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Surprise Visitors

Amish Church

Our Family’s July 4th Celebration

We were surprised when Bill and Kathy Perry showed up at our door on Friday afternoon, July 2. Actually they were surprised too. They entered Transport For Christ in their GPS unit, and it brought them to our house!  We have an office here – but it is a field office – not the International Office.

Bill had been here before, so as they got closer, he realized where the GPS was taking them. They decided to see if we were home. Bill used to be a chaplain for TFC, then retired several years ago after his first wife passed away. He met Kathy about a year later. Since they married, they have done a variety of things – working in Louisiana after the hurricane, and serving in a pastorate in South (or North) Dakota.

It was great to meet Kathy and see Bill again. We are glad their GPS unit took them to the wrong place. After a short visit, we gave them directions to the International Office near Marietta. 

Sunday morning, July 4, we enjoyed seeing fifteen to twenty Amish families go by our house. That means Eli and Sadie were having church at their house.

We have a few other Amish neighbors, but only a few buggies go by our house when it is one of the other neighbors. The corn field behind the buggy is Eli and Sadies.

On Sunday evening we had our family’s traditional July 4th supper at Jere and Kristen’s house.

Jared, Ian, Gloria, Diana (partially hidden), and Jesse at the small table

Jenna and Jana

Diana, Lydia, Jana, and Jenna playing Dutch Blitz

Someone noticed this bat fly into a nearby tree. It is unusual to see them in daytime. Maybe all the noise disturbed its sleep.

Jesse loves when the big boys play with him. In this case it was Nathan.

He helped him make a slam dunk.

Visiting under the shade of their maple tree.

Nathaniel, Abigail, and Jesse

Mary Jane (Jeff & Chris’ adopted mom), Jeff, Chris, Jordan, and Ian

Uncle Jeff preparing Jesse for his birthday party.

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More about his third birthday party tomorrow night in Part 2 of the July 4th series.

You call out to God for help and he helps—he’s a good Father that way. But don’t forget, he’s also a responsible Father, and won’t let you get by with sloppy living.

1 Peter 1:17 (The Message)

Grandchildren Here

June 25 to July 3

Part 2

One of Abigail’s goals during her nine days here was to make a king-sized rag quilt. I took a few pictures when she began sewing it, but didn’t remember to take a photo when she was finished and put it on our bed to check on the size.

I found this photo of a rag quilt on the Internet. If you are not familiar with rag quilts –  the seams are on the top – creating an interesting pattern.

Jared demonstrating his Nerf gun.

Jana and Diana playing a serious game of Scrabble.

Gloria and Lydia

On Saturday (July 3) when I was in the yard working on flowerbeds, Abigail asked if she could help. I decided this would be the perfect time to cut back my Shasta daisies as most were over the hill, and I knew I had a few busy weeks coming up. This would be one job out of the way.

Gloria, Lydia, and Jana

Diana, Jenna, and Abigail

Cutting them down to the ground creates a few weeks of drab-looking flower beds, but before long there will be pretty greenery again. 

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That evening Abigail and Lydia went to the Zuck’s (Nathaniel’s family) for supper, then to Litiz Fireworks, so we took Jeff and Chris’ three girls to a local restaurant before taking them home.

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I think this is my all-time favorite salad – lettuce, chicken, and strawberries with a strawberry poppy seed dressing.

Jenna’s baked potato

Gloria’s cheeseburger and fries

Cerwin and the girls

We got to Jeff & Chris’ house just before they got home from their twentieth anniversary trip to West Virginia, so I  looked for some photo opportunities.

After Jeff & Chris got home, we visited a bit – listening to some interesting tales of their travels.

Happy Birthday

Elizabeth

We Love You

I  am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.

Anyone who separates from me is deadwood. [Jesus]

John 15:5-6 (The Message)

Grandchildren Here

June 25 to July 3

Part 1

Lydia, Jana, Abigail, Gloria, Diana, and Jenna

Six of our eight granddaughters spent several days with us during the week Abigail (back/center) and Lydia (left) were here from Maine. Abigail had a week of vacation, and decided to spend it with us – so she would be near Nathaniel.

Silly girls

Diana Jumping Rope

Gloria

Jana

Jenna

Lydia

Lydia, Ian, Jared, and Abigail playing soccer. Ian and Jared were here for a few hours while Jesse had his first dentist appointment.

Jared said to Lydia and Ian, “You be the Lions and Abigail and I will be the Snow Dogs.”

And so it was – Lions and Snow Dogs.

Many times when I watch a scene like this from a kitchen window, I think back to the time we moved into this house – forty-three years ago – and the front yard was still ungraded piles of dirt. I remember looking out the window while washing dishes, and thinking, “Someday this will be grass, and there will be children playing in our yard.” Now, in what seems like the blink of an eye, it’s the grandchildren in our yard.

I forget who won, but I think it was the Lions.

Grandchildren At Our House

June 25 to July 3

Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!

Psalm 131:3 (The Message)