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Farewells

Prayer for Diane and her children before they left for Maine on September 8.

 A final hug for Lydia before she leaves – after spending the last three months with us.

 On September 11 we had dinner with our friends Howard and Angie Moses who are moving to Tennessee to serve with Truckstop Ministries.  Blessings upon blessings to you two.

 We went to TFC’s International Office on September 16 to honor Chaplain Sam and Margaret Houchins who are retiring after faithfully serving at the TA Travel Center, Elkton, Maryland.

Howard and Angie were also supposed to be here, but they had to return to Tennessee earlier than expected due to the health of her sister.

 Sam and Margaret

Bunny O’Hare, Director of Chaplains, reading Sam’s certificate of honor.

 Reading Margaret’s certificate of honor

 Bunny showing Sam and Margaret his singing turtle.

“Slow down, slow down – it’s time to take care of you.”

 Lynn Kolb visiting with Chaplain David Hoy. 

She is beginning to lose her hair as a result of treatment for cancer – and just began wearing a hat.  She is doing well, but keep Lynn and Jon in your prayers.

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.  God is not a secret to be kept.

Matthew 5:14 (The Message)

Daughters – Truffles

Neighborhood Walk

Monday, September 7

Because Diane (right) was here from Maine for Jere’s birthday party, Deb (center) decided to stay at our place overnight so they could have a “sister evening” in their old bedroom – currently our guest room.

What fun to have coffee with them on Monday morning.

Deb and Roy had just returned from a trip to Colorado, where they purchased a special gift for Cerwin and me.

 Truffles! 

These are so incredbly yummy that I made them last a week – one truffle per day.

Hezekiah, Abigail, Cerwin, Diane, Lydia, Elizabeth, Roy, and Deb 

Following our coffee break we went for a two-mile walk around the block.

  Some of the things we saw on our walk.

 The new burro and its mother.

The other burros

 A neighbor man working on his roof while his two girls played nearby – on the same roof.

 A favorite stop is with Tom and Farra.  In this photo Farra is showing one of her horses to Lydia and Abigail.

 While we visited Farra, Cerwin, Elizabeth, and Roy saw a few of Tom’s restored trucks.

 At the next place the pigmy goats came running to the fence, hoping we had a snack for them.

 Eli’s barn looked pretty with the sun shining through roof slats.

 A pretty flowered vine on a barbed wire fence.

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It was a wonderful morning, relaxing morning.

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Please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. 

2 Corinthians 6:1 (The Message)

Taking a Photo of Our Children

Sunday, September 6

Look at your mother!  Okay, Jere, that’s a little too much.

This may take awhile.

Getting better!

Too serious

Not everyone is looking at me.

Pretty good!  They are standing youngest to oldest:  Deb, Jere, Diane, and Jeff.

I wanted to get a picture of us in the same order as the photo below, which was taken in 1975.

We’ve come a long way, and I thank the Lord for giving us the gift of children.

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I love you!

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When two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.

Matthew 18:20 (The Message)

A Few Family Photos

Taken at Jere’s Birthday Party

Sunday, September 6

My Siblings ~ Dale, Clair, Steve, Nancy, and me

Our daughter Diane and her grandmas

Diane and four of their children traveled from Maine to be here for the party.

Deb lives about an hour away, and also treasures time with her grandmas.

Jesse and Hezekiah

Jesse played with water and ice leftover from the party, while the rest of us cleaned up.

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Tomorrow night:  Trying to get a family picture of us with our four children.

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Watch what God does, and then you do it.

Ephesians 5:1 (The Message)

 Cole Slaw 

Fresh Fruit Salad

 It was a beautiful day for a party.

Kristen and Jere – the presentation of the cute birthday cake.

 The five holsteins represented their five children – Josh, Jana, Ian, Jared, and Jesse.  See if you can find Jana (the only girl).

Deb and Kristen serving cake to Carol Mylin.

Jere looking at his perpetual calendar. 

Kristen sent individual pages to his family and friends, they filled the pages with notes and pictures and returned them.  Kristen lamineted them to create a gift that will last for many years.

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Tomorrow night ~ Family Pictures

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Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom?

Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.

James 3:13 (The Message)