September 3: Carole and Hugh's Wedding Anniversary

Today is Carole and Hugh's wedding anniversary. On the phone they told us that they celebrated their long and cherished marriage all weekend, especially today at church which was full of singing and high praises to the heavenly Father who brought them together years ago. We all wish them many more years of happy love!

Lots has happened after we got back to Kentucky

A few days after we left Georgia and arrived in Kentucky, June went out to look over some garage sales, and--wham!--she had a bad accident that totaled her Lexus and sent her to the hospital. Providentially, she was not serious hurt, but nonetheless she broke several of her back ribs on her back side, along with lots of knee and leg abrasions. Immediately after being rushed to the hospital, Dr. Jackson (a member of our parish) examined her and sent her off for a CAT scan. The scan showed no damage to any organs, but clearly showed multiple rib fractures. Lots of morphine relieved June's pain, and Andy brought her home early Sunday afternoon. Since then she been resting, often uncomfortably while her body mends. The physicians tell us that it will take at least six weeks before she feels her body more or less healed.

June wants to thank all of you who have prayed for her, sent her cards, and called to wish her well. God has been gracious to June!

While June has been recuperating, Andy has been mowing the yards, doing the laundry, cooking a bit, weeding the gardens, and teaching online; you can see a bit of his online work at www.people.eku.edu/Harnack .

We're Working on the Deck

Kurt and Scott Himmel left Louisiana at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and arrived at the lakehouse about three in the afternoon. By Sunday evening, June and Kurt decided on the basic plans. At 7:00 a.m.the next day (no kidding!), the Himmels were at work, putting in ten- and eleven-hour days each day of the week. On Monday morning they set the battens, got out the transit, and figured out how to make the upper deck square. The first truck-load of lumber arrived, holes for posts and concrete were made, and by evening the first row of posts were in place with cement. Throughout the week, in swealtering hot and humid weather, the crew, with Andy joining, grunted, nailed, and air-hammered 2x12s, 2x10s, 6x6s, and deckboards into place. Scott worked furiously to keep up with Kurt's demand for cut lumber. On Wednesday evening June, Andy, Scott and Kurt went shopping for new shoes for Scott and a 18-volt DeWalt drill for Andy. Things were popping. The team drank gallons of water and sweated like draft horses. To make sure that we got enough energy, June prepared the bestest meals for lunch and supper: roast beef, blueberry cobbler, and BLTs her specialties. To see what got done by Friday evening, see House Renovations. Let us know what you think!

Zonnie and Gordon Visit June and Andy

It has been twelve years since Andy has seen Zonnie, his niece, and almost two years since Gordon came east from Arizona to visit him and his brother Art. How wonderful then to welcome Zonnie and Gordon to our home! Zonnie and Andy took a day trip to Adulusia, the historic home of Georgia's most famous writer, Flannery O'Connor. All of us went blueberry picking with Becky, and later most of us went to see The Martin Luther King Center, The Coca-Cola Museum, grab some hot dogs and a chicken burger at The Varsity, the world's largest drive-in resteraunt, and take a tour of the CNN Center. Gordon got in a good bit of metal-detecting (some at Bethlehem Baptist Church, some in the front yard, and some on a Jackson Lake beach), found a bunch of money and other invaluables. His fishing wasn't so good, but we did get to do some boating. One morning Gordon surprised us by sweeping the deck and the driveway! And Zonnie spent lots of time cooking with Andy. Both are wonderful guest!

Zonnie, Andy hopes you continue to like O'Connor. If so, he's got quite a few books in Kentucky that he'd love to send you. Stay in touch, Sweet Pea!

We hope Zonnie and Gordon come back to visit us again and soon!

New deck possibilities

Kurt, a few days June and you talked about building more deck on the west side of the house. Go to June's House Renovations to take a look at closer-up photographs. June and you may enter any number of comments, if you'd like, at House Renovations.

Adam doing fine after breaking arm while wake boarding

On our way home to the Ugandan Childrens Choir, Becky called to tell us that Adam, while wake boarding on Jackson Lake, broke his arm in two places. Later in the evening we found out that Adam underwent surgery that included the insertion of a plate and screws. This morning Becky says that Adam is doing well, not experiencing any pain. We're all grateful to God that things are turning out well. And to Adam, we all say, "Thank the Lord you're okay!"

Ugandan Childrens Choir

Last night we heard the wonderful Ugandan SUUBI Children's Choir at Rock Spring Church. It was the highlight of our weekend. Such animated, enthusiastic, beautifully choreographed, and worshipful singing and praise! These children--many of the orphans as a result of the AIDS epidemic in Uganda--are with us for a extended concert tour and represent the Royal Junior School and Orphanage which provides housing and education for well over 500 children. If you'd like to participate in some down-to-earth work of the Good News, consider supporting Royal Junior School and Orphanage.

Chelsea's Birthday--July 14

On Friday, Chelsea celebated her fourteenth birthday! Everyone in our big family wishes her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! In August, Chelsea begins her fall school days at Model High School, the same school that Kirk, Krister, Lisa, Amy & Kevin attended and from which they were graduated. Chelsea, we wish you a great new year! Love from everyone--Dad and June, Kirk and Lora, Lisa and Tim, Amy and Kevin, and from all your cousins, nephews, and nieces. Happy Birthday, girl!

A Weekend of Music

On Friday June and Andy spent the evening in Covington where we dined at the Real Louisiana Cuisine and later walked over to spend an hour listening to the Heather Hayes Band. This morning, after churching at First Baptist in Barnsville, we'll come home to some "r&r," and then drive over in the evening to hear the Uganda Children's Choir at Carole and Hugh's church. The choir is currently touring the United States. The choir consists of nine boys and nine girls ages 6-12 who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS or conflict. The choir was started in 1994 by Canadian missionaries in Uganda and has been touring the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia to raise money for housing for other orphans in Uganda.

June 10" Polly & Kurt celebrate thirty married years!

Thirty years ago today--way way back in 1976!--Polly and Kurt got married! And aren't they just about the most beautiful couple you know! Congratulations from all of us in your big family, P&K! Your children are proud of you! You're an inspiration to all of us. May you live and love each other for many many more years to come! God bless you and keep you in his great magnificent love.

Today is June's Birthday

At ten minutes before midnight last night, June came to bed and said, "O, Andy, I'm gonna be seventy-something in ten minutes!" Although I suggested that she fall asleep while still a youngster, she couldn't do it. Later on, she got so worried about being seventy-something that she got up and took a Sonata. That did it because right now it's nearly eight a.m., and she's upstairs in bed, blithly unware that she is seventy-whatever. O what fun it will be to wake her up! Later on in the day we're going over to the Blue Willow Inn at Social Circle for lunch together. Wish June a very happy birthday!

Abigail Takes Us Out for the Parade

After a terrific supper on July 4th, we loaded up June Bug and headed out on the lake, south to Martin's Marina for the big night parade. June Bug was filled to her legal capacity, just a little under 1450 pounds with Stan and Chris, Carole and Hugh, Becky and Wayne, June and Andy, Nick and Abigail; look at that girl concentrate on where she's going! (Nobody else is!)

Independence Night Boat Parade

On the evening of July 4, hundreds and hundreds of boats--all sizes, all kinds--gathered at Martin's Marina for the start of long and beautiful boat parade. Here's one pontoon, decorated to the hilt; the flag is backwards because we were anchored opposite the judges' stand on the other side of the marina. We decorated our boat a good bit, but it was nothing like this one! The ride back to our dock in the darkness with hundreds of boats, most lit only with running lights, was quite lovely, especially because fireworks, provided by people living around the lake, were going off in all directions.

June's eye surgery successful!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that a few hours ago June finished up the surgery to correct her so-called "low intensity" glaucoma. Today Dr. Millett fixed her right eye; last week she got the left eye working better again. All this means that we can now head down to Georgia for the rest of the summer--right after we stop off at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning for a last-minute check with Dr. Millett, our ophthalmologist (hey, that's a good word for a spelling B!).

June 24: Chelsea visits Kirk and flies to Massachusetts

On Saturday, June 24, June, Chelsea, and Andy drove down to Nashville to visit Kirk, Lora, and Madalyn and make sure that Chelsea got to the airport to fly to Massachusetts. Kirk fixed us a delicious Mesquit-roasted chicken with the fixings, showed us the wonderful restoration progress on his home, and took us to the airport. Chelsea safely ascended into the blue sky and arrived at Hartford shortly before 6:00 p.m. While she was in flight, Kirk brought out some really good beer and salsa with nachos, and we chatted for a good bit about life and life's lessons. Then after Kirk and Andy worked for a couple of hours on setting up new bathroom curtain fixtures, we all went to bed--pooped out. Lora came home late (she'd been with Madalyn to Mary Carol's seventh birthday party), and we didn't get to see her until the next morning where she joined us for coffee. Shortly thereafter, we drove back to Richmond so that we can ready for June eye surgery on Tuesday and our drive down to Georgia on Wednesday. All in all, it was a wonderful, but short visit. Kirk recommends that we all read The Law by Frederick Bastiat. It will, he promises, show the aweful truth about governments. Andy has promised that he will read it--yes, all thirty-six pages! In fact, Andy downloaded and printed the pdf file. Now all he needs is some quiet time for reflection.

At the beach on Jackson Lake

There's a nice beach down by the dam at the lake, and we spent part of two days there. Jackson and Mary Carol took to the water like dolphins while Hayden was a tad reluctant. But Amy coaxed him, bit by bit, and soon enough--there he was: a little whale bobbing in and out of the water!

Five Fish in Twenty Minutes

On the afternoon of the day Jackson, Mary Carol, and Hayden arrived at the lake, we all went down to the dock and boat to see if the fish were hungry. Granddad had bought some red wiggly worms and kept them in the fridge. After a little discouragement (the fish weren't biting), we finally got the kids, the worms, and the poles in the right spot at the right time, and up came five--count them: one, two, three, four, five!--sunfish, all of which were thrown back into the lake so they can grow bigger and bigger. And we'll catch them next time!

Mary Carol's Birthday Today !

When Mary Carol Kuhn wakes up this morning, she will be seven years old! She'll invites gobs of her friends over for a big party and have a wonderfully memorable birthday. As an appetizer b-day, hoping to show her how a party works, we celebrated her birthday at the lake two weeks ago. And darn! She already knew how to blow out the candles! Happy Birthday, Mary Carol! And, oh, by the way--while at the lakehouse, MC discovered she was missing a tooth--the first one she's ever missed in her whole life. What a smile!

June took this photograph!

After the recital this afternoon, Chelsea and Andy stepped back under the trees on the EKU campus, and June took this photograph with her telephoto lens. The photograph means so much to Andy because today is the last day Chelsea will be with him until August when she returns from Massachusetts. As we English professors say, "Ain't she beautiful!"

Chelsea plays "Sunset on the Shannon" at Piano Camp Honors Recital

This afternoon Chelsea finished her participation in the week-long Stephen Foster Music Camp on the EKU campus. Every day from 8:00 to 4:30 was spent in practice (about three hours a day!) and in class (composition theory), along with some more fun things like bowling last evening. At this afternoon's Honors Recital, Chelsea played Melody Bober's "Sunset on the Shannon," playing it beautifully, with lots of feeling and confidence. It was wonderful to see her artistic presentation on the big stage in Brock Auditorium! By the way, it's the River Shannon in Ireland that Bober's composition evokes; and when Chelsea played, we thought of the River Shannon as I saw it in the accompanying photograph. You did it wonderfully, Chelsea!