Home Sweet Away From Home

We're in Batesville, Arkansas, home of my alma mater Lyon College, and the place where Sergei and I met.  We're staying with Connie, Sergei's host mom, and it feels like our second home.

Today we went to see our tree, where we carved our initials 13 years ago, and where Sergei proposed.

It's still there, though today the initials and date are gone.  All that remains is the heart.

We stopped by Bryan Lake.

The bench where we spent many a sleepless night, sitting and talking till the sun came up.

And the porch swing in the freshman quad.

Another good time waster.

We also toured the new and improved Edwards Commons, since the old one burned down. 

What a tragedy, but the new one is really a step up from the old Ed's, though old Ed's will always have a place in my heart.  The ribbon cutting ceremony and rededication is scheduled for October 19th, just a few weeks from now, but it is already operational. 

The new one has a giant rec room with foosball, ping pong, pool, board games that can be checked out, flat screen TVs ready to be plugged into your gaming console, a larger cafe and of course a fire place.  Wow. 

And while we touring the building we found this little bugger hanging out -

Jiminy Cricket!  He's huge!

Lyon also has a new outdoor program called LEAP - Lyon Education and Adventure Program.

Very cool.  There is a new hiking trail behind the campus, camping trips, frequent clinics (there's one on technical tree climbing!!!), and an awesome bike repair station among other things.

Of course we visited the pipe band too (well, the couple remaining people we still know)...

I couldn't be more proud of my school, so I have decided to make it my mission this year to convince my little sis that she needs to come here next year...  So wonderful to see that Lyon is still such a unique and amazing place with so much heart.