New York City Trip Day 2

Day 2

Debbie and I got up early (while Craig slept) and went to Rockefeller Center. I always enjoy going by NBC and FOX News. We were very surprised to hear Bon Jovi in concert at the Today Show. He was great. We also got to see the unloading of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

Craig joined us after we visited Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building.

After a quick piece of pizza, we headed to a candy store called Dylan's Candy Bar. We bought candy to eat on for the day. Deb enjoyed the big chocolate bunny. After another piece of pizza at Ray's (the best pizza in NYC) we headed to Craig's workplace, Hermes. What a store.

After visiting with his manager and other employees, we went by Mitchel London Foods. We had peanut butter cupcakes. Wow! After that sugar high, we went to Macy's.

Craig then took us to his university where Deb bought some T-shirts at the FIT book store. We toured the Fashion Institute Museum as well. After FIT, we walked by Madison Square Garden and bought soft pretzels.

Dinner was fun as we ate with our friends, Jeff and Santhi Hamm. We had contemporary Mexican on the lower east side.

After dinner, Craig took us to Brooklyn for a very special late night. We saw NYC from the banks of Brooklyn by the Brooklyn Bridge. What a beautiful sight. We ate ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. We then headed back to Craig's apartment.

New York City Trip Day 1

We had a fantastic time visiting Craig in New York City. This was our third trip to the Big Apple to visit Craig and probably the best. We had such a great time spending time with him as we walked the streets of the neighborhoods of NYC.

Day 1: We left Kansas City at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday and had a short 2 hour 15 minute flight to NYC. We took a cab to Craig's apartment on the west side of Manhattan. He lives 2 blocks north of Lincoln Center and 2 blocks south of the Hudson River. Great location. First thing we did, of course, was have pizza at Luigi's. Had to begin my eating vacation with NYC pizza. It was great. Craig took us first on a trip up north to The Cloisters. It was built by the Rockefellers to house works of art. It was very impressive. Built as an old monastery, it housed many church pieces from the 16oo's. We enjoyed the view of the Hudson and the changing colors of fall. After our trip to the northern part of NYC, we went to the east side for Deb to shop, then dinner at Carmine's. Great Italian food, served family style. The meat balls were the size of baseballs. We couldn't eat all the bread and food they brought. After dinner we headed to Times Square to shop. We got back to Craig's place about midnight.

Craig

Debbie and I leave this evening to go see Craig in New York City. He is finishing up his senior year at FIT and working full time at Hermes. Craig has to work over Thanksgiving and Christmas so this is our "holiday" celebration with him. Its tough to only see him about two weeks out of the year, but that's part of life.........growing up.

Big Cedar

Deb had a great time at the ladies Webb City Church of Christ weekend retreat at Big Cedar in Branson. All I got to do was stay home, cut grass, rake leaves, clean the house and feed Jack. But it was a beautiful all weekend,

Happy 50th

Happy 50th Anniversary to my Mom and Dad.

I hope you are enjoying Eastern Europe.

Safe Walk

Columbus Safe Walk 2010. We had over 850 kids in 90 minutes. We appreciate all the contributions from the USD 493 faculty and staff.

TULSA BEATS NOTRE DAME

Way to go Tulsa!

Happy Halloween

Brian and Craig Halloween 1989.

We will enjoy the Columbus Safe Walk tonight as we celebrate here in Columbus. Kids have a safe evening.

Congratulations Lady Indians!

Volleyball has always been a big part of my life as a coach, teacher, principal and superintendent. My first job in 1984 as a history teacher consisted of a coaching position with volleyball and basketball coaching duties. Growing up in southern California, volleyball was a huge sport, but one that I really didn't know much about until I started coaching junior college volleyball in Nebraska.

Every stop along my educational career has resulted in being part of successful volleyball programs. At York College in Nebraska, as head coach we spent two years turning a program around that had not had any success, to my second year going 18-12 with a great group of athletes. As head coach in Conway Springs, Kansas, I was blessed to have great athletes where we won 2 conference titles and had two sub-state runner ups in three years along with a final top 6 ranking in Class 3A. After leaving Conway, they have gone on to win several state titles and been a 3A powerhouse.

We spent 17 years in Osage City where volleyball was a very important fall sport. As high school principal and superintendent, we took several trips to the state tournament in Salina and won several conference titles. A 4th place state finish was the best showing in volleyball before the Lady Indians capped off a great weekend performance with their first state volleyball championship this weekend.

I congratulate all the Lady Indian fans! Thanks Troy for keeping me updated during your two day run.

Here in Columbus, Coach Hamilton is beginning to build the volleyball program. I look forward to the coming years as he and the girls do some great things with the program.

I encourage everyone to get behind the sport of volleyball. It's a great sport that's very exciting and one that is enjoyable to watch.

Professor's Life Cut Short

The York College family, East Hill congregation, and York community mourn the loss of a humble servant of the King. Surrounded by his family, longtime YC business professor, Dr. Roger Collins (57), passed into the gracious arms of His Redeemer Monday night, October 25 at 11:34 pm.

Roger and his wife Deb were in Springfield, Missouri over the weekend to be with Deb's grandmother. Saturday at noon, Roger went jogging and had a massive heart attack in a local park. CPR was performed and he was rushed to the hospital. Using hypothermic treatment, he was placed in a medically induced coma in critical care. On Monday morning, his body was warmed to the desired temperature and he was taken off the sedation drugs. That afternoon, however, Roger had another episode of cardiac arrest and was rushed into surgery. The doctors returned him to a hypothermic state but were not able to stabilize his condition.

Dr. Collins (YC class 1973) was in his 29th year teaching at York College, and served as chair of the college's Elijah A. Levitt School of Business. From 1997-2007, he coached the cross country and track teams and was himself an avid runner. He served as an elder at the East Hill Church of Christ in York.

In chapel Tuesday morning YC Campus Minister Tim Lewis said, "Dr. Collins was an investment man; he was a businessman. He invested everything in his life for this day. Well, today is payday."

Please continue your prayers for Deb, their children, grandchildren, and family. And please be prayerful as our community suffers the loss of a friend, co-worker, teacher and brother in the faith.

Roger's funeral will be on Monday, November 1 at 10:30 a.m. at the East Hill Church of Christ in York (12th & Delaware). Burial will be at the West Lawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park (5701 Center St) in Omaha at 3:00.

Happy Birthday Mike

Fall

It seems like yesterday Brian and Craig were little guys enjoying fall with scare crow.

Communion Thoughts

These are communion thoughts that were sent to me this week......

The most hurtful lies I’ve been told go something like this: “I have it all together.”

Because when you tell me that you have it all together, I feel compelled to tell you the same thing.

And, church, hear me say this: “I do not have it all together.”
These lies keep us from saying things that we really need to say. Things like:
“I screamed at my kids today.”
“I hate going to church.”
“My marriage is falling apart.”
“I can’t pay my bills.”
“Some days, I just don’t think I can make it.”
And, yet, the times when I have been shown Christ are when men and women have invited me into their brokenness.
They have opened their hearts and their arms and said “Welcome to my mess.”
And then together we have pushed away literal and metaphorical cobwebs, and stepped over literal and metaphorical junk and we have communed.
It is there that I have been healed.
Today as we come to the table we sit at the feet of a Savior who in fact had it all together, and yet he chose to step into brokenness so that we might be healed.

God, thank you for becoming broken for us and with us. We pray that this table become a place of true community, where there is not only room for the strong, but the weak have a place of honor. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lord, I confess my weakness and my doubt. I plead “I believe. Help my unbelief.” In your son’s name Amen.

Happy Birthday Brian

Happy Birthday Brian

Sooner House

Eleanor Kissinger

Eleanor Frances Kissinger (February 3, 1925 - October 14, 2010)

Eleanor Frances Kissinger, age 85, of Ottawa, Kansas, died Thursday, October 14, 2010. She was born on Tuesday, February 3, 1925, in Ottawa, the daughter of Lowell W. and Iris (Hutchison) Seright.

She was a lifelong resident of Ottawa.

Eleanor attended Ottawa schools and graduated from Ottawa High School in 1943. She immediately started teaching school as an emergency school teacher during the war years at Davy and Hawkins country schools.

She was a homemaker and helped her husband on the farm. She worked for Sears in customer service during the 1970’s.

She was active in her younger years as a 4-H leader, helping to organize the Silverleaf 4-H Club and later working with the Town & Country 4-H Club. She belonged to the Hawkins Grange #1994, serving in several offices and also held office in the Kansas State Grange. She was a member of the Fairmount EHU for many years and member of Church Of Christ, serving many years as a Bible School teacher.

On July 29, 1945, Eleanor was united in marriage with Frederick E. Kissinger. They were proud to celebrate their 65 years of marriage this year. He survives of their home.

She is survived by her: Husband-Frederick E. Kissinger of the home; Daughter-Diana Kay & her husband, Dan, of Ottawa, Kansas; Daughter-Lori Hazen & her husband, Greg, of Ottawa, Kansas; Daughter-Barbee Savage & her husband, Fred, of Coffeyville, Kansas; Daughter-Carolyn Horne & her husband, Danny, of Branson, Missouri; Son-Wayne Kissinger & his wife, Velma, of Ottawa, Kansas; Son-Lowell Kissinger & his wife, Lisa, of Douglasville, Georgia; Sixteen-Grandchildren; Twenty-two- Great-Grandchildren; Many-step-grand and step-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death he her: Parents-Lowell W. and Iris Seright; Brother-J. Thornton Seright; Grandchildren-Margaret Horne, William Horne, and Joshua Horne.

SERVICES: Funeral services will be held at 15th Street Church Of Christ in Ottawa at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 18, 2010.

IN STATE: Mrs. Kissinger will lie in state from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sunday at the Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa, where the family will meet with friends from 3:00 to 4:00 Sunday afternoon.

CEMETERY: Highland Cemetery in Ottawa, Kansas.

MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to 15th Street Church Of Christ or Franklin County 4-H Foundation, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.

Fall has Arrived

Allison's masterpiece

Columbus Days

Columbus Days 2010

Sunday Afternoon Golf

We enjoyed our afternoon of golf on Sunday at Peoria Ridge in Miami. The weather was 80 degrees for October. Not bad.

Usually we never get to play golf after August 1 because of school and activities we attend. It was sure nice to be outside enjoying a great golf course in "Gods Country" (Oklahoma) on Sunday. Deb shot a great round.

Homecoming Parade

We had great weather for the Columbus Homecoming Parade on Friday. The Indy football team defeated the Titans 41-20. The weekend weather was great for Columbus Days. We even got a round of golf in after church on Sunday.

The Picture Says It All

Homecoming/Columbus Days

A busy weekend in Columbus. We celebrate the 2010 football homecoming today and Columbus Days on Saturday and Sunday.

Tulsa State Fair

Billy Sims-Sooner Great! SOONERS beat Texas!


Deb-Fried Apple Fries


Allison-massage

Deb-massage

Brian-massage

Wild Midway Ride

Midway Fun

Great looking cattle

Kangaroo

Brian-Allison

Fried pickles and fried Snickers

Sunday dinner

We had a great time on Saturday at the Tulsa State Fair. Brian and Allison came down for the weekend. They joined us for the Titans game on Friday night and finished the weekend with us at church and lunch at Gussano's.

OU-TEXAS

The big game today............ OU-TEXAS!

Guess who is here to visit this weekend? She's from Texas? He was born in Husker Land?

GO SOONERS!

Beautiful Flowers/Beautiful Wife