Family Time

It has been a very hectic but fulfilling week. Finished almost all of physicals, tests, etc. and all results are normal, PTL. Just one more for me - a bone density which should be normal also and a return dentist apt for Fred.

We began preparing for the visit from our daughter, grandchildren, and great grand son from Wisconsin and my brother from Memphis for our mini Sunday family reunion.

I began collecting mason jars, slices of logs (thanks to son-in-law Scott for these), burlap and raffia for the table decorations. I had earlier found some already decorated jars at a yard sale - love yard sales!! Saturday we ventured to the Fayetteville Farmer's Market for fresh flowers. We also spent a few days devising a unique welcome/direction sign for everyone.

one of the many groups paying on the square at the Farmer's Market

 

 

a happy banjo player

 

more musicians

finished project - note the barn fan - Arkansas outdoor a/c

lots of flowers at a great bargain

 

love the sunflowers

 

 

 welcome y'all

 

 

Wisconsin family arrived Friday morning.  We had not see them on a year so it was a joyous welcome. Memphis family arrived Friday night (they had a wedding to attend on Saturday so we did not see them until Sunday). We all hung out on Friday, catching up on news and enjoying great-grandson Avery.  Saturday the 4 sisters had an appointment for a special tattoo - for sisters only. Daughter Connie, from WI, had never had one before, so the other three elected her to go first. I decided to stay home and clean up the kitchen after Darrell made a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and homemade biscuits and gravy. The girls stopped at Starbucks on the way home and did not bring  me anything!!!! Saturday evening we did some mall shopping, and of course, purchased some Arkansas t-shirts, etc.

 

4 sisters 4 ever



 

 



great grandson Avery - 2-1/2 going on 5!!!!

 

Sunday morning came too soon, with warning of storms and bad weather. We attended church services where Associate Minister Andrew Kirschner delivered an inspiring sermon, based on I Corinthians 15:12-34 - "The Resurrection Changes Everything". There are 10 essential points of Christian doctrine, the heart of them being that Jesus died for us and the Jesus rose again. The logical explanation of Resurrection  is that if  is not true, then not even Christ was raised, then our preaching is useless and our faith is useless - we are liars in our belief.  The theological conviction of the resurrection is the death is the ultimate death - you will not die again. Jesus raised people from the dead, but that is not a resurrection - they lived to die again. Jesus was the first resurrection. He actually died and rose again. The practical administration is the question of why we put our lives in danger if there was no resurrection?? Why do we sometimes corrupt our good character by allowing bad company to lead us? Let us not be guilty of typical sin, the sin of stagnation, or the sin of silence. Let us stand firm in our Christian convictions and encourage others to do so also.

 

God certainly blessed us on Sunday, as the rain held off. The day was somewhat hot, the sun shone until the party was over and we had time for a bit of clean-up before the rains began.  The food was excellent - thanks again to Scott for the home made brats. We also had hot dogs and hamburgers which were wonderfully seasoned by daughter Christine. The rest of us contributed with mock potato salad (made with cauliflower instead of potatoes), butterfinger pie, lemon bars, tes leche cake (a Mexican cake made with three kinds of milk), veggies and delicious dip, a cowboy bean and corn dip just to mention a few things. Lots of time reminiscing (sometimes to the embarrassment of some, but all in good fun.)

 grandson Seth with Page and 4 girls, including identical twins

  

   

 granddaughter Casey and daughter Brielle

 

 

granddaughter Dela'von, her son, Avery, and grandson Calton

 



   

 Brielle posing before donning her swimsuit

 Avery testing the water

 

 twins Kinley and Kenzie and Avery enjoying the warm weather swim time

 just talking (and posing)

 a happy group

time to eat -  

 salads just chillin out

enjoying the good food  

 

 

 

 number 1 daughter, Chandra and friend Darrell

 number 2 - Brenda and friend Todd

number 3 - Connie 

 

and number 4 Christine and husband Scott 

4 of our 6 grandchildren - sadly missed were Katie and Sydney who both have new jobs and could not make the trip

 

 our four - greatly loved

 

 

 

 

 uncles Bob and Steve with the grandchildren

grandson Calton in his best frat boy pose

 

 

Family is so very important - bonds are always there. God loves us all as His family just as much as we love our families - don't let a day go by without thanking Him for the blessing of family. If there are any fractures in family relationships, try to mend them - pray for God's guidance, then just do it!!!

 

Memorial Day

  

  

Memorial day 2014 

 

 

 

 

Why do we really have Memorial day??? So many people celebrate because it is a 3 or 4 day week-end to do nothing, or time to take a mini-vacation, a time to party, or for family get togethers. All of this is great - but what we really should do is take this time to thank every person that is or has ever been in the service for their supreme effort and sacrifice for us - so that we can  choose and express our religious beliefs,  be free from oppression, be able to voice our opinion without fear of arrest or detention, even to be able to bear arms for our own personal protection. The constitution guarantees us these rights and our service people fight so that we can keep them.

Take time today at 2 PM (or whenever you read this) for a 2 minute reflection and time of thanksgiving to honor every person who preserves these rights for us in order to make this the best country in the world.  

 

 

Not only do we live in freedom in the world, but we have also found freedom in Christ. He has set us free - free from the bondage of sin. We are slaves to being in bondage of our sins - the greatest is believing the lies of Satan. God can free us from that bondage by relying on His Word.

We left South Texas last Wednesday on our way to Arkansas, pausing  along the way to visit. Just before we left, out cacti burst into night bloom again - if you look really close at the bottom of the middle of this bloom, you will see a perfect star -

 

We drove as far as Joshua, Texas to visit with Chaplain Roy and Paula Gee for 2 days - a wonderful time to just fellowship together in relaxation. Paula and I discussed our ladies conference coming up next February, reviewing possible speakers, ideas for promotion of the event, and the opportunity to reach as many ladies as possible. Roy and Paula have an amazingly close family, with family members just popping in to say hi and "Check in" for the day, with the ability to make you feel a part of the family. It is clearly evident that this family has God in the center. A definition of the Gee family, "He and his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly". Acts 10:2. After leaving Texas we traveled to Oklahoma to visit with former Alamo Rec Veh Chaplain Dennis and Sally Maloney. Dennis and Sally are raising a huge garden in order to harvest and preserve food for the needy in that impoverished area. They spent a very rough winter in Oklahoma, as the temperatures were very low and the snow and ice were above normal levels. But spring has brought a promise of new growth, both spiritually and physically. Training for new CRM chaplains as well as CRM board meetings will take place at Sycamore Chapel  training center and mission house on the grounds this late fall, so the Maloneys are also busy preparing for those events. As I was taking their picture, Dennis asked if this was going to show up on my blog - yep!!

 Fred and Roy Gee, discussing places they have been

 

 

The Maloneys in front of the canning shed - Sally's decorative touch is always prevalent

 

    

the garden, waiting for God's blessing to produce food for the hungry 

 

 Arkansas hills in the distance

the mountains remind us that we are almost home

 

After arriving at our daughter's in Arkansas we took a rest on Saturday, then prepared for our other daughter's birthday. Brenda was 50 this year, her sister Connie in WI, also born on the 25th, was 48, and another daughter, Chandra (currently a WI resident but very soon a AR resident) will be 52 on the 29th, not to mention our anniversary on the 27th (a busy month for us). Only daughter, Christine in AR, has a birthday in a different month-- but---she was born on Christmas Eve. We had a surprise birthday party for Brenda - even the twin great granddaughters were there for the week-end.

 black balloons tell the story

 a large lighter so Brenda does not lose it in her purse

 a Mexican cane to help her in her "advanced years"

 more presents - stock in the Green Bay Packers and a hitch cover

 twin great granddaughters - Kinley and Kensy - or vice versa

the twins, eating Cheetos

 

 they even enjoyed birthday cake with black frosting - this is how they looked before their parents showed up -  I wonder if they are ever allowed at their grandparent's house again????

 

It was so comfortable to be back at Prairie Grove Christian Church again, where Pastor Vance Eubanks encouraged us to be disciples, as God instructs us to be. God invites us to a higher calling, make a statement of surrender to His will, and expect greater things. All of us are called in some manner - some to go out, others to remain at home and serve. I loved Vance's message of not having a Plan B -  burn the bridges of your past, become a new creation in Christ, take the plunge - no turning back. Commit yourself to Christ today - and don't look back.