Jay and Kelly host Dad and Colleen

This week, Dad and Colleen visited us here in Springfield, MO. The visit was initiated when I asked Dad to do a guest visit to my public speaking class this semester. I am focusing on training skills for the students, so of course I have been consulting with dad all semester on it. He agreed to visit the class and so we made a week of it with he and Colleen. They arrived Tuesday night and we've been chatting, eating, and sightseeing all week. It's been a big time, as Dad would say.

Dad joined my class Wednesday and Friday this week. Here is a pix of them at the end of Friday's session. I initially told the class he was a friend of the family so as not to influence their opinion of him if I said he was my dad. No one seemed to pick up on our similar styles and characteristics. Wednesday was a meet and greet day, with dad talking about his training background and giving much appreciated tricks of the trade. By Friday, students were already incorporating those tips into their training practice. Dad beamed as they referred to him by name. After a good feedback session with the students who made a presentation, we revealed he was my dad and took a pix with the class. They were all so appreciative of his input and tips. So much so that one particularly reticent study approached him after class and asked what he could improve upon. Dad was totally in his element.

Besides spending time on campus, we took a couple of tours around the area. Thursday we drove to Branson and walked around the new Branson Landing development. It's a riverwalk outdoor shopping "experience" with fountains and outdoor restaurants. Colleen and I found our way into Black and White store and I left with a new two-piece skirt and top (black and white of course). Yesterday we drove up to Fair Grove to tour Jay's dad cabin. This is the house we'll eventually move into once his dad completes new house on the property.

Friday night we went to the Brewing Co for drinks and jazz--it's what we do every Friday night. Then we had a really nice dinner at Flame, a local steakhouse. We laughed and told stories all night. We said our goodbyes Saturday morning and took them to the airport. All the Cronley kids know that it was a teary goodbye and promises to see each other soon. What a great visit and a wonderful gift to spend so much time together.