Xanga

Regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Colossians 3:14 (The Message)

Happy 13th Birthday

To Our Favorite Lydia

We Love You

~~~

In Loving Memory

This would be the sixteenth birthday of her older brother, Elijah, who died at the age of five months.

I wonder what he would look like at sixteen, and what he would enjoy doing?

He was born with a heart deformity, and did not survive surgery to make a repair on a previous surgery.

We Love You, Elijah, and look forward to seeing you again some day.

Hunters & Afternoon Photo Shoot

Sunday, November 29

Cerwin, our youngest son Jere, and his son Josh were ready to leave the house early Sunday morning to be prepared for deer hunting Monday morning.

I was relaxing in the afternoon, following church, when my brother Dale called to ask if I would take pictures of their grandchildren for a Christmas card. 

He was pushing Emma and Madison on a swing when I arrived at the farm.

Uriah (who lives next door with my brother Steve and his wife, Brenda) wanted a picture with his dog.

While waiting for baby Victoria, I experimented with Dale and Dot’s five oldest grandchildren.

Baby has arrived, but Emma we really don’t want to see your belly.

I tried to pick a couple of fun pictures that Dale and Dot won’t be choosing. 

Emma was quite the ham as we went through a variety of shots.

~~~

They have more than a hundred photos to choose from, so I think they should be able to find a good one.

True wisdom and real power belong to God; from him we learn how to live, and also what to live for. 

Job 12:13 (The Message)

Smoked Brisket for Supper

…and a few family artists

Saturday, November 28

We were back at Dale and Dot’s house for smoked brisket on Saturday night – which Derek prepared.

 I have enjoyed a lot of delicious cuts of beef in my life, but this is definitely at the top of the list.  I could probably go a month without meat, and not miss it, but it was difficult to not keep going back for another slice of this mesquite (and a variety of other wood) flavored meat.

 Notice the dark edges on the meat.  Derek was sitting next to me, and trimmed it off his slices.  “That’s the best part”, I said – and yes, I asked if I could have the dark edges he pushed to the side of his plate.

He brought the brisket from Texas – in his luggage – and this is the smoker he and Sheyla bought his parents for Christmas.

 The ashes smelled like the meat tasted.

Sheyla made a delicious Brazilian pasta dish. 

Other guests were Dot’s nephew Frank, his wife Lori, and their son, Blake.

 Blake plays football for our local team – which by the way is doing quite well this year.  There are only four teams left in the playoffs – and Central is one of them.

Cerwin and Frank talking truck.  Frank is a truck driver.

Two more pictures of Derek and Sheyla’s little cutie – Victoria.

Our nephew Kurt is studying art in college, and showed us a few of his sketches…

 He is experimenting with donkeys to illustrate a story that our niece Chelsey wrote.

 Visiting after supper, Blake, Lori, Frank, Derek, Dale, Victoria, and Mike

 Dale with granddaughter Victoria.

 Three of Dale and Dot’s grandchildren (Andrew, Emma, and Jacob) were busy drawing pictures while the adults visited.

 We were about to leave, when Andrew said, “Wait Uncle Cerwin, I am drawing a picture of you.”  So we waited while he put the finishing touches on the picture.

 It was worth the wait!  I love his ears.

Trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be.

Psalm 62:8 (The Message)

Supper With Cerwin’s Family

Friday, November 20

The motivation that got the family together this time was a visit from Cerwin’s youngest sister Doris and her husband, Bob, (seated center and facing the camera) who live in north central Minnesota. 

 Time to eat

 Bob and Doris’ youngest daughter, Judi (left) was also visiting from Minnesota.

Mel, Jeff, Cerwin, Bob, and Donald checking out something on the Internet.

The guys checking out something on the Internet.   

 Our niece Crystal and their new baby Peyton.

Jakey, Peyton, and Crystal

 Cerwin’s mother and sisters, Velda and Doris, admiring Peyton.

 Mother and her children – Velda, Cerwin, Elvin, and Doris

 All of us – left to right:  Mel and Velda, Cerwin and me, Mother, Elvin and Pat, Bob and Doris

 Four generations – Elvin, Peyton, Mother, and Crystal

 Grandpa Elvin and Grandma Pat enjoying their first granddaughter.

 Peyton and great-grandma

 Our granddaughter Diana was pleased to hold Peyton.

~~~

I enjoy family gatherings.

~~~

Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. 

Jeremiah 33:3 (The Message)

Derek, Sheyla, and Victoria

Friday, November 27

Earlier in the week our sister-in-law Dot called to say that their son Derek, his wife Sheyla, and baby daughter, Victoria, would be visiting from Texas, and that we were welcome to stop in to see them. 

This was our first meeting of Sheyla and Victoria.

Sheyla, Derek (our nephew), and Victoria.

Daddy and Daughter

Grandma Dot with Victoria

Sheyla, Derek, Victoria, Dot, and Katie (Dale and Dot’s oldest granddaughter)

Notice Sheyla on the floor trying to make Victoria giggle.  That’s my brother Dale in the background.

Sheyla is good at making Victoria laugh out loud.

I just missed a shot of Derek teasing his mom, but did catch this reaction.

I like this picture of Sheyla.  Sheyla also speaks Portuguese, and hopes Victoria will be bilingual.

Some of my favorite pictures of Sheyla and Victoria.

One of the wonderful joys of family, is welcoming new people into our family circle. 

~~~

Thanks, Derek, for bringing Sheyla and Victoria into the Hershey family.

~~~

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Proverbs 3:6 (The Message)