On May 7, 2013, my class presented "Bullies Anonymous" to the students of LUES.  We did 2 performances at 9 and  10 A.M.   While it was a lot of fun, it was also very educational.  We learned and taught about different types of bullies, and what usually happens to them.  I was very proud of my 3rd graders.  I will miss them next year. 

School's Out

Last Friday was our last day with students.  It's been a whirlwind of a year.  Three more days of postplanning,  then I'll be making a quick trip to FL to visit mom.  This will be my first time going back since dad went to heaven on March 21st.  Then on June 3rd, I'm leaving to go to Ireland with WMA on my 7th mission's trip.  I'm so thankful for these opportunities to go.

Summer

Enjoying the lazy days of summer.  On my birthday, May 28th, David & I left for Alaska where we rented a motor home for 11 days.  We enjoyed visiting Denali and going out on a day cruise from Whittier.  David went halibut fishing in Homer. It was a relaxing and refreshing trip for us.

Since arriving back home, I've visited my family in FL.  Amy is much improved and is learning to use her prosthesis.  We are so thankful to God for sparing her life.  We have questions that we will never have answers for, but we continue to just trust.

I'm working on this post and plan to contact with everyone when we go to the CUFI conference the week of July 16th.  Then on July 22nd, Myra Henriott and I are to go to China for a mission's outreach with WMA.  I'm looking forward to seeing my mission buddy friend: Gwen Reed from South Carolina.  This is the 4th summer I will have traveled with her on mission trips.  We solicit your prayers for safety in all areas and ultimately for an outpouring of love and ministry to the Chinese people.  I do plan to post from China providing that we have internet access.

Blessings to all and thanks for your prayers.

Christmas 2011

We've had the girls since Dec. 20th. It is amazing how peaceful and contented they have been. Everyday has been an adventure.

Peeking........can you see me?

At Higgston Park:

At Higgston Park........

Cason Hart

Cason Bradley Hart was born on October 2 arriving at 6 lb. & 4 oz. 19 inches long. He was 2 weeks early. Here he is with his mommy in the church nursery. He came to church for the first time when he was one week old.

Cason Bradley Hart

Cason was born today, Oct. 2, @ 4:00 PM weight in at 6 lb. 4 oz., 19.75 inches. Mother and baby are fine............God is good.

Home safe

We had a wonderful 2 weeks in China. We did some site-seeing in Xi'an, then was involved in a training to Chinese teachers to help them learn conversational English. There were greater goals that I will not list here, but know that we achieved the ones for this trip and look for a great harvest in the future. The pics are not in any certain order. I just randomly selected them. Here's David on the train when we visited a small city of about 80K for the training. John on our team celebrated his 57th birthday. We honored him with a cake and really enjoyed sandwiches from Subway.

Blake and Laura (locals from Xi'an) are the brains behind the work. He is over the Xi'an International School and she teaches English at one of the local universities. A very sweet and patient couple that took excellent care of all of us.

A bon-a-fide STL vehicle. ( We got to ride in it.)

On Wednesday evening we had an English corner at the school. Teachers came with their families and friends and we just hung out and visited for an hour and a half.

The Terracotta soldiers near Xi'an. These were found in the 1970s. A former emperor hundreds of years ago had them cast and buried with him. These are broken from a cave in, but many have been put back together. There are thousands of them. This was a very interesting find.

Between 30 and 40 million Chinese live in cave homes. We visited one on our trip to see the soldiers. It is cool in summer and warm in winter. They've made them rather nice.

Group photo on the Monday of our training. The team is on the front row with the 2 school administrators. The Chinese teachers are in the back.

Going to Jim's apartment on the 18th floor, we came by this tree receiving an I.V. to help it live. Yes, that's a bag and a needle is stuck in the tree..............

On Friday after the training, we visited a junior high school. This is a 9th grade class with 54 students in it. There's room for 60. They sit on little wooden stools that is no more than a board. The students come early around seven. They leave and go home in the middle of the day for a couple of hours to eat lunch and rest. They come back in the afternoon and stay until about 6. They had no concept of school buses. The students take turns keeping the school clean. It is a much different culture. On this day, they were there for some summer session.

A team picture before the folk from Hong Kong leave..........

On the Great Wall with our "Torch" magazine. This is Lee's alumini magazine.

With Jim and the SW team on the wall. It was hot..........
Rita in front of the Forbidden City which is across from Tinamin Square. We were able to find an English speaking Chinese who we paid to guide us through this site. We learned so much more by doing this.

With John, our guide.

David helping some Chinese teachers...............

We were so blessed by going and thankful for everyone and everything involved. Jim was a great host, Jennifer was a wonderful leader, and we met some wonderful people in the "family."

PTL!