Handling the corona virus panic well

As the efforts to slow the spread of this "new" virus infecting humans continue we are handling things well. Sue continues to interpret for clients, Kevin is doing online high school for the end of his senior year, Stephen is doing online classes at LeeU, and I am on another weird schedule the FAA has come up with to minimize the impact of one of our controllers testing positive for the corona virus. (I think my schedule is just a plot to make the senior guys like me work all evenings and weekends :-)

Life is good. We continue to look for ways to help people. It's fun to see everyone finally embracing online things and ways of doing business and church the way I've suggested for years. And it's fun to watch everyone at work scramble to use the online tools that I've been encouraging all along despite them poo-pooing my suggestions.

I'm looking forward to when we come out of this time of panic into a more normal life and the absolute statements of "never again" and "we'll always" lessen. The strident commentary is sad and disappointing knowing that as Americans and humans we've survived stuff like this before and we'll overcome this new variable in our lives.

And I'm looking forward to seeing how people take the new opportunities that are being presented as a chance to grow and adapt. Good stuff ahead!

Happy birthday, Sue!

Sue celebrates another year today - woohoo! Be sure and give her a call, text, email, FB messenger, or whatever method you use to communicate...

Happy Chinese New Year!

Since we had Owen as an exchange student we have enjoyed celebrating Chinese New Year as a new tradition in our home. 2020 is the year of the rat, so it should be an interesting year.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy New Year!

Well, we made it - 2020! We're now in a new decade and I'm excited. Our family has changed - we are now the parents of adult children, which is a new and different experience. But they are all healthy and doing well! Jacob continues to work and live in Atlanta, Megan and Booker are doing enjoying life in Pennsylvania, Stephen is going to be to Lee University for another semester, and Kevin and is enjoying his Senior year of high school. Mom Holly continues to enjoy living close to us in McDonough, and Mom Emery is doing well at PRC outside of Jacksonville. Sue and I are both healthy and still praying for the wealthy and wise part of that equation :-) so life is good!

I hope that 2020 finds you in good health and spirits and that big things will happen in your life!

Good trip to Texas with Mom

My mother and I took a trip to Texas. We went so she could visit her brother James.

My mother grew up as an only child. But she knew that after her mother and father split her father had a son with another woman. So my mother knew she had a brother out there but didn't know how to find him. In 1994 the Oprah Winfrey show did a story on finding long lost relatives and offered to help people. My mother called the number from the show and after giving some information was given 7 names that were possibly related to her. The first six had phone numbers, which she called with no luck. The last name only had an address, so she sent a letter just to see. She got a call a few days later from a man saying he thought they might be related!

After exchanging some info they figured out that they were brother and sister. He and his family lived in Texas, so my parents went to visit them. The visit was great and the relationship was established.

Mom is getting up there in age (78 this year!) and is doing great. But recently she expressed interest in going to see her brother one more time before they both got too old to travel. I made some arrangements and off we went!

The visit was nice. We ate dinner with them one night, then had lunch with them after spending time at their home for two more days. We got to meet his daughter and learn about the rest of his family. It was a good visit!

I'm glad that my mother and I got to spend this time together. We enjoyed the trip, enjoyed relaxing at the hotel together, and had a good trip home. Woohoo!

Happy 90th birthday to Mom Emery!

We had a good time celebrating with her last weekend, a fun party at Penney Farms with some of her friends from Ocala. Mark and Mary, Marcela, Sue, and others joined in to celebrate.

Mom is doing well though the Alzheimer's is taking it's toll. She's happy and enjoys every new day! Happy birthday, Mom!

2019 looks like it will be great!

We're ringing in 2019 with a bang! Stephen is back at Lee University, Kevin is rolling into the second semester of his junior year at high school, Sue is busy with a variety of things, and I'm in government shutdown mode while I work. Fun! I hope things are good with you! Check in on Facebook or give us a call when you get a chance...