50 Years

Well, we had an exciting weekend, full of fun and fellowship.

Saturday we started with the Jefferson 70's youth reunion.  We got to visit with so many friends that were in the youth group with us, but we haven't seen in a long time.  It was so much fun remembering all of the crazy things we did, and the fun we had and everyone had different memories of the same trip or activity.  We decorated with toilet paper and balloons tied to forks.  Yes, we rolled many a house and forked a few yards (we were soooo bad).  Randy had a slide show made of all of the old pictures (some were quiet brutal...as Brandt would put it).  Some of us have changed with time and some of us look exactly the same.  It was so much fun.

Following the reunion, we all walked over to the gym for the 50th Anniversary/Retirement party for Daddy.  Dr. Kelly and his wife came up from New Orleans Theological Seminary to MC for us and then Dr. Paige Patterson and his wife Dorothy came down from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas.  They both spoke at the banquet and then Daddy had a few things to say.  Our closing was by Dr. David Goza, our new pastor.  We are so excited that he and Dana will be coming to carry on at Jefferson.  I just love them.  =)

And, of course, we finished the 50th Anniversary celebration with Sunday services.  Dr. Paige Patterson preached and I could have sat and listened to him all day.  He was great.  His message talked about Daddy's retirement, but concentrated more on how we must carry on and complete the task started.  We must stay united and focus on what the Lord commanded us to do, reach others for him. 

When church was over we were able to take the Patterson's out to eat and was able to visit with them.  Mrs. Dorothy came and spoke at Momma's funeral, but we weren't able to visit with her much then, so it was good to have time to visit.  We will be going to Southwestern in April for the first awardment of The Mary French Scholarship for pastor's wives, which Mrs. Dorothy has headed up.  That will be exciting.

Now it's time to tackle "the office"...remember it is 50 years worth.