Tulsa Trip

The last week of August, we made an un- scheduled trip to Tulsa because of a death in the family. Debi's mom, Mary Jane, passed on to the next life after a difficult 15 years with Alzheimer's disease. Norm led a service of celebration for Mary Jane's life, but the Raburn family really supplied the content in memorable ways. Here Mike, Debi, Norm and I are savoring this chance to be together, even if it was a sad occasion.


The clan of Raburns were all present to remember their mother, grand- mother and great- grand- mother. After a dinner at Cari's house, everyone gathered on the patio for a group photo. My cousin Mike has a big family now! Debi has written about her mother's life and their family on her blog, Debide's View.

During our time in Tulsa, we visited the Gilcrease Museum, founded on the collection of an early oilman who also was a native American. His home (left) is on the museum grounds and serves as an education center. The museum features mostly Western and Native American art, although we also saw an exhibit of drawings by Andrew Wyeth while we were there.

A stroll through the grounds revealed several lovely theme gardens. In the colonial garden, purple phlox were blooming and this tiger swallow butterfly was enjoying the food supply.





In some galleries, taking photos is forbidden, but items in the museum collection can be photographed. This gallery looks out on the Osage Hills and features the bronze sculpture, "End of the Trail." (The bronze belongs to the museum. Norm is merely visiting!)

On Sunday, August 26, we attended the final service at Rogers Heights Christian Church, Judi's home church in Tulsa. After 62 years, the congregation had dwindled to the point it could no longer continue, so the remaining members decided to give the property to the Oklahoma Christian Foundation. Judi's parents were charter members of this church and Judi was 3 when they started attending. There are more photos and memories on Thursday's Child. Clicking on this link will take you there. I've figured out how to add permalinks to my posts! Hooray!

On this trip we also had somewhat subdued celebrations of our 39th wedding anniversary and Norm's 69th birthday. Time does march on, and things do change.