1988

LOOKING BACK, 1988

Christmas, '87- A rare and wonderful time - everyone in the family joined Barbara Ann and Hugh (Gibson) in Houston.

January - The Gibsons moved to Searcy in the worst winter weather of the season. They rented a house until they could find what they liked, to buy. Miriah returned to Harding Academy where, at 17, she is a senior.

March - Robin and Mark (Kirk) in Tulsa had a baby boy on the 7th, AlanJames, a new brother to Ashley.. Barbara Ann had major surgery in a Little Rock hospital.

June-July - J.D. had surgery that prevented him from attending the first Bales family reunion on Shelter Island, N.Y. Mary drove, with 12-year-old Greg, to Nashville where Jonathan, Marlene, Carly, and newborn Jordan Windsor (July 1) joined them for the trip to New York. David flew in from Denver and Mark drove up from Virginia. Robin and Barbara Ann couldn't go, because they were both moving into "new" houses. Mary Ethel and Walt (Gale) were there; they live in Bay Shore not far from Shelter Island and had contributed greatly to the planning and preparations for the reunion, which was a huge success - more than 60 attended.

August - Mary broke her elbow in a freak accident at home and sported a cast for 3 weeks.. .David was promoted to Colonel in the U.S. Army and is now Chief of the Department of Primary Care and Community Medicine at Fitzsirnmons Army Medical Center. Phyllis had earlier earned a B.A. Degree in Psychology at Loretto Heights College in Denver. She is now doing graduate work.

November - The Gibsons had a memorable trip to Switzerland, where they spent a week touring the country, mostly by train.

".. .and what doth the Lord require

of thee, but to do justly, and to love

mercy, and to walk humbly with thy

God?" (Micah 6:8)

1989

LOOKING BACK ON 1989

February - Jonathan, Marlene, Carly, and Jordan moved to St. Joseph, Michigan from Nashville. Jonathan works out of the corporate headquarters of Whirlpool in Benton Harbor.

March - Mary visited in Tulsa with Robin and Mark (Kirk) and family; Alan had his first birthday on the 7th... Barbara Ann began working, part-time, for the local Searcy Hallmark Shop ... Later in the month J.D. and Mary returned to Tulsa for the Soul-winning Workshop and visited with the Irvin Kirk's, who were also there.

April - Robin and the children came to Searcy to visit while Mark was out of town ... Barbara Ann's cat, Bozo, died; she was almost 22 years old and was badly missed.

May - Miriah (Gibson) graduated from Harding Academy, and went with the Academy Chorus to California on their Spring tour.

June-July - J.D. and Mary visited Mark in Virginia, Mary Ethel and Walt (Gale) in New York in time to help them celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, then Jonathan and his family in Michigan in time for Jordan's first birthday. After 2 days at home, they left, along with Miriah, for Florida to take part in Vacation Bible School at the church in Ft. Pierce ... Barbara Ann and Hugh (Gibson) had a trip to California and visited with David in San Francisco - he had just moved there to be stationed at the Presidio; Phyllis joined him later ... Mark drove from Virginia to pick up Greg and take a trip to Mexico.

September - Jonathan and his family came to visit over Labor Day and the week following ... Mark took Miriah to Robin's in Tulsa to stay for a time; she got a job and is helping Robin with baby-sitting.

October - David and Phyllis came through the San Francisco earthquake unscathed, and they were able to do a lot to help the ones who weren't so fortunate ... J.D., Mary, and Barbara Ann went to Roswell, Georgia to help Mary Brannon celebrate her 80th birthday.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...