Monday, August 16, 2010

Relaxing with the folks

The week after our son was married, we spent some time with my folks in their small, quiet town. We were constantly spoiled by mother's great cooking. We enjoyed helping them "farm" on their little piece of property. As always, mother has lovely flowers growing all around her yard. And they still planted a vegetable garden this year!  
Dad still has his daily "chores." Now he waits every morning for the mailman to bring the mail, and then he walks across the street to get the mail, and also deliver the mail and the newspaper to the lady that lives across the street. When I was a kid, I saw my dad bring the pail of fresh milk in from the barn, now that he is retired from the farmwork, I enjoyed watching his satisfied look as he came back into the kitchen with his packet of mail!
We were thrilled when Bec came to visit. It was so fun for my folks to be able to hold the little great-grandchildren that they had only read about and seen pictures of.
They now have 5 great grands!
Thanks Bec, for making the trip to share your time with the folks.
Another day, we drove north to spend the afternoon visiting two of my cousins, Jane and Shirley. Last year, when we visited Roger and Shirley (on the left), they were in the process of building this new addition to their house. So it was very fun this year to see the beautiful finished product! Thanks girls, for such a fun day together! We love the times we can spend together. 
We also enjoyed visiting my niece Laura and husband Adam in their new home. Thanks for your hospitality!
Afterwards, we gathered together as a family at my brother Rayn's house for pizza supper. Thanks R&G for hosting this impromptu party, and to all who brought food!
We also got to visit the new "bridge" in my folks' town. The snowmobile/ATV bridge was newly inaugurated the week before we arrived.
The bridge covers this scenic river
Time for some rest! Thanks Dad and Mom for a wonderful, relaxing week with you.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Beautiful Wide-open Spaces

Welcome to the Fargo Airport! Even the sign made us feel relaxed!
We never got quite enough of the country side, the gorgeous blue skies and sunsets, the fields, the lakes, the lack of traffic, (even the tractors driving through downtown Fargo!) the fields that were almost ready for harvest. We loved the slower pace of life and appreciated the daily morning walks. We loved our Minnesota vacation!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Wedding Reception

God answered our prayers and held off the storm, (we were under a tornado watch/severe weather during the time of the wedding ceremony) until almost all the guests were in the reception hall. But then the rain came pouring down!!!
the married couple
It was fun to watch these two dancing together. Not only were they obviously in love with each other, but they were great dancers!
Weddings have always been such fun events for our family. We appreciate all the friends and family that travel so far to join us in the celebration of our sons' marriages.
We love the extra moments that we can have with our family, most of whom are many thousands of miles from us. The past two years have been a wonderful time for "family reunion" with several weddings in our family.
(Matching glasses...having fun with Em)
Cousins
Sister and brother
And we love our "missionary family!" Through the many years we spent overseas, we formed a strong bond that ties us together as one. It has been such a joy for us to reunite at weddings and other special events and catch up on each others lives. We appreciate the time and effort that so many made to make the trip to the wedding.
And then there's our "church family." We have been blessed to have friends all over the world because of our relationship to Jesus. What a joy to be one in Christ!
(In frustration once, one of our sons told us that we have too many friends! We don't think so!)
And weddings are all about adding a new member to the family! We are enjoying all four of our daughters, and we look forward to the day when we can have the WHOLE family together!
But in the end, the wedding is really all about the married couple! We love you Jared and Heidi, and pray God's richest blessing on your life together.