Shawn & his father at Aunt Edna & Uncle Johnny's house.
The family from out of town stayed at a Best Western in Lumberton, N.C. The hotel has a great pool for gathering around and visiting.
Saturday, we spent some time driving around Lumberton & Fairmont sight-seeing. We visited some "homes" where Shawn lived as a baby. His very humble beginnings looked much the same as they do today, minus a broken window or two. Audrey said the monthly rent for this place was about $24 a mo. I must say though, as spider-filled as this place looks, the country side is absolutely beautiful!
This was they house that Jack almost lost his life, at the hand of his very distraught wife. Apparently, Shawn's father came home with "a few too many," only to find Audrey sitting up in bed with a shot gun pointed at his head in the doorway. Audrey says she had never seen him move so fast. The shot gun was thrown away that very same night.
They lived in the project's for a time when Shawn was around 3 years old. He found a gift from God here, a $1 bill which bought beans, bread and butter.
This house was closer to town...the rent was $17/ mo. The Lord is so good! He provided for them during the hardest of times. What a time of remembrance, and great thankfulness, seeing the showering of blessing that we all now enjoy. We deserve NOTHING, and yet the Lord has given us everything we could dream or desire! What a Great God we have!
NO, they didn't live here! But we couldn't believe our eyes! Down the street from one of the houses they lived in, was a trailer, with a buffalo tied to a plow in the front yard. If that were not outrageous enough, there was a "beware of the dog" sign on the fence! Guess they don't have signs that read "beware of buffalo" in N.C.!!
After Sunday's services at the church, they had a catered dinner in the fellowship hall. What a blessing that one family could fill the room!
Dylan and cousin Jeffrey swinging on the monkey bars.
Ashley, Audrey, and Shawn hanging out after the dinner.
10 of the 13 total brothers and sisters in Jack's family. (Left to right) Buddy, Genice, Edna, Margarette, Rosie, Lee, Willie, Tiny, Betty, & Kathy. Missing are Jack (back at the hotel) Regina, Vertie & (Anthony who was adopted) that have gone on to be with the Lord.
Some of the family that attended the reunion. Imagine what it took to get everyone together for one photo!
Ashley and cousin O'Brien, feeling the love. What nobody realized while taking this photo is that (slightly) psychotic cousin Jeff was behind them!
Poor Aunt Kathy trying to play a game! Took some patience, but she pulled it off and everyone came away with a gift!
Another game, a bit sillier, but fun just the same. Go Uncle Willie! 
