Seth

Seth is 21, and we thought was looking quite dashing this day! How do kids grow up soooo quickly. It seems like yesterday .... 

Promoted!

Don was promoted to Lt. Col. on Nov. 19. Col 'Red' Brown, who swore Don into the National Guard 17 years ago and is Don's present commander, gave a promotion speech and removed the old insignia. Linda put the new one on. Our faces reflect the lighter side of the moment after the more serious military style ceremony. : - ) Seth was present, too, and taking the pictures. 

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Marlin Torres

 

Julie with her grand parents. 

(back to front) Ransom, Justus and Raina Miller with Julie. Addie Miller is at the left. 

 

Our 'family' who got to be with us for the wedding; about 30 from
out of town. 

Julie and Marlin's wedding day

I'll share some photos from the wedding day. It was a beautiful wedding; a wonderful day. Lowell and Marilyn Clark, missionary friends, came to take the pictures. There are too many great pictures to begin to share all -- but we hope you enjoy seeing a few.
 

a new family picture

Our new family picture was taken, Sept. 8, the evening of the wedding rehearsal. Some of us look pretty much the same, but we think the beard that Seth brought home from Kenya makes him look a lot older. 

Corpus Christie, TX - July 14 and 15

Don and I were in Corpus Christie, TX, for an Army retreat that Don was one of the leaders for. The retreat was great, and we also enjoyed some sight seeing. Here Don is standing in the entrance of the Texas State Aquarium. We really enjoyed it. -- And the picture of me below is taken at the bay, beside a replica of one of Columbus's ship. Walking on the bay was a lot of fun. -- We also got to visit in Houston and see the Ur exhibit at the Museum of Natural History on Monday. The docent was thrilled to talk to someone who had been to Ur. Of course, Don was delighted to talk to her, too.

 

...following a quick lunch Sunday, after church, Don, Pepper (our dog), Jack, and I headed back to East Texas. It was a wonderful weekend. 

..talking with Pastor Sally Jo Boyd and husband Wally and other church friends.
 

Mother with Marie McGarraugh, close friends for over 40 years. 

Jack's birthday is June 22, so the cake has both names.

 

Linda's mother's birthday

At 10:00 p.m., on June 23, when Mother answered the door for Don, Jack and I, she was VERY surprised, but it appeared that she thought 'we' were all of the birthday surprise. On Saturday morning as we prepared for family and church friends to come for lunch and cake, she still didn't seem to suspect a bigger celebration. My dad out did himself with planning for lunch, cake, inviting people -- all the time keeping it a secret. It was such fun!!

Here are some of the pictures...

Memorial Day in Kansas City

We attended Celebration at Union Station with 35,000 other people on Sunday night, the day before Memorial Day. The Kansas City Symphony Orchestra played patriot music, antique cannons were fired, and there was a fabulous fire works show at dark .... This picture of Melodie, Ben, Don and I was taken early in the afternoon. By 7:30, when the concert started, the hill under the War Memorial was covered with people. It was a wonderful, fun evening!

and the picture that has both Don and Marlin -- 

This is Marlin on his birthday, May 23, at our house.  

We shopped in Salado (near the retreat center). Don insisted that I take my shoes off and stand in this wonderful creek, in the middle of town, for a picture. -- I wasn't the only one in the water; there were people playing to the right and left. 

This was the fence that we could see from the Summers Mill dining hall. 

Summers Mill used to be an ostrich farm and there are still some that will come close to you. 

Chaplains and spouses on the SNU Region gathered at Summers Mill Retreat & Conference Center (Belton,TX) on May 19-21. We had a great time.

 

Easter weekend in Perryton

M Linda's aunts, uncle, cousin, and a nephew (not pictured in either pic) joined us for Saturday at Linda's parents home. --- lots of good food and good fellowship. Our times together are toooo far apart.