Family News
News from 2006 (to see prior years plus photo collages, see the left menu bar)
It is time for the 2006 annual review of the Anderson family. This year I (Jim) started this “Jimazing” blog web site. I wanted to try my hand at writing and see what might come of it. If you have time while you are here, click around and read some of the entries. Leave me a comment or three.
Jim and Jeanie did a good bit of traveling this year. For our first-ever Cruise, in February, we let Royal Caribbean take us on a long anticipated vacation to the Western Caribbean. What a blast! We can hardly wait to do that again. We took a trip to the mountains for a few days in late summer. We made several trips to Kingsland to visit Danae and Mark. (or just Danae when she was there alone because Mark was out on patrol. He did his last submarine patrol this year.) Now that Danae and Mark are in Charleston, we have been going there even more often.
We celebrated 28 years of awesome wedded togetherness this year and did a 30 year high school class reunion. But we’re not old (right mom?) Jim ran in the 10K Cooper River Bridge Run in April over the new bridge and beat his previous time by about 10 minutes. Not bad for a guy with old legs, eh?
Jeanie’s sister, Cathryn and her daughter, Erica came for a visit this summer. They all went to the Lazy 5 Ranch (drive thru animal zoo). We didn’t even know there was an animal zoo near here before. The things you can learn about your home when your niece is coming.
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Kathryn
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Erin
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and Justin
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Melody
Melody has decided to become a doctor. She has already interviewed at UNC Chapel Hill, St. Louis University (SLU) and Penn State. She has an interview with The Medical University of SC in February. We are happy to say that she has been accepted by SLU! Congratulations Melody. You are making your dream happen.
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The Ogrens
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Kathryn, (the daughter, not the sister) has finished her final year at Central Piedmont Community College. She enjoys playing her bass guitar and working her new night shift job at the new Super Target. She loves the night, so an all night job suits her, but we don’t see a lot of her. When she is around, we always have a good time. Starting next year, she will be an adult in a lot of senses of the word. She is looking forward to the freedom of being on her own and we have every confidence that she will do well.
Erin, has now graduated from NC State University. She earned her BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a minor in German. Not only that, but she finished with a 4.0 GPA. In January she will begin working at at 
Since the beginning of this online annual newsletter in 2000, I have always mentioned Erin’s boyfriend Justin. I can no longer mention him as her boyfriend because they are now engaged to be married. They plan to marry on March 25th (on their 7 year anniversary) here in Charlotte. Justin graduated in December from UNCC with a BA in Philosophy. We think graduating, applying to grad schools, starting a new job and planning a wedding is a bit much to tackle simultaneously, but doing too many things all at once seems to be a hobby of hers.
Melody was our first college graduate. She graduated with magna cum laude honors from UNCC with a BSBA in Finance and a BA in Psychology with minors in Chemistry and Biology. How’s that for an eclectic combination! We were privileged to be in the audience when she presented her Honors Thesis on “The role of caveolin-1 (cav-1) in inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) activation”. I don’t even pretend to understand what that means.
Danae and Mark have had an eventful year. As I mentioned earlier, Mark is now on shore duty and teaching at the Navy nuclear school in Charleston. Danae has returned to being a student at Charleston Southern University (CSU). She is earning a degree in Music Therapy. If you wonder how she feels about being back in school, check out her blog at As 2006 comes to a close and we move into 2007, we prepare for some major transitions:
- Danae continues her journey towards Music Therapy,
- Melody begins medical school,
- Erin joins up with Justin for keeps and heads off to grad school, and
- Kathryn steps into adulthood.
- For the first time in 25 years, Jim and Jeanie become a two tax deduction family again.
Thanks again, God for your provision, guidance and unending love. I ask that you help us to be the people you want us to be.