Terry Lavy, Tara’s dad, my father-in law, and the kids’ “Papaw,” was born on this day (February 9th) in 1936, turning 71 this year! We celebrated playing ping pong, and both Tara and I quickly beat him, in spite of it being his birthday. That should fool no one, however, as he is a good player and competitor; I just think it had been a while since he held a paddle.
We are glad that he bravely supports what we are now doing as missionaries. It surely isn’t easy for him to think of his baby, Tara, traveling to places less safe than Fayetteville, Arkansas, to spread and support the gospel of Jesus Christ. He traveled much of the world in his younger years as a learned professor and researcher, teaching the science behind pesticides, their proper use, and researching and promoting sound agronomy for 40 years. He also misses having Tanner, Keaton and Regan around because he loves to take them fishing with him on Beaver Lake and because Tara’s mom, Bonnie, misses them and lets him know it. 🙂
Ironically, the most dangerous thing that has happened to our knowledge thus far with regard to our missionary journeys is when Papaw and Mamaw visited us and Papaw decided to hand feed a puffer fish, which resulted in the near loss of the end of his finger, giving new meaning to the term “finger food.” 