Molly went to Panama!

Listen up!  We are going to have a lot to talk about around the board room table on Easter.  One of those subjects we will be hearing about is Molly's recent trip to Panama...

"There was a large GT event (civil engineering) in Panama and I got to go since many of their major donors were going. The vice president of the country is a GT grad. There are a lot of great connections and because of that we got to go on a lot of "behind the scenes" tours. It was awesome. Beautiful hotel, wonderful food and fun people. Was there 5 days.  Went in the rain forest and on a boat the last day and saw animals similar to when you and Kate went to Costa Rica."

Yep, from a visit to the canal expansion to the jungles of Panama Molly will have a lot to share.  See you there!

Keep Judy and Nana in your prayers

My sister, Judy, came home from the hospital today after undergoing a complete hysterectomy and the removal of two large tumors.  I am praising God that she is doing okay, even though experiencing some discomfort, and on the way to recovery.

Nana isn't doing so well.  It seems to be getting harder for her to get around and her pain, although she is  on medication for it,  is ever present.

Please keep them both in your thoughts and prayers.

Boys of Summer...

After playing a couple of games Saturday, Ford came to watch the last part of Joe's game Saturday night.  Baseball...the tie that binds!

Oh, and Issy entertains us between innings!

Speaking of entertaining, Keegan was in a successful production of Grease this past weekend (hope to get a video of this one!), Emily will soon be appearing in Annie,  4/12 - 4/14, with the Wesleyan Jr. High Players and Andrew has started rehearsals as the lead character, George, in the high school production of Our Town, 5/3 - 5/5.  

Keegan getting ready to act his part in Grease.

If you haven't seen these GRANDS perform, you are missing a special treat!  

Note:  Also, this weekend, Morgan came in second place in her out of town climbing competition  and Aidan got a picture perfect, badly needed hit for his team!  (I will let you know how Issy's squad did in their second round of cheerleading competition on Sunday, as soon as I find out.)

Our cup runneth over!

Happy Birthday Kristin!

The Birthday Girl, KCP

Daddy remembers:  3/18/69

"I have always been so proud of you."

Loved Forever.

Dad.

Natural Fireworks at Northcroft

Charles O. took this photo a while back with a little more success but you'll just have to come see it for yourself!

I wish I could bottle up the stars I am seeing tonight at Northcroft and show them to all of you!  They are incredible!  Breathtaking!  I tried and tried to photograph them but to no avail.  Needless to say, my time was not wasted, I was entertained and blown away by the clear Spring night with the stars exploding like fire works.  Awesome.

Life's Stream

Water rushing through our property at Northcroft

 speaks words of life and love to my very soul.

Mike, Kim and Kate laced with Shannon, Kristin and Bethann;

My life’s stream flowing with these gifts of blessings, multiplies through their marriages, happiness and children.

I sing praises to the Almighty for giving me such a wonderful life.  I pray for wisdom and grace to love fully, unconditionally, beyond anything of this earth.

Let the water flow gaining purity, depth and strength as it continues and mirrors the ocean of life, making possible all things for those I love.

Thanks be to God for the gift and for my husband who stands with me watching the miracle unfold.

It is so nice to have this time to reflect.

Week end interview...

Kristin came from California (through terrible mid-air thunderstorms and drama!) to spend a long weekend with us, for the sole purpose of interviewing her father (on video), collecting a massive amount of pictures and material, in order to start putting together his life story.

 We got to take in a little family time when the S-C family came over to join us for dinner, games and happy conversation.  The rest of the Atlanta family was off on Spring Break  and couldn't be here to join in the fun.

 Reliving TLC's history has once again proven that he has had an amazing life and hopefully the best is yet to come!

It was good to have you home, Kristin. :)

The House That Built Me

I just returned home from my Mother's house, where I always enjoy going and still feel I belong.  I love taking pictures there; history is in every corner, and the photos, books, paintings and the fish tank beckon to be looked at and enjoyed.  My roots run deep in that old house.  Time tends to do that with people as it does with plants.  When I was young, I was tenderly fed and nurtured there; and now I feel appreciated and, hopefully, enjoyed.

I hope I paid enough attention to the tender little roots planted in my house...I wish I had known then what I do now, for surely I would have made the sun shine even on rainy days.

I know you want the same, because you are building great people at your houses too. I encourage you, even through the teenage years, to persevere and enjoy the fruits of your labor.  These are the best of times.

Oh...and you are always welcome at every place I ever call home.  (I thought today, while I was putting  this video together, that I would like to buy and fix up Shiver Summit and move back in!  For there I could feel memories of all of you.)

What's in a name?

What's in a name?
History passed down through the generations...
Gwendolyn

My mother: gave me a strong sense of family, high standards, work ethic, set an example of what a wife should be and was  consistently dependable in times of trouble. Her house is always the place you can come home to.

Me...Merry Gwen
Gosh, I hope I have passed on the same.

Kimberly Gwen
Like Peter...the Rock. I know she picked up each family strong point and added some of her own. Always brings God into Monday and trusts each day to Him.

Emily Gwen
Still learning what she is going to be, still growing her stock that is already paying dividends. This magnificent, statuesque, beauty, will hopefully carry on the love, dignity and character of the mothers before her and raise them to even greater levels.
We have a mother-daughter lineage in common and a name, untarnished, that has been passed down...
but it took a lot more to make us who we are:
Grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers, children and other grandchildren whose names (except for the Gwen part) could just as easily fit into the list above, not to mention our faith and a multitude of friends.

Upon reflection, I shall always strive to be the best:
G-gracious
W-wise
E-evangelical
N-nurturing
...Gwen that I can be. :)

Nana in Atlanta for "Oklahoma"!

The Atlanta family is delighted that Nana has come for a visit.  It has been a long time coming and we are grateful she was able to make the trip.

 Today, Andrew performed in the closing  production of his high school play, Oklahoma.  It has had a tremendously successful run and Andrew thrilled us all with his song and dance!

 Mom and Dad were of course very proud, along with grandparents and great-grandparent who attended.

 Andrew greeted William's friends who came to the show all excited to have their picture taken with a REAL actor cowboy!

 Nana was welcomed by a warm hug from a delighted grandson who appreciated her effort to be there.

Me...I was proud all around...to have all the Gwen's together, Andrew's performance, hospitality from Kim and Tom, Mom's effort, Grandad's support and love, William's reading of a story and help in the kitchen.

Family...if you remember nothing else I have ever said in this life, please remember...The gift of a good family makes life oh, so very sweet.

For you all I am grateful.

P.S.  Tomorrow I get to take Nana to spend time with Mike, Mary, Joe and Issy!

Happy 8th Birthday, William!!!

Ford Inducted in National Honor Society!

 Today, with pride and pleasure, Grandad and I watch as Ford was inducted in Woodward's National Honor Society.

Ford receiving his certificate...

National Honor Society

Induction Pledge

 I pledge myself to uphold

The high purposes of the National Honor Society

To which I have been elected

Striving in every way 

To make its ideals

The ideals of my school

and my life.

 Well done Ford...well done.

Crofts of high purposes...

Carry on

Gene

Goodbye, Gene

1995-2012

William's Birthday Camp-out!

It was cold...

but the snow melted by the time everyone arrived.  Still too cold for tents; we built a large fire in the buck stove, threw down air mattresses for the dads and put up a couple of pup-tents in the upstairs back bedroom for the boys to sleep in and the party began!

On the 18th William turns eight years old and we will still be celebrating!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUNGEST GRANDCHILD. GRANDAD AND I LOVE THE WAY YOU ARE GROWING!

I love you...

Issy's team is a WINNER!

1st place in their division and overall sportsmanship, Issy and her teammates are winners!  Way-to-go!  I know it took an incredible amount of work to succeed.  We are proud of you!  (Issy is a fly girl, moving left to right.)
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It's # 13 for Emily!

Today Emily spent most of her day studying even though it was her 13th birthday, but it was yesterday afternoon at a very unusual "cocktail party" that the fun began...

The magic hour was 5:30, after all guests had arrived, that everyone took on the personality of the assigned character given to them in a special birthday invitation.  There was a preppy cheerleader who was always trying to cheer everybody on and jack them up with excitement, the queen of an unknown country that thought everyone was her subject, a crazy homeless lady who conveniently introduced a pillow as her baby, a French girl who spoke very little English and was an emotional wreck, somebody with a food obsession and a beauty queen has been; just to name a few.  Our birthday guest of honor was a gracious southern belle who talked of little but her dear, darling kittens.

Guests were greeted by the butlers (Daddy, Tom and brother, William), taken to the ballroom and served endless glasses of Shirley Temples.  Everyone got to know each other and then was escorted to a lovely sit down spaghetti dinner (still in character). 

After dinner everyone had to guess each person’s character and idiosyncrasies.  Prizes were given for the best portrayal, best costume and many other bests.  Dessert was served (Emily's favorite...PIE!), then a movie, ending with snacks and a sleepover.

A big shout out to party planners-coordinators; Mom and Dad who worked hard and did a terrific job!

What a special, fun way to mark #13!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS EMILY!!! 

T H I R T E E N ! Happy Birthday, Keegan!!!

Stay true to yourself and know that we love you.  

Can't believe you are a teenager!!

Kate's Egypt rebuilt on the Mountain!

 I got to Northcroft too late last evening to climb up the mountain to see the progress made toward rebuilding Egypt, which had been damaged when several large trees fell on top of it last Spring.

o 

 This morning I made the climb and was happy with the restoration of what once was.  

 Huge tangles of up-rooted trees, logs and massive limb debris still remain, but much has been cut up and stacked out of the way.

The roof and screen windows have been replaced.   Kate's ancient hieroglyphics are still intact...

and the Pyramids of Giza remain for other children to play in.

Although there is a bit more work to be done, I appreciate the efforts of a local neighbor and friend, Wayne Watkins, who has worked to clear the path and rebuild the little building, making it possible for us to climb to Egypt, again.