Sunday Afternoon Piano Recital

We were pleased to be invited to granddaughter Jana’s piano recital this afternoon – along with the other students of Jennifer Groff.

Jana and other students look over the program layout.

Her piano teacher, Jennifer, and Jana

Jana next to the piano and in front a beautiful bouquet.

Jana’s corsage – a gift from her parents.

A closeup of a few of the flowers in the bouquet.

Jana knew her song by memory, and began as a solo.

Her teacher joined her for a duet.

Jana acknowledging the applause.

Leaving after a delightful program.  Each student did a great job.

Posing outside the building.

Ian wanted to join her for pictures.

Jere and Jana

Pizza Hut for supper – Jere, Jana, Betty (Kristen’s mom), Kristen, and Cerwin.

The sun was setting by the time we headed home.

Christian Day School Breakfast & Benefit Auction

Jere and Cerwin went here for breakfast at 6:30, then came home to work in Jere’s barn and keep an eye on the little boys, (Josh and Jana were with friends) while Kristen and I took our turn at going out for breakfast.

Several people asked if we were eating in shifts today!

They do a great job and serve a delicious breakfast.

Guess who I found flipping pancakes?

Dick Stauffer – a blogger friend’s husband.  www.musicaljean.blogspot.com 

Sorry I missed you Jeannie.

Many patrons and local people took advantage of the breakfast.

There were several tables of delicious-looking baked items at one end of the room.

Kristen and I were early enough to find an empty table.  By the time we finished most of the tables were full. 

(Just encase you think it appears that she ate too much , that extra weight is our 17th grandchild.  We expect him to make his appearance in July .)

After breakfast, we took time to enjoy the early part of the auction

However, we left the other people do the bidding.

After getting a few groceries we went back to Jere and Kristen’s place to see what the men and boys had accomplished in their new barn (on the right).

They were working on trim.  You can tell this barn is not going to be for animals!

Jared and Ian showed me their hammers.

The upstairs will be a workout room for Josh and Jere, plus a play area for the children.

The first floor will be a workshop and storage area.

Matching Uniforms

Do Not Create A Unified Team

Love each other as brothers and sisters

and honor others more than you do yourself.

Romans 12:10

A Sad Day For Our Family

Our daughter-in-law Kristen awakened early this morning (2:00 AM) and was quite restless for the next forty-five minutes – wondering why she couldn’t sleep.

When she finally fell asleep, the phone rang.  It was her mother, saying that Kristen’s forty-nine-year-old brother had just died from a drug overdose.

~~~

I find it amazing how restless our soul becomes when something serious is happening to a family member or loved one.

It has been frustrating and sad for Jere, Kristen, and her mom to watch him destroy his life – knowing this day would eventually come if he did not change his ways.

Kristen is thirteen years younger, and can barely remember him not being a drug user. 

Pray that this will be a wake-up call for his two sons (in their twenties), his exwife, and brother who lead similar lives. 

Kristen’s mom with grandson Ian.  Photo taken on Mother’s Day 2006.

~~~

Pray for Kristen and her mom as they go through the grieving process. 

~~~

We are grateful that Kristen made a choice – as a young girl – to  follow the Lord.  

She is an awesome, godly, daughter-in-law.

Jere and Kristen – photo taken June 2006.

~~~

This kind of day reminds us of the difference God makes in a life surrendered to Him.

Potpourri

My gift tulips (from the banquet) are opening nicely.

I think our Dogwood blossoms look strange.  Maybe it’s because of the cold weather.

Yesterday was warm and sunny.  Jared enjoyed smelling our tulips.

Tonight the cold temperature and rain gave us a good excuse to go to Wal-Mart for a few odds and ends we thought we needed.

A Walk On Our Two-Mile Country Block

Sunday Evening

Tulips outside our door

Cherry blossoms in our own yard

Turning left at the end of our driveway

The alfalfa is lush and green

Dandelions are plentiful

The woodlots are beginning to turn green and red with budding trees

I noticed two turkey buzzards in a tree across the field and decided to see how close I could get to them.

They are ugly, but rather magnificent in their own way…

…with a large wingspan.

I stopped to watch the small spring that once supplied the farmhouse with water.  I can remember using water from here.

A tree bursting with buds and leaves.

The grape vines still appear to be dead.

More buds and flowers…

The cows noticed me, but only a few were eating.  Most were resting – with full bellies.

There was just one newborn calf.

The silence of my first mile was broken by a helicopter flying overhead.

My friend the burro came to say, “Hi”.

Walking toward the mountain

Two miles later I am back to the pretty tulips in our yard.

Driving Home From Cactus Willies

Spring has been so long in coming that I can hardly get enough of the beauty!

I’m Still Working My Way Through the Weekend Photos!

Cerwin 66th Birthday

I loved this card!

Cerwin thought his birthday was a good time to take the Pennsylvania children and grandchildren out for lunch.

He decided on Cactus Willies, which turned out to be a great place for our family, because there are so many choices – which pleased all ages.

After church, I called the restaurant to warn them that we were bringing eighteen people in about twenty minutes, consequently our table was ready when we arrived.

Jana and Gloria

Zachary

Deb

Jeff and Zachary holding hands for prayer.

Doesn’t Jared have an angelic, prayerful face?

And this is the meal for which he was praying!

The children loved the many choices.

Time for cards and gifts.

This one represented our awesome family in Maine.

Getting ready to leave

Zachary, Deb, David

Ian saying good to Zachary

Ian and David

~~~

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Saturday Evening

TFC Banquet – York Chapter

The centerpieces were a variety of beautiful tulips

For some reason I forgot to take a picture of the audience, but I did get some good pictures of The Gabriels.

They blessed us with an awesome concert.

The Gabriels are usually a trio, however, Derek had another appointment.  Frank and George did a super job as a duet.

Frank

George

Afterwards they asked several of us to pose with them.

Frank Sanchez, Mary and Paul Schildt (York Chapter Chairman), Margaret and Chaplain Sam Houchins (Elkton, MD), Me, Cerwin, and George Jumper.

~~~

We look forward to hearing them again – hopefully at a future Truck Rally.

Saturday Afternoon

Jordan at Work

Our fifteen-year-old grandson, Jordan, recently began working in the Retail Plant Center of a local nusery.

We were traveling nearby (on the way to a banquet) so stopped in to say”Hi”, and take a few pictures.  He was pleased to show us the area where he works.

 I was surprised to learn that there are pink Honeysuckles.

They are beautiful.