Houstonites Quick Update & Wish List

Hello Rivers Clan,

This is the time of year when Houston really is a gorgeous city. The weather is beautiful and it finally starts to feel like the South's definition of fall. It was a mild 83* today, not to shabby for the end of October.

Not much new to report. Lee has been on the road, completing his end of year travels. Q has been giving presentations to the community, leading a weekly domestic violence support group and planning a memorial service to honor the victims from last year. This past week, there were so many festivities to honor our pastor who has served the church for 10 years, so we had a revival with guest preachers from around the US, followed by a concert featuring Smokie Norful (awesome gospel artist), and tomorrow Q's choir gets the opportunity to sing with Yolanda Adams to honor our Founding Pastor's wife, who is being honored by the NAACP with the highest civilian award they give in the United States. So, there has been a lot of celebration.

Now for the fun stuff. Wish Lists :)

Lee: Best Buy Gift Card
Q: Charming Charlie, Home Deport, or Target Gift Cards


That's all for now. Chat soon!


With Love,
Lee + Q

Wichita Update,

Hey family! Work and classes are going well, I'm definitely keeping busy. Ashley has been under the weather for the past month or so. She met with an infectious disease specialist today - after an hour and a half of examination the doc stated the following: I need a new chest x-ray and ct scan of lungs, heart, throat and sinuses, I will be getting a set of booster shots, I will be receiving another pertussis vaccine and a pneumonia vaccine, a lung specialist will likely be performing a bronchoscopy, 12 blood samples were taken to test for tuberculosis, insufficient antibodies, autoimmune disorders ect. I should be hearing within the week when all of these tests will be ran (except the blood that was drawn today) and shots will be given. I see this specialist again on Nov. 13. In the mean time she has asked that I take it easy and leave work when necessary. My boss will be helping me submit FMLA paperwork in case I end up missing more work, my job will still be safe. Sorry to not have better news, but this a more attention then I have been given in the past and I am hopeful. She said that once she has a better idea, I will likely go on some medicines to try to help relieve the pains and cough.

We definitely appreciate your prayers and look forward to hopefully learning more in the days and weeks to come.

Love you guys!

Jonathan & Ashley

Christmas Lists

Jonathan: Chipotle and Barnes & Noble gift cards, Wine :)
Ashley: Starbucks & Maurice's gift cards, Reeses, Scarfs

Houston Rivers Update

Hello Family,

We are finally getting back into the swing of things and wanted to take time to update everyone on life. Here is the latest and greatest:

• Traveled to Europe the last few weeks of September. We had a blast in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest seeing the sites, eating great food and of course we had to make time for a bit of shopping. We will post pictures soon. There are a few on Facebook.
• Traveled to Cincinnati, OH for a business conference with our team.
• Lee continues traveling to do some outreach at universities across the country. He actually visited Kenyon College this past week (Harrison's old school) and was able to go to a restaurant that the family had eaten at years ago when everyone visited Harry.
• Lee has the following trips coming up: Raleigh, NC; NYC; Grand Rapids, MI
• Q has been invited to give presentations and speeches at some of the local colleges and chemical plants and is leading a peer therapy group in the evenings.
• We are going to travel to Greensboro, NC for a Men & Women's Leadership event with our Amway team. We are so excited and blessed for this opportunity!!
• Two weeks ago, Lee was followed home from the ATM and robbed outside of our condo, so please pray that the court proceedings would go smoothly and that the charges are not lessened. It is possible that the current charges (aggravated robbery) could be dropped down to just robbery. While we want justice to be served, we also want those involved to know they are forgiven and come to know God (if they don't already). We are grateful that God kept Lee save and that Houston PD responded so quickly and was able to recover all stolen goods.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone next month. We love you all and pray God's continued favor upon your lives.

Have a great week,

~ Lee & Q

Generation Study Abroad

Minnesota Update

Dear family,

I'm writing to you from New York City.
From Frederick Cafe, to be exact, in the heart of Harlem--my old stomping ground.
I depart at 2PM
But am using this, my last morning (a cool gray day--my favorite), to get some writing done.

It has been a good five days.
A productive fun-filled visit.

Monday night's concert was a success.
People seem excited by FIVE POINTS
(by the IDEA of FIVE POINTS)
And I'm already feeling the "finish it already" pressure from my agent/collaborators/NYC theater community.

Rehearsals for AND SHE WOULD STAND LIKE THIS were wonderful.
It is ALWAYS a pleasure to be in the rehearsal room with David and Deadria--my absolute favorite director and producer.
The presentation next Thursday should be OUTSTANDING.

My bags are packed.
Stuffed to the brim with WINTER WEAR.
Coat, hats, gloves, scarves and sweaters.
I will certainly have to invest in MORE, but it's a good start.

Thank you so much for your continued support
Especially in this my ADVENTURE year
My throw caution to the wind year
My GAME CHANGING year
Your words of encouragement
Your prayers
Are appreciated.

Much love to you all,
H