Today Jantsen Barrett Cope would have been 23. I wish you could have known him. My life is richer for having known him, yet sadder for not seeing him turn 23.
Here are the five of us (well, six of us, really) from my brother’s house in Missouri:
And here are the eighteen of us:
Here is Chris taking a swing at a curveball from his seven-year-old cousin, Van:
And I love this shot of Diane and Jenna. Just like her mother-in-law, Jenna looks beautiful pregnant. (I’m talking about her mother-in-law many years ago . . . not now. Still beautiful. But not pregnant.)
For 28 years now Diane and I have alternated Christmases between Missouri and Ohio. The only exception was the year Megan died. It was an Ohio year (always an even-numbered year), and Diane’s family all came to Abilene, knowing it would be hard for us to break away.
I hope you had a refreshing time with your family or with others whom you love.
Tomorrow I plan to review the book The Color of Law.
Mike,
I traveled up home to NE, MO (Yes, I found NEMO) to spend time with my mom. While there I spoke to the area churches at their annual Thanksgiving Community Services. A large crowd for such a small community.
Soon all three of our kids are coming home with nine of our grandkids are coming home for Christmas! And then….it’ll be workshop just around the corner in Tulsa!
When you have a great family, everywhere we turn is a holiday!
You don’t make those nine grandkids work on the workshop while they’re home, do you?
Great photos! Thanks for sharing.
Looking forward (as always) to your book review tomorrow.
Great pics Mike. One highlight of ACU lectures for me this year was unknowingly sitting next to your dad in Don’s class - and getting to meet and chat with him for several minutes.
I hope that red van in the baseball picture was unharmed! Glad you had a great Thanksgiving!
Beautiful family, Mike. What a blessing to be able to enjoy the closeness of family on these holidays. Glad you’re back with us though!
Beaner, I had the same thought! Love the pictures - what a beautiful family. You are blessed.
Is that Color of Law the novel or
The Color of the Law: Race, Violence, and Justice in the Post-World War II South (The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture) by Gail Williams O’Brien?
Great pictures and blessings on your future grandchild!
Peace.
Family times are the best times!
The “pregnant glow” is a phenomenom straight from God that deals directly with the oft heard wailings of pregnant women who cry, “I’m too faaaaat!!!”
Tell Chris to raise that right elbow just a tad!
I saw Mississippi Burning again over the weekend. How sheltered I was growing up during this era to the violence and tragedy that abounded!
I thought this morning as I took my walk how times have changed as I observed people of all ethnicities living together in my neighborhood and walking together to school.
We still have many hurdles to cross but we’ve definitely made progress.
Peace.
Hey Mike-
Stacey and I will be moving to Lawrence, KS at the beginning of the year so we will be close to your old stomping grounds. You’ll have to tell me all the cool places to run/visit up in that neck of the woods as I have never lived outside of Texas.
Blessings to you and yours.
Beautiful family - I do have to confess one thing. I was looking at the family picture and thinking how impressed I was that Matt was wearing a “mint green livestrong type bracelet” that matched his Mom’s shirt so perfectly. I also noticed how gentle and nurturing his hand looked perched on his Dad’s shoulder and thought that was perfect for a doctor! Okay so I’m an idiot - after several glances I realized I was looking at Matt’s arm and Diane’s hand. Gave me a chuckle none the less.
Arlene - I thought that was Matt’s hand too!
I can hardly believe that is Matt-if it is him. Where does the time go? You and Diane look exactly as I remember…is that poor memory or good preservation? I read whenever I can and always appreciate your words.
You mentioned Ohio and I wondered where? My work is taking my family and I to the Akron/Canton area. We are not educated to churches there…both inside/outside our experience. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. It will be strange to be a church ‘consumer’ for the first time.
Would love to hear from you.
Ragan Price
Great pics! Great family! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your pictures, especially the family photo of 18. It is good to see that you have some normal looking people in your family.
Good job back-peddling on the wife / pregnancy statement!!
Ragan -
A good friend of ours preaches at the Louisville Church of Christ just east of Canton. Their times together have a good blend and they are seeking to go out into the community. I would definitely give them a visit.
We live in Orrville, OH just 30 minutes west of Canton. If we lived closer to Canton that is where I would attend.
Just a heads up…. churches in the north are a little “different” than in the south. Wishing you the best in your move.
Arlene - Ha! Yes, that’s Diane’s gentle hand.
Ragan - Great to hear from you, my friend. Yes, that’s your old buddy Matt. The same one who used to punch you in the back when you came in the front door. Diane is from Cuyahoga Falls, which is in the Akron area. We always love visiting the Church in the Falls there.
I have to say WOW about the family picture — I haven’t even seen a picture of Matt for years (I’m talking, years — I still remember him as a toddler or a little older maybe)! I would not have recognized him!! (And I don’t know that I’ve ever met Chris) What a good-looking family you have — I know that this is such an exciting time for your family with a new little one on the way!