ANOTHER GREAT CMA RALLY

The weekend of Sept 19th - actually Thursday for me - we attended the Christian Motorcyclists Association State Rally in Dublin, VA.

I went down Thursday with the Airstream. Carol and the kids followed Friday afternoon after the kids got out of school.

This is the same rally we attended last year. The big difference for us was that last year we did one short program for the kids. This year we did two longer ones - AND - there were more kids. Not as many as we would have liked, but Freda Hubert, the State Coordinator for the CMA Youth Movement says, "We'll keep putting on quality programs and word will spread." So we'll hope for a bigger crowd next year.

The kids that were there were absolutely delightful!

So faith filled and enthusiastic !

Carol did some great craft projects with them.







I led them in songs to help them learn the 10 Commandments and the 10 Plagues.



We had to leave Saturday night after the program because Andrew sang in our Church Youh Choir on Sunday. Again, I am so encouraged by the young people that God has placed in my life. At our Church, at CMA events, at Emily's and Andrew's schools.

Emily and Andrew.

And of course, MY GRANDKIDS!!

Ben had a birthday on August 31st.



NO NO NO - How could such attentive parents make such a BIG mistake?

He CAN'T POSSIBLY BE FOUR. Time can't possibly fly by that fast. There MUST BE some mistake.



There is - I shouldn't blog without complete information.

Ben is THREE. He's just so smart that I thought he was 4 !!! There was an extra candle on the cake to celebrate Ann's birthday along with his.


I think he liked this present.



The whole family spent some quality time at the beach.




Those pictures don't have anything to do with CMA or the Rally. It's just been too long since I've posted pictures of my BEAUTIFUL grandkids.

I am so Blessed.

SETTLING DOWN IN SALEM

As usual, I'm late posting this, but the kids started school on Sept. 8th. Here they are with Mom, waiting for the bus.





Andrew's bus comes around 7:30 and Emily's around 8:00. WAY too early, in my mind at least. But working parents want them all gone before 8 or 8:30, so that's that. Salem runs High School, Middle School and Elementary school routes with one set of buses.

Labor Day weekend was our "last hoorah" before school. We each had a day alone with each of the kids. Carol took Emily to Books-a-Million while I took Andrew to Michael's. Then we went to Pizza Hut, followed by a 40 mile ride on the Honda. He finally grew enough this summer to reach the pegs !! Carol went shopping and to lunch with Emily.

Then, a couple of days later, we traded. Same routine for Emily and me. But Carol took Andrew to Chuck E. Cheese for the afternoon. A great end of summer time for us all.

On Sunday, after Church, we all rode to Hillsville to visit our friends at the Gun Show and Flea Market. And forgot our camera. Cindy's sister-in-law Kathy took some pictures so you'll have to check back later.

School is starting off well. Both kids have great teachers. We're especially excited that Andrew - 3rd grade - East Salem - has a male teacher. Mr Edwards came from the county. He had been an elementary teacher and the Head Football Coach for Hidden Valley High School. He resigned as Coach because his son played football as a Freshman at Salem High last year and Dad missed all of his games. When the Salem coach found out about his resignation, he offered him a job as assistant coach at Salem. So not only will Dad get to see all his son's games, he'll be coaching the team as well. Given Salem's dedication (obsession?) with football, I worried out loud to a friend that Andrew might have a really poor teacher who happened to be a good coach. Turns out I was totally wrong to worry. The friend has kids at West Salem and was VERY upset that Mr. Edwards was at East Salem. West Salem had hopes of getting him on their staff because his wife teaches there. Great Teacher. William and Mary Alum. We've since met him and are totally impressed. Andrew will have a great year.

Last night was Emily's "Back to School Night" at Andrew Lewis Middle School where she is in the 8th grade. We met all of her teachers and again are totally impressed with the Salem school system.

I had an interesting start with 1st period, Science. I said, "Hello. I'm Tom Cook. Emily Wheeler's step-dad." to Mrs. O'Hare. She said, "It's so good to see you again. I had your son Tom my first or second year here. I guess he's all grown with a family by now." When I told her that I thought she might be mistaken because he was 40 years old and she didn't look old enough to have taught him she said, "Well I did. I was only 12 years older than my 8th graders that first year. He was a very, very good student." She really didn't remember him being a major pain. I guess selective memory is a good thing.

The teachers all displayed a true love of the kids and passion for their subjects. I'm sure I'll be posting about the other teachers as we work with them and Emily to get successfully through this transition year.

Life is Good in Salem !