly how they wanted it down to the very last detail.  I definitely was impressed!

They were married in the Arbuckle Wedding Chapel which is in Davis, Oklahoma.  It is about 20 minutes or so north of Ardmore.  The area is known for the Arbuckle Mountains and Turner Falls.  Both we've seen before on other trips to Oklahoma.  It is a great place to enjoy nature and a perfect place to "tie the knot." 

Melanie and Ryan wanted a small, informal ceremony with a dinner party in Ardmore afterwards.  They seemed happy and were pleased with how things turned out.

Our Oklahoma Trip

Steve and I headed for Oklahoma City a few days before Melanie and Ryan's wedding so we could enjoy a short little vacation before all the excitement.  We stayed in a hotel close to the airport.  We spent one morning touring a historic home built by the founder of Oklahoma City.  It reminded me of another mansion we toured in Portland a few years ago.  Eventually we spent the afternoon in Bricktown by a river canal that's very similar to San Antonio.  There were lots of restaurants, shopping, and a water taxi to enjoy.

After we left Oklahoma City we drove to Davis, Oklahoma where Chad had reserved a cabin large enough for the whole family.  We arrived first so we had time to go into Ardmore and visit and have dinner with Melanie and Ryan.  The cabin was a lot of fun.  We walked down to the lake one morning.  We also went to a Pumpkin Patch that was out in a farmland area outside of Ardmore.  It was great fun to go on a hayride, find our way out of the maze, and race with plastic ducks.  It seems as though we are all rather competitive.