summer....fading in to fall....

 Know it has been a long time since I got anything on here.  Summer has been busy and now the feeling of fall is showing itself...whether we are ready or not!...even a few maples have color in their leaves.

First I had the privilege of a ride to Wyoming and then was able to help Helen get ready for her trip back here...she and the children were here for about 3 weeks....lots of high energy then!

...on the way to WY....Missouri River at Chamberlain, SD....

...with my traveling companions....a stop at the Badlands in SD....much different than the Badlands of ND....


 .....went to Sunday a.m. meeting near here...Devils Tower, WY.....walked around the base before having lunch...

 

...do you see the 2 climbers on here?....I think I prefer the base!

 Now maybe a few pictures of when Helen and munchkins were here!

 ....Papa and one of his 'sidekicks'...

...kittie would you like to come in?....

....Hannah  in the height of fashion....

....Uncle Will and is dynamic fireworks!

I had planned to add more pictures but it has gotten late as I was having some trouble getting this to post correctly so will do some more catching up another time!

You will be missed...

This week brought some news that we weren't expecting when hearing of a friends death....she will be missed by many....appreciate pleasant memories with her...this is a picture of her and her husband when they visited us when Aunt Agnes was here a couple years ago....

Fall

There is no doubt fall is here....trees are turning, pine needles are falling, asian lady beetles are coming out (in hoards) as well as box elder bugs...and our conventions are over...and we are having some lovely, sunny, warm days...a little frost but only enough to nip things a little.  We are having a family picture the 15th. so hopefully we'll still have a few flowers for then!

Recently a very dear lady from near us passed away...she was a lady of integrity and her passing leaves a very big gap...I didn't know her real well but my memories of visits with her are special....the kind of visits where a person comes away feeling there was something learned, something worth applying to life....she wasn't really old...past 65 but not 70...and her death came as a shock because she was such an 'alive person'....I was glad  I was able to go to the funeral...it was special to hear words expressed because of what she had let God do in her life...her life was what it was because of that.  Some time in the past she had expressed her desire and made arrangements that each family who attended her funeral would receive a rose...her favorite flower...so as each family passed her open casket at the end of the service they were given a long stemmed red rose....

...I'm glad to feel again...I've learned something and know there is much I can be exercised in, in my life even as was seen in hers.

Spring 2011

It seems maybe spring is going to arrive (or has arrived) after all....guess we knew it would but when it doesn't seem like it will day after day...with cold, rain or snow...maybe we wondered....just a few pictures...

and a few of the princes and princesses....

First day of school

I don't have a picture to go with this....just pictures in my mind and special feelings in my heart....we have just had our convention....and I must say I have come home with the most peace in my heart that I ever have from a convention.....in the meeting Wednesday night it was brought out that we were at the first day of a new school year....a few natural illustrations given..(the one speaking had actually gone to a one room school her early years....and she's not that old...same age as Farmer Marv to be exact)...we don't start with the last lesson and expect to be able to understand it....we learn our ABC's and our 1-2-3 and build on them year by year....and they are then used in many thousands of different ways in life....so we learn in God's way....our ABC's, our 1-2-3's...reviewing and adding to our knowledge...and using them in experiences as we go through life.
The days together were special and again saw clearly there is not lack in our Heavenly Father's storehouse.

So this is my post for today....I do enjoy lots of other blogs and glad for all the special things other people share....fun things, funny things, happy things, sad things, serious things....seems I often learn so much from others and glad for that....

Hope springs eternal....

I really do need to get something new posted here....add a few pictures....maybe change a picture....I do enjoy blogs and some that I follow I get a lot out of and wonder how the people do it....to make them so interesting...be so creative...and yes...also some very touching ones....just want to know how to even learn from them to have more richness in my own life...

Springs work on the farm:  things have gone well....a first....almost all the corn planted in April...most years we are glad to just be started planting in April.  Now hopefully May weather will not have conditions that make a lot of replanting necessary....but like with many things....we do what we have to do...or at least attempt to make the right choices.
Lots of pretty spring flowers have already bloomed and fruit trees well budded or blooming....awe...the thrill of seeing the renewing of life...

Glad for Special Meetings and worker visit at the time....words can never express all those privileges mean.

Next (known) big event....Will and Becky's wedding...May 22....look forward to that....(if I knew how, I'd put a little heart here!)



Other spring events....3 graduation from High School from our meeting....sorry we'll miss one of those because of the wedding....but we wish them all the best and any other graduates in 2010

And of course, the grandchildren....never get enough time with them....

Hannah has always 'loved' this dolly....and now she is the same size....(guess Nolan isn't in to having 2 'sisters'! ha)

Yes, I can  read.....

This one is for Auntie Karen....(and I'm sure all the other aunties out there, too!)

My teddy bear from Uncle Will is soooo much fun!

And maybe last for this post ....but not least.....a Happy 44th. Anniversary to big sis!

...so I'll close this...for this time and sorry for all it lacks.....maybe if I keep doing this I'll get better!

Here's to a happy spring for everyone....and looking forward to a great summer.

'Life's chequered pathway'

Want to get an up date here....we had a very unexpected, unthought of trip back to Wisconsin for 10 days.  On February 17 we got word that Marv's youngest brother died very suddenly.  We flew home the next day to be at the funeral and attend to other necessary things.  We returned to Texas Monday.  This has been a double loss for us as he was not only a brother but also an employee...needless to say it seems quite unreal yet and know we will be very aware of it for some time and especially when we return home from our winter stay in Texas.

 

Here is their family picture taken last spring at their daughter's graduation.

We know that life can give its dark experience as well as pleasant experiences...our pleasant experience during this time was the completion of the adoption of our granddaughter Zoie...here she is in a 3 generation picture...

 

here she is with the toy Grandpa bought her....

 

 once again we know it takes the dark as well as the light to make the picture

so it is with life...

We are glad we know God...who is a god of all comfort and He makes no mistakes and may our faith ever be increasing....