WOW!  No post for Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  What a weekend!  Marty, Addyson and I escaped for the weekend.  We had two objectives, 1.  tour Missouri State University and Springfield.  2.  RELAX!!!!  Mission accomplished.

We drove up fairly early on Friday.  Addyson was to have sat in on a rehearsal at 11:30.  However it was cancelled, so we had a few hours to kill before our 1:30 tour.  They gave us lunch passes and a map of campus and told us to just explore for a while.  We discovered pretty quickly that this is a small campus.  The bookstore isn't much larger than a 7-11.  They have apparel and gifts on the main floor and a small loft area with actual books.  It's absolutely NOTHING like BYU.  The cafeteria was nice with a lot of choices.  I loved that all nutritional information is posted next to each choice.  At least you can make educated choices if you want to.  After walking around for a little over an hour, Marty was spent.  I could see in his eyes he wasn't going to make it.  He kept motioning he was good, but everything else about him said he wasn't.  When we entered the student union building, I asked Marty if he'd like to sit and rest for a minute.  I found a small grouping of sofas and chairs next to a TV.  Marty sat down and nearly fell asleep.  I suggested he stay there while Addyson and I toured campus.  The campus tour was only to be an hour.

Addy and I left Marty to nap while we toured.  One member of our tour group was only interested in the dorms.  She wanted to see all dorm options.  They normally only show you one example of each style, but she wanted to see each building.  The dorm tour took over an hour.  I do have to admit it was nice to see all the different building amenities, but all the stairs were doing me in.  Once we got through touring dorms we toured the rest of campus.  All but 2 other students left at that point and we had a much more private tour.  Campus is super small, but beautiful. They don't have any of the auditoriums I am used to at BYU.  They showed us the largest classroom they have on campus.  It doesn't even seat 200.  Most classes are 20-30 student.  It is amazing to me that with 20,000 students it can feel like a junior college.  There is definitely a small campus feel and quite personal. 

It had been nearly 2 hours since we left Marty in the student union building.  He was hungry and thirsty.  Even though I had left him with a snack and a water bottle, it never dawned on him to eat it.  One of the first things he asked for when I got to him was a drink.  I showed him his water bottle that had been in his hand the entire time.  I felt aweful for leaving him there.  I thought I had him well equiped.  It was apparent to me at that point that he really can't be left alone for long or he really won't eat and drink.

Friday night Addyson met up with Darryl who sang in Chamber Choir with her last year and is now attending MSU.  They hung out at a local coffee shop, playing games and then headed back to the dorms.  She said the shop serves the best smoothie that she's ever had.  She enjoyed seeing what dorm life on a Friday night was like.  That was probably one of the best things she could have done.

Saturday was our day of relaxation and exploration.  Addyson took on a lot of the role of caregiver while I snuck off to the spa.  WOW did I need that.  I have got to find an affordable option in NWA for a monthly spa visit.  I left feeling totally relaxed and ready to take on the day. 

When I got back to the hotel I asked Addyson what she wanted to do for the day.  She didn't know so she started googling things to do.  She found a restaurant called Hemmingway's Blue Water Cafe.  I had never heard of it and thought we'd give it a try.  Silly me, it was in Bass Pro shop.  I spent 5 years working in Sporting Goods for Walmart, touring competition, but I had never been in a Bass pro before.  I guess there's a first time for everything.  The restaurant has a HUGE fish tank that takes up one entire wall.  The fish were absolutely beautiful.  When Marty looked at them, he said "Ugly".  I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

After lunch we went to the mall.  It's a pretty large, nice mall.  I again could tell Marty was worn out.  I told Addyson I was going to sit with dad for a bit and she could head off.  She was on a mission to accessorize her prom dress.  Marty insisted that I go with her, he was just going to sit.  I agreed, but told him I'd come back and check on him every 30 minutes.  When we came back the first time, he wasn't there.  PANIC!  We then saw him, inside the store right by where we'd left him, Godiva!  He had gone in and bought Addyson and I chocolate covered strawberries.  The lady was making them right at the front door of the shop and he could smell them.  He thought we needed them.

He said he'd had enough of a rest and was ready to walk with us.  We walked the mall a few more times before heading back to the hotel.  We took the opportunity to swim.  By swim, I mean sit in the hot tub.  Our hotel had an indoor/outdoor pool, meaning half the pool was inside, half the pool was outside and you could swim between the two by going under the window.  I was happy to just stay inside the hot tub.  So was Marty.  Addyson however had to do the swim.  Marty wouldn't try it.  On the way home yesterday was has so mad at himself for not swimming.  He said he was afraid.  I think we'll take him swimming one night this week.

Sunday, Addyson got up and went to church in the singles ward.  I recommended she walk in, find the cutest boy she could find and sit right next to him.  She said, "no way, I'm sitting in the back corner".  I asked her what her purpose for going to church was.  She said, "to be spiritually uplifted and partake of the sacrament".  How do I argue with that???  While she was at church, Marty and I were slackers and slept in.  Church is still really hard for Marty and a new ward would have been doubly hard.  He refused to even try.  I would have to say I was okay with that.  That gave me one more opportunity to nap. 

Overall, the weekend was a success, other than totally wearing out Marty.  After an hour of doing anything, he needed a break.  Springfield is beautiful.  The singles ward was very warm and inviting.  I got a lot of rest and relaxation.  Now, only 2 more weekends like this and I can take a Saturday at home to rest :)