Grandchildren

The Bible says that "children are a gift from the Lord." Not only is that truth, but also true. In addition I have heard it said that "grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your children." Although we never considered murder, we are enjoying three wonderful grandsons and awaiting the arrival of our first granddaughter.
Elijah, Samuel and Asher Pilgreen live in Springfield, MO (for the moment). They will be moving with their mom and dad to San Francisco, CA in June 2010 to plant a new church. We don't get to see them often so we have to be creative. Our most recent visit was enroute to lead a marriage retreat in Harrison, ARK. Proximity allowed us to stop in Springfield for a day and a half to love and spoil da boyz.
Their dad is presently teaching pastor at Second Baptist Church in Springfield. Mom (our oldest daughter) is a writer and stay at home mom.

Graduations

Two of our daughters have reached new horizons in their educational pursuits. Katie recently graduated with her masters in childhood education from Brenau University. Natalie completed the requirements for her masters in missiology from The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY.
Of course we are very proud of them and their desire to please God with their lives. Katie continues to teach in the Hall County School system. She is also pregnant with her first child. She and Matthew await the arrival of Ella Reese Strickland scheduled to arrive around mid-August.
Natalie waits on the Lord for the next step. She will continue to live in Louisville where she has established roots for a while.
Our oldest daughter, Shauna, has not been pursuing academic degrees, but she is involved in writing her first book. Although there is not much I can say about it at the time we are hopeful that a national publisher will think as much of it as we do.

After All These Years

Friday, May 8, 2009 I graduated from Truett-McConnell College. I started there in the fall of 1971 (it just takes some of us longer than others!). Along with Phyllis we were greated by Mike Simoneaux, Daniel Moosbrugger and Edna Holcombe. A few weeks ago after speaking in chapel, Phyllis and I had lunch with Daniel and his wife Robbie. He asked me when I graduated and I told him that I had not, but had transferred to another school for my 4 year degree. Truett was a Junior College back then. Daniel Moosbrugger is a catalyst. He gets things done. He is going to be a tremendous asset to TMC.
He told me to get him a transcript which I did. In a few short days he and Mike Simoneaux had "done the academic thing" and transferred a couple of courses back in and now I have an associates degree in business. Who would have "thunk" it. Well it was not anything I would have thought about, but will always be something I will treasure.
Truett will always have a special place in my heart. Phyllis and I met there over 36 years ago. It is where our story starts. God has blessed us in so many ways and Truett is that place where God brought us together.
It is the second time in my life when I have received a degree the same year that one of our girls did as well. Over the next two weekends both Katie and Natalie will receive Master's degrees. Not too many people get a Batchelor's, Masters and Doctor's degree and then an Associate, but hey, what a story to tell the grandkids.