Memorial Day

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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...

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!

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!