Help the Maserangs!

Gary would like help from any family members that are available on Saturday morning at 9am for just a couple of hours. They'll be moving the things that are salvageable from the house to the garage to store there. Mom and Connie and a crew of people have been working all week and have been getting a lot done! Appliances have been moved out, the insurance company has come and made reports on what they're going to replace (which is pretty much everything) so things are moving forward! Please let Mom/Grandma know if you can make it! (Or just comment on this post and we'll keep an eye on it.) I might take Ben down to Mom's and can keep an eye on any kids if they need to be dropped off so people can help, but we'll work out the details on that!

Guess Who?

Gary and Romanda's Home

Here are some of the pictures I took when we went to Gary and Romanda's today. It's so bad. It's so heartbreaking. I wasn't expecting it to be so bad. Mom will keep us all updated on what we can do to help. Keep them in your prayers!

Most of these are the back of the house and the master bedroom, but pretty much the entire house is either completely water damaged or smoke damaged. The integrity of the stone on the exterior of the house is definitely in question. Hopefully Mom will update with what the insurance company soon!

Jared went in and rescued their wedding picture. Yay Jared!

But amidst all of that, a few things did survive. This glass bird cage seemed peculiar in all of the rubble. And there are still beautiful flowers surrounding their home!

More news from Sophy

On Sun, Aug 24, 2008 at 1:47 PM, Sophy mechurchlishvili
wrote:
Thank you for your prayers. Well what can I say. Russians keep bombing
some towns my friend is stuck in one which is occupyed by russians I
talked to her today and she said that there is terrible situation
there. Russians and what is most terrible some Georgians too rob
others. There is no panic any more but the situation is still
tense.Russians say they will take their troops away but who knows
when. They kind of started but they keep bombing. Today I started
working in a project that is financed by government. I have to
translate news in English from Russian and Georgian about this
situation in the country. I was worring very much I thought I would
not get this job but I did and I am very excited about it. I saw
Lisa's pics she is very cute. Congratulations to C.J and Randy. I will
have another sister in two months we want to call her Natasha. I can't
wait. Anyways I got to go now I have to translate another news. Thank
you again. I love you Sophy
P.S. www.sosgeorgia.org here is one of the most objective
information about this situation and you could see if you are
interested. I translated some of the top news that are in this site.

Stepping Up to the New Library

The Maserang and Bill Fowkes bricks are now installed at the new Library. The ones that were ordered for Connie and me will be in the next order. It is all lookin’ good!

A message from Dad

My yard/handyman Michael and I took the dining table apart today to refinish it. The last time that was done was 13 years ago when we moved here and he and I varnished it on the patio. Today we moved to the carport to catch the breeze since this cold front has moved in and dropped temps to less than 100º. When we took the table apart, we found a typical Fowkes note attached inside where you would never find it unless you dismantled the thing. The note indicates when we bought the table, the price, etc. Ever-organized Dad left us that message to find on the week of his birthday.

e-mail from Sophy

Here's the e-mail I got from Sophy:

I don't know what to say. I am in georgia and I can't explain with words what is going on here. I am in shock. Russians bombed all big cities in Georgia including Tbilisi. My friends were in war. 10000 people died but no one says that in TV. Hundreds of people don't have homes any more. Russian army was gonna ocupy Tbilisi yesterday we were in Panic but i don't know what happened then they did'nt come. My siblings are in village it's safer there. My mum asked me to go too but I won't go without her. I don't know why Russia hates us so much but I would rather die than see how Georgia becomes part of Russia. There are meetings in Tbilisi now and queues in stores to buy products. Shortly saying if Russia doesnt take away his army from Georgia people will fight and everyone will die here because it is tragedy and worse thing for us to become pat of Russia. Thank you for your prayers. Love Sophy

From Ginny: I know when Sophy was here she talked about the Ossetia Province and how it caused a lot of problems for Georgia. It was the highest insult to her when people mistook her as Russian. Those poor people lived under communist rule and had just tasted a little freedom in the last few years--I hope and pray that it will stay so.

Remember Sophy

Our old exchange student, Sophy, is from the country of Georgia which has been invaded by Russia. Please remember her and her family in your prayers. Russian troops are on their way to Tblisi, the capital city where Sophy lives, which is far from the original conflict. Jared heard that Russian troops have divided the country in half and we're guessing chances are very good that they will cease to be a country, possibly by the end of the week. Their country was already in terrible condition economically, and was just starting to recover under their new democratic & pro-western president Saakashvili. I've e-mailed Sophy but haven't heard anything from her yet, but will keep you posted. In your prayers, you might remember saying a little thank you for living in a free, peaceful, prosperous country.

Temple Trip

Please join us if you are able on Wednesday, August 20th at 7:30 p.m. in the Dallas Temple for Julianne's endowment. RSVP so we'll know who's coming and can be sure there are enough spots! She'll be in the MTC on Oct. 8th, so I'm guessing we'll do a going away something in conjunction with conference.

They (mostly James) said it couldn’t be done!

Nephew and cousin James Hoffman gave up on this 1,000 piece puzzle and told the grandgirls they would never finish. Never say that to any of ours! Them’s fightin’ words! Sunday night, during a Monkfest, Carrie, Julie and Chrystal finished the puzzle. Many others put in a piece here and there but the bulk of the work was theirs. Congratulations! Our next great puzzle features James Dean, Humphrey Bogart, Elvis and Marilyn with a classic car. Stop by and put in a few pieces at the Fowkes Farm!

Look, Grandma!

just a cute little picture of great-granddaughter Mary von Bose.