Christmas in South Carolina

We began Christmas Day with worship at New Covenant. It was a good service with a good attendance. We left immediately afterward for South Carolina to celebrate Christmas with Cheryl's family. On Monday Cheryl and Karisa took Cheryl's Sister Glenda and her daughter April shopping. April's son Zachary (2 and 1/2 years old) went along. I worked in the yard removing limbs left from the ice storm. We returned to Cleveland today stopping in Senaca to have brunch with Cheryl's nephew Joshuah.

Chery's mom (Thelma) with four of her grandchildren, Joshua, Karisa, Thelma, Seth, and Eric (left to right).

Cheryl, Thelma, Glenda, and Ruth.

Ruth and her husband Greg with sons Seth and Eric

Memphis for Santa's visit

We returned last evening from Memphis where we celebrated Christmas early with Alethea, Justin and Camdyn. Karisa flew there from Chicago and rode home with us. On Tuesday Cheryl and I took Camdyn to the Peabody Hotel to see the famous ducks and we enjoyed lunch at T.G.I. Fridays.



At the Peabody

Baking Cookies for Santa















It was so much fun to watch Camdyn with her toys. She reminds Cheryl and me of Karisa and Alethea as well when they were her age . "Alethea" shows up when her mom tells her not to do something. She gets a determined look with a sheepish grin and does it anyway knowing there will be consequences (e.g., a toy is put away for a couple of days). For example, one of her gifts was a play piano her mother had when she was Camdyn's age (see picture). Camdyn loved playing it but she also loved sitting on it. It had been broken over the years and I had repaired and reinforced it. I suspect Alethea did not trust my skills and did not want Camdyn sitting on the piano. Camdyn looked streight at her mother and plopped down. It was promptly put away for a couple of days.

The Piano

Her favorite toys seemed to be a rocking horse and the refrigerator I made her. but she enjoyed them all.



Papa's Girl

Four Women

Karisa in a rare serious mood.

Justin finds his place in the world.

Larry and Danny Visit

One of the great aspects of a long term pastorate combined with teaching at a seminary is becoming family with students who then become life-long ministry peers. Cheryl and I have several former students who are also former New Covenant members who fit that category. Two have come for a visit this week, Larry McQueen and Danny Alvarez. Larry is in town for Brenda Hughes' graduation from UT Knoxville with an Executive MBA degree. He has recently been accepted into a doctoral program at the University of Birmingham in England. Danny is on break from his doctoral program at Regent University in Virginia and came to see a "friend". The visit included meeting her parents. They are both very special to us and a pleasure to have in our home (they both help with chores around the house).

Larry McQueen


Danny Alvarez


Brenda Hughes

Lane's Visit

We had a special surprise this week-end, Larry and Maxine Lane came over for brunch. Maxine worked at Northwest Bible College when we taught there (1976-1979). In every place there are people who make having lived there special. Larry and Maxine are two of those people. They are warm, loving and gracious friends, a major reason our memories of North Dakota are always pleasant.


Larry and Maxine


Another Thanksgiving shot. Camdyn was checking Santa out from a distance.


Another shot from our front yard.

Family Visit

Thanksgiving has come and gone. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving we met Alethea and Justin in Decatur, Alabama and brought Camdyn home with us. She requires a little bit of attention. Karisa arrived on Tueday evening (Wednesday morning), with Johnmark and Mat. Alethea and Justin came on Wednesday. We had a great Thanksgiving. (I didn't cook anything.) My sisters Shirley and Darlene came on Friday.


A view from our front yard.






Marcy Williams Webb came for a visit before Thanksgiving





Alethea and Karisa




Johnmark survived his first inquisition


Justin and Matt


Camdyn help's with Papa's project


Shirley and Darlene

Travel & Work

We've been busy since Camdyn's birthday party. I traveled with Cheryl to New York on November 2-4. She went to the Evalgelicals and Catholics Together meeting. I met her friends from the group including J. I. Packer, Chuck Colson, Tom Oden, Richard Neuhaus and others.

I spent a day at the Union Theological Seminary. It was great for me. One of my special interest is early twentieth century religious education theorists. During that time-frame George Albert Coe taught at Union, John Dewey taught literally across the street at Columbia University's Teacher's College and H. H. Horne taught downtown at New York University. The library was a treasure cove of resources on the period. It was a great disappointment in other sources.

We spent Friday walking around downtown New York. There was a great display of Medieval manuscripts at the library, Bibles and prayerbooks. They were absolutely beautiful.





Last week I went to the mountains in our pop-up and pulled together some of my research. I'm going again this week. We pick up Camdyn next Saturday.

Camdyn's Birthday Party

Memphis Visit

Cheryl and I went to Memphis on Thursday evening to celebrate Camdyn's second birthday. On Friday we took Camdyn "trick-or-treating" at the children's hospital. On Saturday she helped her Papa make pancakes and Camdyn helped make cup-cakes for her party before we went to the party.

News From Alethea

Yesterday Alethea was asked to become chief resident at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital when she completes her residency there in 2007. This will mean they will stay in Memphis for an additional year. This is quite an honor and we are very proud of her. She has not officially accepted. I have attached a link to the hospital. www.lebonheur.org

Also, Justin's ministry at the University of Memphis was highlighted in a local paper today. The following link should take you there. Commercial Appeal

More Pictures

Here are a few more pictures.

Katherin enjoys a ribbon more than her company.

Cheryl:"This gives me great ideas about Karisa's wedding."
Karisa: "I hope mom's not getting any ideas."

"When I get this seed out of my teeth I'm going to kill Jackie and smash his camera."

Katherin throws rice on her Uncle Jonathan.

Ronnie, Crissey, and Katherin.