Hi Dear Friends:
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The summer is racing by again. I suppose the same can be said about life. My Dad
told me that by the time you turn 21, years will fly by faster and faster, boy was he
right. I will try and catch you all up on what’s been going on in our lives since the
last time I talked with you.

Our hockey team, The Nashville Predators, were very successful this year, making
it to the finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ken and the kids went to every game,
while I preferred to sit at home in my pajamas and watch on TV. I still cheered them
on as if I were there. My little dogs looked at me real funny sometimes when I yelled
and screamed when we scored. Lots of fun.

Matt and Christy are doing well with touring, teaching, and various other activities.
Matt is cooking for a company that does a lot of catering and has it arranged so he
and Christy can go on the weekends to work at shows, churches, etc., spreading the
gospel and showing people what a great singer Christy is. She is marvelous.

Jaime changed jobs as of February 1 st . She is no longer with the Fontanel or the
tourism business. She was offered a position with a company that deals with
addicted people and helps place them into rehab facilities around the country. She
is doing a great job and is able to offer lots of help to desperate folks. Her
compassion for people is of great help to her, but sometimes she gets pretty
involved with them and it hurts her heart to see them in so much distress and

misery. She cares a lot. Jax is a great joy to Jaime and all of us for that matter. He
calls almost every night via “FaceTime”. Jaime says that he brings her the phone and
asks for “BeBe”, which is his name for me. He is jabbering a lot and is so smart
about his letters and numbers. I could go on all day, but then I would have to start
showing you home movies. Lol.

Nathan and Hannah are doing great, although they are extremely busy. Nathan has
to travel for work from time to time, and we get to keep his beloved dog, Porter,
when he is gone. Hannah is mostly doing lots of oncology surgery at Vanderbilt and
working lots of hours every day. She just started her fourth year of residency and
has been chosen to be “Chief Resident”. This is a great honor and we are very
proud of her. Hannah’s grandmother, Valere Menefee, passed away. She had been
in hospice for a couple of weeks, but it is still hard and hurt our hearts to see her go.

I am about “over”, emotionally, the gardening that is required around here every
year. I have a few thousand hydrangea blooms and am currently drying some for a
friends wedding, but other than that, I am not doing much in the garden area. We
bought a small farm not far from here and are in the process of building some small
cabins next to a creek, and it is taking much longer than expected. I think they will
be pouring concrete for foundations this coming week. Thank goodness. Rain has
been holding the progress up much to our dismay. We usually take a trip in our
motor home every summer, but with the cabin build going on, we have nothing

planned. Jaime’s husband, Whit, has been working hard building the dining table
and benches for the family cabin. I know it will be beautiful.

This year is a special one for Ken and I, we celebrated our 50 th wedding anniversary
on May 28. We did not have a big celebratory party, but we had all the children over
for lunch, games, dinner, more games, and lots of visiting. It was great. I invented a
couple of games to play around memories and knowledge about us, and they were
lots of fun. We always enjoy having any or all of the children visit at any time.

I meant to put this on the site before now, but I needed an ending to this post. In the
meantime, Ken had a birthday and the weather has been good enough for the
contractor at Camp Dudney to pour the slabs for the cabins we are building. It
should go pretty fast now. We are getting excited.

Everyone please take care of yourselves and your loved pets in this horrible heat
that most of the country is experiencing. Till the next time.

Love,
Barbara

​My Dear Friends:

Well, here we go with a new look. My old web site has been around a long time, so my publicist, Angie Gore, along with her wonderful employees, felt we needed a new look that is easier to navigate and service. Please investigate all sections and let us know what you think. I know that you will all be honest with me, as you have over the years. Good friends are always honest with each other.

Spring has sprung and I have been working in the yard/garden daily from sun-up to sundown. My landscapers are just finishing up putting down new mulch, so the initial work is winding down. Thank Goodness! My cousin Iris and her husband Lanie are coming to visit this week. They are from Arkansas and we don’t get to see each other except every couple of years. I’m looking forward to the visit. All the kids are doing well and I know I could elaborate, but I want to get this new blog into the site so it can be launched immediately. I will send a newsier letter when things start to slow down, so take care and be safe.

Love, Barbara

This is a picture of a child that we sponsor from FEED THE CHILDREN.  We get letters and pictures she has drawn, from time to time, and can see that she is doing great.  There is a video message that our daughter-in-law, Christy has put together to show her friends about the program, and her involvement.  I really want you to see it.  She and our son, Matthew sponsor a child also. Please go to http://youtu.be/XY11zRt5E94 to watch.  We are all so fortunate and if you have the opportunity to help a child through this organization, I know you will be blessed. May God bless you and we wish you a Merry Christmas.
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