Ready for the Baby!

Kara just messaged me saying she's in labor with her first-born and asking me to pray it gets easier (I imagine she means the labor pains), so I am!
As a man, it is impossible to imagine what it is like to physically give birth to another human being, but I DO know that her own mom was thrilled to have gone through it!

Eddie and Kara have the little fella's room ready... can't wait to meet him!

Another 10th!

This is the 10th birthday that Lana is celebrating in Heaven!

"The righteous perish,    and no one takes it to heart;the devout are taken away,
    and no one understandsthat the righteous are taken away
    to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly
    enter into peace;    they find rest as they lie in death."

-Isaiah 57:1-2

10th Anniversary

Dad took leave of this earth exactly 10 years ago today at 11:50 a.m.  He accomplished a great deal in the 79 years he spent down here, in large part because he spent 51 of them married to my mother.

Mom has long had a saying hanging on the walls of her home that states: "Two things parents should give their children: roots and wings".

Frank & Anne Kynast did that for the five children they raised, of whom I am blessed to be the eldest...

Thanks, Dad... I miss you!

Tim is 25!

Once again, I am not able to be there for his birthday, but thankfully I have these people standing in the gaps for me... and Grace and I WILL be there for his wedding in 34 days (to the sweet young lady front-and-center in this photo)!

My Dad's Birthday

Born on this day in 1928, this would have been his 86th birthday were he still with us...

This picture was taken before I was born (first of his five children)... Mom says this is one of her favorite pictures of him in those early years of their courtship and marriage.

This world could use a few more like him these days!

Kara's Big Day!

Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Kelly and their parents just before the ceremony.

Pretty cool getting to be the father of this beautiful bride!

OUR Anniversary

Five years ago today, Grace was passing through Asheville and had lunch with Kara, Tim and me... she had been a close friend of their mother's for over 20 years.  On the second anniversary of that "date", we got married, making today our third anniversary!

It hasn't been "a pirate's life", but no less an adventure! 

We're signed on for at least one more year in China, and after that, only G knows! ;-)

My Parents' Anniversary

Pictured on this day in 1996, my mom and dad had been married 51 years when his death parted them (temporarily) in 2007.  As the oldest of their five kids, I know I speak for all of us when I say that we have been blessed like few others to have them as our parents.  I've heard it said that it is more important for children to know that their parents love each other than that they love them... well these two communicated both messages loud and clearly!

Tim's Grades

I've been proud of my son for a lot of reasons over the years, mostly relating to his character, perseverance and kindness to others... I've never doubted his work-ethic, but academic results have never come easy for him... which is one reason I'm especially proud of him for his latest grade report... may have even heard a button pop "upstairs"!

NCA Nejapa Graduation

Can't even begin to tell you how it warms my heart to see the picture of this year's graduates from the campus I had the privilege of seeing get its K-7 start during my last year as director (2005)... it is the fulfillment of a dream to extend "Academic Excellence with a Christian Foundation" to a broader segment of the population...
There is now a third campus in Matagalpa!

Giving Thanks

Kara and Tim at his 2010 high school graduation

Tomorrow is a normal workday here in China, but it's Thanksgiving in my country of origin... where there are a whole host of people for whom we are most thankful... at the top of my list are these two kiddos... I'm so proud of them for the ways they've handled all the challenges that life has thrown them!

Kara's Birthday

After her 2008 graduation from Georgia Tech with Michele, Aldo and Darling Jill (classmates from her school in Nicaragua)

In Hong Kong on vacation (last month) from her job as a Graphic and Web Designer at Vocalocity (in Atlanta)

On The Wall at Badaling with three of her biggest fans!

Dad's 85th

Clockwise: G's, Tim, Kristen, Kailey, Chelsea, Jason, Kara, Jordan, Caitlyn, Jen

Today's the 85th anniversary of my father's entry into this world... one of which he took leave some six-and-a-half years ago.

His legacy lives on in the life of his wife of 51 years; the five of us who are blessed to be their children, the grand and great-grandkids (nine of whom are pictured here with their "G-Mom and G-Dad" on their 50th Anniversary cruise!)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Second Anniversary

Last year on this occasion we were in Managua with the team from Chets... we're celebrating the second year of our honeymoon on the top of Mount Huang; "Yellow Mountain" is reputed to be the most beautiful in China... you'll get no argument from us!!

Kara's Birthday

The young lady pictured entered this world through an Alachua General Hospital delivery room in Gainesville, Florida at 6:56 a.m. on a Saturday morning precisely 26 years ago today... 'twas a quite memorable occasion for this once-young father; she has been one of my greatest sources of pride and joy ever since!

Dad (pictured with his daughters circa 2003) would've been 84 today were he still with us... don't know if September 20th has the same significance to you now that you're five years into eternity... just wanted you to know we still miss you here on earth, Dad!

Bonnie's Birthday

She's 26 today... so cool that even though I've only been her step-dad for a little over a year, I can look back and see many occasions where our paths have crossed over the years... dating back to before she was born! Here she is playing dress-up with Kara back in the 80's at our home in Gainesville!

Kara, Eddie, Mitch, Heather, Harley, Bonnie, Josh, G & G

Family!

Hard to believe it has been so long since my last entry... 12 days from our departure date and so much yet to do. Tuesday an estate sale company came and literally "cleaned us out"... We enjoyed sharing our plans with Bobby (pictured)

Bonnie, Drew and Joshua have been here since Sunday evening, so we've gotten to spend time with them and "Uncle Nate" (pictured @Zaxby's)

"Grandma Grace "G.G." has been spending all the time she can with Josh, who will be exactly 6 months old tomorrow, Friday the 13th!
Tonight we visited with a Barnabas Team Leader from our church while Josh's parents were out on a DATE... those can be few-and-far-between for young parents... he sat through the entire meeting as if absorbing every word of our conversation :-)

Managua Wrap-Up

Grace and I stayed 3 days longer than the rest of the team to be able to meet with dear friends (like those pictured) that we'd otherwise have missed...Bob and Myra Trolese, enjoying their 32nd year in Nicaragua!