Ana Maria with Josiah, Sammie, Isaac, Isaiah, Gary and Bobito of course....Joel is in Amsterdam.
Joel's 18th Bday dinner
Harvard....maybe if I was smart enough I could get these photos to turn...sorry
Where EVERYBODY knows YOUR name.....
Joel, Peter, Gary, Isaiah, a bit of Josiah, and a Shy Ike on the Center Field Grass at the LOOKOUTS Stadium for 4th of July FIREWORKS!This 4th of July we got to experience TWO great Fire Works shows. We joined our Sunday School class up in Kennesaw on July 3rd and enjoyed yummy snacks and a great display of pyrotechnics. We then spent 4th of July in Chattanooga, Tennessee with the Smith Family. We enjoyed a HOT AAA Baseball game at the Lookouts' stadium against the Carolina Mudcats. Chattanooga is such a gorgeous walking town, even in the heat. We sat out on the Center Field grass and enjoyed an up close and personal Fire Works show. You could feel the Fireworks in your chest.
For our 20th Anniversary, Gary and I went to Boston, Massachusetts. We enjoyed walking the Freedom Trail, all 5 miles of it. We learned more about those first American Dreamers who wanted a nation to call their own. Those folks were inspirational, opinionated, and tireless. We ate at the CHEERS Bar, had Boston Cream Pie where JFK proposed to Jackie, and saw the Blue Man Show. We were able to tour Harvard and MIT. Both universities are impressive in their own ways. I was more impressed with Harvard and the sense of community they try to instill in their undergraduates. MIT is definitely a TECHIE school and only for the HIGHLY resolved with "THE KNACK". While at Harvard, Gary got to visit with Fransisco, a friend from Spain, who teaches business to graduate students. He showed us a Harvard classroom with their state of the art lighting, voting panels, and acoustics. Now Gary and I can both say we "attended" Harvard.
Joel turned 18 years old the day before he left for Amsterdam. We had Peter Smith, Joel's good buddy, join our family dinner at a Steak House (Cherokee Cattle Co.) and everyone enjoyed Rib Eyes. There were no ribs nor eyes on their plates but all the boys seemed to enjoy it. I got chicken. Joel left for Amsterdam and returned with a higher resolve toward leadership. We were proud to send him off to experience a bigger world and serve others in the process.
Isaac went to Football Camp at West Georgia College with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his Varsity team with Crown Athletics. He came home hoarse and sore. He did well in the competitions and tied for first in the OX PULL. It will be fun to see Ike and Joel on the grid iron this Fall.
Gary got to reunite with the sister of Antxon and Fransisco from Spain. She was here in Atlanta taking some courses for her job in Spain. We enjoyed a fancy Greek meal with Ana Maria and some other Spaniard ladies in Buckhead. It was fun to practice more Spanish and to catch up with old friends.
Josiah and Isaiah have enjoyed the lazy HOT days of summer here in the South. They swim most days at the community pool and have invented some new pool games. They have made some money caring for neighbor's yards and animals. Isaiah actually is caring for a diabetic cat, Smudgie, and has to administer shots. Isaiah is very good with animals. Smudgie actually purrs after Isaiah gives him his shot.
We start school August 2nd and before we know it, we will be moving back to the Central Coast. We count our blessings daily, giving God glory for all He has blessed us with. This Southern Adventure has been a true joy.
