Greg's Journal

56 in '56

2012-02-11T22:15:00.004-05:00

56 years ago today!

A little under 15 months later, yours truly ended their DINK (double-income, no kids) status... couldn't have hand-picked a better set of parents.

Dad left this earth eight days short of five years ago... Mom continues to bless the four generations of her family still here with her undying devotion to her
life-partner and care for the rest of us!

National Signing Day

2012-02-01T09:44:00.001-05:00

One of my former students (Frantz Caudio, third from left) was one of NINE Fleming Island High School seniors to sign letters of intent this morning... he to play football at Will's college (Jacksonville University)

Joshua's Due Date

2012-01-31T18:51:00.004-05:00

Grace said he'd be here "early" given her experiences giving birth to three of her own.

His tech-savvy proud-pappa posted this collage today of his 18-day-old son...

...isn't he precious?!

Month-of-Sundays +1

2012-01-29T20:43:00.000-05:00

These two joined us for church, life-group and lunch before heading back to the mountains... great fun!

Asheville Company

2012-01-28T23:20:00.000-05:00

Tim and Anna let us treat them to dinner at Al's Pizza and an evening-stroll on Neptune Beach!

Joshua Thomas Strickland

2012-01-16T20:31:00.000-05:00

7 lbs., 4 oz. good thing for Bonnie he was a couple weeks early!

The little man has definitely captured all our hearts, and has already spent one night "at home" in his parents' apartment...
Grace has taken this week off to share the load of sleeplessness with Bonnie and Drew, who seem to be taking to their roles as parents swimmingly.

I'm back in Jax, ready to brave my first four nights without Grace since the wedding! :-(

Impending Grandparenthood

2012-01-13T18:00:00.000-05:00

The proud father-to-be just posted this picture of his bride getting ready for the arrival of their first Joshua Thomas Strickland!

Grace and I are heading their way, praying for a safe, (medically-speaking) uneventful delivery...

News from Nicaragua

2012-01-11T19:58:00.001-05:00

So nice to hear from the Nicaraguans who became so dear to us in our nine years in the "Land of Lakes and Volcanoes"!
Richard and Aurora have done a beautiful job working to provide opportunities for their children that they themselves never had growing up. Their oldest son and daughter graduated from NCA Nejapa and are now studying to be an engineer and teacher, respectively. Mateo is an 8th grader and I look forward to meeting Noemy when Grace and I visit in June!

(L2R) Erika, Richard, Mateo, Noemy, Richard & Aurora

Six Figures

2012-01-03T19:46:00.000-05:00

This old gal hit a hundred-grand on the drive home from her owner's first day back-at-work... that's low mileage for a 12-year old... good thing since she's now working a 66-mile (roundtrip) commute!

Last Day of our Break

2012-01-02T15:51:00.003-05:00

It's been on the to-do list a little too long...

trim the palms

I don't generally make "new year's resolutions", but I did resolve this morning to scratch this one off the list...

...believe it or not, the three trees in our yard represented roughly six hours of work!

Speaking of work... Grace and I go back to our day jobs tomorrow...
Can't imagine that 4:30 alarm will be a real welcome sound ;-)

First Day of 2012

2012-01-01T18:06:00.001-05:00

After two days of driving (from Montana), sister-in-law Kim and her youngest popped in for a short visit before the last leg of their drive to Daytona Beach, where Jordan begins work on a Bachelor's in Aviation Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this month ...it'll be fun having another Kynast nearby!

Last Day of 2011

2011-12-31T15:27:00.002-05:00

Gorgeous day in north Florida... perfect chance for the two of us to spend a little time watching the UF Band warming up for Monday's Gator Bowl half-time show. The football team will be trying to avoid its first losing season in years.
I'm no prophet, but I'd say Ohio State has the greater incentive... having lost three consecutive national championship games to the Gators in basketball and football just three years ago... can't imagine they've forgotten ;-)

New Year's Eve Eve

2011-12-30T20:14:00.001-05:00

Grace and the author continue to enjoy their break... which is not to say it's been all fun-and-games. Here's a look at our home featuring new shutters and freshly painted soffit & fascia!

Christmas Day

2011-12-25T15:39:00.000-05:00

Grace's brother Jonathan joined us for "Chinese"... with T & K in Gainesville, we are otherwise down to the core-3 at this house...

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T23:44:00.000-05:00

So nice to have our four youngest here this evening... Kara and Tim head to Gainesville in the morning to spend a little time with their grandparents before heading north Monday afternoon...

Merry Christmas to everyone from the six of us!

6th Monthiversary

2011-12-23T18:51:00.001-05:00

Savannah, Georgia was a great place to celebrate a half year of marriage... don't we look like a couple of newlywed tourists?

on the Savannah riverfront...

We parked the car for three days, thoroughly enjoying the beautiful weather, live oaks, bicentennial homes, quaint little shops, fresh seafood and each other's company!

Kara and Tim will be arriving in Jax around 8:00 tonight; we've been busy "pulling Christmas together" today! Looking forward to spending it with our four unmarried "kids" as one family for the first time!

...My bride at Fort Pulaski!

Shutterfly

2011-12-14T19:30:00.000-05:00

My first attempt at using this site that is a favorite of so many of our friends and family...

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Decking the Halls

2011-12-10T21:36:00.004-05:00

It was time... 15 days till Christmas!

Setting up the tree is always a special time as we remember the source of each ornament, some made by one of our kids, others commemorating a special achievement or "baby's first Christmas"... we both look forward to adding another of those for the first grandchild (due to be born January 31st)!

Grace did a beautiful job on the entire house... my big job was "lighting the roof-line", and as you can see from the picture (below), one of the bulbs is already in need of tightening or replacement... I did check them all before putting away the ladder ;-)

The Party's Over

2011-11-27T17:30:00.001-05:00

It's been wonderful to have a full house during the break... Bonnie & Drew (Tuesday-Saturday); Kara & Tim (Wed-Sat), and now it's just three weeks till Christmas break.

We were also able to check four projects off our to-do list, including that chimney repair mentioned in an earlier entry :-)

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T14:22:00.001-05:00

Our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife, with the added blessing of this Kynast-Baxley-Vaughan-Strickland gathering for the noon feast!

Honey Do List

2011-11-21T07:20:00.003-05:00

Clay County gave us the whole week off; Grace works Monday and Tuesday
:(
...so I'll be chipping away at the home-repair list, at the top of which is this woodpecker/weather-beaten chimney... looks simple enough, right?
Since the handy-man genes all went to my son & brothers, we'll just have to see...

25

2011-11-15T17:47:00.002-05:00

This sweet young lady made me a "daddy" exactly a quarter-of-a-century ago!

The ensuing 25-years have brought every measure of trial and emotion into both of our lives; one thing has never wavered... the unconditional love God planted in this man's heart for his precious daughter... she and her "little" brother have long been the source of my deepest pride!

May you have the happiest of birthdays, Kara! Love, Dad

Veterans' Day

2011-11-12T10:32:00.001-05:00

This place was recommended to us as a "local find" for brunch... notice the little sign on the window encouraging "hippies" to use the back door...
It was Veterans' Day and 11/11/11... there had to've been something special about 11:11 this morning. Grace and I are most thankful for the sacrifices made on our behalf by those (and the families of those) who have served and/or are serving in our armed forces...
God bless you all, even the hippies among you ;-)!

Nicaraguan Elections

2011-11-06T20:09:00.002-05:00

Polls closed on the Nicaragua's Presidential election at 6:00 this evening. All evidence points to a third (second consecutive) term for Daniel Ortega... we should know by sometime tomorrow.

Grace and I met after church with ten of the college students planning to be a part of our short-term mission trip to Managua next summer... I'm excited about the prospect of introducing them all to the other country that is so near and dear to my heart!

Two Guys!

2011-10-27T19:30:00.001-04:00

TK and Harrison were passing through on their way to see their good friend David in West Palm, with time for a burger and fries...

Taking Time...

2011-10-26T09:48:00.001-04:00

On the same theme as my last entry, here's a photo taken by one of our photography students this morning... since I arrive way before sunrise every morning, I generally miss out on this particular display of God's creativity!

The "little" Things

2011-10-17T20:33:00.002-04:00

Will took this picture this evening from our backyard!

It has been a beautiful day... sad how often the hustle-and-bustle of busy lives tends to obscure that fact...

Thanks, Will, for taking the time to notice... and share!

Homecoming Parade

2011-10-13T20:20:00.001-04:00

I got to chauffeur these two delightful seniors from our Homecoming Court in this year's parade!

A BLUR of a Weekend!

2011-10-09T20:52:00.000-04:00

Grace and I put 900 miles on the Nissan this weekend, taking turns driving so that we could get through the stack of tests we both had to grade...
'Twas well worth it though... so great to see Tim, Kara, Eddie & all the Asheville Family there for Tim's game.
Grace made sure we stopped to appreciate the clarinet player in downtown Asheville!

Robbie's COL

2011-10-02T18:56:00.002-04:00

In Memory of Rob EubankGrace and I started the weekend by attending a Celebration of Life party in Gainesville for the captain of my 1986 GHS Soccer Team... it was a PARTY, because Rob had given us lots to celebrate in his 41 years on this earth... an all-too-rare example of a life well lived.
Well done, Captain... Your legacy lives on!

High School Football

2011-09-24T11:43:00.002-04:00

Grace and I celebrated our 96th day of marriage with dinner and the "game of the week" in prep football, pitting my Fleming Island Golden Eagles against the 10-time state champion Bolles Bulldogs... The home team won this one 26-22, the 402nd win for their revered coach... there very well could be a re-match for these two in the state playoffs... ideally on neutral ground, since Bolles has lost only six games at home in the past 23 years!

82.99

2011-09-19T18:49:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow would've been dad's 83rd birthday were he still with us... he's been gone four-and-a-half years; his legacy lives on, and we all continue to miss him, treasuring the memories...

Pictured with 11 of his 12 grandkids (where were you, Tim?), and three of his 5 kids (where were we, Susie?)

It's a boy!

2011-09-16T17:35:00.000-04:00

...at least that's what the sonogram Bonnie sent appears (to her doctor) to indicate! :-)<

...due date: January 31, 2012

Slam-Dunk Champ

2011-09-15T17:48:00.001-04:00

This is the new look of the newly-crowned slam-dunk champ @UNCA

College is not all Calculus, Physics, Humanities and Soccer for the bearded 20-year-old... among the festivities at last night's inauguration of the new arena on campus was a little healthy competition... TK is able to do something his old man never has (dunk a basketball), and to do it with enough flair to triumph over the competition!

Wish I had that on tape to share!

Kara!

2011-09-10T09:43:00.000-04:00

Hadn't seen my daughter since the wedding... the photo was taken last Thursday as she and friends got ready to run their first 5K in Atlanta... my girl drove down after work last night; so nice to have her with us on the occasion of her Aunt Betsy's 50th... Happy Birthday, sis!

Anna's Adventure

2011-09-03T11:59:00.001-04:00

TK's good friend, Anna, will be spending the next three months in Thailand!

She's giving us all a peek into her world at:
annasomerville.wordpress.com

College LifeGroup

2011-08-28T21:11:00.002-04:00

The lens on my camera is not wide enough to capture the entire group, but this is 3/4 of this morning's crew... my spot is right next to the sweet little red-head in foreground ;-)

First Regular-Season Game

2011-08-27T20:31:00.005-04:00

Linda Richardson came through again with a few snap-shots of today's season-opening 1-1 tie vs. Mercer...

TK got lots of playing time and came close to ending the game in sudden-victory overtime with a near-post header with two-minutes on the clock.

Read the article on the UNC-Asheville website at: http://www.uncabulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19200&ATCLID=205251292

First Day of Classes

2011-08-22T19:57:00.002-04:00

Will shared this picture taken as he left to begin his college studies at Jacksonville University this morning!

Others attending their first classes of the school year included his brother Nathan (@UNF) and step-brother Tim (UNC-Asheville)

It was also Grace's first day of classes on JWJ's new campus! I have Open House tomorrow night, so BIG week all around ...the reward at the end of which is that Kara will be in Florida for the weekend!

First Period

2011-08-19T05:47:00.000-04:00

This is the bunch that greets me at 7:20 every morning... My only Spanish I class this year!

TK's 1st Goal of the Season

2011-08-17T21:45:00.000-04:00

Must've been quite a shot... the article on the UNC-Asheville website described it as a 25-yarder and the game-winner in a 2-1 pre-season victory over conference foe Elon!

http://www.uncabulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19200&ATCLID=205244377#.TkxhmLNWWaY.facebook

Day Two

2011-08-17T18:19:00.002-04:00

Thought I'd catch my 6th period students in their assigned seats...

First Day of School

2011-08-16T19:42:00.003-04:00

Great start to the year... Here's a look at my smallest class; there are 15 in the 2nd period class roll, but one didn't find it in time to be in the picture...

Fourth period is closer to capacity (25)...

...and here's a look at the 5th period bunch; we meet for 25 minutes, break for lunch and then do another 25 M-F!

I'll give you a look at 1st & 6th tomorrow...

Pre-Planning

2011-08-13T11:22:00.000-04:00

Got a surprise the second day of pre-planning... the Principal assigned me a new classroom! It's not much to look at yet, but the chance to give up "floating" is pretty exciting... Until now, Room 123 has been the domain of the Driver's Ed teacher, the most recent victim of Clay County budget-cuts. I'll find a way to live with the 21 shrink-wrapped simulators wired into "my" new base of operations, and post a better picture next week!

Nathan's Birthday

2011-08-13T11:06:00.002-04:00

Nathan celebrated his 21st birthday wrapping up a college retreat in Pigeon Forge, TN... he's pictured (third from left) braving the whitewater of the Ocoee river earlier this week.

It's back to school in a week for his junior year at UNF, working on a double or triple major in English, Psychology and/or International Business...

50

2011-08-08T20:55:00.002-04:00

It's not only the age of our current Commander-in-Chief (as of last Thursday)...
Today, it's the exact number of days Grace and I have been married!
Today also brings our "Honeymoon Summer" to a screeching halt with teacher pre-planning at Fleming Island High starting up tomorrow!

Duval County teachers get another six days...

Hairspray

2011-08-05T23:18:00.000-04:00

Grace and I got the perfect seats to see Will play his part (Guitar 1) in the orchestra pit for this summer's performance!

Brother & Sister

2011-08-01T22:03:00.004-04:00

Kara wanted to see her little brother once more before he started back into soccer (today) and his second year of classes at UNCA (August 22nd)... so she and a group of her friends drove the 3 1/2 hours to Asheville and took him out on one of the trails... at my request Tim sent this picture:TK reports that the first "Captain's Practice" was brutal today, and that tomorrow will be even worse... 5-6 miles of hills and more time in the torture-chamber (weight room)!

Big News!

2011-07-31T22:07:00.004-04:00

In Spanish, the saying is “más vale tarde que nunca”...
We were 13 days late celebrating Bonnie's 25th birthday, but the fact that she is "with child" made our dinner at Smokey Bones doubly-celebratory... Grace and I are now busy trying to come up with "grandparent names" for ourselves!Due date: January 31st, 2012

Visitors!

2011-07-24T23:05:00.004-04:00

Tim's engineering skills came in handy once again... this time to repair a faulty sliding-door... the man understands machines!

He has one week till he has to report for soccer practice...

Mom was passing through town with three of her cousins and took us all out for seafood at The Fish Company!

Moving Day

2011-07-21T22:18:00.004-04:00

Lease is up Sunday on the apartment that was my home until June 19th... Grace and I recruited some great help in the form of these two muscle men. Thanks in large part to their help, we "got 'er done", and had enough energy left to go to Joe's Crab Shack for an oceanside dinner! (Snapper Ponchartrain and a generous helping of key lime pie to celebrate :-)

Official Wedding Photos Available On-Line

2011-07-14T15:03:00.003-04:00

http://threetphotography.zenfolio.com/grace

Password: "grace"

7/11/11

2011-07-11T13:08:00.008-04:00

July 11, '09 is significant in that it is the date of the bride and groom's first "date"...
Dinner and a stroll through Old Saint Augustine...

Still haven't received "the" wedding photos, but Grace's cousin Harry did a great job with these!

Here we are with our FIVE "kids" and Pastor Chris......and with Mom and her 5 (also 3 and 2)!

Old Friends

2011-07-09T22:04:00.003-04:00

David and Marcia Elder were single college students at UF and members of the Hosanna Praise team at Westside Baptist Church (where Grace's family and mine were members); they've now been married 25 years and have two sons in college... fun catching up with them over dinner @"La Cocina" in St. Augustine!

Ichetucknee Springs

2011-07-08T22:16:00.007-04:00

It's been at least 15 years since my last leisurely float down the Ichetucknee... not much has changed on the river; A LOT has happened in my life: Dad, Lana and some very dear friends have moved on to bigger things... Kara and Tim have grown up and continue to make me proud... there were moves to Nicaragua, Asheville, Orange Park and the job changes that go with them, and now the joy of joining forces with the sweet little lady pictured below (far right with some of the workers and students in our college ministry who joined us in today's adventure ;-)

Wednesday, July 6th

2011-07-06T22:31:00.006-04:00

I made sure Grace knew she wasn't marrying a handyman... The fact that we're still friends after the two-day project to assemble this tool shed means "the honeymoon is not yet over"!

A peek at the HONEYMOON

2011-06-25T12:37:00.009-04:00

PHENOMENAL time on Amelia Island... which surely had more to do with what Grace and I have come to mean to each other than the place we chose to spend our first week as a married couple... just the same, it all added up to the perfect honeymoon...

- - - - - ...in a lighthouse!

ONE...

2011-06-18T22:09:00.005-04:00

Grace and I had a ton of things to do to get ready for tomorrow's big event, but we were able to carve out a couple of hours for lunch @Pepper's with our precious family all here for the wedding...
It was also my little brother Mike's 47th Birthday!

TWO...

2011-06-17T20:34:00.003-04:00

A few more early arrivals...Yet to arrive tonight are brother-in-law Mike Montague (California), Grace's daughter Bonnie (Fort Lauderdale) and Tim & friends from Asheville, NC!

THREE...

2011-06-16T11:34:00.007-04:00

Hadn't seen Betsy since she moved to California four years ago... and she was the last of my four siblings to meet Grace!
Brother-in-law Mike flies in late tomorrow night. So great to spend the day with my sis and their terrific children Ryan and Nicole!Lunch at the Jax Beach Mellow Mushroom!

FOUR...

2011-06-15T21:39:00.003-04:00

Family from Maryland! Grace's cousin Sue and her husband Harry are here for the wedding and took us to Carrabba's for dinner!

FIVE...

2011-06-14T13:37:00.005-04:00

With the school year behind us, we worked on the reception area set-up and the logistics of transforming the kids' worship center into our little wedding chapel... How does it look?

6 days!

2011-06-13T14:59:00.006-04:00

Less than a week till the wedding... Grace has one more day of post-planning; today we worked together getting her room all packed up for the move! Her school board has decided to move James Weldon Johnson Middle to a different (larger) campus, effective next fall!Here's the bride-to-be at her desk on the "old" campus for the last time...

Stanton Graduation

2011-06-07T06:51:00.004-04:00

Will earned an IB diploma as #22 in a class of 397 at Stanton College Prep, one of the top five public schools in the nation!Pictured returning to his seat on stage (as secretary of the senior class) after receiving his diploma.

FIHS Graduation 2011

2011-06-03T14:48:00.006-04:00

Since I teach only Spanish 1 and 2 this year, I know very few of our graduating seniors... you may remember this one from a March entry; Forrest Ashby was the captain of our first State Spanish Conference Team... I even got a little video of him receiving his diploma!
...and here's the foreign language department (teachers of Spanish, unless otherwise indicated) all decked out in our robes:L2R: Laura Gerds (ASL), Enitza Calderón, Ruth Brasfield, Magdalena Torres-Sierra, Jennifer Kruse (ASL), Pam Johnson, Mysteri Arthur (ASL), Elizabeth Irigoyen-Meyers, Holly Fitchette (French), GK

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T19:51:00.001-04:00

With 20 days to go till the wedding, days like today (where we don't have to teach) have been invaluable in the prep department...
A LOT still has to come together, as you might imagine.

The Richardsons sent us this snap-shot of TK enjoying the holiday with friends in their pool!

Family Time!

2011-05-27T21:50:00.002-04:00

The Montana Kynast's Deland vaca afforded us the chance to spend a little time with them this weekend!Standing L2R: G&G, Joel Eklund, Adam Craw, Jay & Susie Kynast Rah, Brother Steve, Lauren Parrish & Jason Rah.
Sitting L2R: Kim Kynast, Chelsea Kynast Craw, Lydia Craw, G-Mom, Ray Eklund, Kristen Kynast Eklund, Jordan & Caitlyn Kynast!

Tim is TWENTY!

2011-05-22T18:36:00.004-04:00

No longer a teenager, Tim celebrated with his Asheville family and friends... this dad spent most of the day remembering each of the past 20 birthdays... proud of the man his son has become!Lunch with Sarah and Philip Richardson...

Heaven Gains Another

2011-05-15T16:59:00.004-04:00

Marisol Zamorán (pictured far left with her sisters Violeta & Elena) graduated with Kara from Nicaragua Christian Academy in 2004... as of last Saturday, she is the first of our alumni to leave this earth.
She and a group of 4 other young doctors were travelling toward the hospital in Chinandega, Nicaragua, where they were doing their medical residency when the driver lost control and flipped his vehicle, severely injuring all five; Marisol died an hour later.

Impossible to know how to respond... Parents (Freddy & Ada Lila), 2 brothers and Violeta live in Managua; Elena is a Walton Scholar at John Brown University (AR)... this is a precious family; please join me in praying for all of them!

40 Days!

2011-05-10T14:51:00.005-04:00

5-weeks-and-5-days is a Biblically-significant period of time... and now it is the only thing separating this couple from becoming husband and wife... that and sending out invitations, meeting twice more with our pastor, finalizing plans for decorating the room, flowers, the photographer, food for the reception, the cake, wrapping up the school year at our respective schools, getting Will graduated...

Mothers' Day Eve

2011-05-07T21:51:00.024-04:00

There's no way to thank moms enough... how does one express his love and appreciation to the woman who brought him into this world, denied herself repeatedly in caring for his every need for years, asking nothing in return but that her children take the lessons she so persistently sought to teach us and lead purposeful, joy-filled lives!

I could've had no greater model for how to live that kind of life than the one set by my own mother, pictured below with her oldest daughter and mineLana's mom is also happiest when she is surrounded by her children, and grandkids... is that true of all moms or am I especially-blessed?Kara and Tim could not have hand-picked a more devoted mother... Lana loved them more than life itself, pouring herself into their lives as if she'd known her time on this earth would be short... her legacy lives on even as she has moved on to greater things!And it would be criminal not to mention all the "moms" who have stood in the gaps for my kids after Lana's departure... Ginny Pierson, Linda Richardson, Debra Fontaine, Terry Moates, Jeri Watson, Laura Benzing, Denise Bagby, Liz Johnson, Susan Williams, JoLynn Goffin, Cheri Hagan, Cher Zurlinden, Berdjette Barker, Dottie Shuman, Joey Outlaw, Pam Justice, Julie Johnson, Donna Logan... and that's just for starters and just in Asheville; the list grows exponentially as I add in those in Atlanta, Gainesville, Managua, Jacksonville and our extended family all over the world!

May God bless you all in the measure that you've blessed us and grant you the happiest of Mothers' Days!

Growing Older...

2011-05-06T06:58:00.007-04:00

One of the joys of growing older (54 last Wednesday) has been watching these two grow up!
Tim hitched a ride to Atlanta yesterday with the double-purpose of picking up his good friend Philip Richardson from Georgia Tech and having lunch with his sis!
The larger picture shows brother and sister in front of her house;
the smaller one: the future architect and engineer analyzing student projects...

50 days!

2011-04-30T15:28:00.007-04:00

That's right, 7 weeks-and-a-day till this couple stands before God, Chris Price, family and friends to join our lives together for the remainder of our time on this earth...

We got all dressed up to chaperone the prom at Fleming Island tonight... one of my duties as a teacher, made A LOT more fun by my beautiful prom date!

Double Celebration in Nicaragua

2011-04-25T14:10:00.007-04:00

Wrapping up the four-day-weekend/Easter celebration with two special birthdays in my second-favorite country in this world: Ivania Matamoros (Wendy's mom), in her 15th year as Business Manager for both campuses of Nicaragua Christian Academy, and Noah Deibert, newborn son of MVI Missionaries Mike and Lauren.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños y las más ricas bendiciones de Dios a ambos!

Grace's Birthday

2011-04-19T14:42:00.004-04:00

She chose Olive Garden for her dirthday dinner... the Grilled Shrimp Caprese, which we shared G&G style... then a little shopping... somebody's wedding is exactly two months away!

Kara's New Title

2011-04-19T14:41:00.005-04:00

Kara has been at her new job less than two months... she got a raise and a promotion this week! ...I think they're hoping to keep her!
Here's a photo of the two sides of her new business card (you should get an enlargement by clicking on it :-)

P.S. It's Grace's birthday today, so I plan to take her out to dinner and make another entry later ;-)

Tim's Second Goal!

2011-04-15T07:05:00.006-04:00

goooooooolasooo numero dos... we tied both games 1-1, and i had the goal in the georgia southern game (the other opponent was Clemson)

...LOVE getting text messages like that (in "Spanglish", no less) from my son; he later shared the glory with his dormmate (Kenny) who served a perfect cross from the wing, that Tim headed into the corner of the net for the equalizer... Go Dawgs!

Tomorrow's Birthday-Man

2011-04-11T15:48:00.005-04:00

When we had to leave Nicaragua in 2005, God provided just the man to take over as Director of Nicaragua Christian Academy...
Now wrapping up his sixth year in that capacity, Liam Starkenburg, has led the two campuses through a period of unprecedented growth, especially at a time that has not been positive for most private schools world-wide!Pictured here with his wife, Jessica (Tim's sixth grade teacher) and their three beautiful children...

Will's Prom

2011-04-09T19:06:00.005-04:00

Mom putting finishing touches on her son's tux... Plans for the evening?

1. Dinner @Ruths Chris Steak House
2. Senior Prom!

His Dad spotted him this "sweet little ride"... hard to step up when you drive a Caddy to school!

Agin' Gator Soccer Society

2011-04-09T18:43:00.007-04:00

This year's Gators (orange) & alums (blue)... following the old timers' 3-0 victory in today's match (they let us play with an extra man, but he had to be over 50... I heard someone say we were playing with 11-and-a-half-men... that hurts! ;-)Here are the ones eligible for that extra spot on the field: Standing (L2R): Rob Hanna, Julio Romero, Woody Woodward, Sam Parham, John Remington; Kneeling: GK, Coach AC Moore (Founder/Coach in 1953), Clyde Relick.
Woody, Sam & Clyde were this author's teammates 1975-79!Lunch with Lana's Mom and Step-Dad on the third anniversary of her arrival in Paradise!

Alumni Game Footage

2011-04-09T18:36:00.006-04:00

Grace caught this footage of her fiancee taking the ball upfield as the alumni closed out a 3-0 victory against this year's edition of the UF Soccer Club...

The game ended on this play.

Fair Day

2011-04-08T09:04:00.004-04:00

Got the day off for the Clay County Fair... the picture, though, is from Kara's cell phone... she, Tim and her friend Eddie were at the Asheville Drum Circle tonight!

Tim's first collegiate goal and assist!

2011-04-07T11:48:00.004-04:00

Tim scored the second, assisted on the third goal in a 4-0 victory over Brevard College this afternoon... the first is always the toughest; not that it's ever real easy to score Division 1 goals in a sport known for 1-0 games.
Kara gets to see the next one... 3:00 Saturday @Davidson

Kara!

2011-04-03T06:48:00.003-04:00

Grace and I joined Kara for the 11:30 service at Trinity Anglican Mission and then lunch with this crew at "La Parrilla"L2R: Elliott, Lena, GK, Grace, Kara & Eddie

Asheville!

2011-04-02T11:00:00.007-04:00

Where else could you see something like this? Yep, that's a pot-bellied pig in that motorcycle-drawn "carriage"...
It was great to breathe that cool mountain air... to see our good friends the Richardsons and Tim (pictured in his new dorm room), who seems to be thriving in his Engineering courses... We also got to see him in his second start at forward against Mars Hill!

Grace's Spring Break

2011-03-26T22:42:00.005-04:00

It's this pretty lady's turn for a break... "La Nop" and a sunset stroll on the St. John's kicked things off for her last night!Back to school for this old boy on Monday... don't worry, she has a full list of things to get done... most have to do with planning a wedding, now just 12 weeks (and a day) away!

Spring Break

2011-03-25T09:28:00.009-04:00

Grace has been working this week since we teach in different counties... I've been hanging out with my favorite person on this earth over the age of 52!Mom and I have gone for walks, hung out by the pool and on her back porch, put together a 750-piece puzzle, hosted a head-and-foot tournament, done a little shopping, gone to her Thursday night Bible study, and of course, played a ton of cribbage...

Mom's Head-and-Foot Tournament

2011-03-23T23:31:00.003-04:00

Her version of the "Final Four"... we drew numbers for partners; Pastor Joe and I had the cards tonight... there will be a rematch!

Tuesday, March 22

2011-03-22T23:17:00.004-04:00

Anytime the Kynasts get together, there's usually some kind of card game going on... when it's just two of us, cribbage seems to be the game of choice, and Mom generally wins... it feels good just to come close to winning when you're playing the queen ;-)

UNCA Basketball

2011-03-16T08:43:00.003-04:00

Tim sent this 14 second clip of his celebration of the UNCA play-in victory of his school's basketball team in the NCAA tournament... an overtime win over Arkansas-Little Rock... he said he lost his voice and hearing (temporarily)... all part of the college experience, I suppose :-)

FSSC 2011

2011-03-12T20:18:00.004-05:00

The highlight for many of us was the winning performance in the category of Entertainment by our lone senior, Forrest Ashby... this from the beginning of "Eres mi religión" (Maná)

Fleming Island's First Team

2011-03-12T20:14:00.002-05:00

Spanish Conference!

2011-03-10T06:30:00.003-05:00

This Conference and I go way back... Linda Awbrey, the teacher I interned under hosted the 1980 version... ten years later, I hosted it myself... I've taken teams to 17 of them, the last of which was in April 1996... three months later, I packed up my family and moved to Nicaragua. So here I am, 15 years later ready to take this bunch, Fleming Island High School's first State Spanish Conference Team:(L2R) Wyatt, Dustin, Forrest, Brooks, Jenny, Haley, Ana, Cynthia, Charlie & Angela

Mid-Week Fun

2011-03-09T06:54:00.004-05:00

Grace and I have tried to meet for dinner once during the week this year, generally on a Tuesday or Wednesday... lots of fun to be able to include Tim this week before he heads over to his Grandma's in Gainesville...

Tim's Visit

2011-03-08T15:30:00.005-05:00

He's on Spring Break... took him out for a full rack of ribs; says he's still trying to put a little more muscle on that 6'4" - 185 lb. frame... since it was Tim's first time @Miller's they made him chase it down with this brownie a-la-mode (had help with that ;-)... then we worked it off on the raquetball court!

Taxes and FAFSA Done!

2011-03-06T20:19:00.003-05:00

Always a good feeling to get those out of the way each year... Grace had hers done last Monday (to meet the deadline Will had for some of the schools he's looking at.)

Tim started his Spring Break this weekend, but maybe spending most of it in the Tar Heel state... we may get to see him mid-week sometime!

Paradise Gains Another

2011-03-03T08:56:00.008-05:00

Rob Eubank (one of my star soccer players in the mid-80's @GHS) lost a courageous battle with colon cancer last Friday... All evidence points to the fact that Rob made the most of his 41 years on this earth...
...............................................Well done, Captain!...this from the obituary in Saturday's Charlotte Observer:

To truly honor Rob, he would want you to live the life he strived to live each day: to care about each person with whom you come in contact, to be a friend to children, to donate your bone marrow if you are a match, to make a person’s life better if you have the power to do so, to forgive easily, to make a choice each day to be positive, and to allow God to work through you. This is the gift Rob would like to leave to those he loved so much.

"Grandma's" Birthday

2011-02-20T18:43:00.004-05:00

The birthday girl is shown enjoying her newest grandson, Harley Cooper Wright... she has four altogether, including Kara, Tim and Lana's brother Mitch's oldest (Katie)...
Grace and I have been taking full advantage of President's Day Weekend, getting caught up on our grading and looking forward to the day off tomorrow!

Lend Me a Tenor

2011-02-12T22:23:00.005-05:00

Grace's youngest (in glasses) lit up the stage once again in this musical by Ken Ludwig... here's part of a scene in Act 1:

Spanish Conference Prep

2011-02-11T06:44:00.004-05:00

Spanish Conference is a month away... had our parent-student-chaperone meeting at "La Nopalera", a popular Mexican restaurant chain... Fleming Island's first team will have 1 senior, 1 junior, 3 sophomores and 5 freshmen; should give us a core of "veterans" in year two!