What a summer!

Summer is ending.  Boo hoo!  I love the hot, long and lazy days.  That is, when I get a chance to be lazy. We have celebrated a wonderful FAMILY summer.

#1

David and his family

We started summer out with young grandson David (15) and his baseball team going all the way to state championship!  The games were up the state and we were there, you betcha!  The first game, the first inning — David was running to catch a foul fly ball, crashed into the wall, turned his ankle and collapsed. The stadium went silent.  But he limped on, ending the game in crutches.  We were in despair.  A wonderful orthopedic doctor made it possible for him to keep playing – and he did heroically.   End result:  STATE CHAMPIONS and yes, David was one of the great players, wounded ankle and all.

What a great way to begin the summer!  David has been named to All Star Dade County, the All Star State of Florida, and gasp! a National list of All Star young baseball players.  We are amazed and thrilled!

#2

sisters

Summer plan #2:  a visit to California to visit with my sisters.  We aren’t able to see each other very often, and our big sister, Dorothy, was celebrating a big birthday, so we got together and had a wonderful time. We took a day to tour San Francisco, but most of all, we loved being together these special days.

Dorothy has  three adorable grandchildren.  When she lived in Florida, we helped raise her son, Mel,  along with our four boys.  We dearly love them all and wish we lived closer.

#3

Alex & Ben (Ben's Dad/Our Son officiating)

Next was a wonderful third grandchild’s wedding for us to celebrate. Our grandson, Ben, married his college sweetheart, Alex.  We are proud to have a new, lovely and dear Mrs. Thompson in the family.  They plan to go to seminary in a year and we are simply thrilled and blessed to see God’s faithfulness and love to our family.

When Grandpa said in his charge to Ben and Alex that he’s kept a picture of Ben, as a little guy,  in his bathroom and that it’s been a reminder to pray for him all these 22 years, all the boys said they want to be there, too.

So, the following pictures will soon be added:

The Grandsons (one missing) with Grandpa

The Granddaughters with Grandma

Goodbye, wonderful summer!  Hello Fall!  What a great family we have!  What great friends you are! And what a great God we serve!

Grandma Carolyn

June Beauties and Beast

Jessica, Grandma, Rebekah

Les’s eye surgery kept us from getting to Macon, Georgia for granddaughter Jessica’s graduation.  So, their sweet Dad sent her down to us, along with her big sister.  What fun we had entertaining two lovely granddaughters!  Since we raised four boys, it’s always fun to see how different and charming girls are! Of course, we had to go shopping.  I don’t know, but I think heads turned as we moved along…a waiter even gave us a free dessert, so we blew him kisses.  Hey!  I love being with my grand-girls. 

 

At the end of the school year, David’s baseball team at Westminster Christian School became State Champions for their division.  David was named a “super-star” in our county among all the schools, as well as being named  ”rookie of the year” in his school.  He’s 15, so we have some great years ahead to watch him play. 

Here at LOGOI, we struggle because donations are not as they used to be.  We’re not off on any overseas conferences, letting them be taught by the ones who are there.  That’s good, but we do miss being a part.  Les keeps his computer aimed at helping pastors and others with their deep and difficult questions.  Of course, he can’t answer them all, so we have others who also are able to give biblical answers.

The internet has made it possible for us to press forward.  With all the resources on our website, we are kept busy.  But, as you can see, the family will always be a priority.  Love from Grandma Carolyn.

2009 and roaring right on…

Wow, Christmas and New Year’s rushed right by, but not without totally enjoying every single moment.  That’s history.

You can read the rest of my history on our LOGOI website, since the main letter is by yours truly and right on the front page.  www.logoi.org

But, before you go, here are a couple of 2009 photos to let you know I’ve not been sitting around too much.

Curtains: miles of fabric

 

I made new curtains for our family room/kitchen.  It’s never as easy as you think but hey!  They’re simple and they’re up and we are glad to have curtains again. 

The new 2009 bat

The old baby bat

Grandpa helped David (15) get a new baseball bat for this season.  He didn’t much care for the old red spongy one.  He’s Mr. Sportsman if you ask me:  varsity football QB, varsity basketball first string, and now we’ll see where he goes with varsity baseball.  Grandpa and I can hardly stand it if we miss a game of whatever season. 

OK.  That’s it!  I’ve been trying to get this posted all of 2009!  Now click on over to see the rest of my family news.

See  ya!

From Cuba to Mexico to Nicaragua to …

GOOD GRIEF! We’re packing and re-packing.  Since our amazing trip to Cuba, we’ve been to beautiful Cancun, Mexico and Granada, Nicaragua.  Next week we go to Lima, Peru!  What’s happening?  I’ll tell you!  Les has sat at home all year and when his doctors said his health was good — he began packing his bags to get back to the pastors he loves.  And I’m trailing along to try and take care of him.  What a joke!

 

 

Beautiful Cancun

Pastor Nery

We were in Cancun almost immediately after Cuba, where we were with young church planters who live on the “other side” of the road from the fancy hotels along the Riviera Maya.  The workers set up squatters’ villages and slowly develop a town with electricity and water and pastors go to start up churches.  Nery Gonzalez has had his huge water barrel stolen, his generator stolen, his sound and music equipment stolen — but he didn’t miss a class, never said a word about his losses, and was always smiling. 

Behind us: the Mombacho Volcano, Nicaragua

nd then, it was on to Nicaragua!  These pastors were better trained than most we’ve seen in that country.  I called one the “antagonist” since he didn’t believe in eternal security (even though he was a Baptist) and was stunned to discover he was the lone ranger with his view.  In spite of it all, they became good friends and it was obvious this pastor wants to search for the biblical truth.

Wedding dresses for churches

Of course, I always take along wedding dresses.  One of the pastor’s wives wept for joy to have one because she’s begun a women’s ministry and in the past year and a half, she’s helped over 50 couples get married (instead of living together) and the wedding dress represents all she’s been teaching and praying for.  I wish I’d have had a dozen more for her!

Grandson David, QB

We’ve even been able to get to some of our grandson’s football games — a very talented freshman quarterback playing on his varsity team.  They’ve won 6, lost 2 and I can holler as loud as the rest of them!

Office Home-made Pumpkins

One more thing:  many  friends know my birthday is on Halloween.  I’ve enjoyed acting up on my birthday ever since I can remember.  I’ve got permission from David’s mom to go to the football dinner tonight –in costume — so I’ve got to go!

Until next time!

Grandma Carolyn

Carolyn & Friend in Cancun

PS  While in Cancun, of course I took in some sun and fun time!  Along came a photographer and lookee, lookee!  If you’d have been there, you’d have done the same thing, I know.