Merry Christmas 2009!

Merry Christmas! You know the good thing about teenagers? Division of labor becomes a lot more effective! You know the bad thing about teenagers? Okay, that's a subject for another letter (just kidding)! Anyway, here's everyone's news, written by everyone individually, and, if you want to read on, you can catch some of our notes and photos from the summer vacation trip to Washington (also produced by teenagers!)....


Hi, it's Frank, and this is what I have been doing this year. Over the summer I played on Wimberley's all-stars baseball team and was the starting pitcher. I also participated in the 4-H dog project. My dog, Aggie, and I did very well at the state dog show at Texas A&M. We won the high point award in my age group.
I am in 8th grade and currently on the Hill Country Christian School Junior High basketball team. I also enjoy playing electric guitar (and growing--Mom's note). Have a Merry Christmas!




Hi all, it's Abby, and this is what I've been doing this year. I attended the teen work camp week at our church and had much fun. My golden retriever, Arby, and I went to the 4-h dog show, where both my brother and I got the high point in our age groups. I am a sophomore, 10th grade, in Hill Country Christian School. I played volleyball in the fall, and right now I am playing on the high school basketball team. Also at my school I am playing the electric bass guitar in the praise band. I just wanted to say "Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!"


Merry Christmas from Gordon. I was blessed with another eventful year of family, work, and church activities. Family highlights include: lots of baseball, softball, volleyball, and basketball games; vacationing in the northwest; 4-H events; my sister's wedding in October; enjoying visits from friends from Australia and Germany. This past year was probably one of the busiest I have had at work. The drought drastically reduced flows in the rivers and streams around the state, thus providing the “opportunity” to collect water quality and biological data at extremely low conditions. I spent a lot of time working on the San Antonio River. In addition we completed the second year of data collection on an EPA funded grant targeted at assessing the stream conditions around the state. This project took our team from the panhandle (where I got to perform some work on the Canadian River on T. Boone Pickens Ranch) to the Big Bend region, valley, and east Texas. Sometimes I find myself wishing our state was a bit smaller.
As far as church, I was asked to fill in as the music worship leader for about three months until the vacancy was filled. I enjoyed serving in that role but was very glad when the replacement was hired. Finally, I enjoyed seeing old friends at my 30th high school reunion this summer. "30th" and "old"--I don't like the sound of those words! Best wishes to all of you.



Hi, this is Lee Ann, and I’ve spent this year driving to basketball games and volleyball games and baseball games and softball games and dog shows and church and a couple of times to West Texas! And for that I give thanks. It’s a busy period in our lives, but, as our kids reach their high school years, I’m glad for every moment that we have with them and count the blessings that we’ve been given. Even as much as I’ve enjoyed the chances I’ve had to do field work on horned lizards and frogs this year, I know I treasure most the gift of time we’ve had with the ones we love, and, despite the posts above, it doesn’t all involve competitions (another of the important wisdoms we learned from our dear Amigo, who departed us this year, and who never cared for dog shows! :-)).
And I do slip away occasionally--usually for a bike ride or swim (though our beloved Blanco River didn’t offer much opportunity during this summer of heat and drought) or, when we can find a block of unscheduled time, for a family campout. Finally, it seems I’ve been doing a lot of praying this year--for friends and family facing health concerns or loss, for the futures our children will inherit, and for peace--in the world and in our hearts. That’s what I wish for all of you this year--peace, not as the world gives, but a greater, lasting peace from above…love to you all!

Merry Christmas from the Linams!

Washington Trip - July 22, 2009

Lee Ann's recollections - Day 8 (Frank's pen or, perhaps, patience wore out...)

We spent our last day in Seattle, just enjoying the sights of the city (like this great pork sandwich-mobile), a little coffee, and a visit with some old college friends of mine...

Pike's Market is still a great attraction (as evidenced by all the people at the fish market, who weren't interested in buying fish at all, but just in photographing those who did...)

Gordon and the kids enjoyed a visit to the wonderful Seattle aquarium while I just enjoyed relaxing on the waterfront, reflecting on the renewal that a vacation brings...

Washington trip - July 21

FRANK'S JOURNAL - Day 7
Photos by Abby

We slept in this morning. After we got up we watched TV until 1:00. Then we went to the library for 1 hour.
Then we went on a hike at a wildlife refuge. Next we went to a nature center on Puget Sound. We went on a kayak trip through the bay.
We saw Mt. Rainier and some seals as we paddled around. After that we just went back to Yelm.

Washington Trip - July 20

FRANK'S JOURNAL - Day 6

We got up and went down to tidepool in the lowest tides all month. We saw seastars, oysters, urchins, sculpins, nudabranks, and lots of kelp. Then we went on a ferry ride to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. We just walked around the city. We saw some guitar and violin players on the streets. We saw historic buildings and walked through and ate in Chinatown. It was fun. Then we went back on the ferry. We went driving up a mountain to a great view on Hurrican Ridge at sunset. We could see beautiful mountains with snow on them. We hiked around a little and the sunset made it look beautiful. We went back to Yelm, went to bed, and ended the longest day of our vacation.

Washington Trip - July 19

FRANK'S JOURNAL - Day 5
(Photos by Abby--well, except the one of Abby)

We got up and started packing up camp. Karen found a Banana Slug and brought it back. We all got our picture with the Banana Slug. We tried to go to church but no one showed up. We finished packing up and started on our way to some "Hot Springs," stopping at some neat spots at the coast on the way. Someone had made a bunch of "art" out of the rocks on the beach, so we made some, too.

At the hot springs there were 3 pools that were 100, 104, and 106 degrees. There was also a big pool that was a nice swimming temperature. After that we drove around a lake that was formed by a melting glacier. The water was actually a blue color.

We then set up camp on the north part of the Olympic Penninsula.

I finished reading White Fang. We ate supper then we had S'mores. Then we went to bed.

Washington Trip - July 18

FRANK'S JOURNAL - Day 4
(Photos by Abby)

We got up, ate breakfast and started off for the Hoh rainforest. We saw a bald eagle and 2 elk on the way.

We stopped at a river to find invertebrates. The water was actually blue because it was a glacier river. We finally got there and went on a hike. The hike was called "Hall of Mosses."

Its name described it. there was cool moss hanging off of everything. We ate lunch there then we started back. We went to a Ranger Talk when we got back.

Then we ate supper and made a fire on the beach. We stayed there until sunset was over then we went back to our camp and went to sleep.

Washington Trip - July 17

FRANK'S JOURNAL - Day 3
(Photos by Abby)

We didn't do much today. We woke up and had a breakfast of homemade bacon, pancakes, and juice. We packed up and headed for the Olympic Penninsula. After a long drive there we finally got there and set up camp. Once we were set up we went on a walk on the beach. There were dead crabs everywhere on the beach. We went a little way into the water but it was freezing! We went back to camp, ate supper, and started a fire. When it was getting dark we went down to the beach and watched the sunset. It was really neat. The sunsets there last for a long time. We went back to camp and went to bed.
I threw-up in the middle of the night.

Washington Trip - July 16

FRANK'S JOURNAL - Day 2

We got up and ate breakfast. After breakfast we started driving towards Mt. Saint Helens. This is the story of the 1980 eruption. Mt. Saint Helens had been acting active and people were told to leave the "blast zone." After a while the people were getting tired of waiting and the police let them go get their stuff from their house. Just 10 hours after the last person left the blast zone with their stuff the only people there were loggers. Just 10 hours after the people who lived there got their stuff and earthquake occured. The magma in Mt. Saint Helens had been pushing a
bulge out of the north side of the volcano. The bulge had been growing by a rate of 6 feet a day! The earthquake caused the north side to collapse causing the biggest landslide in history! It destroyed everything in its path. It destroyed all of the thick forest and carried it down the river. All the logs from the Fir trees looked like spaghetti going down the river. Then toxic ash started coming out.
The ash had rocks flying through it. It was the middle of the day but the ash turned all the light to blackness for hundreds of miles away! Ash from the eruption even reached Texas! No one could enter until all the toxic dust had cleared out. All the ground was barren after the eruption. All the destruction made Mt. Saint Helens 1500 feet shorter! It used to be a perfect cone-shaped volcano, now it is an odd-shaped volcano with a huge crevasse in one side. Harry (B) Truman died in the eruption (it wasn't the president Harry Truman). We went on some hikes. Then we went back to Doug and Karen's house. My dad was excited because he got to see Sasquatch on the trip!

Washington trip - 7-15-09

Frank's Journal:
Last night we stayed at our friends house just outside of Seattle. Our friends, Doug and Karen, fed us breakfast of home-grown strawberries, blueberries, and cherries. The climate is a temperate rain forest and it feels great. We went to Mt. Rainier, a dormant volcano, and we went on hikes. We went up a hike up the side of a volcano. It was uphill all the way and there was snow everywhere. It was a hard hike at first because the air was thin. We got to a point that you would have to be a mountain climber to get up. Then we started on our way down the mountain. It was the funnest part. We slid around in the snow and had snowball fights! It was actually powdery snow not the ice we have in Texas. It was the most snow I have ever seen. After that we went on a hike and saw some cool waterfalls. Then we went back to our friends' house for the night.

Merry Christmas 2008!

How can it be that another year has gone by? In some ways it seems like Christmas was just yesterday, but in other ways it seems a very long time ago. This year has taught us much about treasuring, rather than measuring time.

We are all well, and, as always, are thankful for your care and concern for our family. Abby is a 9th-grader at Hill Country Christian School this year.
She is doing very, very well. She’s playing volleyball, softball, and planning to run track. She’s also taken up the bass guitar this year and shows a remarkable sense of rhythm (not sure where she got that!). Her other big hobby continues to be her dog, Arby—they did very well in obedience and agility competition this year. She’s a blessing to us; just the thought of her leaving home in less than four years is one of those things that has us treasuring time.

Video of Abby and Arby on an agility course

Frank is also back at Hill Country this year for 7th grade. Although I miss my homeschool buddy, he’s enjoying the chance to play junior high basketball and compete in academic competitions. He had another good season pitching for his Little League baseball team in the spring. He also continues to play guitar and piano (and GameCube) and enjoys unwinding with his puppy, Aggie. They started beginner agility classes this fall. Frank really grew up in a lot of ways this year (literally—he’s almost as tall as his mom!)

Video of Frank's fastball (the batter was surely out at first!)


Gordon and I just try to keep up. Besides our jobs at Texas Parks and Wildlife, we’re both involved in the music team at church and helping out at school and in the Wimberley 4-H club. We were blessed this year with the chance to serve a couple of meals at the Ronald McDonald House in San Antonio where we stayed all those weeks in 2006. It was good to just give back a little of the care we received there. And then we all enjoyed a camping trip in California this summer. The sequoias, Yosemite, and Big Sur were awe-inspiring, even through all the smoke—you can check out pictures of our trip and read Frank's journal in the posts below.

However, the year did bring us some heartache. In September of this year we suddenly lost Gordon’s Mom to heart failure. We will miss her presence in so many ways—she created such a loving home and wonderful family. I was struggling with words to try to pay her a fitting tribute, and, suddenly, as I read through Proverbs 31, I realized that I only needed to update the list of activities and the passage would be a perfect reflection of Mom’s life. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it below. Even in our sadness now, I realize that she has left us with many blessings…

May you count, treasure, and hug your blessings this Christmas season.


A Woman Who Fears the Lord – Proverbs 31

In Loving Memory of Charlene Ophelia Brown Linam

An excellent wife and mother who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She takes up the dishes and laundry,
and works with loving hands.
She is the friend of the merchant (especially Dillards!);
she shops for quality in food and goods.
She rises while it is yet night
and cooks those famous meals for her household
and for all their friends.
She considers a perfect gift and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she picks the garden and pecans.
She shows remarkable strength;
she does not tire from encouraging her family.
Her work is respected in the City, and still,
at home she works into the night.
She travels for soccer and baseball and basketball and softball…;
her children’s children are her passion.
She gives to the church
and opens her home to friends.
She is not afraid of snow (especially on Christmas Day!),
for she gives fine clothes to her family
(even to her reluctant grandson!).
She wraps her home in beauty;
her clothing is tasteful and stylish.
Her husband is known in the City;
doctors and associates respect him.
She makes clothing for her grandchildren;
and pies and cakes that are beyond compare.
Kindness and generosity are her appearance,
and she laughs with joy among her family.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household;
and, except for Spurs games, she is never idle.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceiptful, and beauty is passing,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

We love you, Mom--thanks for all the wonderful years.

California Vacation - July 24-25

Frank's Journal:

After our plane landed we drove through Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood and stayed in a La Quinta in Santa Clarita. We woke up to the best hotel breakfast ever.
Then we left the hotel and travelled through the hot, boring valley, where we bought some fruitThen we got to Sequoia National Park (NP) and saw our first sequoia trees. They are huge! We went on a couple of hikes--first up Morro Rock and then to see the General Sherman Tree, THE largest living thing on earth! It is 311 feet tall and weighs 138.5 tons! Then we set up our campsite, made smores, and went to bed.

.

California Vacation - July 25

Frank's Journal:

We woke up in Sequoia National Park, and we ate breakfast and went on a hike right beside our campsite. We corssed the river and hiked up a hill to a cool boulder formation that had water running through it. Then we packed up and went to King's Canyon NP.


We saw the General Grant sequoia tree, the national Christmas tree. Then we followed the King's River into King's Canyon where we saw some cool marble rocks and a waterfall called Grizzly Falls. The we got to the campground, set up camp, and went exploring at Cedar Grove. We saw Roaring River Falls, and then we went on a short hike to a meadow with lots of mosquitoes. Then we went back to camp and went to bed.

Grizzly Falls

California Vacation - July 26

Frank's Journal:
Today we woke up, ate, and then went on a "3-hour hike" to Mist Falls. The hike took us through a cold valley and then up a hot mountain, and then down to a cool waterfall. The water at the waterfall was freezing. Then we started on our way back. It seemed like the hike would never end. We just kept going around a turn to see that we were not there yet. When we finally got back it was 2:00; our "three-hour, 9 1/2-mile hike" took six hours!

When we got to camp we ate; then we went swimming in a 58 degree river! Before we swam we turned in our Junior Ranger packets and got our badges. Then at night we went to a ranger talk on bears. Then we went back to camp and went to sleep.