People we love

This post should have been last month, but it still merits a prominent place in the events that shape our life. While we were back in MN for our niece's wedding, Marilyn's uncle passed away. This happened on the heels of the sudden death of her cousin (just a couple days before Uncle Norris died.) It was a time of mourning, but also a time of joy as we know that both men loved their Savior and are now rejoicing in the presence of Jesus!

It also provided another opportunity for my siblings and I to be together one more time. The travel time in the car was an excellent time of visiting together. We did miss our sister Becky during this time, but we were thankful for the phone conversations that brought her together with us those days.
It was also good to be there during those days when my dad lost his youngest brother (and only remaining family member). My Uncle Norris was the youngest in a family of nine children. I remember him best for his laughter and the wonderful twinkle in his eye. He had a beautiful deep base voice and loved to sing. He sang and played the guitar for many years in a singing group organized by his son. A very special moment during my uncle's funeral service was a video clip that was taken at a family reunion about 20 years ago of my dad and Norris. All of us were laughing as we watched the two brothers joking around as they tried to tune their instruments and get ready to sing. Finally they were ready, and they sang that old gospel song,
"I will meet you in the morning with a 'How do you do?'
We will sit down by the river

and with rapture old acquaintance renew.
You'll know me in the morning, by the smiles that I wear,
When I meet you in the morning,

in that city that is built four-square.

I will meet you in the morning at the end of the way,
On the streets of that city of gold;
Where we all can be together and be happy for aye
While the years and the ages shall roll."

The song was so fitting. Even though the two brothers did not always even remember each other in later life--as their memories failed and their minds grew weaker--I know that they looked forward to that day in heaven when they would be together once again and rejoice at the feet of the Lord they loved and served. I thank God for the blessed assurance of eternal life that has been exemplified in the lives of both my Uncle Norris and my father. And I know that even on the days when my dad can't remember any other fact, he knows that his Redeemer lives, and that He lives in him!

Cousin Lowell and his family
Dad and his nephew Chuck ('little brother', since he grew up together with Dad and Norris)
At the graveside- Norris' wife passed away from a long battle with cancer just a few months ago, so my cousins have lost both parents and Chuck's wife within six months.

seven cousins together for the graveside service

As we were walking through the cemetery looking at the grave markers, Linda's little grand-daughter Violet sat down and started playing by herself. She was a cutest little flower!

Cousin Laurie and her family, the church in the background was one that my dad attended as he was growing up.

This is the little one-room school house that my dad attended while growing up. (It is now used as a township meeting hall.)

And a couple miles down the road stands my father's childhood house. My dad's brother Norris moved into this house after my grandparents moved to town. It was so fun listening to Laurie tell stories of growing up on this farm and the memories that she had of riding the school bus to town. My memories of visiting my grandparents in this house are rather vague, but they are good memories, and I know that we always enjoyed playing with our cousins who lived, at that time, just on the other side of this grove of trees.

Last month, we welcomed a new member to our church staff! Our new associate pastor has been a great help to Jim and we are so glad that he is here.

We appreciate Andy and look forward to spending even more time together as he will soon be our closest neighbor!

We also enjoyed a visit from some of our African friends. John has been studying here for the past year and just recently was joined by his wife. I (Marilyn) was working on the day that they came to visit, but look forward to meeting John's family.

We really loved having Luke come to visit us last month. We have known him and his family (his older brother was our language teacher when we first came to Cameroon) for a long time. We have always enjoyed the times of fellowship that we've had together and this visit was no different! What a blessing that God is now bringing our friends to us, since we are no longer close to them. We are so thankful!