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