Friends,

It's time to report -- and to thank each of you for praying for us, and -- for many -- participating with us, in the activities of these last 5 weeks.

The activities happened pretty much as planned, with a few exceptions. Dawson, rather than coming home with us after Commencement, is staying in Nampa to finish his final class. His professor has identified an adjunct facultyperson in Nampa whom he believes will be helpful to Dawson.

Also, Dawson wants to look for work in the Nampa-Boise area. So, he'll fly here May 26th to take in Monica's graduation and reception, and be dropped back in Nampa May 31st by Annette and Monica on their way to Oregon. Annette needs to return to Oregon to spend more time with each of her ailing parents, and Annette's mother can use Monica's help with some office-type assistance. I'll fly up to Oregon June 15th and drive them home the 18th-19th.

So as you see, we will have to keep on with these intersecting itineraries for a little while longer. We recognize the challenges that this poses for a healthy marriage. Annette and I have talked about it and agreed that this isn't to become the "new model" for our empty nest years. We will, instead, keep working to identify things that both of us can enjoy together.

The Regional Quiz went a little rough for our Colorado teams, despite a ton of hard work in March and April. But, as in past years, we got some sparkling individual placements -- 4th (of about 60) for Shamariah Harding, 6th for Jennifer Sunderlin, and 1st (way to go!) for Cassie Langjahr. This is the second NW Region title for Cass individually, and the tenth that I have either earned or trained personally in my 35 quiz seasons.

Dawson did a fabulous job with his senior clarinet recital. The music faculty were highly complimentary. They knew that I had not seen Dawson play at anything close to this level of proficiency before, and were watching to see my overwhelmed expression.

I finished my lecture series for the spring with a very successful and gratifying talk at Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio on April 29th. I thank my host, Dr. Fred Brown, for this one, and I'm also grateful to all my other hosts in 8 states from January through April. I had to seek out a minimum of 20 talks for this time period to make the goal on my contract, and wound up with 22. One of my Colorado prayer partners, Sam Joslin, led the way in encouraging me and praying for me toward this goal. In TX/OK I had refreshing visits with 13 of my 22 first cousins, and several other relatives including my wife's youngest sister Jan Dwyer, and her family near Houston. The Dwyers kindly put me up overnight and took me with their church's youth group to see the Reds vs. Astros. I was delighted to have Jan as my guest at my next day's lecture, and at a tasty luncheon provided by the hospital.

In the midst of it all, Monica continues to zoom on towards her high school graduation. She did a terrific job representing the Christian faith in her Comparative Religions class at her secular private academy -- both with her paper on Wesley and the Holiness Movement, and in the final public presentation in April. She got honorable mention All-Area for the smaller high schools (roughly the top quintile of varsity players) in basketball. This Thursday she will finish her last 2 advanced placement exams. For those who haven't heard, she has committed to attend Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York, on full-tuition scholarship as a Bible/theology major starting this fall. Monica remarked that the trip to Dawson's graduation was a bit of a needed break from all her responsibilities.

For me, though, every Nampa trip is a kaleidoscope of emotion, and this one was no exception. Dawson's graduation reception, hosted by the Duggan family in their home, was a blessed time of fellowship with 35 folks, including many of our dearest lifelong friends. Keith Horwood and his daughter Megan from Salt Lake City and Annette's sister Joy and her husband Chuck Lawyer from Oregon drove to Nampa just to be with us. Dr. Al Jones and his wife Kitty brought 4 international students whom they have helped attend NNU. We lodged with Dick and Anita Dynes ... just as I had 37 years ago in the week before I started college.

I had asked you to pray about my obedience in the unexpected. Without going into too much detail, I think that was answered, especially on the Commencement trip. Traveling with my family and coordinating plans with this many other families at once is different from traveling by myself and catching families one or two to a visit as I've done most of the rest of the year.

So, we focus our attention ahead. Summer brings papers and on-line research projects instead of lectures. I'm grateful for this job though. I know what it's like not to have one. I also know what it's like to be employed by state government and have to be at the office at eight and stay until five. Hopefully God will see fit to keep on letting me earn a good living, travel, love my family, and do ministry, pretty much simultaneously.

And no I am not joining Facebook.

Much love to all!

Reg