It's about time...

OK, so I know it's been a long time since the last post. I have been busy with life, like you, and let this opportunity languish. But since I've had contact with Win Aker and Duane Sawyer in the last 48 hours, I knew the Apocalypse was near and it was time to get busy! (Apologies to Win and Duane if they didn't realize contacting me would increase their celebrity factor.)

Here is Win's email.

"Evidently the rumor is true. Hello Craig, this is Win Aker. I learned recently through the grapevine that you are now the director of the institute at Purdue. WOW! I remember when you were new to the church and still a little on the wild side if you don't mind my saying so, although always within the bounds of good taste and exemplary gospel living. Actually, I hope you haven't changed that. Uppermost in my mind, as an example of the expression of your humor, is the occasion when a group of us including Bishop Pond had concluded a meeting and were in the process of kneeling for the closing prayer. We were kneeling in a circle with our backsides together. I don't remember the words you used to let us know that that was not the way to conduct prayer but I remember that it was very funny and I still laugh about it even today whenever it crosses my mind.

"I've just exchanged emails with Duane Sawyer and he asked if I had your number. I shall now tell him that I do. I hope you can send him an email also; his edress is: dlsawyer@sunflower.com. I have contact information on Barbara [Walker] Wilely, Phil and Vickie [Homer] Boling, and George Martinez who is very ill and with whom I have not communicated in over a year. Oh yes! I also discovered that Dick Scroggin works at an institution of higher learning in northern Indiana. I sent him an email a couple of years ago but got no response. Do you have contact with any others?

"Hope you're having a good day. Also, if you have any pictures of the institute, or if the institute has a website, I'd be most appreciative if you could share that with me. Thanks! Win Aker" (w_aker@bellsouth.net)


And now for Duane:

Craig,

"I read the email that you wrote to Win. It was interesting to learn about your family. Denise and I have 4 boys and two girls. bggbbb in that order. Our oldest Stefan (35) has a BS Networking Management and works for the state of Kansas. He has two boys and a girl. Miriam (34), has a BSN and works during week with Denise in a doctors office. Miriam is very talented nurse and she works in the ER here on some weekends. Denise is an LPN so technically Denise works under Miriam but it is a team effort in a very busy practice. Miriam has a boy and girl. Her husband and Stefan are good friends are both have the same degree. Estella(33) is married and has three girls. She is the IT manager for the KU Book Store. Her Husband is a database programmer for the state of Kansas. Sam(30) is married and has two boys. He works for power company in Kansas City. He is forman and is very well compensated but he has worked some extremely long hours when the plant is down. He was in the Navy nuclear power and learned some very valuable skills. Larry and I were in this before we went to Perdue. Michael is a SGT in the Army and an Intelligence Analyst. He deals with data and databases. He has earned two adwards for his work and is being promoted to a Warrant Officer Rank soon. He may leave next week for Iraq for a few months. William our youngest returned from a very successful mission to Salt Lake City last May. He and his fiancée are going to BYUI. He is majoring in Network Management. They are getting married in the Winterquarters Temple April 11th. Then Denise and I will be empty nesters. William is currently working two jobs to earn enough for school and other expenses. Young marrieds have it tough for a few years.

"MY family is a bunch of Geeks. We have had a network in the house for over ten years.

"I have been on long term disability for over year now. I was diagnosed with Brain Cancer two years ago. Larry was here when I had the biopsy. The doctors waited two months then started me on Radiation and Chemo therapy for six weeks. I had another year of just Chemo. That was up in October. I was terribly weak so I work out with my dad at Gym on three days a week. I am slowly getting back my strength. I had paid for Long term disability at my work with Honeywell. It has paid us 60% of my income and is not subject to income tax so we are doing well. I was a non degreed Engineer for them and did failure anlysis work on Commication and Navigation radios that are installed in Boeing and Airbus airliners. I have tremors in both hands that is somewhat controlled by medications. I seem to be easily confused now. I do not drive very much any more. I am not sure the radiation and chemo did much positive for me. I have been doing some work on new family search. Denise and I have had a lot of our ancesters work done but we are finding some sealings that were not done. We have been doing the complete families of our direct line. So far we have not stepped on the toes of other members. I was one of the early contributers to the Ancestral File.

"Old Purdue friends: I am pretty sure I know Vicky but I do not remember a Phil. Do you remember the time that Susan, Larry, you and I went to Columbus to talk at Sacrament Meeting and Bishop Likens said he would have interview us before he would allow us to speak. I remember the Bishop's name because his Father was the Patriarch that gave Denise her blessing. I am really sorry that Susan left the church She attended all the lessons the Stake Misiionaries taught me and often gave her testimony. I knew she was unhappy before I left Perdue. I had tried to talk to her at time but she would not talk. I suppose thaat she left the church while you wer on your mission? We had some good times at Purdue.

"My keyboarding skills have suffered. So I hope this makes sense."

Duane & Denise Sawyer
1311 N 1082 Rd.
Lawrence, Ks 66046
785-842-8837
dlsawyer@sunflower.com

Pretty neat, huh? Let's see who else we can invite to the party...