PAUL and SHARON

Spring/ Summer 2005

PAUL and SHARON

Happy Spring from Northern Ohio where we received a foot of heavy, wet snow on April 24! Many trees were split or lost branches due to the weight of the snow; and of course, power lines were down in several areas. We also received some very wet, heavy snow on April 2nd which was accompanied by a very high, strong wind. This storm brought down a big pine tree at the corner of our house by the driveway. Fortunately, the tree fell down in the driveway and not on the house. We have very good neighbors who cut up and hauled the tree away while we were at church on Sunday; thereby, allowing us to use our driveway again.

Our year started out with just about all of our family (minus two sons-in-law) converging on our place for an "impromptu family reunion". The reason being that we had received word on Christmas day that Timothy was being activated for 18 months of duty - six months of training and one year of duty in Iraq. We had a houseful, but it was a wonderful time to be together. I'm sure he will appreciate your prayers for him as he ships out sometime this summer.

We took our usual Spring break vacation the last week of March. We headed up to Phil and Lynda's for an overnite stop and then proceeded on up through Michigan and over the Upper Peninsula to Dunbar, Wisconsin, where we spent Easter weekend with Van and Loretta and boys. From there we left on Monday and cut across Wisconsin diagonally to the Eau Claire area where we spent another overnite with Paul's widowed sister-in-law, Ellen. When we left her place the next morning, we headed down to Corydon, Iowa, to spend a couple nights with Wesley and Leona and little Lucas (except he's not so little anymore for his age!) From there we headed down to the Kansas City, Missouri area to spend an overnite with Paul's brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Peggy. We then headed East on I-70 to wind our way back home, running into the storm that I mentioned above. We were later getting home then we had anticipated due to the weather; so we were glad when our home was finally in sight.

VAN and LORETTA

Hello everyone,

We are looking forward to graduation in a week and then we are on to
summer school and camp for the summer. While Van will be busy finishing
up his degree, we plan to go camping a couple of times and just catch up
on things here at home. Van should be done with this degree by the next
newsletter – something we will all celebrate, but I am sure he will find
something else to do.

The first week of January we traveled to Mom and Dad’s so we could see
them and Timothy. We were on our way to Tennessee where two former
students were getting married. The bride was Van’s secretary for two
years and they had asked Van to take part in the ceremony. Van and I
also made a trip to Texas in March; he had to go take a class at
University of North Texas. We were able to drive past our old houses
etc. and I visited old friends from our years there. It was a great
weekend, but went too quickly. The boys stayed with Van’s aunt in Iowa
and had fun with them. She put them to work, but paid them so they
really liked that!

Benjamin went to competition in April with a French horn solo. I was his
accompanist and also one of the sponsors for the school. He came back
with a blue ribbon, so we are very proud of him. He played the solo for
the school’s spring concert last week along with singing with his choir
and playing with the band. He is done with choir now for the year; band
continues to practice as they play for graduation. He loves all the
music; I don’t have to tell him to practice any more. He has focused on
piano a lot this semester and has improved greatly. Ben will be 13 next
month, ready or not, we will be the parents of a teenager.

Nate has become a book worm this winter, always in a hurry to do his duties of the day so he can get back to his book. Only the warmer weather is pulling him from his books. He has a cello recital in a couple of weeks
and also is doing well with piano. He has a close friend who he likes to
spend as much time with us as possible; the boy would rather live at our
house since he is nine years younger than his next sibling. Sterling
will be moving away this summer, so Nate is already not looking forward
to that day.

Joshua just finished his first Awana Sparks book and was very excited to
get a ribbon. He and the cats and dog spend a lot of time together, he
knows everything about them. Our cats, which are really still kittens,
had their own kittens this spring, but they died. Joshua went out in the
woods, dug the holes and buried the kittens for the cats. He can’t
understand some of his friends who are afraid of his animals when they
come over.

Looking forward to hearing from each of you…

Loretta

PHIL and LYNDA

Hi, everyone,

As I read over the last update on us I realize that we have a couple of changes in our family. One of the most exciting news is that Hannah is walking and not a human terror. She is all girl by walk, expressions and actions. We are just amazed how much she has grown up in just the last couple of months. Having such a joy of a child we thought we would add another one to our family in the fall.

The other change we have had is that Phil has changed jobs. The one he had at the end of the year was not what he expected and this one just kind of fell at his feet. He is back to working in the automotive industry as a quality controller-inspector. This job has good benefits and after a year of employment, some incentives to get more education. Something no other job has offered.

As far as I go, the Evening Bible Study ended for me in March, but I am still doing Cubbies. Although I only work about 14 days a month, my job along with family keeps me busy and going all the time. What a difference a day makes when you have a toddler around. We are loving all of it though. It is especially nice when the weather is good enough to get out, it wears everyone down. The family I work for has a nice yard with a couple of play sets.

That about sums it up for us. I hope that everyone is doing well.

Love, Lynda

WESLEY and LEONA

Hi everybody!

My name is Lucas Everett Darrah. I joined my mom and dad on November 23 at 10:34pm. I was 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 22 inches long. My middle name comes from my great grandpa Everett Bennett. I am his pride and joy since I was named after him. Grandpy and Grandmy came the day I got home it was so great to have them at the house they helped out my parents a lot. I didn't get to see much of Grandpy since he had to get back so fast but Grandmy stayed to spoil me.

Shortly after I was born my daddy lost his job so he got to spend some more time with me. He got another job and that one did not work out either. He is doing odd jobs out of the garage some days when it is warm and Mom has left us for just a little bit. He takes me out to the garage and we work on engines.

Mom has been kinda busy lately. She tests home schoolers; she has three
families that she works with. Some times she takes me along and sometimes I stay home with Dad.

When I was only six weeks old I flew on an airplane to Grandpa and Grandma Johnson's house. That was a lot of fun. I got held so much there I don't think I laid down much except to sleep at night. I can't wait to go again and play with all the toys my cousins got to play with. I got to see my
grandparents again in March when they were at my house. They could not
believe how much I had grown.

I have had some problems with my skin. I was bumpy from head to toe. The doctors finally got it figured out and now my mommy keeps talking about how soft my skin feels now. She puts so much stuff on me sometimes it takes forever before I can go to bed.

Well that is the major stuff going on in the Darrah household. I can't wait
to meet and read how you are all doing.

Lucas

TIMOTHY

Greetings one and all,

My life has changed since I last wrote. I am now in Mississippi training up to go over seas. I was notified December 21 that I was possible being deployed to Iraq. I am attached to 1-109 or 2nd brigade combat team pulling from several states for a tour of year in country. In January I took three weeks of vacation from WalMart to get myself ready and relax. Some those days were spent with family in OH and other days to get the paper work rolling for me to leave for 18 months. The rest of time was spent tying up loose ends, cleaning out the apartment and spending some time with friends. I was planning to leave with the others but I got held up by one piece of paper that was missing to February 12. I joined up with my unit in Camp Shelby and got caught up on my training and duties rather quickly.

As the end of April I am done with training at Camp Shelby and headed off to Fort Irwin, CA in May to get more experience before going overseas.

Then in late June or early part of July, I get on the plane headed to a different country.

Timothy P Johnson

NORMA

Hi Everyone!

One of the best things I heard in the past few months was a medical
specialist saying to me, "You won't have to see me again!" Coming from
an oncologist -- that's really good news!

I spent a lot of time these past months in one doctor's office or another, either for treatments, x-rays, and/or surgery, but right now I'm doing well and praising the Lord for His goodness.

Other than work and various appointments, I joined some of my friends
(from FBBC days) for breakfast at The Machine Shed (this is a restaurant
- really!); took the grandkids to see Petter Pan at the Civic Center; attended band concerts for both Andy and Jarrod, and a choir concert for Katie. I enjoyed the Spring Chorale concert at Faith Baptist Bible College, and a couple of weeks later attended their Drama production. Then, the widows group, that I belong to, got together for brunch to celebrate my birthday. We usually meet monthly anyway, and also try to celebrate each of our birthdays. On May 6th, I'll be going to Jarrod and Katie's school for Grandparents Day.

Kyle and Kristen spent a short couple of days here in Ankeny the end of
March. It was great to see them and catch up with all of their news. While they were here they took Katie shopping as they have asked her to be the flower girl for their wedding in the fall and she needed just the right dress. Katie can hardly wait!

Wish we could all get together - wouldn't that be fun? This is the next
best thing I guess - just to hear from each of you. Love to everyone.

Thank you so very much, Autumn and Kyle for printing and publishing the
Fowler Family Letter.

Norma

BOB and DEB

Greetings from Danville, Kentucky!

Well – we were finally able to move into the new house just a few days before Christmas. There were things that needed to be completed – and are still waiting to be completed, but the builder was finally able to get a certificate of occupancy so we could move in. Right now we’re waiting for the state, the county and the septic system installer to get their acts together and agree on how we can finish that installation. Until that question gets settled, we’re left looking at a dirt yard. I think we’re going to give up soon and have just the front yard put in and hope that it doesn’t get torn up too much when they finish “fixing” the back yard.

We’re enjoying the new neighborhood. It’s beautiful and quiet. We have a lake behind us – it looks like a river, but they call it a lake – and the boats on the lake make it seem like summer at the cabin. I’m really enjoying the quick drive to work. We now live only 5 minutes from school – a wonderful change from the 45-60 minute drive I had from Richmond.

Bob has been keeping really busy trying to get things done around here. Sometimes it is an uphill battle trying to find people to do the needed work AND to actually show up to do the work after they agree to do it. It can be a little frustrating – (read that as “very frustrating”.) - so it’s better that he handle this area. I’d be in custody by now.

We had a visit last month from Bob’s uncle from Louisiana. He’s 93 years old, but it was hard to keep up with him. He’d never been to Kentucky, so he and Bob did a lot of sight seeing during the day. They kept pretty busy. We’re hoping to get down to Louisiana sometime this summer. I’ve never been to that part of the country, and hear that it is beautiful.

We also had a visit from Kyle and his fiancée, Kristin, for a few days in April. They didn’t get to stay too long, but we were able to take them to see quite a few things around the area. It was great to get caught up with Kyle again after his return from Kuwait and to get better acquainted with Kristin. Bob and Kyle even went mountain climbing while they were here. Actually, they explored the back of our property to see how it connects to the lake, but the grade is pretty steep back there. They both got their exercise with that little exploration.

School is almost over for the year. YEAH! The last day for the kids will be May 20^th. Of course, there are teacher meetings and trainings that go on for the next week, but that’s just boring – not stressful. One of the last activities with the kids is Field Day. For the last couple of years I’ve had the “opportunity” to oversee the Egg Toss event – yes, they use real, raw eggs. It’s been lovely, but I’m really hoping that they graduate me to something a little less messy.

Thanks to Autumn and Kyle for putting this all together this time. Hope everyone is well and looking forward to a great summer.

Love,

Deb and Bob

113 Old Bridge Road

Danville, KY 40422

859-699-0248

STEVE and BECKY

I just re-read the last update I wrote to see what I had written, I ended with saying that there was 'supposed to be a big reorganization (at my work) next spring or summer'. Well ... they certainly held true to their word. Just a few short months ago, there was about 35 managers like me, in various cities in the Michigan area. Now there are 8!! That is just an example of what they did at all levels from the vice-presidents down to the drivers. It all started a couple of years ago, we know now, that came with new technology that the company was implementing in stages across the country. As the new technology came in the people went out. Somehow they kept things pretty quiet, until it was our 'turn in the bucket'. God was good, and I survived although not unscathed. Originally it came down that I was changing from salary to hourly and taking a 33% cut in pay. After about a month in that situation, I was restored to a salary position and 20% of the pay was restored. I am sure it was due to our prayers and the many prayers that were offered on my behalf by family that knew the situation and some people at church. My new position is an Operations Manager of a Service Center, reporting to a General Manager that used to be a peer. Not exactly sure what my responsibilities will be, as this all officially takes place May 18th, but I am supposed to be in charge of facilities and vehicles at 3 locations, with the drivers that are left reporting to my boss, so I do not have people to supervise. It may turn out to be a blessing.

Our home has gotten much 'larger' in the last 3 weeks or so. No, we did not do a room addition, it is just that Stacey moved out to her own apartment, and Kyle has left again for Mass, to continue his co-op job for Kettering University. Stacey had been looking for a place of her own, and a friend of hers was also, so they found an apartment that they just love and have been there for a few weeks. It was a raining/snowing Saturday when she needed to move in, but it worked out well. Now we need to find a home for Stacey's dog, who is still living with us. She is unable to take him to the apartment, so if anyone is looking for a dog ... contact her.

Becky's job continues as normal. She is experiencing some side affects from her cancer treatments of a few years ago. She’s been having treatment for Lymphodema in her arm recently, which consists of some therapy and a special arm and hand sleeve. It is supposed to help the circulation and reduce the swelling. The treatments seem to be working well, and except for a 15# lifting restriction, she is doing well.

We are looking forward to the warmer weather and the chances it gives us to enjoy the outdoors, family, and some vacation time. We are planning on a trip out to Boston in mid-August to see where Kyle is working and living, and then spending a few days in NYC. We also are planning on spending a week at Silver Lake here on the west side of Michigan. Kyle's fiancé’s extended family goes every year, so we are going to share some of this time with them, and the rest just enjoying the water, sand and sun.

That's about it for us.

Steve, Becky, (Stacey/Kyle ....)

STACEY

I'm moving out...over...and up.

As of April 21 I will be sharing an apartment with a friend from church, Krysten. It is in Grand Blanc, about halfway between work and mom and dad's house. It is a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment; my bathroom is attached to my room. We have two walk in closets and lots and lots of storage. Our balcony looks out over the pond and so does my bedroom window. We're able to paint, so that will help to make it look less plain. We've picked out our colors and have a painting extravaganza planned for the day before we move in. We've had fun shopping for new things (the exciting things like brooms, trash cans, trash bags, dishwasher soap and a doormat), although we might be stuck eating unlimited amounts of Ramen now :-). My new address is 1331 Winding Ridge Drive, Apt 2B, Grand Blanc, MI 48439. We are not going to use a land line so my phone number will be my cell phone number, (810) 423-8941.

Stacey

KYLE

I have been very busy in the last 3-4 months. One of the biggest events obviously was I came back from the Middle East. We got back at the end of February and spent about a week at Ft. McCoy, WI demobilizing. We made the trip from Wisconsin back to Michigan by bus and were greeted with a hero’s welcome from local law enforcement and parents. I kind of relaxed but also stayed busy for the next two months. I traveled to Iowa, Kentucky, and Chicago with Kristen at various times to visit with family. I was also working on wedding plans and getting ready to move again at the end of April. Currently, I am living in Ashland, MA and working at Bose Corporation again as part of my co-op experience at Kettering University. I’m going to be out here until the middle of August then I’ll come back home to finish preparing for the wedding.

It is definitely good to be home but I have managed to stay really busy since I have been home. As most of you are reading this on the internet I’m sure you can tell the newsletter is online now. The pictures section is a little thin right now so if you have any pictures you would like to see on the website you can email them to [email protected] and I’ll put them up. Also if you have any ‘Updates between the updates’ you can email those to [email protected] and I’ll put them up on the main page. And we’ll pretend for now that people will actually check the website in between updates.

Kyle

BILL and ROMAYNE

Greetings to all!

Definitely the most exciting and important news is the arrival of our great-granddaughter, Anastasia Romayne. As most of you know she arrived on Dec. 9th. We made a short trip up to see her between Christmas and New Year's. What a blessing. We can't wait to see her again.

The other change in our family is that Bill was elected to be the Mayor of Penney Farms in February. This has been a new experience. A few more meetings and visits to Town Hall to confer with the Town Manager. I was able to go with him to Tallahassee with another councilman and his wife for a two day conference. JoAnn and I didn't have to attend the meetings so we spent the time getting lost trying to find the local malls.

Bill has also had cataract surgery on both eyes about a month apart so we're still doing drops. He was so pleased after the first one to be able to see the back of the church from the choir loft. The doctor says both are doing very well. So we have made several trips to Mayo Clinic during the last few months for our physicals and preparation for his surgeries, etc. They should be able to stay in business for a little while.

We seem to be able to keep busy and I guess that's good. We look forward to catching up with all of you. Thanks to Autumn and to Kyle for putting this together.

Love to all, Romayne & Bill

JUDY and MELISSA and ROB

Happy Spring from Pennsylvania!

It has been going very well for all of us. Rob and Melissa are getting used to being new parents and Judy is loving being a grandmom. Rob and Melissa have both finished school already but their graduations are this month so they are preparing for that. Work is busy for everyone and we are just enjoying Anastasia and the joy she has brought to our lives. We hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the spring season. We've enclosed a picture of Anastasia, hopefully since the newsletter is web-bound it can go up!

Click here for picture

Judy, Rob, Melissa and Anastasia

RANDY and SANDY

Hello dear family one and all,

Here on the west coast all is going well. California has not fallen into the ocean, We've had relatively normal weather so far this year, and we've seen that some of you have experienced very unusual weather. We, as always, hope everyone is doing fine and things are going well.

Sandy is still the only reason that the city of Signal Hill, CA. has a Chamber of Commerce. She still works in excess of 16 hours a day, I don't know how she does it, but she does. She is planning and getting things ready for this years Health Fair, shortly followed by the annual Golf Tournament. Both projects are very demanding and I am in awe of her keeping all things straight and coming off without any hitches.

As for me, I’m still employed at a job. Yes, I said "a job". Mom always taught my sisters and myself that if we could not say anything nice, to say nothing at all. So that's my daily work in a nutshell. It is having fewer and fewer enjoyable times. There are things that defy simple common sense and civility that go on daily. There is no interest by the owner to even look into things that have been calmly and objectively presented to him, he honestly wants to have no problems , for us to blindly be full time yes people and it is impossible with some of the outrageous things he does and or allows to go on. I keep my eye on new jobs all the time, but have yet to see the one that will take me away from where I'm at now. Plus, employers are looking for someone half my age or more to fill positions. So I try and make the best of it, Sandy needs to be made a saint for listening to me vent my frustrations about work, often. Lately I am trying to ignore my way of thinking; common sense hopes that I will not be so affected by the nonsense at work. It's tough.

Recently found I have diabetes. Very low level, Dr. feels with exercise, diet and now daily medication I should be able to keep this under control. I am still dealing with severe edima in my right lower leg and ankle, the Dr. is having me go to a cardiologist for some testing. The swelling or build up of fluid has not decreased in my leg, ankle and foot in a long, long time. The doctor wants to make sure the old heart is working correctly. So we have those results to look forward to.

We recently made arrangements for our final resting, so to speak. That's taken care of just in case. Sandy is going to carry me around much like Anna Nicole Smith has been doing with her late husband.

Now, the exciting news, for all of you who did not know, Sandy has 3 children, 16, 15, 14, that are with their father. We have been looking for the children for years as their father took them out of California and Sandy was never informed as to where they went. Sandy at one point found them in Louisiana, but then they disappeared again and we never really found them. Late in January, this year, Sandy called me during the work day crying, sobbing, uncontrollably. It took a few times of her repeating herself, before I understood what she was saying. She had just been contacted by a former pastors wife from the church where she, her former husband and children had attended. The pastors wife said that Sandy's first born, her son Jessie wanted to get in touch with her and had approached the pastors wife after more than a year of trying to locate his trying to find Sandy. She wanted to know if it was ok to give him our phone number. Sandy has hoped and prayed for so many years that one day the children would be able to make their own decision and want to seek her out. And as we all know prayers do get answers. To shorten this up, Jessie was living at his Grandparents in Anaheim, not that far from where we are. So our spring has been spent with all of us being together as much as possible. He recently left. He has gone to Washington state to live with his Grandparents who just retired there. Jessie knows that if he wants, he can come to stay with us. He isn't sure what he wants but we let him know he can come here if he wants to. We at least know where he is and can get in touch with him and he, us.

So I guess you could say it's been an unusual year so far but in a
good way.

Our love to all,

Randy & Sandy

SYLVIA

Greetings from West Virginia...

Things here continue to be hectic as ever but that's how it goes in radio. First, by the time you read this I will have celebrated my 3rd year here in WV and my contract has been re-signed!! The Lord is so good!!

I absolutely love it here and it is and always will be home. Speaking of which, I have moved ... well, in the process of moving, and when you read this I will have relocated to downtown Charleston. I have been wanting to do this for a long time, and finally after lots of searching and leading from God, I will be 4 blocks away from the station!! I'm sitting in a room with boxes and bare walls as I type and am wondering if I'll be able to make sense of all this. I have a nice place to move to and you'll have to come and visit to see my new abode. It's in a building that was built in the late 40's early 50's and has been restored...high ceilings and a beautiful working gas fireplace in the living room!! Come to WV and see.

I am still the midday announcer for the Wolf and am in the process of doing a promotion in which we will be headed to Daytona for the Pepsi 400. I am so excited about this. I did this all on my own and am very proud of myself as are my co-workers. I have never been to Daytona and it will be an experience. My boss who is going with me used to live in Daytona Beach so I'll have a tour guide, if you will, while we are there. We will be doing a couple of "live" broadcasts in addition to seeing the race. It will be a lot of fun and a wonderful experience for me.

I invite you to check out our website.The address is www.961thewolf.com I am very proud to say that I am the webmaster!! Using my talent has been and continues to be a really neat experience. Several compliments have been cast my way because of this and when you see it you'll understand. Speaking of talents, our new ballpark has been completed for "The Charleston Power" and we at the Wolf are hosting 2 for Tuesdays again. April 19th was the first 2 for Tuesday and guess who sang the National Anthem??

I had approached my big boss and he arranged it. I had been practicing and surprised several folks!! I had an escort to home plate and with earplugs and shades ... closed my eyes and sang. It was amazing and if asked would do it again. My escort was a beast of a man ... our mascot ... "Wolfie". If you get into the site you'll see pics of him.

All in all I have been and continue to be blessed and am so grateful that God led me here. I hope that you will scope out the website and please come to WV for a visit. I promise to keep Wolfie on a leash!! =)

My love to all of you and to Autumn who once again gets a big "hoooooooowl" for this!!

Love always,

Syl

P.S. Just a quick note to say I will be moving to Charleston on May 20th..woohoo!! FINALLY...thank the good Lord.

My new address will be:

Sylvia Stahl 24 Bradford Street Apt. #2 Charleston, WV 25301

FRED and AUTUMN and ERWYN

Well folks, this is our official first family newsletter that you’ll be reading on the Fowler Family website. I’d say the Fowler Family has really joined the technology raceway. Of course you’ll be able to go back and read previous updates because Kyle has done a GREAT job of adding them to the site along with our addresses and birthdays and anniversaries. My hat goes off to Kyle who has done a superb job of putting this all together. For those of you that I’ll be sending a hard copy of the newsletter to … I’ll add a picture or two to it to snazz it up a bit … just for you !! =)

First off ... Fred no longer works for US Airways. Working for them had become so oppressive and he kept losing more money and more benefits till our reasons for staying on with them had disappeared. There just weren't any more "perks" and he was making less money than when he started working for them 15 years ago. We started working on his resume but we also knew that Fred being at 51, this was more than a scary endeavor. Who would be looking for someone at this point in their life and how do you start your life over at 50 ?? Well, God already had that taken care of because before we could finalize his resume, he heard of a job with a new "upstart" airline. And to make a long story short ... (and you all know I'm good at the longer version) ... he was interviewed, offered the job, he turned it down, they came up with more money in 30 minutes after he turned it down, and he took the job. =) We didn't even have to circulate the resume !!!! Yep ... it DEFINITELY was a God thing !!!

The airline is called MAXjet. It's a low fare international airline only and will be flying to London, England for it's first maiden voyage ... hopefully in July. Fred is out of the toolbox (which he hoped for once day) and is a Maintenance Supervisor and trust me ... the man dresses up really

nice !!!! =) There is so much involved in getting an airline off the ground though so he is extremely busy and the airline is based out of Dulles Airport outside of Washington, D.C. so YES ... he lives up there with another man (Gary) who he has worked with for 15 years and who hired on with them not long after Fred and they have roomed together all these years in Philly so they know each other really well. BUT ... Fred has been traveling a lot and spending a lot of time in Tucson, Arizona where the first airplane is that they have purchased. In fact ... Fred did the closing on the airplane and signed on the dotted line to accept it for Skylink. Fred has been in charge of finding everything wrong on the airplane (it was in the desert out there) ... and making sure all the repairs are made properly before they fly. Fred is notorious for being VERY meticulous ... so he had a list a mile long of repairs and things that had gone unchecked and it's been quite an experience for him to get this airplane airworthy. He's had to order parts and do inspections on their work and his life is spent on a laptop and on the phone now (the two things he really doesn't like to do ... ha ha) ... but what a world of difference working for this company because they appreciate everything Fred does and tell him constantly and FAMILY comes first with them. I can't even begin to tell you how this has changed Fred and he's just a different man.

He did early retirement from US Airways and finished up working for them first of December and went to work for Skylink immediately after and has been with them ever since. Fred is gone for longer periods of time. Right now he's in Tucson, and will be there till May 12th when the company is insisting on flying him home for Samantha's Advanced Choir Concert at East Gaston and then he'll fly back to Tucson and we probably won't see him till June. So the periods without him are much longer but Fred feels this will change once the airline is certified and off the ground. Fred hates it that it's put a lot more responsibility on me, but it's just part of the territory of being married and working at life together. God is faithful ... that's all I can say ... and He's enabled me to handle what I considered impossible !! =)

Justin transferred to NC State last year to try and get the graphic design major underway and things have gone really well there (he's even back in music and in a symphony there) ... but is probably going to transfer to East Carolina University (ECU) this fall because he can finish the graphic design program faster there and not be in school for 8 years. Then he'll go on to get his Masters in Graphic Design as well. He lives with a 95 year old woman in Raleigh ... in the other end of her house in her garage apartment and helps her out whenever he can but this woman is AMAZING. She is so active and goes swimming at the YMCA every week a couple of times and she is just a spitfire at 95. She's adopted Justin and I know he'll hate to leave there because it's been like living with family. And he has been only a couple blocks from campus so it's been IDEAL !!!! It looks like Justin will get to spend one more summer with us and working back at the credit union where he has worked before. Okay ... he turns 21 this year ... how old do you think that makes me ???? Sheesh ... it's just not possible.

Samantha is 15 and DRIVING .. YES ... I said DRIVING !!! She's a sophomore at East Gaston and still my straight A student and LOVING choir there. She's VERY active in clubs at school and most importantly at church in the youth group and she's even in the adult choir with me now and singing alto. She's become quite the little lady and we're so proud of her and I can't believe I only have 2 more years with her. She's pretty serious about majoring in Speech Pathology (pediatric) and her goal is to be bilingual before leaving East Gaston (knowing that it will make her a good asset to whatever place she is hired someday) because she is taking every year of Spanish they have and I think they have 5 semesters of it now. She is already in conversation with colleges so we'll have to see what the future holds for her.

Then there's Dad ... and he continues to have a rough go of it from time to time. We've been back and forth to the hospital a lot and we've had some rough days but Dad continues to prove God is not finished with him yet and he regains his strength and keeps on going just like that Energizer Bunny. He just turned 79 ... still has prostate cancer but it's under control with a lupron shot he gets every 4 months, still has 2 kidneys full of kidney stones, has gall stones and a tube in his right kidney called a nephrostomy tube that helps drain the kidney and has a super pubic catheter and his ileostomy bag to care for. He literally has tubes everywhere and ever since his long bout in the hospital a year ago, he's been on oxygen since. I go to every appointment with him and I'm with him every step of the way and he just amazes me !!! =)

Well, that leaves me ... and what can I say ... my job description has doubled and I'm on the run most of the time. I’m either at home, at school, at church, at the nursing home or at some doctor’s appointment with someone or on the road. And basically we still have that revolving front door in the house that we fly through all day long. Can't tell you when Fred will be home and we usually only get him for a couple days so those days are crazy and we cram as much family time in there as possible. And catching me is probably the hardest thing to do cuz there's just no telling where I might be.

I know … I know … another longwinded newsletter update. I’m sorry guys, I just can’t do the Reader’s Digest version. =)

Love you all !!!

Fred, Autumn, Justin, Samantha and Erwyn

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