Well...Oops!

Family -

Sorry its taken so long for me to get my post going. I've been having bad luck with allergies and medicine. But looks like all is on the mend now.

So, I've been quite busy since school ended. Unfortunately, because of some illness in the spring semester I have some incomplete work to finish up. I'm hoping to be free and clear of that nonsense by July 1.

So let me give you a brief idea of what my life has been since the 1st of May. Last day of classes for me was on the 6th of May. I went to Sarah's masters graduation on May 13th in Hays. Then to Manhattan on May 14th to see David graduate from college. Then on a plane to Orlando at 3:45 that afternoon. Goof off on Sunday at the Islands of Adventure, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and some delicious Butterbeer to boot (not actually beer but basically cream soda with some butterscotch and cream - delicious). Monday I was on my own after Dad and Bob flew the coop. It was onto Epcot that evening and the Magic Kingdom the next day. Then came Wednesday 17th of May and back home to Wichita to see Erik's graduation. Then homeward to do some miscellaneous work before heading out to Denver on May 31st. I arrived back from visiting Lexi Warden - a friend of mine on June 3rd. Family reunion on 4th of June and I have been busily accomplishing this and that since.

Next travel is to a 24 hour play festival in Topeka. Basically, everyone shows up at 8 on Friday (this Friday - tomorrow) to be exact. We introduce ourselves. The actors take a picture and lay the props that they brought on the stage. The actors, directors and technicians go to bed while the playwrights write 10 minute plays. I arrive at 8 am to be given a play to direct. I spend 1 hour with the play reading and conceptualizing. Actors arrive a 9 am and first rehearsal starts at 9:30. The actors and directors rehearse through the day. The technicians do any preparations they need to do and then at 5:30 (after many rehearsal hours and lunch) we meet to do a dress rehearsal. Curtain up at 7:00 pm and we are done by 8 pm on Saturday. Its an AWESOME experience and I am doing that tomorrow June 17th and Saturday, June 18th with Ad Astra Theatre Company in Topeka. Should be great and a highlight of my summer.

Train trip is upcoming July 5th and then comes the celebration of my birthday (and Uncle Tim's) on the 19th of July.

Its going to be a whirlwind of a summer.

Love to all.

Charles

Summertime!

Hello all and sorry for the delay in my post. Today is my first day of summer!!! Overall, my second year of teaching was pretty successful and I'm looking forward to meeting my goal of three years next year. After reading all the research about new teachers while I was in the master's program at UT, I decided that it wasn't really fair to anyone, including myself, to make a decision regarding my teaching career until I had taught for three years. I feel lucky to still have my job as many of my friends (fellow music teachers) have lost theirs or have been cut from full time to part time.

I had a little taste of summer last weekend when my family (sans Andy) came to Austin for a visit. We enjoyed playing the board game Kill Doctor Lucky as we escaped Austin's 100 degree weather (summer heat sure came fast this year). We were also fortunate enough to make it to Franklin BBQ, one of James' and my favorite places to eat. They open at 11:00 am and usually run out of food within an hour or two. We're talking 700lbs of meat. People start lining up before 10:00 am to make sure they get some! We went to the early church service so that we could go stake out a spot in the line. We each ordered a sandwich and Franklin (his last name) put the meat for six sandwiches on a piece of butcher paper on a tray and gave us the bread and slaw to put on top. We had a tray full of pulled pork, chopped brisket, and sausage. We then also got a few slices of brisket and turkey. Yum!!! In the pictures Samuel is showing you his favorite of the three BBQ sauces (my favorite is the espresso sauce on the right) and Erik is enjoying his pulled pork sandwich. The Franklins (he and his wife) started serving their BBQ in a small trailer about a mile from James' apartment, so we would walk over on the weekends. They just recently moved into a little restaurant closer to downtown Austin. We would love to share it with anyone that is interested in good BBQ!

As for the coming summer, I have quite a bit planned so far. I will be playing in the UT summer band this week, teaching at the UT Summer Music Camp next week, traveling back to KS the following week, then to Minnesota, and back to Austin for a little while. I have a conference for Orchestra Directors at the end of July and then James and I will fly to NYC to visit Mary and Kurtis. Can't wait to see everyone and spend time with all of you! Somewhere in there I have to do a little wedding planning too. James and I just went to meet with our florist on Saturday and we think we have the flowers mostly figured out. Whew!

May everyone have a safe, healthy, and relaxing summer full of friends, family, and a few adventures.

Love,
Hannah

My favorite flower seen outside of Nickerson -a field of bachelor buttons. They were beautiful!

The month of May has been very eventful at our house. We have had two graduations with Sarah receiving her masters from Fort Hayes State University and David graduating from KSU. Sarah has all the photos of her graduation so did not have one to post for you. This makes all the Johnston children graduates from a college. We are very proud of all of you!!

It has also been exciting to help Dave, Cassi and Adelynn move back to Hutchinson. In fact, that is why we traded blog times :) We have helped paint, put up fans, mow the lawn, move from Manhattan with several loads, and put furniture together. It has been a great time for family time although we hope to have more relaxing times with them as they get settled in. And of course it will be wonderful having Adelynn close.

I have also enjoyed Olivia this month with the graduations and special lunch times with Sarah when she comes to visit those in town. We are really lucky to have each granddaughter so close and I really look forward to spending time with each one this summer - YEAH!!

Randy is a traveling nut right now as there are lots of demands for his consulting time as well as speaking time. We see each other lately very briefly on the weekends. Just enough to say hello and check bills. I finish school with children on Wednesday and then have work days on Thursday and Friday. Tomorrow is the Wichita zoo. Pray for good weather and well behaved children. :)

Here are some photos of our special events.

Update from the Givan Household

Hello Family:

Well it has been 3 months since our last turn. No, I didn’t stop and figure it out-I know this because the last time we wrote Kate had just gotten home and we have just passed her 3 month anniversary. Yea

Tim is in the process of getting a health overhaul. He has had a sleep test and now uses a sleep machine. It was hard not to chuckle the first time or two, as the mask looks like something from Star Wars. It does help though. He has had a colonoscopy. Did you know they now send home colored photos for you? Yuck. He experienced a week of very high blood pressure but with new meds it is getting better.

We lost a family member-Connor. He was such a unique animal. He had cancer. It was the kind that just basically shows up overnight.

We added some family members. One is the “Dwani Mobile”. This is Kate’s Ford Escape that used to belong to the Rutherfords (We promise to treat it nicely). The other is Tim’s dog, Mandalay. The doctor told Tim he needed a relaxing hobby. He had considered

woodworking and photography,

but then we convinced him a dog could be his hobby. She is a sweet girl, but rather large. He adopted her from the shelter and she is a bit skittish as she was abused. She is part yellow lab and sight hound. Her and Shona are really quite good pals. Amelia just goes with the flow and hoovers close by during feeding time in case there are leftovers.

We did plant a garden this year. Chris gave us the inspiration for it as he was involved in the community garden at Fulton before he came home. It is fairly large. We have herbs, zucchini, onions, corn, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, peas, corn, tomatoes, peppers and sunflowers. Hopefully we can keep it alive and it will produce great amounts! If we have excess, we will let you know.

May God bless everyone with a safe and happy summer.

Love Auntie