Family and friends matter in our lives
Anderson News
Don and I attended the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas 141st Annual Training Conference and Expo in San Antonio July 26-31. Grimes County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Todd Greene and his wife Cheli also attended. It is always good to connect with sheriffs and their spouses from all over the state.
While the Sheriffs’ attend classes, the spouses get together at functions and catch up on the events of the past year at luncheons. When Ashleigh was young, we would take her to attend the kid’s events while we were busy at our events. Through the years she made life-long friends that she keeps in touch with still. Over the years lots of these families have become part of our own family. Now that our children are grown, we are taking grandkids. This year we took our granddaughter Abbygail Branch and our great-niece Kaytryn Bankston. They enjoyed events that included Sea World, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels and Six Flags, Fiesta Texas. Next years’ conference is July 2020 and will be held in Fort Worth.
Our youngest daughter Ashleigh Krause got out of the stressful “hotel” business and started a new job this past Monday. Rather than driving to downtown Houston, she will be driving to her beloved “Aggieland” to take the job of vice president of Marketing for C.C. Creations in College Station. Not only is she excited about the job, she is especially excited to be back in familiar territory and amongst family and friends. Although mileage-wise the drive will be further, she will be on the road less time.
Continuing with family matters, our middle daughter Brandi, her husband Dave Waitz and their two boys Luke and Colton have officially moved and settled in at the house we just moved out of in town. The boys are in hog-heaven because they now have plenty of room to ride their bikes and 4-wheelers all over the place, something they didn’t get to do at their Cape Con-roe home in Montgomery. Luke will begin kindergarten this week in Anderson.
During the process of unpacking boxes, I found a book given to me by a friend called “Joys of Friendship A Celebration of Girlfriends.” This warm-hearted and witty collection celebrates the ordinary, everyday moments that make friendships so extraordinary. From laughing together to going on (and off) diets together, good friends always bring out the best in each other. Each week I will put a quote from the book in my column. I miss my friend Mary Bostelman so this week’s quote is: “A friend can make you smile even when she’s not around.” Friends can be anyone, your old classmate, your sister, brother, family member, your neighbor or your spouse, just to name a few. A true friend accepts you how you are and doesn’t try to change you unless you need changing of course.
Happy birthday this week to: Aug. 15- Cindy Lavender, Aaron Shead, Sara Simmons, Velma Smith, Beckett Borski and Jan Walz; Aug. 16- Leah Moy, James Busa, Jennifer Corzine and Payton Sowell; Aug. 17- Ashley Andruss, Adam Pasket, Laurie Glameyer, Charleston Bradley, Melissa Lara and Wilma Wolters; Aug. 18- Martha Ann Smith, Shellie Coronado, Mary Catherine Schroeder and Mary Sicinski; Aug. 19- Bill Boehm, Sloan Sechelski, Vanessa Burzynski and Mary Beth Yargo; Aug. 20- Brian Backhus, William Craig Schroeder and Austin Horton; Aug. 21- Brenda Utley, Jillian Ruby and Tara Garcia.
Happy Anniversary this week to: Aug. 15- L.E. and Sharon Murry, 22 years; Aug. 17- Kyle and Becky Childress, 34 years; Aug. 18-Darrell and Dana Wagner, 29 years; Aug. 20- Sam and Melody Ruffino, 31 years, Jamie and Kellye Kitkoski, 14 years, Mark and Bridgett Kelley, 31 years; Aug. 21-Roger and Deanie Vezurk, 43 years.
If you have special news about what goes on in your family or life, let me know by calling 936-870-6842 or email me at gailmsowell@yahoo.com .