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Opening Birthday Presents

Friday, February 8

Jana told Josh to be careful when opening this present.

Now he knows why she didn’t want him to turn it upside down or tip it sideways.

There was more money under his new umbrella.

Jana is a good sister!

His card from dad and mom promised a shopping trip.

His cards.

A birthday kiss from little brother Jesse.

Jared, Jana, Jesse, Josh, and Ian.

Kristen, Josh, and Jere

~~~

It was a snowy evening, but the next day dawned bright and sunny.

~~~

I haven’t seen a northern mocking bird since late fall.

On the other hand, the cardinals have been frequent visitors to our feeders.

Josh and I had a wonderful birthday.

Pursue a righteous life—

a life of wonder,

faith, love,

steadiness, courtesy.

1 Timothy 6:11 (The Message)

This is what I found on my bureau this morning!

Somehow it transported me back in time to when we made valentine hearts by folding paper in half and tracing half a heart.

I love the man I married!

Fifty years ago!

Kind words are like honey

Sweet to the taste and good for your health.

Proverbs 16:24 (Good News Translation)

Our Birthdays

Mine and Josh’s

Friday, February 8

We love sharing the same birthday! This year he was eighteen and I was sixty-nine.

Cerwin and I were supposed to have supper with Roy and Deb, but since it was a snowy, rainy evening we postponed our plans to the following week.

Jere and Kristen live only one mile away and asked if we could come to their place to help celebrate Josh’s birthday.

French bread right out of the oven.

Ian, Jana, Kristen, Jere, Jesse, Jared, and Cerwin

Photo from the other end of the table.

Can you guess what job Josh is training for by the side of his cake?

I thought this was a clever, creative cake – showing the tools of the masonry trade.

There will be a few more pictures tomorrow night.

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord.
And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

Isaiah 55:8 (New Living Translation)

Super Bowl Party

Sunday Evening, February 3

Sabrina and Jenna preparing Super Bowl food.

Jordan and Nate invited about two dozen people to come here (with our permission) for a Super Bowl party, and hired Sabrina as the caterer.

Jordan and Nate’s sister Jenna was Sabrina’s assistant.

Sabrina’s other assistant was Nate – who deep-fried the chicken wings on our patio.

Since Cerwin worked for a propane company for forty years, they asked his advice in getting the burner started.

Notice, they needed a wind barrier – which was old mud flaps that Cerwin uses to protect our Azalea bush.

After this they were flavored with various sauces – including some hot sauce.

Sabrina prepared a variety of strombolis for the evening.

Jenna preparing pizza.

Jordan checking on the pizza.

Everyone at our house was well-fed on the big game night.

…an my team won!

Stupid people always think they are right.

Wise people listen to advice.

Proverbs 12:15 (Good News Translation)

A School Morning

&

Saying Goodbye to Elizabeth

Friday, February 1

When I asked Jared what he wanted for breakfast, he said, “Moose Tracks ice cream.”

Maybe it was because it was the last school morning before his parents came home, or maybe I was in a good mood – but I gave it to him!

Ian had some school work to finish before school.

Jana making sure she looks lovely.

Jesse buttering his pancakes.

Josh tormenting Jesse.

Josh and Elizabeth said goodbye to each other before he left for school. She was leaving at 6:00 p.m. and if Josh worked after school, this would be their last chance for a goodbye hug.

…and he is off to school.

This picture was taken just before 6:00 p.m. when Jared, Jesse, and Ian gave her their goodbye hugs.

These two shared our guest room and became good friends during Jana’s one-week stay at our house.

We had lots of fun during Elizabeth’s one-month stay. She has become a wonderful, godly, young woman. After she and her brother Josiah went to a weekend youth conference, he came back to his home in our neighborhood, and she went back to Maine with a van load of friends.

Saturday, February 2

This is what happens when you go to sleep with a cousin in the house!

On Saturday evening when I went to change some laundry, I was surprised to find our bedroom door closed. I soon discovered that Jordan was on our bed Skyping with Kezi in Australia.

“Hi, Kezi!”

Back in the kitchen Nathan and Jared were wrestling.

I must tell you a funny thing that happened a few days earlier.

Just before going to bed, I went to the garage to check on the little boys who were in the room in front of the cars sleeping on air mattresses. (The garage is next to our bedroom, and we heat it when someone sleeps in the back room in winter.)

I was surprised to see someone sitting in our van, and laughed when I noticed that it was Nathan on the phone – talking to Sabrina. It was the only place in the house where he could find a private spot to talk to her. 

Cerwin was in the living room, the girls were in the guest room, there were several guys in the man cave, the kitchen is too public, someone might need the bathroom, Josh was sleeping in our office, I was in our bedroom, and the boys were in the garage room.

This is what it looked like outside when I went to bed on Saturday, February 2.

I love a beautiful snowfall at night.

I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless your life!

Philippians 4:23 (Contemporary English Version)