Hope of the World

Mom has been doing the artwork for the North Texas Conference each June for three of the last four years. Each year a number of southern states meet in a leadership convocation known as the Sout East Jurisdictional Conference. It was held in Dallas' Anatole Hotel this past July - it will probably be returning to Dallas in another 15 years.

This artwork was used as the Conference logo for 2008. The post script to the story is that the conference chapel in Plano put the design into stained glass. We are all really proud of her.

What symbolism do you see in this image?

Levi turns 30

Granmary, Mary and Jacob went to the doctor today, and Levi looks GREAT!!!!! He is developing perfectly normal...Praise God! He is 30 weeks old, weighs 3lbs. 7 oz., and hasn't started showing any signs of trouble from Mary's antibodies.

The doctor was very pleased with what he saw and said to come back in two weeks for monitoring. We hope that after Mary's bloodwork comes back she will be able to get the Rogame shot. Sure she will always have these antibodies in her body, but if levels are low enough, she might be able to get the Rogame shot to help supress them.

Ultra sound portrait of Levi at 30

Visited Zach and Liz in Laredo

Just before the start of the July 4th weekend Mary joined us for a quick trip to Laredo where we enjoyed fellowship, fireworks and a quick tour of the Laredo area - including a stop at a border patrol surveillance point where Zach and Mary had their picture taken, some interesting tourist shops, Target and up-scale taco eatery.

Tiphaine with Dad in NYC

This montage of images is from the visit over the 4th of July weekend with Benjamin and daughter Tiphaine - on their first visit to NYC and their first time to travel alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDTAtvvWzk4

Tiphaine posing in her pirate garb.

Zach Graduates from Border Patrol Academy

Brother Bobby joined Liz, BT, Mary and Mary in Artesia, NM on the occasion of Zach's graduation and commissioning. Zach distinguished himself as one of the best shots in his class while in training.

Zach stayed two months longer at the FLETC campus for Spanish language training before assignment in Laredo. Dalton stayed with the Meads.

A very special woman

January 1, 2008 was celebrated with some black eyed peas, a few kodak moments and construction of a dog fence. Many folks let their dogs run. There is a lot of running room but sometimes visiting dog packs aren't much on manners.

In fact we have had a couple of vet bills from neighbor dogs attacking our Australian Cattle Dog, Duke. I am blessed to have a wonderful help mate, Mary who helps with fencing, nursing, cooking and whatever else that may happen on Lazy Day Farm.

From Russia with love

Mom and dad traveled to Russia from August 15 to September 6, 2007. Their trip included a tour of Moskow and then a boat ride up to St Petersburg. They wish they had heavier jackets as they traveled to St. Petersburg.

The pogost of Kizhi is located on one of the many islands in Lake Onega, in Karelia. Two wooden 18th-century churches, and an octagonal clock tower built in 1862 can be seen there.

They were built without nails and the craftsmen used only the simplest tools - an axe and chisel. The church's roof shingles give off different colors during the day, as light changes, purple, lavender, and silver,to black.