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God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love

—like Christ in everything. 

Ephesians 4:15 (The Message)

 

 

 

Family Easter Dinner

Sunday, April 26 – Part I

My Siblings & Our Children and Grandchildren

 

Meal and Egg Hunt

 

 

We host this meal a week or two after Easter each year.

I don’t remember ever having a day that was so warm – with most of our flowering trees and spring flowers in full bloom.  The temperature reached the eighties.

 

 

 

Jere and Kristen came right from church for a new family picture.

 

 

 

Roy and Deb brought this beautiful flower arrangement.

 

 

By 12:30 p.m. the house was filled with food and people.  Each married couple brings food.

There were fifty-six people here – and twenty-three were missing!  Some because they live in places like Italy, Maine, Texas, Virginia, and Michigan, or they live in Pennsylvania and were not able to attend.

 

 

There were thirty-five in the garage…

 

 

 

 

 

 

…twelve in the room behind the garage.

 

 

…and nine in the kitchen.

 

 

 Following lunch it was time for the age-twelve-and-older-children to hide more than 400 Easter eggs.

 

 

Yes, I said more than 400!

 

 

 

 

 Then it was time to turn the under-age-twelve-children loose in our yard.

 

  

 The bigger ones are told to leave the easy-to-find eggs for the little ones.

 

 

 David

 

 

 Jared

 

 

 There were twenty-two for everyone.

 

 

 Emma

 

 

 Jesse

 

 

  Caleb

 

 

Molly and her mom.

 

~~~

 

It was a glorious day!

 

 

 

A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
   gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. 

Proverbs 17:22 (The Message)

 

 

 

Wedding Shower

For Vince & Kate

Saturday Morning, April 25 – Final Edition

 

The Gifts

 

 The opening of gifts began with a cute story about Vince and Kate by her sisters Andi and Laura.

 

 

 The story used the names of each item in the plastic basket. 

 

 

 Kate and Vince (holding a nephew) enjoying the excellent and funny story. 

One part of the saga included the time when she was quite small and her mom found her – hiding behind something – eating a stick of butter!

 

 

 Where is that?

 

 

 There it is!   …and the story continued until the basket was empty.

 

 

Then it was time to open their gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most gifts were practical…

  

 

 …but not all of them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Maybe this was meant for me!

 

 

Okay, back to the practical.

 

 

 

 

 This beautiful quilt was stitched by Vince’s grandma – Miriam’s mother – who is deceased.

 

 

Her initials:  CZ.  The date:  1982

 

 

There was still one gift – outside in the yard.

 

 

 This gift from his parents will be useful in their new yard.  They purchased a house not far from us.

 

 

Vince’s brother Edward and his fiancee appear to be dreaming about the day the wedding shower will be for them – and that day will come, as their wedding is two weeks before Vince and Kate’s.

 

    

Friends

Val, Kate, and Tara grew up in the same neighborhood – mine as well.

 

 

 Sisters

Laura, Andi, and Kate treasure memorable days like this.

 

 

 

 Your love has always been our lives’ foundation,
      your fidelity has been the roof over our world. 

Psalm 89:2 (The Message)

 

 

 

Wedding Shower

For Vince & Kate

Saturday Morning, April 25 – Part II

 

The Food

 

The guests of honor, Kate & Vince, are eagerly anticipating their June wedding.

 

 

Vince’s dad welcomed everyone, then thanked the Lord for the food and His presence in our lives.

 

 

The brunch buffet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate’s sister Andi caramelizing the oatmeal.

 

 

 

 

A delicious topping for the oatmeal.

 

 

 

 

 The glaze was made with brown sugar, vinegar (cooking wine can be substituted), and mustard, giving it a wonderful sweet-sour taste.

 

 

 Lemon poppyseed muffins

 

 

 Cappuccino muffins with chocolate chips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Apple turnovers

 

 

 Whoopie pies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 If there was a better word than delicious, I would use it to describe the brunch. 

Synonyms I considered:  scrumptious, yummy, succulent, luscious, delectable.  I think you get the idea. 

 

~~~

 

Tomorrow I’ll post Part III

“The Gifts”

 

 

 

 

He who guards you never sleeps.

Psalm 121:3 (New Century Version)

 

 

 

Wedding Shower for Vince & Kate

Saturday Morning, April 25 – Part I

 

The Surprise

 

We arrived at the Weaver’s (home of the groom) a bit early, because we were not sure where they lived and planned extra travel time.

 

 

They have beautiful gardens and a koi pond.

 

 

 

 

Paul (Vince’s dad) watching the fish with a niece and nephew of Kate.

 

 

 

 

Guests arriving

 

 

This table displayed photos of Vince and Kate.  Kate is my niece – the youngest daughter of my brother Steve and his wife, Brenda.

 

 

Waiting for the guests of honor to arrive.

 

 

Sarah appears to be writing a note or maybe a favorite recipe for Vince and Kate.  We were each asked to bring a recipe for our father or husband’s favorite food.

 

 

My sister-in-law Brenda making baked oatmeal brûlée. 

 

 

 

 

Fresh tulips

 

 

A beautiful arrangement by Brenda’s sister Joan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucas enjoying the punch

 

 

Good to the last drop

 

 

Vince’s sister Angela placing her gift on the table.

 

 

 

 

Vince’s aunt and his mother, Miriam, who is holding her youngest grandson (Angela and Kevin’s new baby).

 

 

Kate’s niece Molly (left) and cousin playing peekaboo.

 

 

Those who know Kate’s aunt Joan can easily see that the two girls in white are hers and that the one in pink is the daughter of Joan’s sister Barb – posing with Molly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fiancee of Vince’s brother Edward (left) visiting with Dani.  Dani is one of Kate’s many “sisters” – girls who spent lots of time in Steve and Brenda’s house when they needed a “family” in our area – for various reasons.

 

 

Martha – Great-grandma Copenhaver – and Molly.

 

~~~

Then we heard someone say, “Shhhh, they’re here.”

~~~

 

 

To everyone’s delight, she was very surprised.

 

 

No one was happier than Vince, as he was part of planning the surprise.

 

 

Kate’s mom telling them about the times she thought she had blown the surprise.

 

~~~

 

Tomorrow I’ll post Part II

“The Food”

 

 

 

The Lord himself watches over you!

Psalm 121:5 (New Living Translation)

 

 

 

I Met Floridabreze on Friday Evening!

 

When Twila mentioned on her Xanga site that their family was traveling to Pennsylvania to attend the Gospel Express Benefit Auction, Cerwin and I decided to attend.

The auction has been in our area for many years, and we’ve know about it, but have never attended.  Our schedule was open on Friday evening, so we decided to attend the Pig Roast and Gospel Concert.

 

 

We had just finished eating when I spotted Twila  floridabreze!  I love meeting people who have become a part of my life through Xanga! 

 

 

We thoroughly enjoyed the evening program under the big tent, and learning more about Gospel Express.

I did not use the flash for the following photos, so they are not the best, but I didn’t want to disturb those in front of me with a bright flash.

 

 

Ryan Bomgardner (Ryan and Friends) opened with his “friend” Jeffrey

 

 

New Creation (Ron Yoder Family)

 

 

Nelson Coblentz (Founder/Evangelist)

 

 

Duane Mullett Family (Co-Director/Prison Ministry Director)

 

 

Introducing the Executive Board and office staff.

 

 

Nelson Coblentz and Rendall Hostetler Families.

 

 

Coblentz grandchildren.

 

 

The finale was a fabulous chorus with the entire music team.

 

~~~

 

We were blessed by this evening of gospel music.