Happy Birthday Cooper Gantt Marr

Born 2 days ago to Sarah and Brian Marr (Rick and Bev's) - October 10th at 4pm
Cooper Gantt Marr
Sarah, Brian and baby Cooper
Cooper's Big brother Camp Marr

So, I get 3 emails in the past 24 hours all announcing the arrival of my new great nephew, Cooper Marr. Each email focused on 1 detail - Cooper's blond hair! A Marr trait.

Congratulations to my brother Rick and his wife Beverly along with the aunts, Brenda and Catherine. Congrats to the great grandparents who started all this, my parents, John and Frances Marr and Beverly's parents Bob and Lola Sanford.

Judy

Snapshots of GBS graduation

Frank and Bob


Bob and Glenn


Faculty at GBS

Happy Birthday, Rick

Today, my older brother turns 53! Happy Birthday Rick. Rick was known as Ricky when he was growing up.
Rick Marr and family - picture taken Christmas 2007
Sarah Marr, Brian Marr and son Camp (short for John Campbell, named after his father and grandfather), Beverly, Rick, Brenda and Catherine

Rick, my older brother. I had the privilege of just being 1 grade behind Rick in school. Rick played basketball and football in high school. He was famous. I was not. When I came along in school the following years, and as I introduced myself to teachers and friends, I would simply say "Do you know my older brother, Rick?" Almost without exception the teachers would know Rick. I had an "in".

Rick came to visit us in Bolivia in 1995 and we were able to show him our ministry and the 3rd world culture of Bolivia. He was impressed with the people, driving, food and culture. Thanks for visiting us in Bolivia and we look forward to you flying down to Guatemala and visiting us here.

Rick is a quiet guy. He doesn't talk much. He thinks a lot. He is an artist and creative but doesn't boast about it. He likes to "tinker" with stuff. He is very knowledgeable on many subjects, especially mechanics. We listen when he speaks. Rick married his high school girlfriend, Beverly (she was a cheerleader and drill team captain) and they have 3 kids and 1 grandson with another grandson on the way.

Uncle Rick giving Karen last minute advise before she walks down the isle. :)

Happy Birthday, Rick!

Judy

Guatemala Bible Seminary Graduation

We drove a van full of folks out to Chimaltenango to attend GBS graduation exercises on Saturday, Oct 4
This picture lacks about 5 folks that were in the van with us, but not in the picture. 18 total!




Judy

Happy Birthday, Thomas

Happy Birthday, Thomas. He turns 22 today!

Karen and Thomas met at Moody 2 years ago. I remember the first time we met. It was a cold February Saturday evening in Chicago. I mean cold. It was 10 degrees below 0. We were eating dinner at the Cheesecake Factory at the base of the John Hancock Building. Karen was excited to introduce us to her new friend, someone she had just started to date.

Our good friend, Ian Leitch joined us also. I remember his comment. He said "Thomas, we can tell a lot about a guy, by looking at your hands and your feet". Thomas stretched out his hands for inspection. Clean. '(Thomas worked in the 'dish crew', so of course his hands were clean) And his shoes were clean too. Ian's theory is that if a man takes good care of his fingernails and shoes, he'll take good care of his wife. Thomas passed the test.

Thomas flew down to Guatemala with Karen for Gary's graduation last year.

Thomas is a great son-in-law. We count it a privilege to have him a part of our family. He is very intelligent, smiles constantly and is soft spoken. He is completely opposite personality than Karen, however they do compliment each other. He is a very hard worker. He put himself through college, by working extremely hard at several jobs at Moody and in a warehouse. He loves the Lord. He is a student. He is a student of the Word. Currently, he is taking German classes so he can read the original writings of Martin Luther in German.
Thomas is a great husband for Karen. We welcome Thomas into our family. Thank you for bringing love into her life.

Happy Birthday, Thomas,

Judy

Cornerstone - SETECA Chapel extension

Friday, October 3, Karin Rountree from the CAM Dallas office joined us for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new chapel extension at the SETECA campus in Guatemala City.

During the Awards ceremony, Pauline Williams was honored for her service to SETECA. Receiving the award was her husband, Gary. Pauline is still under chemo treatment and couldn't attend. We know she wanted so badly to be there at the groundbreaking and other weekend activities such as the annual graduation, but she wasn't feeling well enough.
We gathered off to the side of the current chapel, where there was a ceremony of laying the new cornerstone for the new extension of the chapel.
Rector of SETECA, Jim Adams.

Afterwards, there were pastries served in the court yard.

Judy

Dragon Fruit

What would you call this fruit? No, I did not photo shop the color! That was the actual Hot Pink.

Happy Birthday, Ronnie

Ronnie, 48 and Kelly
Ronnie, Kyle (nearly 20), Meredith 24 and Kelly

Happy Birthday, Brother. 48 years old. Ronnie is a special brother. While growing up, I was closer to him than my other siblings. I remember playing tag football with Ronnie and my best friend Lisa out on the side yard. We attended Bible Memory Association Camp together. Ronnie would tag along with me in my 1963 Ford Falcon.

Ronnie's birthday is one I will never forget. Why? He and I share a birthday. My spiritual birthday. Back in 1968, on a Friday afternoon at 5:15pm on October 4, I was "born again". So, I can never forget his birthday and my spiritual Birthday.

Ronnie is a great father, brother and husband. He is a prayer warrior for our ministry. He flew down to Bolivia to visit us back in 1997 and I look forward to him visiting us in Guatemala. He has faithfully supported us prayerfully and financially. He has an understanding of what our ministry is all about.

Happy Birthday, brother.

Judy

Happy Birthday, Molly

Molly, turns 13 today. Has it been 13 years since the verdict for OJ Simpson was handed down? The day after Molly was born, Glenn and I were visiting Sherrie at Baylor hospital and our attention was on the TV news. Molly was born on Oct 3rd at 10:30am. The OJ verdict was the same day, although it seemed like the next day. Sherrie, Molly's mother, says "I started my pregnancy when the trial began and I delivered the day the verdict came in."

Everybody loves Molly. Molly loves playing on the computer and making slide shows. Molly is good at sports. She loves soccer. Chelsea is her favorite team. That is an English Premier team. Molly is a polite young lady. Many times when I'm visiting at the Marshall's house, she will come up to ask me if I want anything to eat or drink. One time she made me a sack lunch for my road trip. She loves children and all the lower school kids at school love her.

Molly plays soccer and basketball for The Covenant School. She loves school and everybody loves Molly. She loves to talk in class and her teachers enjoy her as she adds spunk to the class. Molly is in 7th grade.
Molly has some words that she says with a British accent which have been acquired from her dad. The British Sci-fi show, Dr. Who "don't blink" is one of her favorite TV programs.

Molly has anxiously been waiting to turn 13 for some time now. Sherrie and Steve have had a SPECIAL 13th Birthday celebration for each of the nieces and nephews, and I'm sure they'll make this special.

Happy Birthday, Molly.

Aunt Judy

The Deli

Where shall we eat? The Deli Restaurant is a favorite among CAMers. It is just a 5 minute walk from LBN. This time Glenn and I shared soup and sandwich. Others were trying new dishes there.
Trisha Williams and Judy Murphy

Both Trisha and Judy are CAM missionaries working at CAG (Christian Academy of Guatemala). Trisha is begining her 3rd year here as a High School English teacher. Gary had an english course with Miss Williams his Senior year. She is very good. Judy has lived in Guatemala most of her life. She returned to teach at CAG 13 years ago and has specialized in the area of learning disabilities. She even tutors nationals and has a Spanish Bible Study for Guatemalan ladies who are househelpers.
Johnny and Maria Coker are considered "finishers". They have completed a career in the states and have moved down to Guatemala to work on the Centennial Camp out near Sololá. Johnny was in law enforcement and Maria was a nurse. They travel frequently to Guatemala City and have a standing invitation to stay in our guest room. I let them know if we are having other guests and visitors. Once they get to our house, Maria sets out the coffee pot and prepares it for the next morning. They usually set up their lap top and start doing emails and internet (wireless on our dining room table), since they do not have internet connection at their house in Solalá.

More later,

Judy

Working Retreat

This got lost...so I'm posting it now...even though it was a while back...like several months ago.

They call it a working Retreat. That sounds like an oxymoron to me.

Two CAM missionary teams gathered at LBN (Las Buenas Nuevas) for two days of meetings, games, fellowship and relaxation. I brought my lawn chair and set it up and was able to cross stitch during the meetings. Yep, we dusted off the official CAM hymnals and sang some old favorites.
Judy Murphy, Trisha Williams, Maria Coker and Cindy Spaugh - waiting for the guys to get ready to walk into town.

It rained the entire weekend. Yes, Rainy season has begun.

Craycraft wedding

The Bride and Groom

Abby, Jan's mom and Jan

Saturday, I drove quickly up to Oklahoma City to attend Abby's wedding. Her mom, Jan, is a good friend from Moody days. Jan lived next door on Houghton 4 my Senior Year. Jan sang in our wedding back in 1980 and we have remained in contact all these years. The outdoor wedding went off without a hitch. There was no wind, just beautiful sunshine.

Judy

The Sketch Drawing

Sketching it on the piece of paper - (see my 9/22/08 blog entry)

Final product
Friday night during my Alumni Board meetings, I met up with Thomas and Karen and was able to give the key chain holder to the newlyweds.
Guess where we ate dinner?

More later,

Judy