Hot here in Texas

Today on August 4, 2010, here in Texas, we are told to protect all human and pet life and be careful to stay properly hydrated. It is to be somewhere in the triple digets this afternoon and I believe every word I hear about it. When I left the office to go to the post office, my car was so hot, I could barely touch the steering wheel or the seats.

One of my friends who is somewhat of a comedian said, "Last time she checked, it was hotter than the hinges of hell's doors." Don't want to ever know about that heat...

Lots of exciting things going on right now...

Brendan, Nikki's youngest son, is visiting for two weeks and we are so happy to have him here with us. He flew in on Saturday and we picked him up at Hobby. He will be here through the 24th. He and PaPa Ted have gone to the skateboard park today and to get haircuts.

Working every hour I am off on the new book, "Wind Over Bolivar," and it is coming along great now. Should be out by Thanksgiving if we can stay on course.

Also working on two reunions - one for my CHS graduating class - the big 50th - to be held at Lake Lanier Island Resort on October 1, 2, and 3, 2010. We are so excited to see everyone and we have four lake houses reserved plus rooms at the lodge. Butch and the Buckheads will play music of our era and it should be a lot of fun.

The second reunion is one that a dear old friend of mine, Jackie Vickery, and I have put together for old friends of Forrest Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. We have tried to reach out to all those who might want to attend. That one is October 9, from 1-3, 2010, at the beautiful Bethesda Park in Lawrenceville. We have reserved the Gwinnett County Senior Citizens Center for this event and are urging all of our old and dear friends to come on out and join us for the fun afternoon.

And, Nehemiah's Vision, where I serve as Site Director for Galveston County, is gearing up for a huge building project. It is anticipated that we will employ 80 people in the construction industry in conjunction with Texas Workforce. Interviewing, handling orientation, getting drug screening, and assignments to job sites will be hectic for a while, but will yield some wonderful results for the people of the area. We are so excited to see the hope of our people getting back into permanent housing after almost two years of waiting.

Steven will begin 10th grade in a few more days - Goodness, where did this summer go? I cannot believe how quickly time is flying by lately. My mother will be dead two years on August 26, and Hurricane Ike hit the peninsula on September 13, 2008. WOW!

Take care until the next page turns,

Brenda

Busy, busy, busy

Some of you know that I have started back to work, yet again, after retiring three different times. I had been talking with James Hall, Executive Director of Nehemiah's Vision, for about four months, here on the Bolivar Peninsula, concerning this position and praying about it with Ted and Steven. The home office located in Vidor, Texas, but we expect to keep the Galveston County office up and running for some three years. James is from Georgia originally, too, and last worked there for Through the Bible Ministries, where my nephew worked for a long time.

Nehemiah's Vision is a faith-based, non-profit organization that was initially begun by a group of Christian builders in the Beaumont and Southeast Texas area shortly after Hurricane Rita. They wanted to help in the disaster and recovery effort, but could not be away from their own businesses for long periods of time. They incorporated and employeed crew chiefs and builders and enlisted the aid of volunteers from across America to come into a disaster area and help to rebuild homes and clear debris.

Their efforts have been blessed of God and many people who literally have fallen through the cracks were helped to get back into suitable living quarters. The volunteers are simply wonderful people who also have a desire to help where needed most. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of them when they have come to Bolivar.

The organization needed someone who could help to write, do some marketing, publicity, case management, go out and meet the people, administer grants, keep records, and coordinate building efforts among many properties at one time. Living here on the peninsula and losing all we had to Hurricane Ike fitted me well to the task and I came on board full time on June 16.

It is so exciting to see a homeowner receive the keys to their newly refurbished home and know that they will no longer have to worry about where they'll be sleeping. God is good to this ministry.

I am also extrememly excited to be working on my class reunion planned for October 1, 2, and 3, at Lake Lanier Islands and Resort near Atlanta, Georgia. Many of my classmates from Clarkston High School's Class of 1960 (yes, I wrote that!) are going to be on hand and we have a fun weekend planned.

Following that weekend and while I am still in my home state of Georgia, several friends and I are planning a reunion of some of the old church family from Forrest Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. More details to be forthcoming on this adventure. We are hoping for October 9 for this event.

Take care until the next page turns,
Brenda

Here we go again...

Hello friends and family members:

Life is so good and so much of an adventure if we simply let it be...

I have begun yet another new and excellent adventure in my life, and thus far, I am enjoying it very much.

Nehemiah's Vision is a non-profit, faith-based ministry operating here in Southeast Texas. Their mission and goal is to go into an area following a disaster regarding hurricane, tornado, fire, flood, or other, and help the people rebuild their lives and their homes. The ministry was created by a group of Christian builders in Southeast Texas following the devastation left in our area by Hurricane Rita. Since that time, it has grown and expanded and has several full time staff members.

James Hall serves as the executive director of the ministry, and guess what? He is from Georgia where he was on the staff of Through the Bible Ministries where my nephew worked. Jim asked me to come on board and help in the area of writing, publications, advertising, marketing and supervision of construction details in Galveston County. and particularly the Bolivar Peninsula, and work with his crews and the outstanding volunteer groups that come to us from across the state and around the country. Every person I have met on the staff of Nehemiah's Vision thus far is dedicated to his or her work, cares about the people they help, and are very diligent workers. Some homes are repaired through grant funding, while others are paid for by the homeowner. In some cases, it is strictly a volunteer effort.

Today, we have people working at 14 different sites across the peninsula doing debris removal, painting, sheetrocking, plumbing, roofing, wiring, putting down carpet, and many other tasks. I work closely with Thomas Raley, our building superintendent here on the peninsula, and thus far, we are doing great. Thomas likes it when I cook dinner and share with him. His home is over an over away and he often stays on the peninsula for four or five days straight. He is especially fond of Georgia recipe homemade chicken and dumplings and strawberry cobbler...

In my spare time, I keep up with my writing for three newspapers, the Yahoo Internet Group, Bolivar BLUE, work in my church, volunteer on the peninsula as needed, and am now busily planning our big 50th Anniversary of our High School Graduation from Clarkston High School in the Atlanta area. We will be meeting on October 1, 2, and 3 at Lake Lanier Islands and we are hearing from so many old and dear friends. We are very excited! And, Ted and I fish when we can get the boat in the water...

Steven completed ninth grade and is going to church camp next week at the East Texas Baptist Encampment in Newton, Texas. Many of his close friends are going on this exciting journey with him and I'm praying that God does a wonderful work in the hearts of all attendees. Summer camp can be a wonderful time for the Lord to work in a different environment and many of these boys and girls have lived on the peninsula following Ike and have adjusted to things being different in their young lives. Please pray for the workers and counselors, speakers, musicians, cooks, and managers during these exciting weeks of ministry.

Steven is also still very involved in his music and his little band, Seaweed, has been given several opportunities to play in the area. They opened our 25th Annual Crab Fest on Bolivar, played at a big Memorial Day gig at Laguna Harbor, and have done other smaller events. I had rather these kids be involved in making music than wondering around looking for something to do.

All of our grandchildren are growing so quickly now that it is somewhat frightening. Ted and I are well and happy here on the Gulf and feel that our lives are being used to help others.

God bless, and let's keep our eyes and ears open to those who need our help, love, and encouragement.

Until the next page turns,

Brenda