Week of Celebrations

Loved the cake but was not crazy about the hat!

She knew just what to do with her new blanket!

Posing with grand-

parents is a must!

Jeni and her mom had made everything look beautiful and the cupcakes were delicious!

Lydia is one year old. Her birthday was Sunday and Jeni and Necon had a large group of loved ones there to share in the excitement. This past year of beginnings with Lydia and Josiah has gone so quickly. She was walking all around and saying words. Josiah was crawling and pulling up on Lydia's doll bed. It was fun to watch the two of them and enjoy their discoveries. I wanted to share some pictures from that day, but I'm giving Jeni a disc with all of the photos from our camera so you may see more on her blog later. Necon was making pictures and I don't have any photos of him. Grandpa was putting together the doll's bed and Papa Chief was quietly taking in the action on the sidelines. Sorry I missed you guys.

This coming weekend Josh Porter is getting married! I remember when he was born and 4 year old Travis was so fascinated with him and his tiny toes and fingers. Josh has grown into a Godly man and I am certain he is following the path that God has prepared for him. I have no doubt that he and Kati will be happy and will flourish in God's continuing care with the support of such a loving family. Love to everyone.

Karen

I Survived!

The first full week of school was very exhausting with way too many meetings. The students begin this coming Monday. I got to see many of them last night at our Meet & Greet which lasted until 6:30. It was a full day yesterday preparing for their arrival. I'm sure once things get rolling that it will be a little easier. Sandra, my fellow counselor, and I have a plan for the first month and a long range plan made for the rest of the year. It's really nice to begin the year with someone to help. The last two years I wasn't that lucky.

Beverly changed jobs this week. She's moved from McClellan High School to Dunbar Middle School. She's very excited about working with the 6-8 graders. I'm glad she was able to get moved before the students began.

We haven't been out to check on the new house this week much. We did have another couple look at our present home. Randy's getting a little nervous about it selling soon enough. This is a prayer request. Please pray that our home will sell so that when the other house is ready in September we'll not have 2 house payments. I keep telling him that God is taking care of it. I hope all of you are doing well. Keep in touch. Love to everyone.

Karen

Jess' Mom Update

Yesterday I received a message from Jess that her mom had a set-back and was returned to the hospital. Fortunately, today I received another message stating that she had some fluid on her left lung and would be returned to the rehabilitation center after the fluid was cleared. I know that Jess was relieved.

This Thursday Randy and I have earned the privilege of having a pizza dinner with our guest speaker, Tim Marks, along with some other distributors. We're very excited to be able to visit with one of the top leaders in our business and gain some tips on continuing to improve our own record. Team has been a great support to us and we've met many supportive, compassionate people in this organization. We feel fortunate that God has lead us to this group. It would be even more amazing if some of you would also choose to be involved so our group could continue to benefit from the association with leaders. We're anxious for Thursday to get here and hope to see some of you at the Embassy Suites on Chenal at 7:30. Make every effort to be there.

When we last saw our new home, the sheet rock was on the walls and the sidewalk and patio had been poured. It's beginning to look more like the finished product. We were given the date of September 26th for completion, but it's looking like it should be sooner. Maybe I'm just being optimistic. Pray for our present home to sell in time for us to move. We are trusting that God will make this happen at the right time. Love to you all.

Karen

Latest News

Pop and his girl!

As of Saturday, August 2, 2008, I hit the 2.5 miles mark. It is wonderful that all of you are encouraging me. The Mona-vie has given me energy to do so much more than I was ever able to do before. My knees and hips are not hurting when I walk which was always the case in the past.

If you haven't been able to send a card to Jess' mom yet. Look back on Friday, August 1st to get her address. She's adjusting to the rehabilitation and is still paralyzed from her abdomen down. I know she'd appreciate any messages of support. Jess is her only family.
I helped with registration at school this week on Tues. and Wed., but tomorrow I begin my regular routine. I've had a productive summer. I've read some good books. I thought I'd share the titles with all of you. Maybe you'll be interested in reading one.

The Difference Maker by John C. Maxwell
The Speed of Trust by Stephen M. R. Covey
Created for a Purpose by Darlene Sala
Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Positive Impact by George S. Reid & Charlie Jones
The Words That Inspired the Dreams by Caron Loveless
The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict -The Arbinger Institute
The books of Philippians, 2 Corinthians, Ephesians & Romans
The new house is coming along. They have put in the insulation and begun putting up the sheet rock. The last date we were given was September 26, 2008. Our house has not sold, but we have lowered the price recently so maybe it will sell soon.
I have some new pics from our dinner with the Warriors this week. Notice the table in the picture with Lydia. I've had the table since I was 3 or 4 years old. We had it refinished and added a couple of chairs that were similar to mine when I was a child. Lydia is watching over it until we get in the new house. It will be there for the kids to enjoy.
Love to everyone. Keep in touch.
Karen

Jess' Mom was Moved Today

I was really glad to hear that Jess' mom was moved to rehab today. That sounds good to me. Jess seemed really tired in her message. Please pray for her and also her mom's continued improvement. If you want to send her a card the address is: Lee Sullivan, Sierra Providence Physical Rehabilitation Hospital, 1740 Curie Drive, El Paso, TX 79902.
I got to have lunch today with Laura Gentry and supper with Beverly. It was a very enjoyable day. I miss Randy, though. I hope his tournament in St. Louis will be over soon. He said that the muscle in his leg was bothering him and that his season is over when he gets home. Tomorrow will be more walking and reading, I suppose. Love you all.
Karen

New Record

I've been walking since the end of June each day. I reached a new distance yesterday! 2.2 miles!!!!!!!!! I was so excited to get over the 2 mile mark. I know many of you runners are probably getting a good laugh over my excitement. Go ahead. Someday you'll be 56. Hopefully, you'll never allow yourself to get as out of shape as I've done. Travis was a good role model for me. I'd get so tickled watching him run on the treadmill when the weather was unbearable outside. When he would run, the whole house would shake! (literally) Sometimes he'd get distracted by the t.v. and get tripped up. That was a REAL SIGHT! I'm feeling his presence with me while I'm working to increase my distance. What's so funny to me is that I've never heard myself say before, "I need a sweat band for my head." I have always hated to sweat!!

Thanks to everyone for your prayers for Jess' mom and family. Lee has moved to a regular room at the hospital and is off of oxygen. She'll be moved to a rehab in a few days. That's wonderful progress. Love to you all.

Karen

Memories

Trav was only 18 months old when he and Randy took his first swimming lessons together at the Y on 12th Street. Wasn't he a hunk in July, 1983 in his Speedo?

At this time of year we were always in the swing of ball season. Travis' team was always coached by Randy and Manuel except in college and high school, of course. It was a constant job trying to clean the uniforms, but even when I couldn't remove all of the stains, when Travis was wearing the uniforms they always looked handsome. One of the greatest thrills of my life was watching he and his dad play baseball. He was always such a committed player. Whatever position he was in, he gave it his best effort. He was diving, sliding, leaping, colliding, and boy, could he hit the ball! I will always remember the thrill in my heart when he would make a great hit and run like lightning around the bases. He took that after his dad. Randy was always a very aggressive runner and would give me a fright trying to beat the throws. There were always around 75 games a summer and the heat was miserable, but we were a great team. I kept score and tried to sit away from the other parents who were criticizing the coaches, and Randy and Travis were giving 200% every game. It was always exciting and exhausting at the same time. The two of them had a special relationship on and off the field. They were not only Father and son, but friends who shared a love of sports. Our family traveled 6 months of the year when Travis was a baby, until he was 5, with Randy's softball teams. When Trav became 7, Randy chose to coach Travis and the first few years we played only at the local ball park. But, of course, that was not enough since there were so many talented players, Randy and Manuel put together a team to travel. Then, we were traveling 6 months of the year with the boys' team, the Arkansas Cowboys. Necon and Stephan often traveled with us and there was never a dull moment when Trav and his friends would be together. A van purchase was a necessity to move the foolishness, loud singing, AND ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT, farther away since the trips were always so long. Until I got really tired, I had a ball listening to their stories and singing and often sang along with them. Let's see if I can remember all of the states we visited. (Some more than others, of course). Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kansas, many games were played in our own state including a few years of sponsoring a local tournament to raise funds for our traveling. Five years we spent traveling with the Cowboys. Travis, Necon and Randy changed to American Legion Baseball when the guys were age 15-18. Their team won a state tournament in AAA. Necon and Travis played together all of the time for 11 straight years and then began playing softball together with their dads while Travis continued men's baseball in Conway.
The last game he played in Conway ended with a HOME RUN ON ONE LEG and a trip to the hospital. Lloyd and Hazel had gone to watch the games and we tried to stay in the shade to not get overheated. Travis was so dehydrated they kept him at the hospital for two days. He caught a double-header in 100+ temperatures. He never would quit if he was hurting or sick. He would push himself through the games and finish. After we'd gone home, I insisted on calling the Dr., Trav continued to have cramps and vomiting. Randy drove us to the emergency room door and a male nurse was nearby with a wheelchair. He saw me trying to help Trav walk and came quickly to put him in the chair and took him straight back to see a doctor. Travis immediately asked me to call Laura and tell her where he was and she came to the hospital to stay with him. She literally got in the bed with him. They were such a sweet couple together. It's not hard letting go as a mom when you know someone else truly loves him and will take care of him. That's how I felt that night when Laura came. Now, I know that he's in the care of our Savior, who loves us all more than we can possibly conceive. I should not be concerned about his well-being any longer. He is in PERFECT HANDS! I guess I've rambled enough. I just needed to reminisce for a while. Love you all.

Karen