From our Fearless Leader

[note from Martha: Copied from a comment to a prior post. Wouldn't want you to miss it! And the picture is my doing...!]

Hi to everyone and thanks to MM for finding you all! I'm excited to hear how everyone is, and it's great to renew old ties. I think she has found more than 50%. I hope everyone will provide a personal update, because I was really happy to see more people on this site.

Here is a reverse chronology of the Porters.

I am married to Martha Brown Porter for 26+ years now. She is from Paris, TN. We are blessed with four children we are very proud of: Sarah (21) is at Lipscomb working on nursing; Sam (19) is at Lipscomb working on engineering; Carla (17) is a senior and looking at colleges; Jennifer (9) is in school. [I think I noticed that Jimbo also has a Jenna age 9!]

Martha homeschooled them most all of their lives with just a little help from me. We live in Round Hill, Virginia. This is an outer suburb of the Washington area, a short drive from Dulles Airport. I work at that great Texas company, EDS, doing U.S. Government proposal work. Martha is a part-time pharmacist and an Arbonne consultant (health and wellness products).

We are at Leesburg Church of Christ. We've been here 6.5 years.We lived in Maryland from 1987 to 2000, in New Carrollton and Frederick. It was 1990 when I left full time church work and traveled thru a few different experiences, mostly working for small info technology companies. I even worked at a Dotcom for a few months that went bust. From 1979 thru Mar. 87 I spent 7.5 years working to start a church in Tewksbury, Mass., an outgrowth of our campaign days. I was at the Arlington church for a year after finishing at ACU and GNNE 1978.

I pray that everyone is doing well. I'm glad to have been a part of your lives and wish you the best.
Hope to hear from you.
Bill

you never know

The engine sits in the driveway, a few feet away from it's home - a '67 Mustang. The main question of the moment, "Is it worth rebuilding"? Upon entering the garage, a quick glance reveals "treasures" ya gotta love - jigsaws, goop, circular saws, WD40, router, a planer, goop, sleeping bags, climbing ropes, fly rod, doe hooves, goop, whoaaaaa, was that doe hooves? Yep, I believe it was! Stepping into that thar house, one is greeted by an aroma - pretty strong I'd say. It's something akin to smelly feet, and .....well, maybe we'll just use our imaginations. I think it might be strong enough to put hair on your chest. Holy Moly, there sure are alot of half naked people in this house - flexing muscles, doing push ups, exercising fingers. Yep, there's what I'm talking about. Remote heaven! Ok, let's see what else this here tribe has. Hmmm, a fingerboard hanging over the doorway, soccer cleats, and books. Let's see what they like to read: Tom Brown, Jr.; Richard P. Feynman; Scott Adams, Henri Nouwen, Suess, Rabbi Harold Kushner; Ray Bradbury; Shel Silverstein; Richard Foster; Viktor Frankl; You know, I'm getting a bit hungry. Wonder if this joint has any food? Ahhhh, there ya be matey's - knew I'd find someone in the galley. And pizza, looks like it's a staple in this house. Don't forget ya oranges, wouldn't want no scurvy for this bunch!! Hey, I hear a sound. Seems like it could be coming from behind this here door. Let's open slowly.... Good granny! All the laundry in China is right here!! And I do believe I see doe hooves.... no, I believe those might be doe feet - of the human species. "Greetings ma'am.' ' Looks like you're pretty busy, is there anything I could do for you"? "Well aren't you a sweet thing.' ' Well, actually there is,.... you see I've been trying to write to a group of friends these past months, some real nice folks I once got to serve with in the Northeast. They're all over the country now; still serving I'm sure of it. Could you drop them a line, and remind them of a couple of things: tell them, they helped to shape me into the person I am today; and remember - love God, the rest is detail. Oh yeah, one more thing; when I find my way out of this room, I'll write. You never know"!! Blessings, Beth

Greetings!

A real quick rough and dirty on us.

Debra and I are currently located in Temple, Texas and have been here on and off for most of our time since leaving Abilene. We have three children with the youngest graduating in May. He will be attending Texas A & M. The oldest is a professional student and is back at Southwestern in Georgetown working on finishing up a degree in something or another. He is pre med at present. Our daughter, Kristen, will finish at Sarah Lawrence College in NY this May (Hallelujah). She currently looking in Austin for a job.

Debra is a CPA with a firm located in Waco but she has an office in Temple. She works way too much but does have the flexibility to take time off after tax season to support the kids.

And me - I am with a bank in Cameron - about 30 miles from Temple.

We have been involved with a small church here called the Canyon Creek Church of Christ since it was formed about 25 years ago.

We need to plan a get together in Abilene coincidental with an ACU event. If you have an idea about when and where, post it here and let's get something going.

Great to hear from you folks. Hope to see you soon.

Mark & Debra (Watson) Hicks

[note from Martha: A word of warning! If you don't contribute your own pictures then you risk me contributing my own! See below...]

Camp Ganderbrook

Remember Ganderbrook? I remember the moose head on the wall over the fireplace in the lodge! I'm pretty sure that Jim and Steve are perched there on the wall in this photo..