Mark (cont'd......................................

(I somehow exited my blog Mark and cannot get it to the place where I can add to it, so am making another file to finish up your story, Mark!  I need Katy to get me out of my mess...)

As I was saying, - During our stops at Ferké we saw the cutest little girl, Asian features, playing with other kids on the hospital grounds.  I often admired her.  When I asked who she was, I was told that was Kathleen Macomber!  We could not then have known the future and that she would one day be your wife, as well as our much loved daughter-in-law and the mother of four beautiful grandchildren for us!  God's ways are amazing!!

You worked your way through college, always supporting yourself through jobs in the Atlanta area where you lived with a bunch of other guys in various and assorted houses and apartments. You worked your way up in one company from the warehouse tohaving your own office - we visited you in both places. You and John must get your business acumen from your Grandfather Pierce whom none of us ever knew as he died at a young age.  He was a shrewd businessman.

You talked more and more of Kathleen in your letters and finally got engaged. We were there for your beautiful wedding, staying at John and Jennie's home. Hrandma and Grandpa Kennedy also came for the wedding and everyone else seemed to also congregate there. Jennie helped Katy with her dress and hair.  It was all a fun family time for us. Dad also got his one eye operated on and had a partially black eye just before the ceremony!  I don't think many people saw the discolored eye area when he did the ceremony! Your wedding was so beautiful, held at your church near Atlanta (which has since closed).  Katy was gorgeous in her beautiful gown and veil. The bridesmaids were all dressed in back and everyone carried red roses.  John did the reception which was done so beautifully. The church was full of family, friends, MK's, retired missionaries - it was a joyous occasion!

By the time we retired, you had bought a lovely home in Bethlehem, GA.  You urged us, Mark, to buy a home in your neighborhood where there were several for sale. We did not do that - first because we only had so much money to spend and those were a higher price, and we also figured that you were young and had a long life ahead and wouldn't be living there forever.  And we were right.  John and Jennie lived with you during their rough time, returning from their hotel fiasco, and that was a blessing for them. We often had fun times and even babysat our darling grandchildren there at that house.

You also drove up to Toccoa to look at a house for us. We had gotten an ex-missionary agent to show us homes, and had specified several things we wanted, within a certain price range.  We drove up here together, Mark, to look at the homes she had to show us - about seven of them. This house was the fourth one we saw, and we liked it. But we went on to see the others as well. Dad finally said, "Let's go back and see that other house - we liked that so let's just take it!"  Which we did!!  You were bowled over - said no one EVER buys a house that fast - but we did. And we have never been sorry. We have made a number of improvements to the house and property, but it is home to us after these twelve years. 

We were an hour from you so could enjoy our four grandchildren, being born and growing up. John and Jennie were near also.  Debbi and Steve's kids we saw  grow up because we lived in the same country. Darrell and Cheryl's three we seldom saw as they were in the Middle East. And Elin and Joel's we saw off and on as they lived south of us in Ivory Coast.  So now we had your four little ones. It was always fun to see them born and grow, to babysit them occasionally when you wanted us, to have them and you all here for meals and parties and even overnight sometimes.  You lived in our house during our year in Mali and we came back and joined you in this house, until your new beautiful home was ready! Fun times, all of them!  That house in Buford is a beauty and we have MANY wonderful memories from there: babysitting while you went out for a special occasion, just stopping to chat, spectacular meals served, Christmases and Thanksgivings with as many family members as could come.  Those too were good years for us.

And then, your promotion and moving to Connecticut - where your dad started his life! What a thunderbolt that was.  So now here we are in Georgia - after twelve years we do feel at home here - and John has fled to Ohio and your family to Connecticut!  We are proud of you all and your accomplishments and we have plenty to keep us busy right here.  While at the same time missing y'all!

We admire both you and Katy for being such hands on parents, for homeschooling your children, for giving them a good Christian foundation to their lives, for making so many fun times for them, for sending us almost daily pictures of them and your new home area.  Your positive attitudes and your devotion to God and family are a delight to see!  We love you all!