CONGRATS TO MR. JONATHAN!

 Congrats to our newest graduate – Jonathan!

You make us all proud – You guys of been through a lot in such a short amount of time.

 It's good to know that God is big enough to carry us through anything.

Way to go Idaho!!!

Cookie Day

Enjoy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hope this finds you well!  I decided to take off the rest of the week just to enjoy Christmas and to make sure I was off so that I could go down to Kansas City with RIVERS CLAN  #3!
We had a great time in Kansas City. Landon had a slow start but then he got right into it!
Since he loves trains so much we visited the Union Station. Boy, did he get overwhelmed by trains! It is decorated beautifully and the trees were wonderful! It was fun just watching him run around  and look at all the trains and the lights.

Thanksgiving Pics

I believe I have finally recovered from our Thanksgiving! So good to see all of you!

Bill and Laurie were so gracious to open their home to us!

We don't have any Christmas plans per se, but we do have some ideas rolling around.

I would like to take Landon and his family down to the Union Station in Kansas City to see the tree, the lights,  and of course the train!

 This will probably be a day trip although I would love to spend the night.

Traditionally in the past we have spent Christmas Eve together as a family doing  some sort of activity, then later on ordering pizza and watching a bunch of movies and then ending the day by going to the Christmas Eve service at the church.

  After service we usually cruise around town looking at Christmas lights.

I do need updates though.  Continue to be in prayer for John and Ashley. John was majorly sick this week and is recovering, now Ashley is going down.

If you have pics, please share to your Google Photos.

         

Rivers 1.0 Christmas List

Hi family!

Sorry for the huge delay!

Gift certificate to:

Lunds & Byerlys:
http://order.lundsandbyerlys.com/collections/gift-cards

How's that for options?

Love you all!

H

Rivers 4.0 Christmas List

Sorry for the huge delay! 

Ashley - Gift Certificate/Cards to:

• Burlington Coat Factory
• Gordmans
• Starbucks 

Jonathan - Gift Certificate/Cards to: 

• Dillons
• Chipotle 
• The Habitat Store: http://www.thehabitatstore.org/

Can't wait to see you all! Much Love!

Jonathan & Ashley

Thanksgiving Plans

Good Morning People!
The time is whittling down to when we will be hanging out together. So looking forward to seeing all of you.

Here's what I've got so far:
We will be gathering at MorningStar bed-and-breakfast.  The address is 617 Houston, it's located directly across the street from the library.  Bill and Laurie have graciously allowed us to use their home.

We will transport the food and set up  around 1:00pm. The Kansas City crew will be rolling in around 2:30 pm, I am told.  I will need help transporting food and setting up. We were originally going to come home for dessert, but Laurie has extended  our time to include dessert as well.

Normally everyone heads back home after dinner,  so I'm not sure what we would like to do. I would probably suggest watching a movie together or just sitting around talking.

Dad and I will be spending the night. I think it would an awesome treat for Grandma A to stay as well. If you would like to contribute to GMa's cost for a room, that would be wonderful- let me know. I will be picking out rooms early next week.

On Friday, we will be back at home and will serve brunch/lunch for anyone who still here.  We also offer our services for babysitting Landon, if Rivers 3.0  would like to go shopping earlier in the morning.

Early afternoon, D.A.D. will have his "Guy Time" with the men and I will kidnap the women for "Girl Time".

Harrison has offered to cook the evening meal for us – he has volunteered Lee's help as well. We will be opening gifts on Friday, after the meal. Friday night and Saturday morning are open. Not sure who will still be here then. We will have a room, if someone needs a place to stay.

 Don't forget to post your gift wish list!

If you know more details about your plans, please post!

Love you much,

MoM

Update on D.A.D Gift and Thanksgiving Meal

The D.A.D. really would like a gift certificate from Body First.  He hasn't been able to get regular massages lately, so this would make him very happy!

Here is the latest gift list. If you have not submitted your list, please do so!

1. Q's Wishes: 

   Best Buy or Amazon Gift Card

   
   
   D.A.D.
   Body First gift certificate
2. MoM W

   Movie passes

   Dark purple KSU sweatshirt XL

   Candles

   
   

   Lee- Best Buy Gift Cards

Also, I need to know the flight time and approximate time of arrival for the Har, Chris, Lee & Q clan. I need to make arrangements with where we will be eating our meal.

Right now the plan is to eat our meal at the MorningStar Bed & Breakfast. Laurie has graciously opened their B & B for our family. I need to know times so that I can coordinate with her.

Can't wait to see all of you! Love you much!

Grandpa Martin

 Just got word that Grandpa Martin, Megan's grandfather, passed away this morning. Please send out some love and support to her and the

rest of the Martin Family!

NAMT Festival Pics

Lauren Worsham, Eric Anderson, Lilli Cooper and More Perform at the NAMT Festival

Triple Billing · Along Middle Path · Kenyon College

Triple Billing  ·  Along Middle Path  ·  Kenyon College

Holiday Wish List

Hello Rivers Family,

We are down to just a little over a month before our annual Thanksgiving get together. I thought I would get a post going for everyone to add their wish lists for the holidays.

Please post in the comments below what you desire from your Christmas Elf...

What is the Root Cause of Loneliness?

Our loneliness is a heart cry, desire, deep in our soul, yearning for our Creator. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively.
God has put this knowledge in their hearts.  Romans 1:19

The tendency is to think, I need people and things in my life to be complete and fulfilled.  Not completely true, in reality, I need a relationship with God to be truly at peace, at rest, complete and fulfilled, then He will see fit to fulfill those secondary needs of my life.  I've been pondering this off and on for over 20 years now, and I've never heard a counselor or psychiatrist address this
root cause of my loneliness.

When I find myself feeling lonesome, that is my soul at its deepest level, wanting to connect with its Heavenly Father, wanting to be in relationship with Him.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  James 4:8.

Thanksgiving/Christmas Stuff

Don

Don't forget:

This year's gift exchange list:

Karl-Azer

Wandean-Lee 

Harrison-Q

Lee-James

Q-Harrison

James-Jon

Megan-Ashley 

Jon-Megan

Ashley-Karl

Azer- Wandean 

Limit is $20-25

This has been a long year financially,

so I thought limits would be good.

Please post what you like so that everyone 

can have ideas for gifts!

HAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SON

HAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SONHAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SON
HAPPYBIRTHDAY#4SON

Will make a great D.A.D.

One of Four Great Sons

HAPPYBIRTHDAYSIS

HAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYRENHAPPYBIRTHDAYREN

YESYESYES! OUR MARATHON MAN

Before race with his own personal cheerleader!

Happy Anniversary Rivers #3

Me and Lan had a great time

Good News from Wichita

Hi family!

Just wanted to let everyone know the good news, I will be joining the ranks of the gainfully employed! I have been offered a a position as Volunteer Coordinator for the Wichita Habitat for Humanity!

http://www.wichitahabitat.org

Both Ashley and I are super excited about this new opportunity and we'll definitely keep you updated as we learn more in the days ahead. Thank you so much for encouragement, prayers and support! God is faithful and good!

Love you all!

Ashley & Jonathan

Ps

Happy Birthday Again Harry!

HAPPYBIRTHDAYHAR!

HAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAYHAPPYHAPPYHAPPYBIRTHDAY!

#1 Son

#1 Grandson

#1 Brother

Update from Rena

Thz's Siddiq was glad to get the birthday greeting!
Well he is cancer free from the liver. And the pic line was removed yesterday. 
So he is now on oral antibiotics for about 2 to three months. We will be in yr 
neck of the woods. My vacation will be spending 14th til the 21st. 
So get our room ready. We will ge staying at the Rivers Inn. 
U hear it a great place to stay. And the foods not bad either :-P

HAPPYBIRTHDAYSIDDIQHAPPYBIRTHDAYSIDDIQ
HAPPYBIRTHDAYSIDDIQHAPPYBIRTHDAYSIDDIQ

Update from Minnesota (by way of NYC)

Hi all!

Still in New York
Though now OFFICIALLY on vacation!

Days have been spent reading and watching movies and eating good food.
Nights have mostly been spent at the theater.

Christopher and I saw AN AMERICAN IN PARIS on Saturday (lovely) and FUN HOME last night (heart-breaking).
HAMILTON is tonight and JOHN (a new three and a half hour play by Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Baker) is on Thursday.

We head back to St. Paul on Saturday evening.

I hope all is well with everyone!

We're excited to see you in November!

Love,
H

Update Update Update

You know what to do ....

Early Birthday to Myself

Felt the need for a little

Earth Wind & Fire

ENJOY!

Exclusive! Zombies On Broadway, The Theory Of Relativity and More at 27th Annual National Alliance For Musical Theatre

News about Last Queen of Canaan!

Exclusive! Zombies On Broadway, The Theory Of Relativity and More at 27th Annual National Alliance For Musical Theatre

Update from Abdulrahman Fam

Note from Rena:
Siddiq's liver cancer is back. Will b having surgery Monday. I work the rest of the week u can call me after 5pm. Much love. They are going to go through the groin area and put the radiation directly into the cancer. He will be staying overnight. And we found out today that he has to be on the antibiotics longer, the virus is still there. The doctor said might be on it for three months.

Send prayers up for them please!

Update from MoM & D.A.D Rivers Part II

 OK here's the story about Mary and Joseph:

In our effort to go and visit our #1 son Harrison, who as you know, lives in St. Paul Minnesota, we hit a bit of a snag  between Milwaukee and St. Paul.

 Why do I start out with Mary and Joseph?  Well folks that's who we felt like after trying to find a room as we were traveling along Highway 90/94. We could not buy a room, I mean actually buy a room. There were no rooms at the inn,  at anybody's inn actually!

 After leaving Milwaukee around 5 o'clock on Saturday, we decided that we would travel until about 8 o'clock and then get a room. Our first stop was Wisconsin Dells, 

which I thought would be a cool place to stop. 

Big mistake! Wisconsin Dells is a resort town, 

a really gaudy resort town, but still a resort town.  Everybody and their mother and mother-in-law and stepchild were in Wisconsin Dells!  It was like a bad movie, restaurants  at every turn, boats and RVs and kids everywhere!

Some of the hotels had huge replicas of the coliseum in the Trojan horse and bears etc.

Every hotel that we stopped at was booked. We spent an hour there mostly due to traffic and also because we kept getting no's on the rooms.

This continued at every exit that we took. 

No room at the inn-  we felt like Mary and Joseph!

 We finally arrived in St. Paul – at 2:30 in the morning.  The hotel Harrison had recommended was also full!  So we called Harrison, and said can we just sleep on the floor?  He graciously came down and found us, carried my heavy bag (I normally never pack that much), took us to their apartment and we crashed on the bed.  

Poor dad was half out of his mind, but he was a good sport and had a great attitude. Fortunately we didn't kill each other in the process.

So we got a taste, a little taste of what Mary and Joseph experienced many years ago!

Update from Poughkeepsie

Hi all, 

After a whirlwind weekend back in St. Paul

(I saw mom and dad AKA "Mary and Joseph Rivers"--TELL THE STORY! 

AND the new Pixar film INSIDE OUT which had me BAWLING like a small child)

And then a crazy two days in NYC

(Lee and I found some amazing smoky spicy margaritas in the West Village)

I am back in Poughkeepsie for two more days of theater camp.

The real reason I'm writing is to begin the Thanksgiving conversation...

When are we gathering together?

(Thanksgiving Day?)

And where?

(Manhattan? Wichita? Houston? St. Paul?)

Let's consult our calendars and report back!

Much love,

H

Update from MoM & D.A.D Rivers

we had a whirlwind trip to Milwaukee last weekend. the reunion was good. I am starting to recognize family and even remember a few names! Milwaukee is a neat city. far more things to look at and do than we had time for though.

the meet and greet on Friday was at Elmore's home. good food and lively company. they offered several options for Saturday morning- we chose the city tour. it was nice  being able to sit back and not have to worry about traffic or navigating.

we had some tentative reunion ideas and were able to come up with a

clearer plan for 2017.

 I am in the process of looking at hotels and booking a room for the banquet. I will try to do this pretty soon, because people plan way ahead for weddings and conferences.

We are considering having some sort of  historical video  about the Manhattan area and our family. We would love to get input from you guys as far as filming, writing and narrating the piece.

Enough for now. Chat with you soon!

Wichita Rivers Update

Hello Family!

Ashley and I hope you are all well! Things have been difficult but still good down here. Ashley has moved into a new larger office at work (though it has a penchant for flooding due to condensation from the A/C unit next door... two steps forward, one step back). And she survived all of her out of state travels with all her students intact. However, I think all of the stress has caught up with her and she's having to fight strep throat and other illness the rest of this week. Hopefully with some rest she'll be back to tip top shape to get started for the new school year.

Sadly, I did not receive a grant/contract specialist position at Wichita State that I interviewed for, so that was disappointing, but I have moved into the second phase of consideration for a management analyst position with the City of Wichita in their Parks and Recreation department. Unfortunately it will be 30 days (from July 15) before they get back with me with more information and a possible interview. So the job application and waiting continues. The job hunt, classes, volunteering at our church and various home projects keep me busy. This week we've been re-painting our kitchen!

Before  

 After

As always your prayers are tremendously appreciated and it is wonderful to hear about the great things that are going on in everyone's lives!

Love you tons!

Ashley & Jonathan

Houston Rivers' Summer Updates

Hello Family,

We hope that everyone is doing wonderful and enjoying the hot weather this summer has brought. It has been in the high 90's, with a heat index of over 100*. We are living our days indoors as much as possible and staying hydrated.

The Houston Rivers are in competition and training mode. Lee is registered for the Ventura Marathon in Ventura, CA on September 13. We will be traveling there for the race and to enjoy a few days on the West Coast beaches. Lee is in week 8 of training and loving every second of it. Q is 13 weeks out from her fitness competition, the Formulation 1 Classic, in Stafford, TX, scheduled for October 17. We are super excited to be able to support each other in our fitness and health goals, so exchanging stories of our training regimen and battle wounds has been comical; additionally our household is looking to invest in Epsom salt, as we have a lot of achy body parts to soak.

Another blessing rolled around earlier this week. Lee received a promotion and raise through IIE that takes effect August 1, 2015. He will continue to travel like crazy and may be taking on some new programs and responsibilities. He is scheduled to be in NYC next week for a team retreat and to meet Bill Gates' team, who is funding a grant that his company is applying for and to discuss what IIE has to offer if they are chosen to administer the grant. This grant is worth half a billion dollars. Q on the other hand is settling into her new position. She has been able to slowly step away from providing intense crisis intervention for clients, and is now focusing her attention on program planning and being out in the community on a regular basis. She is diving into research and submitted a few proposals for conferences. She just spent the last two days with a phenomenal friend and UN speaker, Indrani Goradia, doing a pilot training that will hopefully be conducted all across the U.S. and globally. They too, are in the process of getting the attention of Bill and Melinda Gates. The work they are doing is focused on gender-based violence and forced marriage initiatives, specifically in the Caribbean and India.

A lot of good things are happening for us and through us. We are simply grateful for the ways in which God blesses and uses us on a daily basis. Pray our strength in the Lord (physically and spiritually) as we continue training our bodies and feeding our souls on a daily basis.

In the same way, we pray for each of you. We look forward to hearing about the awesome things happening in every one's world.

Con Amor,
Lee & Q

Me And Grandma A's Outing

Grandma A had an appointment today. 

No real changes on anything, she lost a little bit  of weight.

After the appointment I asked her if she wanted to take a short road trip to Junction City.

She said she was game, and off we went. Megan was in the middle of Zumba-ing.  Landon was doing a modification of Zumba. We stole him for a bit, and went to A&W root beer.

 Megan was able to take a leisurely shower, and we had time with Landon.

This is how he felt about it ...