Other new(er) photos of some of us

Robert, Jennifer and Ian Schmitt (2005)

Connie and Don Zappone and their daughters in Dec 2006

Teri Vrooman (far left sitting) New years 2007

Updated foto of Fairbrother family

Thanks Mar for scanning this picture for us! Jon and Mark, Marise and Suzanne Fairbrother.

I've been busy and haven't been on here much - Nov and Dec are full of birthdays (George in Nov, Andrew Dec 11, me next week) the holidays, George was in a car accident (he's fine praise the Lord!) and my Nana passed away. Hope to be better at this in the new year.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Happy Birthday Jonathan!

Wow, 1984? That menas tomorrow you're ... gulp, 23...where has the time gone. You don't remember most of us from those baby to toddler years, but we sure had fun playin' and praying for you! Happy Birthday Jon....

Thank you for Starting the blog

Over the last 2 years I have really been missing my friendships that were formed at Covenant and the Career Group. I would love it if we could encourge others from that era to create an account and start dialoging.
I am also sorry to hear about Lisa Didier and I am praying for her as well.

Teri V

Prayer for Lisa Didier

Marie Kuhn Batdorf sent this email today.....please keep the Didier's in your prayers...

Hey Karen!
I just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that my mom called to tell me that Andre Didier's (sp?) wife has just been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Please pray for her. love, Marie

George and Andrew

Just too cute not to post - Andrew's first Angel game that he remembers. :) 2000 memebers of our church filled the stands at a family night.

Prayer updates and Praises

Mark is constantly in dangerous areas - so keep praying! If you want to post prayers for him go to http://www.prayforourtroops.org/ and search for him by last name. You'll need a free account to post prayers but Mark can go online and view them any time he needs a pick me up! I'm going to make one for some of the other guys too...so keep checking back to that site!

Patrick's surgery went well, I talked to Anj the day they came home...and he was doing great. I need to get an update though. She was in town for business (sorry I missed you girlie) so he must be getting around fine if she was able to leav e for a few days.

Everyone of my cousins got here and home safely. Nana had four really lucid days so we brought her to the party and all took pix with her! The best news of all was my cousin Eric from Oklahoma married a nice church going girl, got religion and stopped smoking and drinking! PtL!! This is all of us at the party - first time since Christmas of '86 we were all in one place together! Clockwise starting with me = Margi from Oregon (saved), Cheryl (oh yeah, she's saved :) ), Jeff from California, Eric from Oklahoma and Jeff's older brother (saved), John from Idaho and Margi's younger brother and Nana! Can you tell how happy she is by the look on her face!!

Prayer Requests for 7-25-07 posted by Karyn

Mark back safe - thaks for prayers - for next week "My NCO and I will be on the road again next week, only this time by air. Four legs to the trip, over some debatable territory. Thanks for your concern. We have dangerous things happening around our soldiers daily."

Angie - Patrick is having a serrious surgery on Friday - orothopedic surgeon is going to correct the rotation of his hip/leg. Requires breaking the leg, setting it with steel plate, pins, the works. then Patrick is in a cast for 6 wks and a wheelchair after than while he recooperates. Since he is hard of hearing we're NOT sure what he'll understand about the length of the healing process and at - I think 10 yrs old- he's an active boy! So she asks we please prayer for successful surgery and proper healing.

My Aunt Carol and her kids Margi & John will be traveling down from Oregon and Idaho to see my Nana and her house the 9-13 of August - only one of the cousins' has seen Nana since the old-age senility started setting in last year so its going to be a tough visit on all of them- Nana is 87 yreas old and though in decent health, this will likely be the last time they see her this side of heaven. The cousins spent part of their childhood being raised in Nana's home and dad just sold the house so they are coming home one last time before the house is no longer in the family. Prayers for travel mercies and good memories would be appreciated!

Greetings from burning hot southern Iraq

Dear Friends and Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I received three weeks notice that I would be making this deployment before launching out. I've now been "in theater" for over a month and am not yet used to the temps of 111-124 degrees on a daily basis. The wind is blasting hot, like standing in front of a blast furnace; makes you think of the inside of the chicken ovens at Costco or SamsClub...

I have opportunities to preach and share Christ regularly. My job is a busy one in that I oversee and do ministry for an Army brigade of 3500 soldiers plus a base of other Air Force, small numbers of Navy, and civilian contractors. It all adds up to a population in this desert place of well, that's classified...

One my first nights here I counseled with a young (of course, given my age these days, almost everyone is younger than me, even my senior ranking commander!) soldier regarding his breaking marriage due to previous adulteries on his part. He was broken. He had thought about ending his life. I leveled with him, told him only God could give him the power through Christ to turn his life around. He understood. I listened in amazement and wonder as he spontaneously prayed to ask Christ into his life. If that is the only time that happens during this 15 month time in the desert, it will have made the trip worthwhile. I trust it won't be the only time.

• Please pray for safety for me and all our personnel here. Increasingly dangerous.
• Pray that God would build His church in this place through conversions and repentance.
• Pray for Marise (missed our anniversary again!) and Suzanne (16, going on 30, ouch!)
• Pray for Jon, newly commissioned in the Army as a Second Lieutenant, Armor, having finished this year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

I should have pictures soon to post. We had pics taken the weekend before I left.

Don't listen to the bulk of the press regarding our progress of lack of it in this place. To leave prematurely would be immoral, unethical and cowardly. Those who advocate a too fast withdrawal with the result that the nation spirals into chaotic civil war are immoral cowards.

Enough of that. Long time since having any contact with any of you. I'm gratified to hear of friends walking with and living for Christ in challenging times. May we not forget that we are not our own, we have been bought with a price, and until He is done with us in this life we should not consider ourselves finished with Him.

Believe it or not, I miss you all, even after these many years.

Love,
In Christ,

I am, Yours Truly, For Our Family and My Fellow Service Members Serving the Nation
Mark Fairbrother
Chaplain in the United States Army, for the Savior

Update on the Fairbrothers

Marla got a note in the mail from Pastor Mark - who is now in Iraq. He says until there is a permanent mailing address to him there - notes and things can be mailed to Marise as "she is great at sending care packages" and she will make sure he gets our notes and photos.

Also - Jonathan just left to fulfil his committment with the army also. Marla said something about Jonathan is a Lt. and Mark is aChaplin with the rank of Major in their divisions. :)

In the meantime he said being far from home it would be great to get extra notes from old friends. He will have internet connection within the next 6-8 wks. In the meantime - emails can be sent to either he or Marise and he gave us permission to post their home address also. So, get out your pens and paper....and start writing...but mostly praying for both Mark and Jonathan's safety overseas.

mark.e.fairbrother@us.army.mil
marisefairbrother@yahoo.com
3627 Sunchase Dr., Fayetteville, NC 82306

Thanks all!

I hope this works!

(Wedding Photo - Diane (Canadian Pen Pal of Sally's) , Malia, Lorrie, Karyn, Sally, Ed, Brad, Ed's Brother, Rod & Garrett. (added by Karyn)

Karyn,

I am not sure how to do this, so here we go. I found a bunch of old pictures. One dating back to the early eighties. Scary! We went on a trip to Tijuana and had the entire gang take a picture with a donkey. See who you recognize. I also have pictures from the dunk tank at church and other misc. get togethers/trips.


Ed and I will be celebrating our 20th Wedding Anniversary this month. How time flies. I'll include a picture of our wedding party, most of which were from the College and Career Group.
I am also downloading my boys' pictures, Jared 11 and Jacob 9.


Hopefully it works. If not, you are going to have to help me. I am going to send it and see where it goes!

Love,

Sally

Just Testing....

Hi Karyn,

I thought I would test a posting for you. :) Boy, I remember what it was like to be young! Wow were we all good looking!!!

Shannon

Christi

I think this is great, however, I have nothing to contribute! I guess I didn't own a camera. Keep posting everybody!

Blessings,

Christi
May 30, 2007 9:28 PM

Ed and Sally Earl

Angie,I finally figured out to pull up your pictures. Thanks I enjoyed them! As soon as I get a moment to breath, I will post some pictures I found. They go back when Carl Funke was in charge of the old group.
God Bless,
Sally Earl
May 30, 2007 1:26 PM

Angie added...

Seeing as how you're liking the picture thing...check out the ones I just posted on our family blog. *(Karyn put link on the left)

Couldn't figure out how to get 'em on here, but take a peek!

Angie
May 26, 2007 3:25 PM

Angie said...

Okay....so this is a GREAT idea, m'dear! You and Sally are STILL quite the team! Thanks for setting this up.
May 25, 2007 7:45 PM

Better picture :)

Okay - this one I like MUCH better :)

Update on Karyn

Great idea Sally - let's start blogging!

George and I will be married 7 years in September. Andrew is 4 now.

Here's a recent picture of me and my family taken on Mother's day. Horrible pix of me but my guys are oh so handsome!

We went to Ukraine for 3 mos to work with a church in L'viv and came home 2 wks after the Orange Revolution got going! Andrew still thinks his "whole name' is Andrew John Malenki Kobcheck .... the Malenki Klobcheck is Ukrainian for "little son" and was the name he was called every day of our mission by the church secretary that we worked with.