Saturday, November 29th

Kara has been chipping away at an assignment for the Biblical Interpretation class she is taking at Atlanta Christian College (a requirement of her CCF internship)... she let me take this more-or-less candid shot.

This was the first year in which Kara's and my alma maters both won their football games against their in-state rivals (since she moved to Atlanta in 2004). Georgia Tech downed "the Dogs" 45-42 and Florida beat FSU 45-15... so that added a little extra excitement to an already fun and relaxing day.

Friday, November 28th

When we got ready to take the picture I posted yesterday, we were joking about Kara being able to go back and edit in or out anything she wanted... I said: "she could even put the President-elect in the picture". She made that her challenge, and here's the result.

In the past, we have celebrated "Black Friday" by staying home and therefore budgetarily "in the black". The three of us did venture out today, however, and it was fun... the malls were not nearly as crowded as we had imagined, and I got to wish one of our alumnae (Megan Day) a "Happy 20th Birthday!" in person... God is GOOD!

Thanksgiving dinner

I'm so full I can't think of anything creative to write... suffice it to say that we had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving dinner at the Piersons! (L2R) GK, Cory, Bill, Lacy, Charles, Sarah, Christie, Ginny, Kara & Tim.

Thanksgiving brunch

We're "doing Thanksgiving" at the homes of two of our neighbors: The Logans and the Piersons. This picture was taken after brunch... the saying in Nicaragua is: "Barriga llena, corazón contento" (literally: "belly full, heart happy"). It is a huge blessing to have neighbors with whom we share such close fellowship! (L2R) Donna, Bethany, Mark, Andrew, Livia, Erin, Sarah, John, Kara & Tim.

Thanksgiving morning

I'll probably make more than one entry today... my heart is just so replete with thankfulness, beginning with Lana's "fave" (having "all her eggs in one basket", in other words, the "kids" home).

The picture is of Mr. Herzog's Bible (Worldviews) class at lunch on Tuesday @the Mellow Mushroom in Asheville. I am thankful that before too long we'll be handing off the leadership of our country to sharp young people like the eleven gathered around this table. (L2R) Seth, Anna, Sarah, Shelby, Samuel, Mr. H, Walter, Han Sung, Stephen, Matt & Tim.

Wednesday, November 26th

A funny side-note to yesterday's story: Lana wanted a dozen or so bales of hay for props... she and one of her "partners in crime" drove all over the countryside trying to find them, until someone said the farmers had all sold their hay to the circus for the elefants; somehow Lana found a way, and we had plenty for our creche! Lana's version of that particular adventure was hilarious, especially her retelling of conversations she had with individual farmers...

Kara is home... took her four-and-a-half hours with the traffic coming out of Atlanta this afternoon, but she made it, and Tim and I had homemade pizza waiting for her when she arrived!

Tuesday, November 25th

It's exactly one month 'til Jesus' birthday!

Have I mentioned how special occasions were one of Lana's things?... One of the first years we were in Managua, she decided we should do a live nativity (and Bethlehem village) on the campus of the Nicaragua Christian Academy. She rounded up sheep, goats, candle-makers, a blacksmith shop; she mobilized an army of people from our church family to play a variety of roles as a witness to all our visitors of the special nature of the holiday season celebrated every year in our adoptive country in a variety of ways, most forgetting the "Reason for the season"...

Monday, November 24th

My next favorite... I just love that girl! (clicking on the picture should enlarge it)

Tim and I have a short week, just two days of classes... and tomorrow's is still "up in the air", as the weather folks are telling us to expect rain/snow overnight... we'll see. We are planning to spend the five-day-weekend here in Asheville, and Christmas with grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins in Florida.

Sunday, November 23rd

Kara posted 149 photos from her trip to Spain on her Facebook... I like this one best! She'll be "home" from Atlanta Wednesday night for Thanksgiving, and Tim and I will get the full report... can't wait!

After this morning's service, Tim and I got to help pack up the 1,856 shoe-boxes given at Biltmore Baptist for Operation Christmas Child... that was fun, too!

Saturday, November 22nd

Tim and I spent a little time in the yard this afternoon; here he is patching the driveway.

Kara is back safely in Atlanta; the girls were flying stand-by to save money, and were upgraded to first class today... what a blessing, especially on a nine hour flight!

Friday, November 21st

This is our adult co-ed indoor team: (front) Beth, Anna, Brittany, Marisa, Coach Hughes; (back) Zach, GK, Tim, Tim Watson, Garrett (hiding). We apparently have a very competitive side, and are 2-0 after tonight's 15-2 victory over Team Asheville.

We had our first "snow day" of the year at ACA, but just like the October "dusting", it had melted everywhere but on the mountaintops by early afternoon.

Thursday, November 20th

Kara wrote very briefly yesterday only to ask me Tim's favorite Spanish soccer team... I told her "Barcelona", although now that they have traded Ronaldinho (photo) to AC Milan, probably less so... I'm assuming this all means she's paying by the minute for internet time (in Euros), and loves her little brother enough to want to get him just the right souvenir...

Wednesday, November 19th

Tim and I had the most delightful dinner this evening at the home of his Bible teacher (Jeff Herzog), his wife (Susan) and their sons (Jonah and Ezekiel). What a blessing to know that the men on our faculty are so committed to their roles as spiritual leaders in the classroom and their own homes!

Tuesday, November 18th

Taken at this morning's baseball team workout... Tim is on the back row obscured by one of his jumping teammates. They had "Carlos" after school, so he's beat... doing a little homework and looking forward to retiring early.

We miss Kara... haven't heard from her since she e-mailed from Madrid upon arrival Sunday morning. As always, we consider no news to be good news, look forward to having her home for Thanksgiving and getting a full account of her adventures!

Monday, November 17th

Here's a look at the weightroom where Tim spends his MTuTh afternoons; he was evading the camera and doesn't appear in this photo. His trainer "Carlos" is in Carolina blue; baseball teammates: Zach Hines (seated), Brad Guenguerich (on the bench) and Lawson McDonald (spotting)... Yes, the girls are there to work out, too.

Sunday, November 16th

This is from today's edition of "La Prensa" (one of the leading newspapers in Managua). It paints an unflattering picture of President Daniel Ortega's cronies (the jackal) and the recent mayoral elections (the ballot marked "fraudulent"), but the primary target of this political cartoon is the leadership of the protestant church in Nicaragua. The "pastors" are the late Monsignor Brenes ("Polito"), representing the Catholic church's principled call for a recount, and a Bible-thumping, dollar-tie-wearing "bubba", as the "evangelical hierarchy", saying what he feels to be politically expedient.
Since political humor can generally be counted on to contain a measure of truth, we need to pray for the church in Nicaragua. And to the extent that the same charges could be leveled here in the US, we need to get on our faces before Almighty God and ask Him to forgive us and help us honor Him in the ways we excercise our civic duty...

Saturday, November 15th

Well, here's a picture from today's high school tournament opener, with Tim taking his turn in the goal. We had just enough players to field a team, and lost 9-6. Tim scored our first four goals and is playing really well.
It's the 22nd anniversary of Kara's "arrival"... she has been such a blessing to me and to her mother her entire life. As I write, she is in the air over the Atlantic Ocean and will touch down in Madrid sometime after midnight (our time); she hopes to have a few hours to tour the capital, before boarding a westbound train to explore the possibility of a two year missionary assignment at the University of Salamanca. Her daddy is really proud of her!

Friday, November 14th

We played our first indoor soccer game in the Co-Ed league this evening... Tim had a couple of goals in our 9-3 victory, and I even assisted on one of them; how fun is that? Father and son competing together... I meant to take a picture; maybe next week.

Thursday, November 13th

I must be in an "old pictures mode"... This one was taken sometime around 1950 (Dad was born in 1928) on one of the beaches in the NYC area (Long Beach?)... none of the people facing the camera are still on this earth to confirm. (L2R) Grandpa Gus, Grandma Min, Dad, Mrs. Schwartz (a friend of the family) and my Uncle Joe (Dad's only sibling).

Wednesday, November 12th

I found this picture on my brother Mike's Facebook. The adults are my Grandpa "Gus" (mentioned in yesterday's entry), my dad and mom. I am on the far left, then Steve, Susie and Betsy (the first four of my parents' five kids). The picture was taken in the living room of our house in Nashville, Tennessee in 1962, a couple of years before our youngest brother, Mike, was born.

Tuesday, November 11th

Veterans Day... thought I'd post a photo of my dad (Frank William Kynast) in uniform; he was drafted and served two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War... His father (Gustaf Adolf Kynast) emigrated to the U.S. after serving in the German Navy during World War One!

Monday, November 10th

Today was the first day of off-season weight training for Tim (Coach Hughes told all the soccer players they're to gain ten pounds of muscle before next season)... wish I had a picture to share with you (maybe tomorrow); he says it was a "good start" and that he feels it mostly in the arms and chest.
Kara called this evening all excited about last weekend's retreat in Fort Walton Beach, saying the Spirit was at work changing lives and that several of the sophomores she works with were baptized in the Gulf of Mexico!

Sunday, November 9th

This has definitely been the prettiest week of the year (in these mountains), but as you can see from this picture (taken this afternoon from our driveway), fall is earning its name, and the deciduous trees will soon be bare.
I was privileged to teach this morning's Bible lesson on "Connecting in Community"; I started by telling our class that one of the reasons Lana was so excited about going to Heaven (7 months ago today) was the sweetness of the fellowship we have experienced in the three communities of faith we've been part of in Gainesville, Managua and Asheville.

Saturday, November 8th

I got to help set up this display for Operation Christmas Child at Biltmore Baptist Church this morning. Pictured are Jerry and Angela Allen who volunteer tirelessly throughout the year in support of Samaritan's Purse. Lana and I witnessed first-hand just how effective the ministry is on the receiving end during our years in Nicaragua!

If they look a little sleepy, it's because this morning was the first of the 6:30 a.m. pre-season workouts for the baseball team in preparation for the defense of its state championship. Tim and I are still having withdrawal symptoms from the soccer season, so we've signed up to play on an indoor rec team together on Friday nights beginning next week (which is motivating me to do a little conditioning of my own... on the trails ;-)

Thursday, November 6th

My brother, Steve, turns 50 today... funny how that doesn't seem so old anymore... Here he is last summer pictured with his wife (Kim) and the youngest of their four girls (Jordan & Caitlyn), ready to take off in a small plane and trust the contents of their backpacks to get them back to earth safely...
Kim apparently opted to participate vicariously.

Wednesday, November 5th

Padam and Probina Subedi (missionaries in Nepal, pictured on either side of Jordan Linkston, one of our seniors) led our upper school chapel today. Her maiden name is Heather Swensen; her brother is a former student of ours.
I love the fact that our teachers, parents and students are so involved in missions all over the world. Just in the last year I can think of those from our ACA family who have gone on international mission trips to China, India, Australia, Ukraine, Iraq, Malawi, Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Poland, England, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Brazil and Andros Island (Bahamas)!

Tuesday, November 4th

I was the first person to vote this morning at my assigned precinct; I owe that distinction to my misguided belief that the polls opened at 6:00... I got there at 5:50 and waited 40 minutes for the privilege.
Maybe it was the fact that I voted by absentee ballot (from Managua) during the last three presidential elections... this was my first election day vote for President since 1992 (the year after Tim was born)!

Monday, October 3rd

That boy "raked it in" at tonight's Fall Season Celebration. All Conference selections were made by the seven conference head coaches, All State by the representatives of each district in the state of North Carolina, and the Excellence Award is given to three players by a vote of their teammates... lest I be tempted to think I'm the only one that knows him to be pretty terrific!

Sunday, November 2nd

These ladies got together last Wednesday at the Olive Garden to honor Lana's memory (something they've pledged to do every year around the time of her birthday). They even ordered in a red velvet cake (Lana's favorite) for dessert... Great friends! (L2R) Debra Fontaine, Cyndi Hosey, Becky Morgan, Ginny Pierson, Joey Outlaw, Terry Moates and Debra's Mom (Miss Faye).

Saturday, November 1st

Tim got in a little after 11:00 pretty excited about his experiences. He went to two classes, chapel, two workouts with the soccer team, last night's concert... a full couple of days. Now begins the process of discerning God's will in the matter; when Kara was his age, we looked for "evidence" that He was pointing us in one direction or another, using the phrase: "it's a sign"... things like Cedarville's mascot being the yellow-jacket (same as Kara's at Georgia Tech)...

Friday, October 31st

Tim sent me this picture (taken on his cell phone) with the message: "It's Awesome!" from his balcony seat at the David Crowder Band concert in Cedarville, Ohio.