Time's A-Flyin!

The Caruvana family has been so busy lately, we just haven't had the time to update the blog. After Mom's death, we've had the end of the school year, bringing Aunt Lorrie home, arranging Aunt Lorrie's move to Texas, moving Lorrie's things from the house, packing Lorrie's storage unit on a truck to ship to Texas, the close of Awana (complete with hours [days] to create a slideshow video), and preparation for VBS (which starts next week).

Syl is teaching for VBS, so has been working to decorate her room, prepare her lessons, etc. And of course, when we came back from Michigan after the funeral, spring was in full blossom here in Georgia, so the lawn and garden have gone wild with growth, requiring lots of time. Syndi is having school testing done this week, so that takes more time. Jon was on deacon patrol in May, so he had to lock the building up after services.

Yes, it's been a busy month-and-a-half. Syl and the kids will be leaving for Michigan in only a week-and-a-half (right after VBS finishes), so we'll be crazy preparing for that. Jon will have time to post after they leave, but no family members of which to post any pictures. So we'll be back in full swing sometime around mid-summer. Hopefully we'll have the Awana slideshow posted for all to see in the next day or so. It may be large, though, so it may give people difficulty in loading.

Probably, y'all are just as busy as we are, so won't even have time to read this. That's OK. 'Cause I really didn't have time to post it.

Fun Around the House

Aunt Val holding Jules.
Mommy holding Jules. Julia loves to look at things.

And those eyes are so dark...mesmerizing.
Aunt Lorrie, who came with us to Texas, enjoyed the Texas sunshine as she sat by the window and read. She will stay in Texas until Christmas.
Aunt Lorrie looks on as Junior prepares to play a musical instrument he constructed.
A straight-pass, extended miniature French horn?
I think Syndi's is a snub-nose, reverse-pass miniature trombone.
Syndi and Junior made beautiful music together.
OK, they just made music together.
OK, they hummed, and I wouldn't call it music.
But they had fun!
It was a good time for the kids to use their imaginations.

The LeTourneau Sidetrip

On our way to Texas, we stopped in at

LeTourneau University, our alma mater.

Above you see Jon and Sylvia in front of the new Belcher Chapel.

Pretty nice!

We went over to the new Engineering center and visited with some friends (disguised as old professors). Above you see us with Dr. Bill Graff, a crazy man with crazy ties (lots of them), but he loves the Lord and he loves his students. He has been a great encouragement over the years.

Sorry we didn't get to see you, Mom Graff!

Dr. Paul Leiffer, now Chairman of the Department of Engineering, was one of our Electrical Engineering professors (as was Dr. Graff). We did some grading for both Dr. Graff and Dr. Leiffer while we were students at LeTourneau.
Ah, ye old Bell Tower.
I remember climbing thy scaffolding to the pinnacle just before ye were completed.
Oh' the good old days.
Now a university icon, the Bell Tower was added to the campus mall (the greenbelt corridor down which this picture was taken) in the early 1990's.
Dr. Graff fabulously presented each of our children with some crazy shaped balloons, which they loved. Here I sit with Syndi in the car as we left Longview, Texas, heart-shaped balloon beside.
It was good to visit the campus! It had been a few years. Aunt Lorrie was able to see a school she'd heard much about over the years. (Apparently it was much different than she had anticipated.)
Above is another picture of the new Belcher Center, where the Longview Symphony now holds its performances.

Thanksgiving 2007

Thanksgiving Dinner 2007

Pictured clockwise around the table starting with the nearest man: Uncle Keith, Aunt Lorrie (Keith's sister), Stephen, Sylvia, Jon, Junior, Syndi, Aunt Val (Keith's wife), and taking the picture was our cousin, Christopher.

For the 18th time in 19 years, Jon has celebrated Thanksgiving at Keith & Val's (which would mean the 14th time in 15 years for Sylvia). Julia was on the Gymini in the next room as we ate dinner, in case you wonder where she was. Next year she should be able to sit up and eat with us at the table. Then again, next year we'll probably need another table to fit us all.
More to come on the trip, including...
Some Sleepy Candids
A LeTourneau Visit
The Hockey Game
At the Park
Down by the Creek
Around the House
...all from our Texas trip!

The Aunt Lorrie Move

So we packed up and headed to New Jersey to pack Aunt Lorrie's belongings up and move her to Georgia. We left late morning and made a lunch stop at a rest stop.

The kids did great on the road. (In fact, they really did well for the entire trip.)
We stayed over at Doug and Debbie's near DC. We really enjoyed sitting and talking with them before getting a good night's rest.
This food stop was at Wendy's. I'll have to make another post of Stephen enjoying his Frosty.
On the front porch at Aunt Lorrie's.
The kids enjoyed helping load the ABF truck. They were good helpers all through. The only problem was seeing them around the boxes and furniture we carried.
ABF U-pack is truly a great way to go! Less expensive and easier than driving yourself. Everything arrived just like we packed it.
Water break for Stephen.
Aunt Lorrie had some pretty azaleas planted throughout the yard.
One last day at the Demarest house.
Aunt Lorrie, Jon and the kids on the front porch.
We made a visit to Belmont Street for old times' sake. My grandfather helped build this place. I spent many a holiday here.
Aunt Lorrie enjoyed one last visit.
We stayed at Chris and Brent's palce. Brent grilled some delicious food. Kudos to the cook!
Breakfast after a good rest.
And a group picture outside their apartment.
A passing shot of Philadelphia, near my old stomping grounds.
Beltway traffic in DC.
Junior having fun on the ride.
At our hotel in Virginia, surrounded by beautiful mountains.
Passing through the western part of Virginia. It's a beautiful place!
After a jaunt through Tennessee, we made it home to Rome.