November 3, 2014 (Monday)
Our son, David, was in the Fifth Grade, and Dan was in the Third Grade. Our Daughters, Debbie and Dianna, were preschoolers, 5 years old and 18 months old. Dwight would be born two years later (birthday tomorrow). Much has changed in 50 years.
Our children had something not many pastors’ children have: they all graduated from the same high school. The girls and Dwight never attended any other school than Rockport. They all did well in school: David was Valedictorian, Debbie, Dianna and Dwight were each Salutatorian, and Dan was an Honor Graduate, 4th in his class. They all graduated from college, some with graduate degrees. They inherited their mothers’ intelligence– Wanda never made a grade less than “A” in her entire education. I made all “A’s” one semester–we won’t discuss the other years.
Wanda and I married October 3, 1953. David was born in Burnet, Texas (we were living in Lampasas), Dan was born in Fort Worth, Debbie in Marlin (we were living in Kosse), Dianna in Dallas, and Dwight in Corpus Christi (we were living in Rockport). Their birthplaces tell our family history as we moved from place to place, serving churches and attending seminary.
David and Janet live in Pearland, Dan in Aransas Pass, Dianna and Mark in The Woodlands, Debbie’s husband, Rick, in Rockport, and Dwight in Rockport. 
Grandchildren: Michael in Rockport, Melinda and John in Kyle, Jennifer and Stephen in Houston, Angela in Omaha, Nebraska, Andy and Arianna in Fairhope, Alabama, Alex in Houston, Sarah in Houston, Austin in Houston, Sean in Huntsville, Shannon in Lubbock, and Chloe in San Marcos. [Michael, Angela, Arianna, Alex, Austin, Sean, Shannon and Chloe are now in college (Jennifer will resume classes soon); Melinda, Andy, Sarah, John and Stephen have graduated]. Claire, our only great grandchild, is now 5 months old and, of course, lives with Mommy and Daddy now in Houston. She was born in Hawaii. (Click here to see her photo album).
I’m sure not everyone is interested in all this, but a few are, I think, and they are faithful readers of this blog.
Anyway, my initial love affair with Rockport and the First Baptist Church is now celebrating its Golden Anniversary. God has been so very, very good to me, and I am exceedingly grateful for His kindness. I am also very thankful to Interim Pastor James Bond, Pastor Walter Knight (both now in Heaven), and Pastor Scott Jones for their loving spirit in welcoming me as a member of the church here after retirement 19 years ago, with the honorary title, “Pastor Emeritus,” since 2008. I repeat: God is good.