News

Friday, January 7, 2005
It's Winter again! For a while there, I was thinking that it was Spring already, but the cold front hit us again and once again the logs are burning in the fireplace. The snow was beautiful, but Oh dear, it killed all my plants except for my Honeysuckle creeper! How sad everything looks now.
Charl has been busy this week, building a patio at a home in Palacios, so he has had his hands full.
A very big thank you to Mr Pearce of Dixie Computers here in Olivia. Over the course of Charl's journey, Mr Pearce provided us with three laptop computers - our lifeline! Thank you.
We are still reading and learning and with the help of Tom and Ronnie, gathering information to get the Silent Voyager story promoted. It all takes time and this is so new to us!
The pictures of the Homecoming are posted now - thank you to everyone who gave us CD's - what a treasure! Next will be the Reception and Charl's first formal talk - we are still on track for the end of January.
Keep those e-mails coming in and don't forget to sign the guestbook and provide us with a written message about his return home. We don't want to lose contact with you!
God Bless
Bev

Wednesday January 5, 2005 Hello There
Well, as you can imagine, our lives have been moving at whirlwind speed since Charl got home. First there was Christmas, and what a Christmas it was! We had about a foot of snow! Imagine, so much snow on the Texas coast!. It was beautiful and what a gift. We missed my Dad of course and I especially missed him knocking at the front door, at the crack of dawn, wearing one of his crazy hats. But the snow distracted us and Charl and Gideon had to go and help Mom out of her house. Everything was so white and clean. We didn't want to disturb it. Of course that thought did not last long. A snowman was built, Texas style (if there is such a thing) and we think he looked just grand. The dogs had a wonderful time, especially our Golden Retriever who thought he had died and gone to heaven because he could lie down and be cool. Christmas lunch, which took hours to prepare was devoured in seconds! We even popped our Christmas crackers which I had to make myself because we can't buy them here. A blessed day indeed.
Christmas was no sooner over and it was New Year! This was quiet. Charl and I were alone as the children were away with friends having their own New Year (the way we used to when we were young!)
And now it is back to reality with a bang. Charl was offered a job which required a Class C CDL licence. We thought no problem, he already has a Class C drivers licence and only has to add the HAZMAT. Well, not so easy, it would seem that you have to be able to hear at a whisper to load some chemicals on the back of a truck that you are already licenced to drive! If you are blind in one eye, or have only one arm, or wear a prosthesis then you can get a medical waiver and still get your CDL, but if you can't hear at a whisper, - sorry no waiver. Perhaps someone out there could explain why it is so important to be able to hear in order to be Hazmat certified, when it is OK to be blind in one eye (which means you cannot judge distance accurately which to my mind is definitely a plus when carrying hazardous chemicals). So - as I said back to reality.
I think this is a matter that requires lots of prayer and some sort of intervention as it is a Federal Regulation and the local entities cannot overide it. Charl cannot be the only deaf person who has encountered this I am sure.
We are busy working on a DVD giving a short synopsis of the journey and these we will have for sale as soon as possible.
Charl is also getting a Power Point Presentation together and if you would like him to present his journey to a group that may be interested, please contact us on the website and we will set up a date and time for you.
The book will be written, but of course that will take time. A full length video is also on the cards, but will take time as well.
We have so many people to thank, those who have participated in all the activities and planning throughout the year as well as our readers who have so diligently prayed for us and supported us along the way. We love you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I will try and keep Charl's nose to the grindstone and make him update the site at least a few times a week. Island Time is resting. We have taken everything out of the boat and are waiting to lift her out of the water for a good clean.
She is sound and deserves so much praise. What a mighty sailboat she is! She is still wearing the garland we presented to her. Smiling? Of course!
The formal reception dinner for Charl will hopefully take place at the end of January. We are waiting for photographs and video footage to be developed and arranged. Please be patient! I hope everyone has received their T-shirts - please let me know if you have not.
"Dear Lord, we thank You for all Your blessings. Thank you especially for answering our prayers and bringing Charl and IT safely home to us, just as we asked. How Great Thou art."
Have a great New Year and I will write again soon!
God Bless
We love you all
Bev

15-May-2005   14-May-2005   02-Apr-2005   26-Mar-2005   26-Feb-2005   05-Feb-2005   22-Jan-2005   
15-Jan-2005   08-Jan-2005   01-Jan-2005   25-Dec-2004   18-Dec-2004   11-Dec-2004   04-Dec-2004   
27-Nov-2004   20-Nov-2004   13-Nov-2004   06-Nov-2004   30-Oct-2004   23-Oct-2004   16-Oct-2004   
09-Oct-2004   02-Oct-2004   25-Sep-2004   18-Sep-2004   11-Sep-2004   04-Sep-2004   28-Aug-2004   
21-Aug-2004   14-Aug-2004   07-Aug-2004   31-Jul-2004   24-Jul-2004   17-Jul-2004   10-Jul-2004   
03-Jul-2004   26-Jun-2004   19-Jun-2004   12-Jun-2004   05-Jun-2004   29-May-2004   22-May-2004   
15-May-2004   08-May-2004   01-May-2004   24-Apr-2004   17-Apr-2004   10-Apr-2004   03-Apr-2004   
27-Mar-2004   20-Mar-2004   13-Mar-2004   04-Dec-1999