Monday, February 22, 2016

Still got IT

Les wrote the post, Jeannette added the title...

The beginning of my career in the sign business was firmly rooted during the summer of 1969. I was struggling in my college pursuits and really needed some direction and inspiration. I thank God for the opportunity I had to apprentice under my beloved uncle Virgil who was an accomplished sign artist in San Jose. I learned basic hand-lettering skills while there, but I was smitten with the hand-carved rustic signwork that was popular in California. When I came back home to continue college, I immediately began making rustic signs along with the usual hand-lettered type signs. 

Throughout the years I've made hundreds of rustic signs. In recent years since retiring, I've had several opportunities to work on novel signs for faux western town scenes in our area. I'd like to share a few photos of what I've been working on this past week.







These pictures are of an event center in our area, set up like an old western town. Each of these buildings have a rustic sign on the facade. 



And these are two examples of small novelty signs I have made recently. 

Monday, February 8, 2016

Our College Kids

One aspect of this adventure of life that has been unexpected, sweet, and fun has been new friendships with a group of college students.

It all started when we moved to the little house on Long St, in Stephenville. There were two college students living across the street. Les met one of the girls right after we moved in when they had a garage sale. He introduced himself to Rebecca and gave her our number to call in case they needed help with anything. That was the start of a very special friendship.

 We became adopted grandparents to Rebecca. She had lunch or supper with us at least 2 times a week. She began to go to church with us, and really became like part of the family.  She introduced us to some of her friends, and eventually, we had a whole group of college girls coming to church with us, then to our house for lunch.

Rebecca’s friend Harlie was not a Christian, but she began to enjoy coming to church with us and having lunch afterward. She came to believe in Jesus over the course of a few weeks in the summer of 2014, and was baptized on Feb. 1, 2015.  She has pursued Jesus with passion since that time. Although she moved to Nashville in December, she is still dear to us and in frequent contact.

Harlie brought her friend Morgan, who came to faith in Christ in the summer of 2015.
Morgan and Harlie with Les

Emily R. baptism
 Harlie’s friend Emily attended Harlies baptism, and, through the next months considered the things that she heard that day until she gave her life to Jesus in November, and was baptized the first of December. 


Harlie, Carter, Emily M., Morgan 
Throughout these months, young friends of Rebeccas have joined this precious little group.  As the weeks went by, we invited other college students to dinner who we met at church, and the group grew. This fall, our grandson, Carter, attended Tarleton and found himself with a group of best friends (all girls) that were here ready to receive him when he came.  We joke about Carter’s cool grand parents who introduced him to a bunch of girls when he went to college.

Back row: Rebeca, Emily M.
Front: Harlie, Olivia, Morgan, Brannon
Every week, we have six to fifteen college students in our home on Sundays for dinner. 
Melissa, Jenny, Rachel, Monique, me


Most weeks, we see these kids two or three times during the week also. They play with our grandchildren, take naps on our sofa, help clean the kitchen, serve the church with us, just are part of our family.  We have found ourselves invited to bowling parties, Christmas parties, other get-togethers of young people. These relationships have brought a new purpose and vitality to our lives.
our Grandson Dillon with Bach
Emily M, Rebecca

Back Row: Bach, Morgan, Emily M, me, Les
Front' Harlie, Rebecca, Dillon 


Back: Rachel, Morgan, Chance, Les, Monique, Carter
Front; Emily M, Harlie, Marla, me, Rebecca 
Morgan, me Les, Emily M
Harlie, Rebecca, Cassie 
 
Harlie, me, Rebecca, Cassie 
 



Samantha, me, Monique



It is amazing what God has done, all starting from a move to a fixer upper on Long Street.
We had no idea what was starting.