TOM ROVENSTINE IS AWESOME

My little brother is Tom Rovenstine. When I am in a troublesome situation it is Tom who gets the call. How in the world can a kid just a tad older than our oldest son be so helpful. I ordered a power cord for my portable computer and for some reason it would not work I bought it on Ebay so I got it cheap. Therefore, I was just about ready to pitch it in the trash when Tom came to my mind. A trip to Tom's house proved that before I pitch anything I need to place it under the scrutiny of by awesome little brother. He is much smarter than I am in a lot of the technical things of life. THANKS TOM! Oh tell Peggy thanks for the cucumbers. I may stop by again just for the fresh produce.

ROVENSTINES IN KANSAS THE 4th

We had a great time in Kansas City on July 3rd watching the KC Royals get beat. It was buck night so we had hot dogs, soft drinks and peanuts. We prefer seeing our team win but the food and fireworks made up for a poor showing by the team. On July 4th we went to Junction City Kansas where Ft Riley is. Junction City always has a great parade with a large display of military vehicles and marching service personnel. The main reason we watching the parade was to see Brittany march for the last time as a JCHSchooler. We are grateful for family to hang out with. Life would be rather lonely and boring without them. We are glad we love and serve a living and resurrected Lord!

JUNCTION CITY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION?? WOW!!!

We were in attendance at the JCHS's high school graduation. The events of graduation were televised to the moms and dads that were deployed protecting our country. This town is a very blessed and wonderful place to have a granddaughter receive a diploma. There were 3 speeches at the graduation exercises and they were given by 3 outstanding Christian students, the student body president, valedictorian and salutatorian. The three students that spoke were bolder sharing their beliefs about what really matters in life than most adults. What a refreshing set of circumstances for our world that is looking for change and hope. I could not help but feel like the kids that are hitting the streets today are convinced that the Bible, Church, and spiritual values is what the world longs for and needs. I was proud of Kurt as he shared the baccalaureate message with the more than 10% of the senior class that attended this convocation. Thanks Bre for restoring hope and blessing to those of us that were fortunate to be with you on your graduation day.

WENDEL ROVENSTINE HAD A CAT IN HIS ROOM

Last night I stayed in Lancaster PA and the room I stayed in had a cat as guest the night before. Today has been miserable for me. I have a problem. I have 12 wonderful, beautiful, loving and intelligent grand daughters. I am sure they all love cats and why shouldn't they? Here is my dilemma. I want to be with them a bunch but if they have a cat in the area I am miserable. Why should they forgo something they really like and should have around their home just to permit me to not be miserable? They shouldn't. I have made a decision. I will go see them as often as I can but I won't stay at their house overnight. I will treat them to a time out at a soda stand or place around a table where we can eat and drink without cat interference. If they come to my house I am sure they will leave their little kitties and Tom cats at home and we can have a good time where I live. Wish there was something I could take for this but apparently I am stuck with the "GET OUT OF HERE CAT" syndrome.

MAY WILL BE BUSY WITH TWO GRADUATIONS AND ONE WEDDING

I logged a lot of air miles in April. When May rolls around it is going to a lot of celebrating. To begin with it will be a college graduation for Chelsea at OWU. Next it well be off to a wedding in Chicago where we will attend the wedding of Aubrie and Billy DeLisle. Our family numbers now are on the increase by adding family members via marriage. Toward the end of May it will be Breanna's graduation from high school. The grand event of the month will be Esther and my 50th wedding anniversary. Be it known to all our friends we already had our 50th anniversary celebration at Winter Park Ski resort in Colorado during Christmas. Therefore, we are not expecting anything or anybody to be celebrating this celebratory day with us.

BEHOLD I CAN SEE

I got back from Asia late last night after being in 5 different airports and 27 hours working my way home from Taipei. My new glasses were waiting for me. I could have seen more of Asia with my new glasses than I did with the old ones. Needless to say I am really grateful to my wonderful daughter in law who cared for me and Esther so professionally. I really have no excuse now for running over curbs, knocking over signs and highway traffic markers. I am a much safer and dependable driver now. So when I say "BEHOLD I CAN SEE!!" I mean it. Tonight I will to out and see the bigger dipper and I won't be faking it this time. If you are looking for a good Optometrist in the Auroa/Naperville area I have one I can really recommend to you.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T SEE

On Wednesday I went to Chicago to have the newest Doctor (the only doctor) in our family look me in the eyes. She sort of laughed at my eye test results. She wondered how I (and my lovely bride) had survived our travels across the US of A without having a fender bender or two. In her terms Esther and I were both close to being shut down by something called legally blind for driving a vehicle. When we were in Jamaica Mark kept telling me how vivid and bright the big dipper was. I did see Venus plainly - - - but - - the big dipper? Well I was just faking the sight of the wonder of the sky. I never did see it. All I can say is if Mark saw it I am sure it was there. Seeing it however is something I was only imagining. We are really looking forward to our new glasses. We will be able to read the scores of the ball games without using binoculars.

AUSTIN TRIO WILL BE MISSED

We enjoyed having the Austin grand daughters for 4 nights and 5 days while Mick was in Seattle on business. It was really good of Anne Marie to let us have them in our home during this time. We were glad they got to be with most of the area Rovenstines sharing fun and laughter at Mark's house while watching the Super Bowl game. The game's conclusion was not as we would have liked but our time together was great! Before the game on Sunday we had Chelsea, Jamie, Jake, Dalene, Steve and the kids over for a roast beef dinner. I found out Sunday that Chelsea makes gravy just like me. "Now I be liken that girl." Some of the best times for we old timers is with our grand kids and their special friends.

BARTLESVILLE OKLAHOMA IS COLD

When I was younger... Say about 40 years ago I thought I really liked cold weather. Well that was when I could take all of our family someplace and watch them play in the snow. I now am pretty much a wimp when it comes to cold. I am wondering if there is a way I can do work all winter long somewhere on or around the equator. I know that me and cold are not going to become any more friendly to each other so I need to begin thinking now about next year if I am serious about this. If anybody has any immediate or possible solutions to my cold feet, and ears don't hesitate to give me an idea. Oh one thing I forgot to mention. It can't cost me anything. Now you know how excited I am to have a new President who will help me fulfill my dreams. I am a dreamin..... Dream with me.. Maybe a whole bunch of us can go way south...

WENDELL ROVENSTINE GETS READY FOR 2009

I am heading into my 71st year of of living a wonderful life. How much more do I know than when I was a child or a teenager in Hutchinson, KS? Probably not much. Life for me is really much more complicated than when I was a child. I am certain I had more resiliency to cope with changes as a child in Hutch. Changes in the late 30's and 40's unfolded a little slower and smoother for me. If your family had a car it could be fixed with a little baling wire and a wrench or two and maybe a trip to Sears or Wards where you picked up what you needed to stay on the road. With the arrival of 2009 I am amazed at the tremendous changes that have surfaced in the last 50-60 years. I may have a little feeling of pride for myself (I have a problem I guess) when it comes to keeping up on the latest updates that are available in the technical world of computers and electronics. To be honest when I think I know about as much as I think I can handle here comes a grand child with some new finagled gadget that I want to know about. I really don't want a grand child to leave me in the dust of obsolescence when it comes to gadgets and technology. The year 2009 will be a year of new challenges and dreams for me but I am positioning myself and plans to have a great year while others wonder what they are going to do I am going to go do it.