For a special post, I’m going to share an adventure I took with seven Henderson ladies last week. Think of it as a story similar to the York Fun Club trips only we couldn’t wait until retirement!
While the yellow school buses were running their routes around Henderson last Wednesday morning, another pickup was simultaneously taking place. Instead of the children though, it was their moms. Eight mothers excitedly loaded their bags and scrunched into a suburban for a few days of adventure away. In total, we bid farewell to 19 kids and our husbands and set off heading south.
The idea for the trip had been a while in the making. It started with a shared love of the well-known show Fixer Upper on HGTV. Because most of us met for a weekly Bible study that fell on the morning after each episode premiered on Tuesday night, we’d spend the time beforehand rehashing the show. We, like many others, developed a fondness of the featured couple Chip and Joanna Gaines and loved watching the beautiful home renovations they completed.
One day a friend in the group sent a message out and proposed we actually plan a trip to Waco, Texas, the setting of the show. After figuring out a few of the details, eight of us gladly jumped at the opportunity. When we learned we could even stay at a house that had been featured in season one, we booked it.
Day one of the trip was a full twelve hours of driving there. When we finally arrived in Waco, it was dark, so it was hard to see the house and neighborhood we were in. This didn’t stop us from flinging open the doors though and examining every detail of the Gorman house. We even pulled the episode up on an iPad so we could compare details of the reveal of it on the show to what the current owners had done. Though beautiful, unique, and charming, seeing the house in person gave us healthy perspectives that no house is without flaws–including ones that have been showcased on HGTV.
The next day, we woke up ready to see the house outside and head over to the Gaines’ store, Magnolia Market. Cheers were heard throughout the suburban when we spotted the famous silos that distinguish their retail area. Our first stop on the property was through the Magnolia Bakery to grab breakfast and coffee. Unfortunately we caught one of the few rainy days in Texas and had to stay huddled under an umbrella outside while we ate.
Hopping over to the Magnolia Store next was a great delight. Because of the less-than-ideal weather, the traffic in the store was unusually minimal. This gave us time to slowly walk through all the products and displays. As Christmas music played in the background and a large Christmas tree was already glistening, it was a happy place inside the store. At the grounds, we also visited their garden store and took a picture proudly displaying our sign featuring the shape of Nebraska and the 681 miles we traveled to get there.
Adorning complimentary ponchos, we left to take advantage of a free trolley that guides visitors around the downtown area from Magnolia Market venturing past shopping and eating areas. After learning what was nearby, we spent time at other shops featuring everything from clothing, toys, home decor, accessories, soaps, and speciality products.
Also on our list was to visit the shop of Clint Harp, the carpenter on the show. While at Harp Design Company, we ran into David Ridley, a man who had a house renovated on the show and had recently started a tour company of Waco. He invited our group on a three hour tour of the town which also ventured by houses renovated on Fixer Upper. Our group decided that while we were there, we should seize the opportunity!
Our tour guide David was a former model who reached a dangerously low point in his life during his career. Through a few different circumstances, he was led to the hope of Jesus and made a life changing move from NYC to Waco. After being on the show and watching the 35,000 visitors who come each week, he and another couple (who had also been on the show) bought a van and began “Waco Tours†to showcase their town. Along with another tour guide, the men combined their life stories and testimonies with a tour of a city they have grown to love.
On the tour we went by the Dr. Pepper building (the soft drink was invented in Waco), Baylor University, through the town’s cliff terrain, over the Waco bridges, and through historical neighborhoods featuring several different houses that had been on the Fixer Upper show. The tour was fun, informative, and inspirational.
Day three was spent traveling to Canton, Texas, for the First Monday Market. The giant market has been taking place for over 150 years and is so large that it would be hard to make it through in a day. Many of the vendors featured unique handmade items. After spending a few hours perusing, the rest of our trip was spent traveling back.
While it was a quick trip down to Waco and back, it was no doubt worth it. The people of the area spoke very highly of the Gaines family and the revitilization they have helped bring to the area. The same values and attitudes displayed on their show were reflected by their store staff. And best of all, it was a chance for eight moms to grab a short encouraging break to deepen friendships and make great memories.
