The Pictures Tell The Story...

More People Pictures For Sam...

Sam has asked to see more people on my blog....so these are for you over there in France! Above is a shot of the girls and their created works of art. They did the design and decorating themselves.

Happy Birthday, Kay! Many years ago I met a parent of a student who attended Toboso. Kay went quickly from being a Holophane Executive Secretary to a life of flashbacks of horrific childhood abuse. She was diagnosed with what at that time was called MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). Years of help and therapy, 8 hospitalizations and a lot of prayer and she is now whole and well. She has shared her story with others on a number of occasions. She now loves to mow/exercise and sits with us in church each Sunday at the 8:30 AM service. It was great to take her out to lunch today for something we at that time weren't sure we'd ever see.....her 58th birthday!

New Camera

Some shots from around the garden with our new Fugi S 700 with 7.1 megapixels and 10 X zoom... We're bloggin again!

6:00 AM.....Let The New Week Begin....

As I awakened this morning at exactly 6 AM my mind went to how behind I've been on my Blog Log! I know how much I enjoy checking in on the lives of my family and friends. Kirby, your simple blog showing your newly landscaped entrance and water feature helped me realize the importance of connectedness with the lives of people I deeply care about. I have been without a camera for a while but that will change today. I'll get some shots to chronical my week's activities including.... Driving the Heartbeats Ultrasound RV today, catching a little of Adele's softball game before going to mine..... putting Zoe and Addy on the bus TO TOBOSO tomorrow. (That's the school they will start in next fall until the new elementary is ready in October....imagine that!) Pat and I taking Kay Harris to Applebees for her birthday Wednesday (what a marvelous turnaround she's made in her life) lunch with Wes Humble and Mike Stevens Thursday (now there's an interesting combination!) and attending graduation parties on the weekend! So I hereby commit to my ever evolving life adventure and better blogging.....what's that I hear in the other room.....I think it's my life companion of 40 years.....YES DEAR....I'M COMING!

Beauty Abounds At Bill's Botanical...

This year is the best yet here in Pat's Secret Garden and Bill's Botanical. Last night I just sat next to the flowing stream letting my eyes wander over the wide array of plants that have found their nitches. The Japanese ferns are particularly beautiful. The last several years they have gotten damaged by late frost but this year they are gorgeous. Frogs were croaking.....a chipmonk was darting in among the rocks around the stream.....

.....the Japanese blood grass is maturing among the lime green creeping Jenny.....

....and the colors dazzle the eye...... It all brings tranquility to the eye and mind.....

....One Last Reflection On The Toboso Past....

.....the cake to mark the event. Interesting that the company that purchased the school is run by two former Toboso students, Casey Williams (who you surely remember, Meg!) and Kelsey Geisler who's Dad walked in my office one day to inform me he would be dieing soon of cancer and wanted to have a conversation with me about how best to tell his son. I later did the eulogy at his funeral.

Teachers.....hiring teachers......hiring the people we put in the room with Kids....that was the most important thing I did at Toboso. Here are a couple of examples of that. The teacher in the foreground, Criss Fisher, became a very gifted classroom teacher. The one in the background, Kathy Klein, with the books taught 40+ children several years because we were overcrowded. It was great to reconnect with many of the staff members I worked with over the years.

..........and lastly....two dear friends. On the left, Duane Flowers, now Mayor of Hanover and John Tolley, head of the Longaberger Landscaping Department. John attended and sent his whole leadership team through the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People classes I taught at Longaberger. His wife headed up the Toboso event and sent me these pictures. Thanks, Judy!!

Mother's Day Gathering....

We love to spend special occasions with the kids and grandkids. Today it was Mother's Day at the Olive Garden. Laughter, gifts for Moms, great conversation and delicious food made for a wonderful time. (We missed Heather who was at her Moms but enjoyed her "scrapbook" certificate for Pat's massage!)

.....TWO OF THE GREATEST MOM'S ON THE PLANET!!!

The "Project"

Thanks to dear friends who came to the rescue we were able to extricate shrubs and dig to the bottom of the block wall on the North side of the house and lay a perforated drain pipe to eliminate the water problem in the basement.

The "Young Bucks" did a lot of the tough digging.........while.......

......the more experienced among us supervised!....(Just kidding, Dave!) It was truly a sweaty, dirty job and teamwork prevailed. Pat fixed some choclate chip cookies to "fuel the machine." Thanks to all who helped and offered. Maybe now the mushrooms will stop growing from the walls!

An Evening of Worship at The Midland Theater

Last night we turned the old downtown theater into a sanctuary....

Dave Longaberger donated 8 Million dollars to restore this old venue. It was great to fill it with music and praise to the God who restores!