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Friday and Saturday

Two more photos by six-year-old Ian

I was pleased that he captured Jana and me talking about her week at camp.  I didn’t even know he took this picture.

Jana was at camp all week while her parents were at Niagara Falls for ICAR meetings (The International Congress on Animal Reproduction).

That is why her brothers were here from Friday evening through Wednesday evening – when their mom came home.  Jere stayed behind to host a bus tour to Pennsylvania – an added feature that was available to those who came from many different countries.

Jana and her brothers were here for a few hours on Saturday evening while Kristen joined the tour group at a local Amish farm where they were served dinner.

Today (Sunday) Kristen and the children drove to a large dairy farm near Gettysburg where Jere left the tour to return home.  The bus continued on to Washington DC.

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Friday and Saturday Yard Work

Josiah and Cerwin spent Friday doing some necessary yard work – which included trimming bushes.

On Saturday morning they went to a neighbor who has an excavating business and got a load of top soil.

It was time to put some soil around the house to keep the flow of rain water from seeping into the basement.

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Saturday Evening Truck Pull

Photo by Nathan – using my Nikon Cool Pix 4500

I was glad that Josiah had opportunity to go to the truck pull at The Buck (south of Lancaster) with his cousins Jordan and Nathan, and Micah (a friend from church).

It sounds like they had a lot of fun.

God guards you from every evil

he guards your very life.

He guards you when you leave

and when you return

he guards you now

he guards you always.

Psalm 121:7-8 MSG

Thursday’s Bible School

One of the Junior High Bible School teachers from Heidelberg Church of the Brethren got in touch with me a few weeks ago, asking if TFC had a service project her students could do during class.

I contacted Inge at the International Office, and she suggested that they label some of the Gospels of John the chaplains place in truck stops.  There are six boxes left from an order that was placed several years ago – so they have an incorrect address on them. 

 The teacher liked that idea, so we spent Thursday evening with thirteen junior high students. 

We took a TFC PowerPoint slide show along to show them what TFC is all about.  We slowly forwarded the slides while they worked on the labels.

Because their Bible School theme is service to others, the teachers decided to try doing projects for nursing homes and ministries – instead of the teens making a craft for themselves.

What a great idea.

They completed 3,000 booklets by the end of the evening!

May the Lord show you his favor

and give you his peace.

Numbers 6:26 NLT

Wednesday’s Photography 101

During his last day here, Ian decided he wanted to take pictures, so I resurrected my Nikon 4500.

I think we need to work on focusing

Like this Grandma?

Much better!

Oops.  I forgot to focus.

I think I did better this time.  How is this?

Oh, Ian!    Now why is this one in such good focus.  You must NEVER take a picture of Grandma in this position.

That’s better.  Take pictures of someone else.  Josiah will like this one.

Jared playing a Nintendo game. 

Ian walked around the house and yard taking pictures of everything and everybody.

Jesse

Grandpa bringing in the mail.

My refrigerator door.

The inside of a box.

A Build-A-Bear Box.

He’s getting the “focus thing” down pretty well.

When he ran out of ideas, he tried a self-portrait.

Then we walked to my brother’s house and checked out their perennials.

The farm where his brother Josh works.

Then it was back to our house.  I liked this picture of one of our ceiling lights.

“Ian, come!  Mamma’s home!  Mamma’s home!”

“Mamma, come look at our special tree fort.”

Ian’s still looking for photo opportunities.

Grandma gave us shovels from her kitchen.

I think I found a budding photographer.

Tuesday’s Challenge

When my brother Clair learned that Josiah wanted to bring his cycle to Pennsylvania, he told him that he may use this one if he can get it running.  Josiah has tried several things, but so far it is still sitting in the shop. 

May the Lord smile on you

and be gracious to you.

Numbers 6:25 NLT

Monday’s Play

Part III – Nathan’s Fifteenth Birthday

After getting home from Chuck-E-Cheese and Build-A-Bear ~ and before going to Nathan’s party ~ Ian, Jared, and Gloria played under the Blue Spruce. 

On Saturday we removed some of the lower, dead branches ~ giving them a neat play area.  Every young child needs a place where they can play in the dirt.

Meanwhile our pesky chipmunk continued to irritate me by eating bird seed out of the feeders.

Jesse wanted to be near me, and needed something to do while I prepared supper ~ and the other children were outside ~ so I gave him a container of plastic lids.

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Then it was on to the party!

Signs designed by his sister Jenna.

Nathan and his dad lighting fifteen candles.

Yummy Ice Cream Cake

Opening Presents

The close of a fun-packed day.

May the Lord bless you and protect you.

Numbers 6:24 NLT

Monday’s Play

Part II – Build-A-Bear

Each of our grandchildren receives a Build-A-Bear of their choice for one of their preschool birthdays.  I think we started after some of the oldest ones were beyond that age, and gave them a choice of an animal or the equivalent in money.

Jared expected to choose an animal, and not just the “skin”, so he was a bit apprehensive until he helped stuff it.  I always put a message in a “build a message sound box” – like – “Hi Jared.  We love you.  From Grandpa and Grandma High.”

This was not a photo I was going to put on my blog, until I saw Jesse’s face.  Look at how intently he is watching the woman stuffing the dinosaur.

He is still watching her, even while Gloria and Jared are rubbing the animal’s hearts on their noses – to give them a warm heart.

Jared rubbing the dinosaur’s heart on his forehead.

Gloria “air cleaning” Jesse’s elephant.

Jared brushing his dinosaur.  He fell in love with this green critter from the moment he saw it.

I can never take these guys to the mall without them begging to ride the escalator.

This is old hat for Josh, but he kindly helped his brothers.

One of the older children found a baby dinosaur that went with the big one.  Josh suggested that he name the big one Rex ,  Jared loved that name, and consequently named the little guy Baby Rex.

The smile tells you how pleased Jared is with his choice.

He loves to show people how Rex can carry Baby Rex in its mouth. 

There is a magnet inside Rex’s upper lip, and another one inside the scarf on the back of Baby Rex’s neck.

I love these pictures of Jesse getting acquainted with Peanut.

 He smiles every time he hears my voice saying, “Hi Jesse.  We love you.  From Grandpa and Grandma High.”