I can surely attest to the fact that summer has arrived! It really has been a good summer so far. Just when I think all my fat is going to melt and I’m going to lose weight; it cools down for a day or so. I was running over to the school courts to hit a few balls last week, but I was getting there by 7:00am to keep from overheating. I do like to tone up a little during the summer, but I’m not into hurt. The ladies quilting retreat at Emily’s Haus in Stonewall was wonderful. If you like to quilt and have a group I can truly recommend this little piece of heaven. Jack and Kay are the owners of this lovely place. Jack does most of the maintenance and Kay shepherds the guests and prepares scrumptious meals for them. They are a wonderful couple and the setting is hill country beautiful. They are perched on a hill overlooking the valley into Fredericksburg. The place gets its name from the little cottage owned by Kay’s grandparents. It’s hard to believe that six people could fit into so tiny a house! Each morning we quilting ladies got up and took our morning coffee or tea on the verandah. Cathy Ledbetter, Kathy Brockman, Debbie Phelan, Rhonda Wyatt, Sandy Reid and Shelby Ledbetter spent our time absorbed in quilting and admiration of the scenery as well as all the super quilts that were completed. Kathy Brockman finished her first big round the world quilt. The colors were magnificent. She was so inspired she decided to make the table decorations for Kendra’s October marriage. Sandy Reid was way ahead of us. She completed at least three Christmas projects! Debbie finished off several batik quilts. We can all tell she is partial to the batik prints. Her results are spectacular. Cathy finished an on point quilt. I think she could apply to be a math teacher somewhere. It was way too complicated for me! Rhonda only spent one night, but made a good start on a quilt for her precious grandson Maddox. Lara Smith was supposed to come and stay with us, but she picked up a bad case of strep. I have to admit I was a little reluctant to spend that much time quilting, but even with 2 ½ days I did not manage to get very much done. My quilts are known for their bright colors. I’m not sure what happens. I start each project off reaffirming to myself that blue and plain is what I’m making. It’s as if my black and white persona goes to sleep and this color thing comes out of nowhere!I’m headed for Dallas Friday. My youngest stepdaughter Christine is getting remarried. She has found a fine young man and I wish them all the best. My youngest son Shane will be performing the wedding ceremony. His sister requested that he marry her and so he shall. I’m very proud of both my sons. Like most siblings, they are very different, but I can’t fault the steadfast men they have both become. That is the mom speaking of course! Big sister Tracy from Houston will attend her sister’s wedding along with our very special Aunt Wanda Jean. The rest of Russell’s family is a little too far and too elderly to attend. Her two boys John and Jason will be in attendance as well. John is presently at Texas Tech and Jason will be a junior in high school. I know it will be a mad scramble to get everything done at the last minute, even for a simple outdoor wedding and reception! As a post script to this paragraph, Shane wrote and read the most loving and heartfelt sermon for his sister and her new husband. I know the depth of his heart, but it felt good to see the looks of amazement on the faces of the people attending as he read his message solemnly. The youth camp is set for July 16th. Brother Barry is turning the names in on Monday. They have about 17 youth and two sponsors planning to attend. I’m sure you saw a number of these fine young people working on Saturday to earn money f or their week long camp. They also cleaned up after the event. The church is accepting donations for kids who have not earned all their money.I had a lovely long talk with Cathy Longenette. She and her husband live out by Al and Billie. She applied for a teaching position at Richland, but was accepted at Brady. I’m excited to have another teacher added to our community even if she is going to teach at Brady. If you wish to help a student out with camp, please contact either Bev Cohn or Brother Barry. Encourage your teen to attend this wonderful event.I received another unsigned letter again this week. I think they are from Flo Atchison, but I am not sure. This one was to pass on the news about Thomas C. and Bertha Pearl Warren Christian. They were the parents of fourteen children, and on Saturday, June 23rd their descendants came from every part of Texas to meet at the Woodland Community Center in Burnet for their annual reunion. Maureen Taylor Johnson of Burnet, hosted the event with assistance from Evelyn Christian Horsman of Kingsland. A bar-b-que lunch was served to the forty-one attendees. The eldest person was “Aunt Ruby” Proctor Christian (Warren). Charles Christian of Brownwood officiated during the proceedings. Tentative plans were made to meet on the last Saturday in June of 2013, on East Lake Buchanan. For those of you who might remember, the children were; Ethel, Meryl, Herbert, Hubert, Lehman, Harriet, Arlena, Lorena, T.C., Warren, Haskell, Ward, Robert and Jewell. Curtis Smith is doing better after his skin cancer surgery. Charlie Capps, Kenny Powell, June McPherson and Paul Gibson all need our prayers in their fight against cancer. Clara Wash, H.B. Adams, Beatrice Soto and Melissa Evans are all recovering from surgery and improving daily. There are many other sick and recovering folks in our community that need our prayers. Please remember prayer is needed for our precious and wonderful troops and their families. They bravely fight for our rights, laying down their lives and putting aside the needs of their families to keep us free. Please pray for them and ask God to bring them home safe and sound. Have a great week everyone. May God bless America.