Don and Linda

time --

2008-12-04T21:33:00.002-06:00

When I last wrote in March, we were getting past winter and watching flowers sprout. Now it is winter again and I'm listening to Christmas music. Time flies -- The older I get the faster it seems to go.

2008-03-20T17:35:00.000-05:00

This picture of the two newest great granddaughters and their mothers was taken on January 2, 2008 in the fellowship time following Don's dad's funeral. The funeral was a time of remembering a long life 'well lived." Don's mother wanted the service to be a celebration and it was. The service ended with a congregational song, "What a Day That Will Be." And it will be - when we are all together again! We have a godly heritage to remember and teach to all those coming behind.

Being a grandmother

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Don and I think being grandparents is at least as wonderful as we thought it would be -- maybe more. Having Rebecca close so I get to see her often is very fun. Don loves to get to see her when he comes home from Austin. --- Having her smile just because 'Honey is here' is soooo heart warming.
I never thought I would be one of those 'silly' grandparents who talks to babies on the phone, but yes, my hand goes up and so does Pop's. We talk to both babies. With Anne far away from us, three or four months in between being with her seems like forever. I observe Rebecca changing and learning things every time I see her (at least a couple of times a week) and I enjoy hearing what Anne is doing today, but we look forward to being with her and experiencing the little person that she is becoming. I tell Melodie to please show Anne our pictures so she will know who we are when we get there again.

I really think that I enjoyed our children as they grew up, but I tell our girls and others that kids grow up so fast. Really, really enjoy babyhood and each stage after. ---- Being a grandparent is joy all over again. I love it!

Check out the pictures that Julie and Melodie post on their blogs to keep up with our babies.

2008-03-20T17:15:00.000-05:00

Now that Spring is here, I thought I should blog a picture from
Christmas Day 2007. We had a great time. I feel blessed!

more news

2007-11-30T19:45:00.000-06:00

I guess I'm catching up --- since you see until yesterday, I hadn't blogged in months. Life has been soooo busy. Don was activated again and began serving the TX National Guard as Division Chaplain in September. He is working out of Austin in a position that could last as long as 3 years. He is on leave of absence from his Marketplace job. We will keep our home in Mount Pleasant. Linda will be part time at home and part time in Austin.

Rebecca - 2 months old

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Anne - 3 days

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Rebecca - 2 days old

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We are grandparents!

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The babies have arrived!
Rebecca Faye Torres arrived September 22. She weighed 7 lb 14 oz and was 20 inches long.
Anne Cecilia Booton arrived November 3. She weighed 8 lb 13 oz and was 20 inches long.
They are both delightful babies -- everyone says so. Of course, their "Honey" and "Pops" would think that!

It has been too long!

2007-06-11T21:27:00.000-05:00

Time does fly! I couldn't begin to update everything since Nov. Life is good and busy. Back in the Fall we decided to change churches after 17 years. We are thoroughly enjoying Pittsburg Church of the Nazarene; renewing old friendships and making new ones. Last week I directed VBS. It was a first for me; a challege and a blessing. God blessed and we (the church) were pleased. I'm tired! --- Don has begun a Doctor of Ministry program through Nazarene Theological Seminary. I'm excited for him. --- Seth is currently on Dr. Tom Seabourn's Race Across America support team. They left California yesterday and will arrive in Atlantic City, NJ in about 12 days. It is fun to watch the progress on the website. It is raceacrossamerica.org The team is Men's Solo #123. --- Both Julie and Melodie are pregnant!! Julie is due in Sept. and Melodie in Nov. Both husbands are excited! as are the prospective grandparents! ---- This doesn't begin to update 6 months worth of news, but a few tidbits. Until later ....

Seth

2006-11-27T22:02:00.000-06:00

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

Promoted!

2006-11-27T21:49:00.000-06:00

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.

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Mr. and Mrs. Marlin Torres

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Julie with her grand parents.

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

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

Julie and Marlin's wedding day

2006-09-27T17:54:00.000-05:00

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

2006-09-27T17:42:00.000-05:00

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

2006-08-06T13:29:00.000-05:00

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.

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2006-07-03T10:19:00.000-05:00

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

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

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

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

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Linda's mother's birthday

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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

2006-05-30T09:55:00.000-05:00

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!

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and the picture that has both Don and Marlin --

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

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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.

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

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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.

2006-05-30T09:26:00.000-05:00

Easter weekend in Perryton

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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.

2006 - Easter weekend in Perryton

2006-05-30T08:54:00.000-05:00

2006-04-10T22:14:00.000-05:00

Julie took a picture of Seth so we could see his full beard; three weeks growth. I told him he looks pretty scruffy as he enjoys his leisure time ... but it is a good beard for a 20 year old, I think.

2006-04-10T22:09:00.000-05:00

The pictures that I have posted are just a few of the many that we took. Everything about our trip was a wonderful adventure! We wish we could share with you in person.

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We enjoyed worshiping with a small group church on February 12. Don preached.

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This is inside Central Nairobi Church of the Nazarene where we attended the English service on February 19, 2006.

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Seth - enjoying the view from the feeding deck.

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Up close!

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A giraffe's tongue is long, black and sticky.

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We enjoyed the giraffe farm.

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The elephant orphanage had one baby rhino.

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The baby elephants played together like puppies, after their feeding.

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We got to go to the elephant orphanage at feeding time.

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We waited for the camels to cross the road.

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We are on the way back to Nairobi from Amboseli. Seth is sleeping ...

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The sunrises and sunsets were beautiful!

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Michael was our tour guide. He picked us up in Nairobi and drove us where we went during the three days. He was quite a driver!

2006-04-09T20:20:00.000-05:00

-another Masai friend -

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We were told that Kilimanjaro is often hidden by cloud cover. We were thrilled to see it each day we were at Amboseli. We took many pictures of it throughout the day.

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-a new friend from the Masai tribe. His job was to scare off monkeys and talk to tourists about Masai culture.

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The safari that we took was wonderful. Oltukai was the lodge where we stayed two nights.

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Julie's house is A4. The flowers in the mission compound are beautiful.

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Julie's house is next to the last down this sidewalk.

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A momentary rest at the mall!

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These sculptures were at a mall where we enjoyed shopping in Nairobi.

2006-04-07T22:26:00.000-05:00

Julie and Linda shopping at one of the markets. I bought 'soap stone' items.

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Don and Julie are on the left at this missionary 'family' gathering at Java House in Nairobi.

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Here is Seth with friends in the ANU dining hall. Seth made the balloon flower while we ate lunch together. 2/14/06

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ANU is beautiful. Here we are in the middle of the campus.

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Don and Linda with Julie and Seth at Africa Nazarene University.

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In Feb. 2006 we (Don and Linda) visited Kenya and Julie and Seth.

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Jan 2006 - Port Royal Inn on Port Aransas was a beautiful place to stay.

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...cold but still fun!

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Port Aransas - Jan. 2006 - It was cold wading ....

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Jan. 2006 - at a national wildlife refuge near Port Aransas, TX

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-with friends, Jean and Emily in Houston - Feb 2006

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Dec. 2005 - Don had just returned to Texas from a year in Iraq.

This is the first post!

2006-03-12T21:41:00.000-06:00

Here is the first post. Hi everyone!