Gillispie Family Reunion 2010

School is out and the summer is beginning with the Gillispie Reunion. Here is a little video to share some of the fun from this year's reunion.

2009 Year In Review

2009 was a year of contrasts for Susie and I. We were able to travel quite a bit and have fun visits with our family, but I was also very sick in April and May, spending a week in the hospital and missing six weeks of school. In addition, we experienced the loss of Susie’s dad in October. The year in pictures finds winter weather at home in January and February. In March we went to Tennessee to visit Susie’s dad. April and May I was sick. At the end of May we went to the Gillispie reunion. In June, Susie went to Texas to spend time with Amelia, with a quick flight to Tennessee to see Aly’s recital. We also got to visit the Oklahoma City Memorial. In July we went to the Parks reunion in Wilburton, Oklahoma. I also got to travel with Dave on a music tour in July, and listen to him singing from Nashville’s Legend’s Corner on the internet through the year. September was back to school and the Walnut Valley Festival. In October Susie’s dad passed away. In November we got the sun room painted, and in December we got to travel and to visit the kids and get Papa’s pictures. We also saw Mik in school activities through the year, watch Hayden develop a personality of his own (he’s a funny boy), and Susie was able to take on several quilting projects for the family. Dave, Renee, Steve, and Colleen are so good to send us pictures of the kids through the year and we love watching their activities in near real time. God has blessed us so much and we appreciate his goodness. We look forward to 2010 when Steve and Colleen will bring us another granddaughter, and we will be another year closer to retirement. Here is a short video of 2009 in review.

Remembering Doug Prather

Susie's dad passed away on October 2nd. I'm posting a video of our trip to Tennessee for the services.

End of Summer 2009

Well, summer is almost over. The summer began with me still recovering from my bout with viral menengitus although we did get to travel a lot. I've gotten a little stronger as the summer has gone on, and Susie has been very patient with me taking lots of naps and not doing too much. In June, Susie spent a couple of weeks baby sitting Amelia with Steve and his family, and took a trip to Nashville in the middle of her stay to visit Dave and Renee while getting to attend Aly's ballet recital. I took a PRAXIS test for renewal of my teacher's license, and did quite well thank you. We also spent a weekend camping with our Bluegrass friends in central Kansas. July found us heading to southeastern Oklahoma for the Parks reunion, and a weekend with my Uncle Bill, his wife Bonny, my cousin Mike Parks and his wife Cheryl. We laughed a lot. Then we headed to Nashville, where Susie spent a week baby sitting Aly and Hayden while Dave and I set out on a musical tour of Missouri and Kansas. Got to hang out with grandson Mik while on the music tour and make some memories. On the way home from Nashville Susie and I got to visit with some of her family in Tennessee. After getting home, Susie and I took a daytrip to see the historic water tower in Beaumont, Kansas. In August we spent another weekend with Mike and Cheryl, got to go to the Oklahoma City Memorial, then drove home on the Old Chisholm Trail. Another quick trip to Memphis for Susie's family, and now we are at home celebrating our 37th Anniversary while getting ready to put our trailer in line for the Winfield Music Festival. I've been able to get some reading in this summer as well. I read "Uncommon," by Tony Dungy, a book of Abraham Lincoln quotes, "Team of Rivals," by Doris Kearnes Goodwin, and "Liberty and Tyranny" by Mark Levin. God has been so good to us. We are thankful for our friends and family, and looking forward to the school year ahead of us.

2009 Gillispie Reunion

Well, I didn't post anything in April because I have been pretty sick. I came down with viral meningitis, spent a week in the hospital, and am just now getting some of my strength back. By Memorial Day I was well enough to get to the Gillispie Family Reunion with Susie and my mom, and we had a restful weekend. I was able to get some pictures and video, and as my cousin would say, I want to thank all the "little people" that made this video possible. In the video, the music is provided, without permission, by Steve and Cody West, and Dave Parks.

2009 March Trip To Tennessee

-------It was a quick trip, but we got to spend some time over spring break with Dave and his family while visiting Susie's dad in Tennessee. We had a lot of fun playing games and singing at Doug's residence. Susie made a "doggie" quilt for Aly and gave it to her. Hayden had a great time eating REAL Fruit Loops, and Mik learned that Renee could whip him at Monopoly. It is always a great time for Susie and I to spend time with the grandkids. Check out the pictures of the trip above, and a short video of some of the singing below.

Bluegrass in Kansas

On a recent weekend in February, Susie and I, along with our grandson Mik, traveled to the Marriott Hotel in Wichita to attend the Kansas Bluegrass Associations 20th annual winterfest. We were able to have some "bonding" time with Mik, laugh a lot, and enjoy some great bluegrass music. I am on the KBA state board of directors, so it was a working weekend of sorts for me. Even so, it was a lot of fun. Susie got to work on her quilting, and Mik and I traded some good stories.