Cherokee Home for Children

Bill and I took a trip with some couples at church to hang out with the kids at Cherokee Home for Children in Cherokee, TX. We rode in Friday night to the high school football field at about 8:45pm and I got the biggest cup of hot chocolate I've ever seen...I was freezing!! I guess I've already gotten soft in this warmer climate :) Cherokee is a very small town, only about 110 students in the school system. We watched them play 6-man football, which was very exciting and fast paced!! When you only have 6 guys on each side and one of them breaks away running toward the goal, it moves very fast. The game ended at 78-70, Cherokee down. A couple of the boys from the home played on the team, and some of the girls were cheerleaders. The concession stand had home-baked items for sale which looked pretty yummy, and almost odd since you don't see that in our schools. Everyone was very friendly, and you could sense how close the community is.

After the game, we went back to campus (the Home) and hung out in the rec hall playing fooseball, pool, cards and snacking and talking. The high school girls all went on an annual "Girls deer hunt". I really showed my ignorance when I said "with guns?!" I guess down here even girls have their first guns around their 5th birthday!! Yahoo!! The men all spent the night at hospitality quarters on campus, and the women went home with the administrator and his wife about 2 miles down the road. The next morning we all ate breakfast together and then some stayed on campus with the older boys who escorted them all around campus and played games. Some of us went with the younger kids to watch them play pee-wee football (also 6-man), and watch the girls cheer. After lunch, and some very lively conversation, back on campus with the older boys in their cottage, we headed home.

As happens every time we go somewhere to meet with Christians, we met new people who knew old friends in one way or another...this comforts me more than I ever realized it would. I am so homesick sometimes for my friends, and always for my kids and grand kids, that when I feel God's family ties I don't feel so far from home. I would love to be able to be with, hug, comfort and support our kids and grand kids every day, but that is not on God's agenda for us right now, so we are going to try to be with, hug, comfort and support some of God's other children who are in need.

The ride home was gorgeous and warm. We took a road that crossed several ranches that are all open-range. You see the wildlife, deer, cows (and their horns) up close and personal!! They just wander all over, including right in the road. Got home about 6pm tired and happy.

Carson-King Family

Some great pictures of Levi, Laura, Gavin and Carrigan. Bill and I couldn't get the computer powered up fast enough when we came home Saturday after being away overnight to see pictures of Gavin and Carrigan...and their parents of course ;)









Doesn't Gavin look ornery?!? It's so funny to see how quickly they figure out they are now "top dog" as the oldest!




She's so beautiful, I can just imagine how soft those little cheeks are.




















Gavin's first day of being a big brother was a lot of work!!

Carrigan

Here's our first peak at Carrigan and Daddy. We don't have any pictures with Mommy or Gavin yet, but as soon as we do, we'll post them.

Daddy sure looks proud
doesn't he!

Oh my goodness...It's a

Girl!!!
Born October 23, 2008
8:53 am
8# 1 oz
21 inches
Carrigan Carson-King
(no middle name yet)
daughter of Levi and Laura
sister of Gavin

Granddaugher of Vi Carson and Bill & Laura King

It's time...

This beautiful family of 3 will become a precious family of 4 within the next few hours!! I got a call from Levi at about 9:00 tonight that he and Laura were in the car on their way to the hospital with contractions about every 2 minutes. He called again about 10:45 that they were in their room and Laura was at 6 cm. I'm betting this second baby is going to make an appearance before Gavin eats breakfast tomorrow morning...
Gavin and Mommy












Gavin and Daddy









Maybe Gavin picked this one for his new sibling...He's going to be a great Big Brother!

William's birthday

Monday, October 6, my grandson William will be 6 years old! When he was visiting me in San Antonio and watching me knit (he calls it "yarning"), he said several times that "he would need a sweater pretty soon to keep him warm when the air turns cold...and not a scratchy one." Within just a few days of him leaving, I found some very soft hand spun cotton yarn and went in search of a pattern. Having never made a sweater before, I had no idea if I could pull this off, but I kept hearing his sweet voice in the back of my head and the pleading look in his eyes, so I ventured on. I finally found a pattern, sucked up all my courage (with the encouragement of my sister practically on a daily basis and a couple of SA friends) and started on the journey of my first knitted sweater.

I decided to use closures rather than buttons because I thought William would like them...and I don't know how to make button holes!!















I really cherish the time I spent working on this as William was always in my thoughts...we have so many memories from the past 6 years, and I treasure digging them out and reliving them in my mind.

Of course I worried he might not like the color, or that it wouldn't fit (who really measures?), and I don't want him to have to wear something he doesn't like. Yesterday he received his birthday package from G'ma Laura and Papa Bill, and even though it was a couple of days early, his daddy let him open one of the presents..Happy 6th Birthday William!!
I miss you and love you oodles and gobs!

Fun Day

Since I've been so grumpy lately, I thought I'd tell you about a very enjoyable day today. This morning I went with some others from church to serve lunch at the Medical School at the University of Texas San Antonio. A group of christian dental and medical students involved with CMDA (Christian Medical and Dental Association) meet every Thursday and a church in the area provides lunch for them. There is a quick motivational talk, and then they are on their way to the rest of their classes, etc. They were the nicest bunch of "kids". Earnestly appreciative of being able to grab lunch, visit, get a boost and get on with their very busy schedules. We served about 120 or so today, which is down due to exams next week and a couple of study groups were meeting during that time today. Really made me homesick for Levi who I know has been keeping this same pace for the 4 years he was and undergrad student and even moreso for the past 1 1/2 years as a graduate student, and husband, daddy and full-time manager of a Sears store. I don't know how he does it! He's not just getting by, he EXCELS! Miss you sweetie!

To top the evening off, we had a fun "fashion show" with some of the women from church with yummy soups, salads and tons of desserts. All the latest fashions were modeled and I can't wait to see them on mainstreet USA. :) A very nice time visiting with friends AND I took home a "newcomers" gift!