We Pulled Off a SURPRISE Retirement Party for Richard!

Ps 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.














Amy told me a few weeks back that she wanted to throw a retirement party for her Dad. As we talked about it, we decided to host it at our house as this last week of school is so very busy for her. We decided to make it a surprise and led her dad to think that it was a going-away party for friends who are leaving in June. He had to be given a reason for the party for we would be making food and setting up tables to host about 20 people in our home!! I made the guest list and told Richard all of the couples who would be coming. He didn't know that Brian, Amy, and the kids would be here for the party so that is how we surprised him. (NOTE: Chip wanted to be here but of course, Sundays are his big day of ministry. At over 300 miles away, he just wasn't able to buzz on down after church. We spent 5 days with Chip right after Richard's retirement and he "feted" his dad's retirement during that time.)

After all of the guests (6 couples from church: James & Ann, Jerry & Peggy, John & Jeanette, Dan & Dorothy, John & Regina, Ed & Arda ) arrived on Sunday night after church, I called Amy to ask if I could "borrow" something and if she could bring it over. Well, she and her whole family walked in and that's when Jaden handed the invitation to Grandpa and said, "Here Grandpa, read this!"

URL of video of Richard reading the invitation AT the party that you can copy and paste into your favorite browser: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3b93043a744af0c259c5

We had a good meal with Chipped Ham Bar-B-Que sandwiches (Brian's mother's recipe that Amy recommended), potato chips, a veggie tray, and a mixed fruit bowl.

After we ate, we had a "Congratulations, Richard" cake with coffee or punch. Here is the URL for the video of the group singing and of Richard and the grandkids waiting to blow out the candle: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=63c71afd2721bf306c53

Everyone gave Richard some retirement exhortations using words starting with the letters R-E-T-I-R-E-M-E-N-T and that was fun. Richard opened the cards from our friends and then it was time to wind down as ALL OF THOSE WORKING PEOPLE had to get home to bed and be ready for the Monday morning alarm. We didn't set ours. :) Here are some pics of our fun evening:

Wednesday Night Dinner

We had a nice family dinner at the Palms Grille on Campus. Here are a few pics from that fun dinner hour before going to church together....

SEEING DOUBLE~~ The first step of getting our Passports

You're not seeing double. That's us in visual stereo. Ha! We went to CVS this evening and had our pics made so we can go to the post office on Thursday during Richard's lunch hour to apply for our passports. I was leery about cutting them apart (it says to bring two pics) so that is why I scanned them as doubles. Anyway, we have our certifed birth certificates, our drivers licenses, and now our little bitty pics for our passport applications. Seven months from today, we'll be aboard this Princess ship sailing the inner passage of Alaska!

Happy 34th Anniversary to Us!

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:


Saturday, September 29, is our 34th anniversary, but we started celebrating tonight. We have a favorite little restaurant ~~ Sunset Grill ~~ out on the water. It isaptly named for you sit on the back porch and watch the sun set while eating. It is such a lovely and tranquil dinner. Richard and I had a good time talking to other folks (strangers) who were there. We rode over to Gulf Shores and enjoyed that ride and then back home again.

Since we aren't going anywhere, we are acting as though we are out of town with plans to eat out several times over the weekend. We are going to get up and go out for an early breakfast. For lunch on Saturday, we have invited Brian, Amy, and the kids to join us. (We need to call Chip and tell him to have a meal out on us tomorrow since he can't be here with us.) And then we will get in our favorite BAMA ballgame foods and hunker down to watch the game (against Florida State) tomorrow evening.

What a fun anniversary this is turning out to be!!! Happy Anniversary, Richard. I love you!!!!

Missions ~~ A Biblical Mandate

Biblical authority for missions appears first in Genesis, 12:1-3, where Abram is blessed so that through him and his descendants, all the "peoples" of the world would be blessed. The Great Commission was first given by Jesus Christ in all four Gospels: Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:46-49, and John 20:21-23. The Great Commission is also given in Acts 1:8. The most compelling verse to many is found in the New Testament, where Jesus instructs the apostles to make disciples. (Matthew 28:19). This reference is understood by Christian missionaries as the Great Commission to engage in missionary work.

A missionary is a person who chooses to participate in the mission of the Church by serving peoples of other cultures, often in a foreign country.

We are in touch with our Missionary friends~~ the Schulers~~ as they currently are in South Florida today presenting their mission work and their burden for the people of Roatan, Honduras. Please pray that churches will catch the vision of the Shuler's work and will come alongside them in both prayer support and financial support. The picture above was made on our last evening before their departure from Pensacola last Thursday. We pray God's richest blessings upon them during this time of deputation.

Jarrett with both of his grandmas --- July 2007

This picture was made on our grandson Jarrett's 14th birthday.
It is a joy to have had Jarrett in our family for the past four years
and to watch him grow from a little Ukrainian boy into an American teenager. He is a sweet kid, and we love him dearly.
Grandma Carol, Jarrett, and Granny Susan. I apologize for the horrible quality of this photo. Somehow a setting got changed on my camera. :(

Jaden ~~ July 2007

Jaden is our little red-headed grandbaby ~~ the youngest of the four. He is 2-1/2, all boy, and a Pistol-Pete. He is always on the go but occasionally stops to give the most unexpected but sweetest hugs. We were out eating with Brian, Amy, and the family when Jaden came around the table and crawled up into my lap for a "grandma" hug. Boy Howdy, that warms a grandma's heart for sure. I have had the precious privilege of keeping him while Amy has taught during the school years since his birth. He will officially leave my "granny school" to go to pre-school on Monday, August 6. He is very ready and will do well, but I surely will miss him. He has enriched and enlivened my days beyond description.

"Friend Luncheon" that Isabella and I hosted

These pics were made by a professional-photographer-in-training, Emily P.
L-R: The table is set and ready; Belle and Grandma in the kitchen; Sarah and Astrid visiting














We hosted a "friend luncheon" to honor some friends of mine. The luncheon was for Sarah P as she is about to move to Virginia for her first teaching position. A teacher from the school in VA was here visiting her parents, so I invited her to come. This gave the two teachers a head start on getting to know each other.

My dear granddaughter, Isabella, spent the day with me on Tuesday and was invaluable in helping me put the meal together. She helped with the prep work, prepare the salad plates, and serve the meal. I love Isabella so much and am thankful that her mommy and daddy are raising such a fine daughter.

A happy grandma

It's soooooooooooooooo good to have my grandkids home! Jarrett snapped the pic so that's why he isn't in this one.

Yvonne at our wedding ~~ 1973

Richard's niece, Yvonne, at our wedding.

Bro. Jerry and life's major events

Bro. Jerry was my pastor when I was a young adult, and I was saved under his ministry on July 23, 1972. Later, on September 29, 1973, he sang two of our wedding songs and officiated our wedding until such time as my Dad gave me away and did our vows. Anyway, these are pics from our wedding nearly 34 years ago with Bro. Jerry in them. Now you can look below to catch up a bit.......

Big Sister Karen and Baby Sister Susan

I love this picture of Karen and me. The next post is all about my older sister......

Karen, Susan, and Nonie ~~ sisters forever

Having Mom on my mind on this 8th anniversary of her death naturally brings loving thoughts and precious memories of my two sisters. Having enjoyed living in the same town for 50 years as we married and raised our families, Richard and I moved away in December 2001 and then Nonie moved away in early 2002. Karen remains in our home town and is our "home base" so to speak. What a blessing it is to be the middle girl and to have an older sister and a younger sister. All three of us are so very different in our temperaments and personalities, but the bond of sisterhood has withstood some pretty big challenges over the years and our love has endured. Truly Karen and Nonie grow more precious to me with each passing year. With Karen 6-1/2 years my senior and Nonie just 15 months my junior, we all realize that life is passing by pretty quickly. Karen and Nonie, I want you both to know how much I love you and miss you. You girls are so dear to me, your families are dear to me, and I thank God for the love that binds our hearts together forever. ~~Sister Susan

My parents and me on my wedding day ~~ September 29, 1973

JV stopped by for lunch and visit...

Jarrett had been on vacation with his family and stopped by
on his way back home yesterday. Richard and I met him for lunch and so much enjoyed seeing Jarrett and catching up. It is always a
joy to see friends from "home," and Jarrett's visit was a blessing
yesterday. If you are going to be in the area, we'd love to see
you, too!!

I had a wonderful birthday today....

I have had a wonderful birthday. I heard from my precious children: Chip in Indiana as well as from Amy and her family who are on vacation. I heard from my sisters. I always so very much miss my parents on my birthday but rejoice in knowing that they are awaiting all of us in Heaven. I enjoyed gifts, cards and emails from a host of family and friends. Richard planned a wonderful birthday surprise for me. On Saturday night I knew we were going out to dinner with one couple; but unbeknownst to me, Richard also invited two other couples to join us. It was a fun evening of wonderful fellowship. After dinner, the restaurant where we were dining invited us to go out to the garden and pick some veggies to take home. That was a treat and we are especially enjoying the vine-ripened tomatoes. Anyway, it has been my very best birthday ever, and that's saying a lot for having now celebrated 56 of them!! Thanks to everyone for your good wishes! ~~Susan