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A Quick Trip to Michigan
Julie and I went to Michigan to attend Troy David Pence's open house on 6/15/2024. We are happy for him that he has graduated from high school. He plans to attend a distance learning program at Olivet Nazarene University.
We were only able to stay on Friday on Saturday. Julie and I both had to work on Monday morning. Even though it was a brief trip, we enjoyed seeing our family. One of the things I enjoyed while growing up was spending time with my cousins. Including my brother, Matt, and me, there are 8 of us. Only 4 of us were together at the same time during this trip.
The last time I recall all 8 of us being together was probably at a Christmas party in 1982.
I hope we can have a family reunion--not just for our generation, but for our extended family. It would be challenging to find a time and place that would accommodate us all, but a lot of fun if we could make it happen.
Vacation to Charleston, South Carolina
Emily, Julie and I went on vacation to Charleston, South Carolina from 5/4/2024 through 5/8/2024. We had a wonderful time together. Julie finished radiation therapy the last week of April. Her prognosis is very good with a less than 8% lifetime chance that cancer could recur.
We rented a house in a quiet neighborhood about 30 minutes from downtown Charleston. We planned our visit through a program called "tourpass". You can choose a number of days and then see activities that can be visited multiple times and others that can be visited once per day. We enjoyed all of attractions and would like to return for another visit.
We saw the H.L. Hunley, a Civil War submarine, that sank in Charleston Harbor. It was the first known combat sub to have successfully attacked a ship during war.
We took 2 historical tours of Charleston and both were interesting. The carriage tour was my favorite. The guide shared some of the notable personalities and events of Charleston. During the Antebellum period, Charleston was the wealthiest city in the U.S., due to high profits from farming rice.
Magnolia Gardens used to be a rice plantation. It is the oldest public garden in the U.S.. We saw the flowers, buildings, and wildlife. We went to a presentation called "From Slavery to Freedom" that discussed the history of enslaved people working in rice fields. The plantation was ruined during the Civil War and couldn't be used for rice farming anymore because the rice fields were damaged. Rice farming never returned to South Carolina. The beautiful gardens were planted in the 1840s and have been visited by the public since 1870.
It was a memorable and fulfilling vacation. I'm glad Julie, Emily and I were able to enjoy the time together.
Happy Birthday Mom
Today is my mom’s 80th birthday. Julie and I enjoyed having dinner with her and my dad to celebrate. Emily and her friend Haley were able to join us.
My mom has had health challenges in recent years, but continues to be very loving and kind. She has impacted many friends and family members through her caring.
I am so grateful for her.
Dinner at Olive Garden
Our first date was at the Olive Garen in late Spring of 2015. We enjoyed an early Valentine's Day dinner tonight. Julie will be having surgery on Tuesday of next week and will need a few weeks to recover.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Today, I had a great time watching "Killers of the Flower Moon." Click the link below to read my review on letterboxed.
A ★★★★ review of Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Our Goats
Our goats Bailey (black and white, female) and Buddy (male) enjoying the sunshine this fine Sunday.
New Year’s Eve 2023
2023 was a good year. I was much healthier this year than in 2021 and 2022. My oldest daughter graduated from Law School. My youngest daughter has adjusted to her move to New York. I made happy memories with my family.
I had a good year at work. I am blessed to have a job that meets our financial needs and is also very fulfilling. I am looking forward to 2024 and the challenges and joys that are to come.
Happy New Year.
New Year’s Eve 2023
2023 was a good year. I was much healthier this year than in 2021 and 2022. My oldest daughter graduated from Law School. My youngest daughter has adjusted to her move to New York. I made happy memories with my family.
I had a good year at work. I am blessed to have a job that meets our financial needs and is also very fulfilling. I am looking forward to 2024 and the challenges and joys that are to come.
Happy New Year.
A Wonderful Christmas with Family
Here are some photos of our family’s time together during Christmas 2023.
