How did We Change?

Sometimes I think about how times were different when I was young. As a young boy in St. Louis I can remember how we use to pass the time doing trivial stuff. It was a given that we rode our bikes everywhere. we played in the alleyway mostly some sort of ball game, cork ball, hotbox, dodge ball, and handball, and of course basketball, that is if someone had a goal to shoot at. It was the life, your best friends were always there, the topic was about usually about baseball, or what we were going to do when school was out. Innocence was at a premium then, where did it go?I just remember the friendships that were forged, and the bonds that were tied at that time.Sundays were different too, everyone that I knew went to church, it didn't matter what church you belonged. Perfect attendance wasn't special, it was expected. Dinner was always as a family unit, sometimes with other members of family, aunts and uncles, or grandparents, but always family. I think, in my reflections, that was the good ole days, none of the clutter of of life as we grew up.

Sometimes, I think I miss the good ole days>

My new hair style

Back in January I challenged my church to raise $5,000 for the Relay For Life - the American Cancer Society. To help with the goal I told them I wouldn't cut my hair until we raised the goal even if it took till June 2008. Well last Sunday I got a hair cut. They didn't raise $5,000 but instead raised $8,200. We ended up raising almost 10% of the total raised in the entire county!!

Here is a before and after picture. The before picture was taken during a baptism Sunday morning. After the service nearly 50 people stayed over to see me get my head peeled. There was some talk about Samson and Delilah.... Now I gotta use sunscreen on my head to keep from getting sunburned!

Let's send Gary a card

Hey guys we need to blanket Gary with cards and I came up with a neat way to do it.

I have found a great card ministry. I can send out real greeting cards, with a personal note in my own handwriting, in a real envelope with a real stamp for less than a $1.50 each and do it in less than a minute right from my computer. I have been busy sending cards out to family members, church members and others and I came across this great idea. I would set up an account and PAY FOR IT MYSELF and just ask other family members to go in and send Gary a card with it! Is that a great idea or what?

Here is how you do it:

Go to www.sendoutcards.com ... then use the Username of .... Lathum .... and the password of .... family ..... I think I have made that pretty simple. Log into the site then click on Card Catalogue you will find some 30 different categories an over 7,000 different cards, you can even make your own card with pictures from your computer and so much more. Just follow the prompts and have fun. If you have any trouble just call me and I will walk you though it 573/647-1803.

This is very easy and very rewarding and I think this will be a great way for everyone to help Gary redecorate his room.

Too often we wish we had sent someone a card or just let them know you are thinking of them, but.... There isn't enough time to run to the store and buy a card or you don't have a stamp, or they don't have email, or .... you get the idea. Last month I sent our nearly 100 cards. About 1/3 of them were for the church many were just to friends and family....

Please just take a few minutes and log in right now and send Gary a card or someone else in the family I have put enough credits in the account to send out 10 cards and enough postage to cover that many and I will add more as needs be.

Who do you need to send a card to today?

Address - www.sendoutcards.com
Username - Lathum
password - family

Paul

Do it now and Gary will have your card in about 6-7 days.

For Paul

Thanks for being so thouthful.......you really made Jerry's day. I am sure it won't come as a surprize to you to know there have been a few other boys along the way that have grown up to be fine men because he took time to care. Thanks again.

No smoking gun

Lola's MRI, x-ray's, etc. show arthritis, stenosis, bulging discs and bone densities and spurs but no definite diagnoses for the cause of all her recent pain and damage to the sciatic nerve. The nerve damage in her right leg and foot is healing and the pain is gone. We have decided that we are through with this phase of problems even though the Doctor is suggesting a nuclear bone scan. We think that he is just trying to cover all suggested possibilities even though he doesn't see a clear need for it. Enough is enough. On with the next phase of growing older gracefully.

Yesterday Lola had cataract surgery on the right eye. Today the bandage was removed and she can see much better already. There were no stitches and no complications. The doctor is very happy with his good work and so are we. The doctor said that she could resume her normal activities so tomorrow we play golf. She does, however, have to put three different kinds of drops in her eye every hour then a fourth kind right before bed (ten times a day in all) for the next two weeks. She asked him when he might like to fix the other eye and he said "let's let this one heal first." Actually her left eye won't be ripe for a long time.

As for me and my maladies, I am ignoring everything at present.

Another Video

Here is another video I had on my phone taken about 2 or 3 weeks ago. The family just met up at the mall, sat around & visited for a while.

Laddie

Here we sit in Mcleansboro, Ill after a very tiring day. Never thought I would be working 11 hour days but however that is the case. We started
thursday noon last week and have successfully built a 22,000 sg. ft shell church, tomorrow we shall start roofing or I should say they will be roofing. My knees keep me from doing some things. 2 more days of building, We leave Friday a.m. for home and we can sleep in our own beds again. More later and will even try to show some pictures.
Laddie

Laddie

Laddie

Clay & Heather

Paul
Talked to Clay last night and was telling him about the blog,etc.,. He would really like for them to be on the email group and the blog. Told him I would ask you to send whatever he needs. Their email address is
sloans121@sbcglobal.net. Heather is still at Barnes/Jewish and Clay has taken a new job at O'Reilly's and is starting school at Rankin in August....something to do with electrical design. Think they feel a little detached from the family being in St. Louis. They always want to know what is happening with everyone.
Thanks,
June

Baptism

Photobucket Album