[insert something witty here]

Family! Hi!

Michael, good call...this is a great idea! It's good to hear from you guys :-D

Sorry the Cantwells have been MIA! No real excuses, but Tim and I just got back from skiing in Aspen--our uncle on the Cantwell side hooked us up with some X Games tickets and lift tickets to Aspen. So, needless to say, we had a GREAT time. (We also heard a lot of executives bringing up Kelly's name. Apparently she is the latest and greatest of ESPN. But, everyone probably already knew that!)

So, this is my last semester at Regis University (I'm majoring in Neuroscience and Kinesiology) and I have very little schoolwork to do. So, I'm filling my weekends with skiing and my week days with road biking (when weather permits) and ministry. Right now, I am living in a Regis sponsored house (aka Uncle Regis picks up the bill) that focuses on social justice and community service. We have people over a lot to discuss different social justice issues and we are required to do community service. I'm working with a Christian ministry called Dry Bones Denver. It's a street outreach for the homeless youth of Denver. I really can't believe how much fun it is! I definitely value the relationships that I have with the street kids and I appreciate so much about them and their community. I'm also learning TONS about real, authentic Christianity, grace, and unconditional love from the staff.

Two of my biggest passions are college ministry and travelling and I've gotten to do a lot of both lately! I'm heavily involved with an organization called Campus Crusade for Christ and God's taken my passions all over the world this year to love and share life with college students...RUSSIA, Germany, Turkey, Mexico, El Salvador and, soon to be, southeast asia. It hasn't all been easy but it's been incredibly exciting and fulfilling. I can definitely say that life with Christ is an adventure! As for after graduation, I'm still trying to figure out if I will take a year off or head straight to physical therapy school. Either way, I'm eventually headed to Texas Woman's University in Houston to become a physical therapist. Hopefully, I'll be able to combine physical therapy and international missions in the future. I'd love to be able to serve people's physical needs in a second or third world country.

I'll let Tim post about himself, but our parents are doing well. Our mom is sticking with mentoring younger women and teaching Bible studies. Our dad is always out of the country for work...he's the director of a regional airport that is working hard with international cargo. Mom says "Hi" to all of you and sends her love and Dad "sends a shout out" (yep, he's cool).

Infamous Kevin

Hey Ya'll

This is a pretty good idea, that is coming from a Techie though...On that note I am spending the semester in LaGrange and taking classes here in order to make my parents a little happier and with any luck make some better grades. I will be back at Tech in August and should graduate Fall 09 putting me right at 5 1/2 years and I cant complain college has been one of my favorite expierences so far in life. I don't have a girlfriend right now I have been in two long relationships in college and I have come to think that now is a time for hanging out with friends and expeirencing new things on your own.

So for the past couple of years and in my spare time from Georgia Tech I have been working for Golfsmith selling and making golf clubs it has been a great expeirence and I have learned that I never ever want to work for a big corporation ever again. I think small buisness is going to be the way that I want to go from now on just not good at dealing with the whole corporate enviorment.

The Family is great Meghan has been informed of this blog and is awaiting to recieve an invite at mmcnearney@gmail.com, and I will let her tell ya'll what she is doing. Robert and Emily are in Birmingham living in their nice house with their two dogs. Robert Graduates law school this May and has already landed a job at a small law firm as an intern hoping to become one of their lawyers once he has graduated. Emily has just started Nurse Practitioner school and seems to be thouroghly enjoying her classes. Carolyn and Bob and both happy mom is still at LaGrange college working in the Academic Dean's office and dad is doing consulting work with Sodexho.

Hope everyone is doing amazing

The Missing and the Mute

Okay, we are doing well so far, but where is everyone else. We are still missing quite a few. Doug and Stephen have checked in but are mute (hint, hint). Molly has posted a picture, I guess we just supposed to figure out the story behind it. Is that Africa or South Central LA? The Cantwells and Bob McNearneys are still 100% unaccounted for and the Gerry and John Macs have minimal representation. Get on the horn and get your family in the action!

Julie, it is wonderful to hear that you and Glen are doing so well. I am sorry that we did not connect over Christmas.

Patrick, It is really good to hear from you. I had no idea you were in Cincy. Hope you are enjoying college. How much longer for you there?

I am currently deployed overseas and will check in periodically, but fully hope we can recruit a little more participation here by the time I get back in a few weeks.

Peace,

Mike

Change

only a boy in a story

McNearney's & Co.-

Hello from Cincinnati! It's been fun reading everyone's "scoop" the past few days so I figured I owed everyone my own little anecdote of Patrick's life as of January '08. I wrote this in my pajamas- forgive me if it goes astray...

So let's see. As to date I'm the only one to post who is not a college graduate so you may think my life is full of drinking on Tuesday nights, beating Halo 3, and having hot wing eating contests. Sadly, it's far from the truth. Now in my junior year I'm starting to really evaluate where I've been and where I want to go- which is of course fun, scary, stressful, and exciting all at once. I've had quite the extensive life for a twenty year old if you ask me. I've made some tremendous friendships, made the dean's list, become president of a student club, gathered two executive mentors, worked a small part-time job for a wireless company, and am an RA [you know...one of those guys that puts on corny programs and listens for alcohol. Don't worry- I'm "cool"]

This past summer I had a less than easy time finding a job and somehow or other ended up landing at a nonprofit summer camp for underprivileged teenagers. Now, I am probably the total opposite of Gerard here as I more or less despise camping (my bed in the AC works just fine, thanks) ...but I'm glad I had the experience nonetheless. I got to eat government camp food three meals a day (boy do I miss those biscuits and gravy), sing songs before every meal, got 1 day off a week, and lived in a cabin with eight boys who think farting is somehow cool...all for something like $8 a day. Like Kanye says, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Ha but seriously it was an amazing time to get away from the cellphone-commercial crazed world and to not only live what summer is all about but to also get to have fun with teenagers who thought you were cooler than Britney Spears (pre 2003 of course).

I'm continuing to cook [Julie has proof] and loving it. I cooked dinner for a Christmas party in December for 30 people by myself and had a (tiring) blast. Still not sure how that does/will fit into my future but I have no doubt it will show up, atleast eventually. Two paths I'm also looking into is event planning and nonprofit work. I'd enjoy doing all three tremendously.

This summer brings some exciting new things as I'm going to Maastricht, Netherlands for a month for a study abroad program. Following that I move into an apartment with my best friend in Cincinnati. And not long after, should be working for a new HR company in the area.

I'm also a big fan of reflection and of blogs (more so reading than writing) so I thought I'd leave you with something I put on my blog earlier this month to talk about the upcoming year since I had (and continue to have) high hopes of it for myself and everyone else. I think hope can do a heck of alot of good. I hope you'll take it to soul.

So, in 2008 I keep many of the same messages. Go for it. Go be that starving artist you're afraid to be. Go out on a Tuesday night. Stay up and talk with a friend 'til 4am. Take pride in the little stuff. Open up that journal and get poetic finally. Volunteer. Suck it up and travel. You were not born here to work and pay taxes. You were put here to be part of a vast organism to explore and create. Stop putting it off. The world has much more to offer than what's on 15 televisions at TGI Fridays. Take pictures. Scare people. Be the change you want to see in the world.

Shake up the scene.

[oh, almost forgot. Go Obama.]

-Patrick
iwaswrong77@gmail.com

I forgot pictures:)

Julie's News

Mike this is the greatest idea ever! The first to get married....the first to have grand kids....the first to become a doctor.....and full of brilliant ideas:) Seriously, I have often wished that we would have all stayed in better touch than we have. This Christmas I noticed that there were not as many people at my Christmas Eve dinner as I remember being there just a few years ago. I know that we all grow up and start our own families but I miss those days when things seemed to simple. I remember the last time that we were all together at Grandpa's funeral. It was so great to spend time with my cousins and remember all of the great memories we have as a family.

Most of you know that I got married in November of 2005. I married this really amazing guy, really. I am not just saying that either. He is literally "everything I never knew I always wanted". I never thought that I would find this kind of love in my life. His family is amazing and I now have two new sisters, a new brother, a nephew and about a million more cousins. Glenn and I are doing really great. We are living in south St. Louis city and have two dogs, Lola & Pablo. He just transferred to a new high school where he continues to teach history in the inner city. He loves his work and for the first time in a while I have seen his passion come back. He loves those kids more than anything and it is so great to see him excited about his work again.

I have spent the last seven years in retail management working my up through Starbucks and then taking a position at a national salon/retail chain, Beauty First. I don't know how I lasted as long as I did. Since getting married my career has become much less important to me. I realized how much of my life was devoted to my job and I didn't like it. When Glenn started threatening to throw my cell phone into the street I knew it was time to make a change. I left my job, without having another one, and went on the hunt for the "perfect job". Like that exists right. I wanted something with a regular m-f schedule, good salary, good benefits, and I wanted to do something where I really felt like I was making a difference in people lives. This is honestly what I set out to find. After two months of searching and praying I found it. I have been working at Allied College as an admissions counselor. My close friends find this really funny because I don't like school and I flunked out of college. Minor details I say. I basically get to talk to people all day on the phone and in person and help them figure out a way to change their life for the better, and find a career that will give them self worth and independence. I have met some of the most incredible people. For the first time in a long time I can actually say that I love what I do.

My Mom and Dad are doing great. Dad is completely retired for the last 6 years or so. He plays tennis 3 or 4 times a week and almost always kicks butt. This last year he competed in the senior Olympics and took home a bronze medal. All of that at the wee age of 76! Mom is still very involved with her bible study at church. She is still struggling with her arthritis. I am blown away by her strength. She recently started on a new drug called Orencia. It is similar to IV chemotherapy medications. It is pretty intense. She takes a lot of pain medication to control her symptoms. As usual she rarely complains about her condition. They are both ready to travel more and enjoy what time she has left to be able bodied. As of right now she is not having to use a cane or wheelchair to get around.

I could write and write about everything going on in my life. I will simply say that I am truly blessed. I have an amazing family on all sides and I am married to a man who has brought the greatest joy and peace to my life. The next step is to have kids of our own and hopefully that blessing will come soon.

I am so excited to hear everything that is going on with all of you. My love and prayers have been with you and will contine to be.

Julie

The rules of the blog...

There are none. I have given admin privileges to everyone that has signed up so far and will continue to do so as the rest of the cousins sign up. So basically that gives you all control of all the settings and layout of this blog. If you want to add page elements, links, photos, video, etc. have at it. I hope this will be a good way for us all to keep in touch.

If you have the email addressed of those that are still MIA please invite them or send me the address and I will invite them. Under settings, go to the permissions tab and enter the email address.

MIA - Robert, Kevin, Meagan (sp?), Julie, Taylor, Douglas, Colin, Sam, Jack, Gus (does he have email, isn't he still like 5 years old) Tim, and Maggie. Let's round these fools up.

It is nice to hear from some of you on facebook already, that is a pretty cool site. Evidently Stephen is a web guru so maybe he can give us some pointers.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!!

Mike

G's Current

Michael, I must say that Stephen and myself have tried to figure out family e-mails, phone numbers, and addresses to be able to stay in touch which was a half-assed approach because this is very obviously much easier (although I would like to get everyone's e-mail just for future reference) but I really think this is a great idea and I hope this will catch on and will be a good way to stay up-to-date on family affairs.

Jack, Stephen, Sam, Gerard, Gus

And for my boring schpeal on the current happenings in my life:  I have recently graduated from Auburn University this last December 2007, which is exciting, a relief, and eye-opening at the same time.  I've had many jobs since we once Lawrence McNearney's have moved to Atlanta including Smoothie King, lawn mowing, pool cleaning, baby-sitting, catering/serving/hosting events for banquets at a bar/restaurant/hotel/spa, and cleaning up on Sunday mornings the evidences of Atlanta's weekend in Buckhead (not downtown but a bar hopping strip of Atlanta's youth and middle-aged partiers...not fun and usually very gross, ask Stephen as well, I think we both probably don't toss crap on the ground because of this experience).  However over the last four years I've discovered an interest in real estate.  I received my Alabama RE License in December of 2005, keeping it inactive but trying to show some initiative.  The summer of 2006 I had an internship in Atlanta for the large timber company Plum Creek, which has so much land that they now have a development subsidiary called Township 110 using some tracts of land for their highest and best use in real estate markets all over the nation, but I was obviously focused and helped in the southeast.  And presently I am working on finding a job in commercial real estate and have one offer but we're still in negotiations.  

I have to give last summer's update its own paragraph because I had a blast and the whole experience changed my life and I'll never forget the whole adventure.  Last summer 2007 I had the privilege to be able to drive out 2,000+ miles with a buddy of mine across the country to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and spend the summer at his family's estate in Grand Teton National Park.  

I worked for a raft rental company  in Jackson that was really an outfitter who could outfit groups with plenty of different kinds of outdoor gear, but we mainly helped people get on the river all summer.  I was out there with friends coming sporadically if they could get out there, but lived mainly with two other guys 50 miles north of Jackson in between GTNP and Yellowstone National Park.  This trip was probably the best summer of my life and truly an adventure, we worked almost everyday but were able meet people and party, we joined a softball team, camped, were were able to get on the river and raft and fish almost everyday, we saw tons of wildlife: antelope, buffalo, elk, brown/black/and grizzly bears, coyotes, moose, basically everything out there except wolves which I still have to see. Anyway I was truly blessed to have been able to get out there and for such a long time it really was a dream come true.  I'm hoping to get out there coming up at the beginning of February to ski for a week before I get in to the serious grind of work. Some pics are on my facebook account if you have an account and can get to them but I'd love to share many more of them the next time we could cross paths.

Me and my buddy Casey (his family's cabin was where we lived all summer) on the Snake River.  

Me and another friend from Atlanta, Ryan, in front of the Tetons.

Leisure Sports, the shop I worked at all summer.

Anyway, I'll let the others who have e-mails update you on their lives but Gus is pretty huge now and in 5th grade loving life and trying to maintain his rock-star status.  Pops, or Uncle Gerry is doing well and I know he thinks about his extended family a lot.  My mom, the other Lisa is doing awesome but she's always best when all her kids are under the same roof so she's keeping herself busy these days working as a music teacher where Gus is and we all went Christ the King School, whaddayaknow she's around kids, pretty typical.  

So that's a little update, I look forward to hearing from everyone, sorry it was so long but this is a very cool idea and I can't wait to keep up.  Hope to see you all soon, keep us in your prayers you're all always in ours, and keep in touch.  

Love y'all, 

Gerard 

- gerard.mcnearney@gmail.com - 404.723.6403  (just so y'all know) -