| Spring & Summer 2017 |
| Malcolm took us out to eat at a great little Thai restaurant in Wheaton for Mother's Day |
| It was strange, after virtually no regular work between November and March, to suddenly find myself balancing three jobs and two church teaching ministries, all at the same time, from April through June ! [Gene] Scored elementary school kids' written essays 8 hrs/day; taught a university course 4 hrs/wk; assessed Liberal Arts and Christian Ministries departments at another nearby university; put together & led a 12 wk study on the relationships David (in the Bible) cultivated |
| Susie's been getting to know Landon, Matt and Amber's firstborn, this spring. He's 20 months old |
| It was a great break to head off to the north woods of Wisconsin in search of walleyes for 4 days with some guys from the church |
| Meanwhile, down in Florida, the Dave & Cassie Smillie branch of the family spend a LOT of time in the water . . . the lucky dogs! |
| Dave turned 30 in April, and is workin' his hiney off trying to support a family of five. But he makes the most of whatever moments in between he can get free to enjoy God's creation |
| Between Thanksgiving and February, Gene did pulpit supply at a church in Chicago most of whom were Filipinos. Interestingly, I have been asked recently to do pulpit supply at another church nearby ... which is also predominantly Filipino |
| Susie was happy to see a number of Spanish-speaking people complete the English as Second Language curriculum she offered at Lombard Bible Church this year. Many have become part of the church. |
| We had fun celebrating Landon Gene Smillie's first birthday in October. Guess what color the icing was on his cake? |
| To Be Continued . . . come back later |
| Salvadore Dali would perhaps suggest compartmentalizing |
| But sometimes I'd like to just watch the starry sky with a beloved Rose, like le petit Prince |
| Susie watched the fireworks with Matt n' Amber July 4th, and Landon tried his best to stay awake . . . . . . but hey, it got late. |
| Oh, hey: if you want to see or download those (3 page each) studies on David's relationships, go to my Recorded Lectures page here on the site. They're all there. |
| Susan was sweet to me and brought me back a huge plate of chicken shish kabob, yellow savory rice, corn on the cob, grilled chicken . . . an' I din't even haf to put shoes on . . . . |
| Lately I find that the things that were penalties when I was a kid (1. go to bed early 2. not go out of the house 3. not go to parties) have become privileges or goals nowadays ! Ha! |
| In July we went out to Omaha, where Susie worked in a big church for several years, and in which we got married in 1983, and had a family reunion with some of Susan's favorite cousins, and one of her sisters, and her brother Ed. The trip was really smooth in our newly acquired 2006 Toyota (which had spent its whole 'life' in Tampa, FL and only has 32 thousand miles on it ! It's like a two year old car.) |
The waiter mashed up a
custom-made guacamole bowl
for Malcolm in a mortar &
pestle. There was so much
he shared it with the rest of us.
custom-made guacamole bowl
for Malcolm in a mortar &
pestle. There was so much
he shared it with the rest of us.
We have a lot in common with
Susan's sister Lois & husband
Paul. They & we both lived in
New Mexico at the same time;
both lived in and love Colorado
Rocky Mountains. And both
husbands did Ph.D.s in New
Testament, and served as
pastors. We always enjoy
being together.
Susan's sister Lois & husband
Paul. They & we both lived in
New Mexico at the same time;
both lived in and love Colorado
Rocky Mountains. And both
husbands did Ph.D.s in New
Testament, and served as
pastors. We always enjoy
being together.
"You don't expect me to
laugh at that, do you?"
"Well, I was kinda hopin'
you would . . . but then
you're a stuffy Lutheran
who probably doesn't
have a sense of humor
...so, have another Coors
and I'll try again"
"Instead, why don't YOU
fill your Alliance jaws with
some more guacamole..."
laugh at that, do you?"
"Well, I was kinda hopin'
you would . . . but then
you're a stuffy Lutheran
who probably doesn't
have a sense of humor
...so, have another Coors
and I'll try again"
"Instead, why don't YOU
fill your Alliance jaws with
some more guacamole..."
| Landon, Matt, n' Susie |
| Matt works such long hours that we often get together pretty late . . . poor Landon can barely hold up (Gene too . . . ) |