Mike King

Pray for Jessica

Pray for Jessica tomorrow morning (Wednesday, August 13).  Our baby girl is having surgery and we would love your prayers on her behalf.

Vacationing in North Carolina

Vicki and I spent last week unplugged on vacation at Atlantic Beach, North Carolina with Vicki's parents and siblings.  There were 15 of us.  Vicki's dad, Jack has a friend he helped finance a business start-up that became very successful.  To show his gratitude, he allows the Alfano Clan to stay in his beach home.  This year, we enjoyed his newly remodeled home built right on the sand dune a few feet away from the shoreline.  The surf was awesome all week.  The beach was uncrowded.  The weather was perfect.  I almost made it through all 566 pages of the best selling fiction novel by David Wroblewski, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.   The toughest decisions I had to make were how much should I eat and do I want to hang out at the beach, swim in the ocean, or lay by the pool. I need a three month Sabbatical at this place.   more pictures

Youth Worker Grandpa teaching Granddaughter the art of fireworks

I'm teaching Lexi her first skills for firework handling.  You can't tell me I won't be ready for my next round of middle school ministry when Lexi gets there.

Lexi discovers the mulberry bush

We have a mulberry bush in our backyard that is producing fruit for the first time this summer.  Lexi our granddaughter discovered how wonderful and sweet this fruit is and she could not be stopped...

Family Update

I've had a few of my readers ask for a family update so here it is.

Jessica is about to begin her final year in Nursing School at Rockhurst University.  She is blowing us away with her academic success and is considering continuing further educational pursuit in the medical field.  Jessica has been dating Micah Thomas for more than a year.  Micah is on staff at YouthFront and is also on staff at Jacob's Well as a worship leader.  Jessica lives a couple blocks from Jacob's Well and loves urban living.

Daniel, Lindsay have blessed us with our wonderful grandchild Alexis.  Daniel and Lindsay went on a getaway weekend last weekend to celebrate their birthdays so we got to keep Lexi at our house... great fun.  Lexi is almost 17 months old.  She is such a joy to us.  Daniel has been working full time for Paradise for the last year and Lindsay works as a nurse for Children's Mercy Hospital.   This summer they will live at YouthFront Camp West where Daniel will serve on the summer staff and Lindsay will oversee the Medical staff.  They live in Lee's Summit, just ten minutes from us.

Micah and Anne live in Blue Springs, also ten minutes from us.  Micah just started a new job on the youth ministry staff at Church of the Resurrection.  Anne is a head nurse in a medical office in Lee's Summit.  Last weekend we celebrated Anne's birthday with a night of fun activities.  Micah and Anne have become major fitness fanatics inspiring all of the rest of us.  Last Friday night they took Lexi to Build a Bear where they indulged her in all the wonderful options of creating a stuffed Bear.  We think they had a really good time but refuse to insists that they bring more grandkids into our lives... smile.

Happy Birthday to my girl

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness." My Love, my wife, my best friend, an amazing mother, my soul mate... Vicki has given me so much happiness and joy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Vick. I love you so much.

Easter Picture

Here is a picture of our entire clan taken on Easter.

   

Go San Diego

Because of our participation in the Advent Conspiracy at Jacob’s Well we chose not to give Christmas presents to our kids and gave the money to build wells for those who do not have access to clean water.  We encouraged each other to give the gift of time to each other or make gifts.  We gave our kids a free ticket that we cashed in with frequent flyer points and the chance to go on a trip with us.  This week Vicki and I took Jessica, our daughter, her boyfriend Micah Thomas, Daniel, Lindsay and Alexis, our son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter to San Diego. We had a sweet condo on Mission Beach.  We bought 3 day Go San Diego cards.  On Sunday we hung out in Balboa Park and SeaPort Village, topping off the day at Extraordinary Desserts.  Monday we did the San Diego Zoo, Miramar Racing, La Jolla, and Belmont Park.  Tuesday we did the Science Center, National History Museum, a tour of the Midway Aircraft Carrier and a whale watching tour.  Tuesday night, Jim Hancock drove down to spend the evening with us for dinner at Beth, Joe and Allena Slevcove’s home.  It was our third night watching the sun go down which we observed on the Slevcove’s awesome deck.  From their deck you can see the bay, the airport and Point Loma.  They only live a mile north of downtown but they are nestled in a canyon surrounded by Eucalyptus trees which make you feel like you are in the forest.  On Wednesday, we started the day at the Museum of Making Music, followed by Lego Land

and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.  I was glad for Thursday to come which meant that our three day Go San Diego Card was expired.  I relaxed by working for a couple of hours at Youth Specialties.  It is always good to see the gang – Marko’s new look is hot; Tic and Marko are both losing lots of weight.  Beth Slevcove, Jeannie Oestreicher and I worked on stuff for the National Conferences this fall.  In the afternoon it was back at the beach for some fun in the sun.  All of the kids were pretty worn out by Thursday evening so Vicki and I headed to La Jolla for dinner and romance.  Yeah Baby.  Friday we hung out in Old Town and down town San Diego before heading to the airport for a late night flight home. Here are some pictures.

Lexi is sweet 16

Here is our granddaughter at 16 months.  We can't get enough of her...

What a difference a year makes...

Alexis last year at Christmas ...

                           

    Alexis this Christmas...