Alivia is TWO!

Crossville, Tennessee, is about an hour and a half from us here in Manchester.  Myra drove us up there today to visit with her and Dave’s daughter Mari, who is married to Lewis, who, along with their five daughters and his parents are all named Davis and were ALL waiting for us to arrive to celebrate their daughter Alivia’s second birthday.

Mari is the eldest Kline daughter, and her husband Lewis is a newly appointed United Methodist pastor at Pomona, UMC, just about 10 minutes west of the Davis’ new home of just three months. Lewis began substitute and lay preaching at 15 and was one of the youngest licensed pastors in the Tennessee Conference, which allowed him to attend college and seminary and be at work in the mission field as he studied full time.  He’s been serving for 13 years since being ordained.

Lewis and his dad are die-hard Crimson Tide fans.  Now if you, like me, are not fully football cognizant, let me just say that this Crimson Tide is NOT a dangerous surf that closes beaches.  This tide ROLLS over opposing teams, much of the time, and is as important to Alabamians as Penn State is Pennsylvanians.

 

I asked what the mascot for a ‘tide’ might be and was told it’s an elephant.  No one knew why, but I figure its just the biggest animal they could think of that you would NOT want to roll over you.

It was a real joy to be invited to enjoy this family’s birthday party, and especially to enjoy it with such wonderful, well behaved children!  Mom and grandma, however, each told us the girls (yes- five red haired girls) are not always quite so well behaved.

Alivia received several cards with cash, and a beautiful baby doll and a great little Radio Flyer tricycle.  She loved that dolly constantly and rode the tricycle almost as if she’d been riding for days. I hear these home schooled kids are sometimes fast learners.  It certainly seems Alivia is!

It was great to spend a ‘family’ day with part of Myra’s clan. Dave was out at the new home site with a friend working hard to complete the framing up of their  new horse barn to use for storage of supplies when they begin work on the house.

Tomorrow is Sunday and we head over to Myra’s Church of Christ for Sunday School and worship. Then a quiet Sunday afternoon, I think.  I wonder if the Manchester Library is open on Sundays???????

-Ken