a coffee with friends, 
and then a fancy French Dinner for family and friends. 
RV made another of several trips to Walters to see his father
Sylvia helped plan a Big Celebration of the 85th Birthday of Ingrid at church, a coffee with friends, and then a fancy French Dinner for family and friends.
As always, the Texas State Fair is must see! 
Russell taught a SELECT class on American Religious History again
Emily was invited to "troop" at the AlamoCity Comic Con in San Antonio. RV, SV, Alex, and Melissa attended too 
We were able to host a Berendzen lunch -- for Russell's mother, her brother, and her sister! 
Russell leads Lutheran campus ministry trivia night fundraiser
Ingrid flew to Orlando to see friends
SV drove to Houston for NCTE and also drove over to Orange, Texas to donate books to an Elementary School where the library was destroyed by a recent hurricane
Sylvia, Russell, and Ingrid drove to KS for Thanksgiving with Emily and Brenda. 
We also visited the National World War One Museum in Kansas City
SV to Petula Clark concert with Arlene and Susan
After a couple of visits to help, RV and SV waited as RV's father had cancer surgery (12/6) -- all seems well!
OK, it was crazy but we had a reason -- SV and RV flew to Dublin, Ireland for three days 
Speaking of crazy, we came back so we could attend Elton John's farewell concert. (Russell had seen him in Dallas in 1971!) 
Then it was time for birthdays: RV celebrated his 65th with surprise meals with friends & applied for Medicare the next day!
SV planned her special birthday with the children gathering from Kansas and San Antonio
Sylvia has achieved a personal best year of 131 movies -- thanks to the Variety Club Movie Pass promotion. This year we particularly liked Black Panther, Blackkklansman, Blindspotting, Avengers: Infinity War, Crazy Rich Asians, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Won't You Be My Neighbor?, 1985, RBG, and A Star Is Born.