Home to Harding

I got to go back and visit Harding this weekend for the first time in 9 years…only this time I was blessed to get to bring Ty and the kids with me. We went for a reunion some of my friends were having during Homecoming, and we had truly an amazing, nostalgic time. I look back at my Harding years with pure joy. I really loved every bit of it--I think I was blessed with an unique college experience. I had an extremely close knit group of friends who brought me out of my shyness and gave me confidence and helped me grow spiritually. We had a group of friends who on a Friday night about 50 of us would meet up for dinner and a movie. After that, it wasn't unusual to go to a park and have a devotional. We never traveled in small groups--the bigger, the better. We have so many stories that when my roommate/best friend Sallie graduated, I wrote a 100 page book chronicling our adventures, The Sallie and Amy Story.

We went on spring break campaigns, had food fights in the cafeteria, played mud football, laughed and cried together, went to Peak of the Week and Wednesday night Bible Study every week at the McClarty's, played on the front lawn, saw movies at the Tandy 10, had regular cookouts at Heber, had great girl time in the dorms, formed pretend clubs, saw more club sporting events than we can count, had fun club functions, organized amazing girl's retreats, saw lots of Adam Sandler movies, went on semester roadtrips to Sallie's house in St. Louis, had nicknames for everyone….We just plain had fun.

So it was incredibly nostalgic to get together with some of the people who are truly closest to my heart this weekend. It was nostalgic to walk across the front lawn and now take pictures of my kids in the swings. I just feel blessed that God allowed me to have those four years and am amazed how all of those who came this weekend are serving God where they live now. Lots of our friends are now missionaries across the world. We got to skype with our friend Paul and his wife who are planting a church in Vancouver. I left feeling sad because I knew it would probably be another 10 years before I would see some of my friends but also with a just a feeling of joy. Enough of my sappy thoughts…here are pictures from the weekend. Pardon the vast amount…it was hard to scale them down :)

Tackle hugging Sallie because I was so excited to be on campus

Under the Harding College sign

Posing with my dear friend Gorbechev who Brian Hannel and I inadvertently almost knocked down when we were running through the Heritage Lobby and literally ran into him.

My future Bison

Ty and I on the front lawn

My dear roommate

Future Harding friends

Some of my dearest girls from Harding

Our attempt at a family photo…I was impressed the Lily Pond had water until I remembered that the only time it ever did was at Homecoming while I was at Harding. Impressing the alumni :) It worked on me!

The reunion we all were waiting for--Brian and Travis. Best friends reunited after about 8 years…two of my dear friends all four years at Harding.

Part of the reunion crew (plus my children who insisted on getting in the shot)

My Brown Apartment Roomies

Having a dance party with new friends to their Go Fish video…love that the next generation loves dance parties too :)

Lily, Grace, Jake, and Grace

Start planning the ring ceremony

Jake and Aunt Sallie--he adores her

Skyping with Paul and Julie in Vancouver. Didn't want to leave them out of the reunion fun :)