Sunrise over Bradley Creek

New Home in the Works

Wrightsville Beach

The rock jetty at Mason's Inlet near the Coast Guard Station







From Crystal Pier on the south end











Crystal Pier from the beach













The marshes on the north end






Bald Head Island in the distance from the north end

Snow in Upstate New York

Scenes from Gaige Farms near Ithaca where Dan's sister Meg lives with her family. Photos by Meg.

James receives awards, June 2007

James was inducted into the National Honor Society last spring at the end of his junior year. Family and friends gathered to celebrate with us.


James received a school leadership award presented by his principal and Health Occupations Club supervisor.

In Memoriam, Horace Hilton

In memory of the late Horace Hilton, pastor and long-time friend of our family. Horace mentored me and other young men as students at UNCW, helped Beth and me find our place in ministry at Myrtle Grove, performed our wedding ceremony, baptized both Stephen and James, and served, along with his wife Tennie, as spiritual parents to us over the years. This photo was taken in front of their home at Wrightsville Beach on Banks Channel. Horace is wearing his trademark white slacks.

Dan's Installation at Myrtle Grove

Dan was recently installed as a Pastor of Myrtle Grove EPC assisted by many long-time friends, church and family members

Brother in law Chuck Stokley asked the constitutional questions

The elders of the church prayed for Dan and his family

Dan preached the installation sermon

Dan and Beth at the reception

The whole family at the reception

Mothers' Day 2007

We had a great time with the boys this year on Mom's Day. They seem so grown up now as we sit and talk more like fellow adults than parents and children. Beth, you've done a wonderful job as their mom!

Birthday Gathering May 2007

We had a nice time visiting with some of our long time friends this year on my birthday. Thank you, Lord, for such relationships that last many years!

Johnsons, Spiveys, Boons and Sonnenbergs

From Dan's Childhood Scrapbook

Mom recently sent my first scrapbook of photos and memorablia assembled from birth through about junior high. Here's one of the pictures I hadn't remembered seeing before.

With Dad (Otis) at Uncle Harmon's farm house circa 1955

Recent Life Changes

Dan recently received a call as Assistant Pastor of Worship and Community to Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC (http://mgepc.org). This position begins part time on April 1 and will phase into full time within the next six months. He will oversee the music and arts ministry groups as well as the groups that foster community within the church (ushers/greeters, new member class, assimilation/connections, small groups and men's and women's groups).



This follows two years (2005-2006) serving a "daughter" church, North Grove EPC, on the north side of Wilmington as Assistant Pastor of Worship and Discipleship (http://northgrove.org).

Dan previously served Myrtle Grove as Director of Music and Arts from 1982 - 2001 before we moved to Orlando, FL for three years to attend Reformed Theological Seminary (http://rts.edu) and to earn his Master of Divinity conferred in May 2004. He is excited to be back at Myrtle Grove and thankful to have a call that allows us to stay in the Wilmington area for the sake of the boys.

After concluding Dan's work at North Grove, we asked the Lord to allow us to stay in this area so that James could graduate from Laney High School where he has found a niche in the health occupations classes and club. Stephen continues to attend UNCW and currently lives at home. He is considering various majors and is prospecting for summer jobs.

Beth continues her sales work with Coastal Marketing traveling to towns generally within a 100 mile radius and has joined a prayer group and Bible study group at Myrtle Grove and is now serving on the the music team and helping with the children's church. Her niece, Amy Umstead, plans to be wed this month on March 31.

Stephen is a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington while James is a junior at Laney High School.

Stephen's Graduation

Following are some shots from Stephen's high school graduation:

The graduate with Dan's parents, mom, dad and brother James.

The graduate with cousin Libby, Aunt Peg and Uncle Gus.

Beth's parents with the graduate.

Old!!! Wedding Photos

Horace Hilton performed our wedding ceremony in 1978. He and his wife Tennie are long-time friends and mentors to me and Beth. Horace went to be with the Lord in 2006.

This was our wedding announcement photo taken at Greenfield Lake in Wilmington, NC during azalea season.

Photos of Past Home Places

While on our trip to Ohio for Christmas, I remembered that I've been wanting to create a montage of photographs of the homes in which Beth and I grew up and those in which we've lived since we were married. So Dad and Stephen and I drove out to the old home place where I spent most of my first ten years. Following are shots taken there and a shot of the house I lived in during my second decade.

The Theo Sonnenberg Barn

This is the Theo Sonnenberg barn built in 1914 where my brother and sister and I worked (a little) and played endlessly feeding the calves and cats, throwing down and spreading bedding for the cows, making forts and playing basketball in the haymows.

The Theo Sonnenberg Homestead

This is where I lived from age three to ten (1957-1965) on an 80 acre farm in Northwest Ohio. This farm was established in 1913 by my grandfather Theo Sonnenberg and his wife Amelia Badenhop Sonnenberg. They raised eight children here beginning in 1917, including my father, Otis, who was born in this house.

The Buttonwood House

This is the house I lived in with my parents and siblings from age ten to twenty (1965-1974) in Bowling Green, Ohio. The house is said to be over 100 years old. Photo taken December 2006.

Christmas in Ohio

With brother Gus and Dan's parents at St. Mark's Lutheran Church














With Dan's parents, Otis and Lois, in their home.

NC Mountains near Blowing Rock

James and I hiked up a rugged trail that began here. What a beautiful scene!

A wintry scene beside the road on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Along the Parkway water seeps between the rocks causing beautiful ice formations.