Here's some news from Eileen Altman: "I just finished my first year in the M.Div. program at Pacific School of Religion and I'm "In Care" for ordination with the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. I'm very happy with what I'm doing, but also full of questions about it all too. I have read more books than I can possibly list of late related to theology, etc., but for pleasure this summer I've been reading several novels by Iris Murdoch, the new Harry Potter book, and some other books my 10 year old son, Peter, has recommended. He's fond of the spy and gross out humor genres. I went with a group from seminary to El Salvador and Nicaragua in January. Under the leadership of Professor Rosemary Radford Ruether we studied liberation theology and globalization, visiting with many different churches and community leaders there. Peter and I went to Sarasota, FL in early July for a family gathering to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday. While my son was on vacation with his dad, I went to Berkeley July 18-22 to take a class on healing ministry and attend the first gathering of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, both quite inspiring. Peter and I are going to Washington, DC the first week in August. We'll stay with my best friend from high school, Pam, attend a Mystics and a Nationals game, and see as many of the sights as we can. I have loved reading everyone's news"

Lori Manion Turnage writes: "Thanks so much for keeping me on the mailing list for the ASC news. I wish I could have made it to the reunion, but the timing didn't work out with my husband's travel schedule. Hopefully I'll get a chance to get up there and see some old classmates some day!! On my home front, my husband, Scott, and I live in Ocoee, Florida and have two children, Brandon (8) and Mackenzie (5). We just celebrated both of their birthdays over the 4th of July holiday weekend. Brandon got to try motocross for the first time! He is quite the daredevil these days... jumping ramps on his bike and scooter! It's amazing, but we haven't had any broken bones yet! Mackenzie is just the opposite... quite the little princess." (Pictures of Brandon and Mackenzie are on the picture page)

Ann Colona Bennett and Jon are keeping busy with their kittens of which there are pictures on the picture page (Guide to kittens: the fluffy one is Angus - white & orange; Pete - white & grey; Tom - orange.) Ann also writes, "Sooooo cool. We were watching some show on the "truth behind the Da Vinci Code" or something like that. And there was Deirdre Good - several times!!! My dad is still doing well on chemo. Still visiting every weekend. Took him some green beans from the garden this past weekend. The garden is going gangbusters. Jon has to cut back the pumpkin to keep it out of all the other plants. It's definitely been a garden learning summerJ. The tomato plants look like a jungle. I'm almost afraid of the day we see red. We are planning to make sauce from the roma tomatoes to can some spaghetti sauce. Given how late we got the garden planted, we should at least have a cooler day of sauce making than we would have otherwise! The kittens have been outside several times now and seem to really enjoy it. They are growing so fast! We are so glad to have them. Jon finishes his 2nd summer session class next week. Then has a 1 wk break before fall qtr starts after Labor Day. I'm hoping my temp assignment becomes non-temp in September. I have an appt with a Genetic Counselor at Ohio Sate in a couple of weeks - before fall qtr starts. Getting the family info together has been interesting - especially some of the names! We're enjoying the cooler evenings in Ohio - a big change from Atlanta. I think that covers everything!"

Sharon Core is back from sabbatical and writes, "I am now back at church having been on a three month sabbatical. It has been a gentle landing; the people at Arlington Pres have been very gracious in giving me time to get back on my feet--a lot can happen in three months time! The last you heard from me, Nick and I were preparing for our pilgrimage through places in Europe. It was a fabulous trip and I am very thankful he and I travel well together. I will confess that by the end of the month, I didn't want to see the inside of another restaurant or look at another map! Our travels took us (me--the first week at Iona, Scotland) to St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland; the west coast of Ireland; the Normandy region of France; Heidelberg, Germany; Geneva; and Cluny and Taize, France. Of course there are stories, experiences and pictures from all those places. The purpose of these three months was a time to reconnect with God, the God who called me into parish ministry in the first place. In sharing some of my experiences with the congregation after church this past Sunday, I told them, I think that happened. Reconnection comes, I have learned by having time to rest, focus, think, pray, and just be. I come back to this congregation rested and renewed because I have a different understanding about how I "do" parish ministry, how I provide leadership. I have become much more "now" focused--planning for the future is needful and we can get so wrapped up in what's coming next that we forget to concentrate and appreciate what's in front of us right now! I have learned that even what we might think of as the "mundane" parts of life, really aren't mundane at all. Each and every moment we spend is a gift and to live in and savor that gift is what gives me strength. I have been using the Iona Prayer book and came across this the other day. In many ways, it sums up my experience: "To become aware of the sacramental nature of the cosmos; to be open to the sacramental possibility of each moment; to see the face of Christ in every person; these things are not novel, but their rediscovery is the beginning of our health." So, I'm back at APC and am enjoying the challenge of being a rested and renewed pastor. Blessings to you."

Joanna Wiedeman Quillen has been busy getting daughter Kelsey ready for ASC! She writes, "Roger and I attended Kelsey's orientation at Agnes Scott last weekend, and we were so impressed. The college did an excellent job communicating with the parents and students about expectations and services. We watched the class of 2009 sign the honor pledge, which they still post in the stairwell of Buttrick. We met Kelsey's academic advisor, Philosophy professor Dr. Perry (I never took any of his classes, but I know some of our classmates did) and met Kelsey's roommate and FYI (First Year Information) Group. Did you know that ASC doesn't have freshman anymore, but rather a "first year" students? Kelsey is living in 3rd Walters. I'd never been in Walters until last week. And their class color is....yes, YELLOW. I'll let you know, after Black Cat of course, what they choose as their class mascot! So many things at ASC are the same, and so many things are different - but I really was impressed with the campus, the faculty and staff, and the young women who are in the Class of 2009! Agnes Scott was ranked by US News and World Reports as the 22 Best Buy in a Liberal Arts Education, and I believe it! On a completely different note, have any of our classmates been effected by Hurricane Katrina? The news is so sad...."

Kim Spinnett Dameworth had a very full and fun summer! "We started off the summer by hosting at our home a boy from Belarus, a country that received the majority of the nuclear fallout from the Chernobyl disaster. ABRO (American Belarussian Relief Organization) has determined that it is beneficial for these kids to be out of the area for at least a 6 week period for relief from their contaminated environment. It was a great experience for me and my family and gave my boys the opportunity for true sacrifice of themselves! Through this ABRO program, I met a new person at our church who has a Scottie sister! (Carol Goodman, class of '83). Carol, who lives in SC, later visited her sister in Winston-Salem this summer. So Carol and I had the opportunity to reconnect our old friendship of 20 years! Bill and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this summer. We had a two-day getaway to Pinehurst, NC and enjoyed the spa and time away together, which we hadn't had in a long time! This summer I also had the special treat of kayaking in the ocean marsh at Kiawah Island, SC. My family vacations here about twice a summer, but our youngest son, Hunter has been too young in the past for such an adventure. It was such a wonderful little excursion and reminded me of our summer Marine Biology Course at ASC that Ann Fitzgerald and Jill Whitfill were a part of. Remember all the great fun there was on that trip?? My children (and I) squealed in excitement as we discovered so much marine life such as one inch "cannon ball" jelly fish you could hold in your palm, clams as big as your hand, crabs, red beard sponges, etc!!!! My favorite book I read this summer was "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldridge. I truly enjoyed seeing everyone at our reunion this past Spring and hope so many more will make it for the 25 year reunion. Bill and I took our picture in front of the Alumnae pond again, and it ended up being the exact same pose, posture, place etc as the one we took over 20 years ago when we were engaged (We now have both pictures together on our dresser!). We just look a little different!"

Dee Moore says anybody with advice on surviving a 3-yr-olds "No!/Ignore You" phase is welcome to get in touch!

Life in Arizona keeps rolling along like those tumblin' tumbleweeds. The kids and I are back in school and keeping very busy. Sarah is working as a receptionist part time at a health club as well as taking voice and piano lessons. Michael had an awesome time in Alaska and caught a 35-pound halibut (I've posted a picture of him at the Idiarod kennel). He is now working part time at Cold Stone Creamery (and bringing home lots of ice cream) as well as taking guitar lessons, playing soccer (he's one of the team's captains), and keeping up with Scouts (he is Senior Patrol Leader for the next six months). Larry got a new Navy assignment, and beginning next month, he'll be going to Akron, Ohio every month instead of San Diego. So far, I'm adjusting well to my new responsibilities at school. I teach 4 classes in the mornings (2 sections of U.S. history, general math, and consumer math) and do the business administration in the afternoon. Larry and I finally took the plunge last month and purchased a third vehicle (3 drivers and 2 cars for 18 months was long enough - especially with Michael due to get his permit next month!). Larry calls it my mid-life crisis and bought me a New Beetle - Cyber Green! It's so fun to drive and has lots of little extras, including heated seats - not that I'll use those very often in Arizona! Thanks to all who are sending news - keep it coming. We all love catching up. And don't forget to check out the picture page. Blessings, Ellen