Karyn Gardner, (540) 228-2176, (540) 655-3646 [email protected]
Sending birthday wishes to my brother-in-law, Dr. Daniel Gardner, my sister-in-law Bethany Gardner; aunt-in-law Amelie Merrick; and to Anne Roubinet, Joanna Irby, Miranda Campbell and Cami Blankenship, as well as to St. John’s Episcopal Church members Terry Palmer and Carrie Lehman, and to Faith Baptist Church members Debbie Lynn and Sandy Hill. Happy anniversary to Pastor Terry and Jonna Bostic.
At Faith Baptist Church, there will be a Clothes Closet on May 24 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. On May 28, there will be a Men’s Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m. The church’s Mother’s and Father’s Day breakfast will be on May 31 at 8 a.m.
At St. John’s Episcopal Church, 37 hikers attended the second Hiker’s Dinner of the season on May 12. This past Sunday, Brandall Branch led the morning prayer. Many thanks to him for leading the service, and to Bert Buford and Josh Gardner for providing music. Thanks also to Courtney VanOsten for hosting coffee hour. Next Sunday will be a Holy Eucharist service led by the Rev. Dr. Bob Copenhaver.
Angela Watkins spent Mother’s Day at Natural Bridge State Park, in honor and memory of her mother, Dorothy Teaford Watkins, who passed away 10 years ago on May 11, 2015, at the age of 82. Dorothy worked for 36 years in the Natural Bridge Gift Shop, then several years afterwards at the Wax Museum and Toy Museum.
My brother-in-law, Dr. Daniel Gardner, and his wife, Shambray, have much to celebrate this month: Daniel, Parry McCluer High School’s 2014 valedictorian, graduated from Utah State University with a doctorate in mechanical engineering, and on May 12, they welcomed their second daughter into the world; my new niece, Eden Grace Gardner. My sisterin- law, Sarah Barton, also graduated this month from USU with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Congratulations, also, to Lezley Slagle on her graduation from Rockbridge County High School.
I’m facing a milestone this week, as tomorrow, Thursday May 22, will be my 40th birthday. To celebrate, next month my husband, brother and I will be taking a summer road trip through 12 states from North Carolina to Oklahoma and back. Some notable stops along the way will include Mayberry/Mt. Airy, Atlanta, the Gulf Coast, New Orleans, Texarkana, Broken Bow, Nashville and Van Lear/ Butcher Hollow.
