Celebrating

 It was nice and cool out this morning, such a change from yesterday's heat and humidity. Mark and I took mom to church as Joan is in Bluffton and Ruth camping with her family out of town. Kathy brought Nancy and she had another doozy of an outfit on. ;Joyce was very pleased with the reunion and shared the picture below she had Rachel take of the entire group yesterday.  She had 152 of her family come and to think this entire group started with Bill and Joyce. This isn't even all of them, I know there were some that couldn't make the reunion. 

Mark was pleased the air conditioner worked well, he was able to keep it comfortable even with that many people in the barn. What a blessing that barn has been. 

Caleb Plattner had the morning message. To watch that click HERE. Tina and Fred along with Dave and Lanae served our lunch today and had the lunchroom decorated with red, white and blue and had a copy of the song Faith of our Fathers by each place. Below Nancy is standing next to one of the extra tables. 

Once everyone had gone through the line and was seated we sang that song. It really was beautiful both the song and the lunchroom. Tim Roecker had the afternoon message, click HERE if you would like to listen to that. We took mom and Nancy home after church. After dropping them off I went home, changed then drove back to the barn to start the laundry. We had lots of towels and sheets to wash so got all 3 machines going with a load then went back to the house to get the supper started. Once that was cooking I went up to change the laundry and saw that Jewel is in season so got her covered by Evan today.  Tonight we had chicken teriyaki, wild rice, salad, Hawaiian rolls, water melon and for dessert icecream cake.  Today we celebrated Iris' birthday so Rhoda and Lee brought the dessert. Iris and Zeke both helped put the water glasses on the table.

Since we were celebrating Iris' birthday after the prayer she got to go first in line for the food and also wanted Zion to go second. 

The kids ate quickly then went right out to play.

Soon they were all called in so we could have the birthday party.

After the cake and ice cream and after she opened her presents we all made our way over to the playground. Today we had lots of babies here. There were 3 Sauder grandbabies, 2 Davidovic grandbabies and Tyler and Samantha's Lucy.

Ben brought the minimotor bikes and I just happened to get to watch Abe ride it in the field.

There was much fun for the kids and much visiting for the adults at the playground tonight.

Below is a video of some of the fun today.

Rhoda and Lee took Nancy home tonight. Below she is getting ready to get in their car. This is what she wore to church today.

Diane ordered her 3 skirts, and Karin gave her some nice blouses that will go with the skirts. Hopefully when the skirts arrive we can convince her to wear something a little more matching although she does have pink in her blouse and skirt to go with those bright pink shoes. I was really thankful that Rhoda and Lee could take Nancy home. It takes them about 3 or 4 miles out of their way but saves me an hour of driving. 

Big Family Reunion

 Saturday a day to sleep in but we don't. We were both up and drinking coffee by 5:15 am. Rizzy went home yesterday so it was just Hazel this morning. I took her with me while picking berries for our breakfast. We went along the South side of the big field. It was much warmer than yesterday morning but the flowers seem to be doing fine.

We only got .2 of an inch of rain during the night but the leaves and flowers were wet. This poor bee had gotten stuck out in the rain and was busy trying to dry off to fly home to her nest.

There are many blackberry bushes along this side of the field.

Looking over saw the hipcampers were still inside their motorhome, at least it didn't look like anyone was stirring yet.

We disturbed a deer. She heard us and bounded up and ran deep into the woods. 

I found a big berry patch and was picking them when another doe jumped up and ran. The thicket of woods here isn't that wide so I was surprised. 

We came home by the big woodpile. Hopefully this wood will be good in 2 winters, we sure have enough for this coming winter.

Once home breakfast was made and some of the blackberries were put on top of the hot buttered pancakes.

After breakfast Mark went out to work on installing a gate. I went to the bank to deposit a check then to Kroger to pick up some ice cream and a few other food items. After coming home and putting away the groceries went out to help Mark.

He was installing a new gate on the back of the middle paddock. The horses were curious. Jewel came right down to watch but when the drill started she went back up to graze on the hay with Missy.

Madiera's tail was on top of her colt.

Cookie was heading toward the waterer to get a drink.

Below Mark is drilling the hole in the post.

The gate is now hung but not quite finished. Madiera went up to eat on the bale but her colt was busy watching our progress on the gate.

We were so hot by the time we finished the air conditioning in the house felt wonderful.

It wasn't too much later when I had to go to Joan's to meet a man bringing back a camper.

From there I went to mom's to find Karin, Diane, Rachel and Braelyn playing Carbols. 

There was a big group out using the lake swimming, canoeing and fishing but it was so hot I just took the picture from inside in the air conditioning.

On the way back to my house I stopped to take a picture of the full parking lot at the barn.

Joyce had a wonderful turnout. She must be pleased, I think most of her family were able to attend.

As we didn't get to go out last night, tonight we met Amy and Ken at the Bartonville diner for dinner. Braelyn came with us.

Mark got the 5 tacos while Amy, Ken and I got the Walleye and Braelyn ordered the chicken.

The food was delicious as always. After dinner we came back to our house and Amy served us an amazing pistachio dessert.

Had to get a close up of it. This was the perfect ending to such a hot day.

After Amy and Ken left I took Braelyn home around 8:00 pm. I'm very thankful today seemed to go well with our guests. The party is still going strong but Mark and I are heading to bed. 

Friday Fun

 No walk today although I found out later Ruth showed up to walk. We thought she had gone camping but that wasn't until later today. I needed to meet a man coming to pick up a camper at 9:15 am. He showed up right on time. We had a little problem with the lights, the left blinker was working then stopped working. Mark came over to help diagnose the problem.

I went in Joan's garage to get a part that hooks into the truck to see if the truck is the problem. Above the container that held that part was a hornets nest Joan had hanging in the garage. 

I didn't see it, was just focused on finding the part and evidently brushed against it. When I came out carrying the part. Harold, the man picking up the camper, laughed, had me turn around then pulled this off of my head.

That hornets nest is so light that I didn't feel it in my hair. Harold told me I could wear it on Sunday to church as  head covering, pulled it off the side of my head and stuck it on top.  He evidently knows about head coverings and Apostolics. 

Once he left I stopped over at the cabin to check on Titus. His swelling is going down and on one side almost normal. The other side is still swollen but even that is improved. Below Mike is asking him to lower his head.

Blueberry and Mika are in the cabin field with him.

Sarah arrived as I was heading back to the house and the girls wanted to go horseback riding. Today we brought Missy out. Missy needed her hooves trimmed and Sarah helped with that. Eden rode her out to the arena then every took turns. Anna arrived with her 3 as we were riding. Sarah took the pictures below. 

Israel arrived right as it started raining so he got in one round then rode Missy into the indoor for untacking. Just as we were putting Missy away the rain stopped so we went to the beach where David was fishing.

It soon warmed up enough that the beach got crowded and the water felt great. Diane and Rachel arrived and wanted to play games with Karin, they still needed a 4th and Braelyn offered. Not long after that Martha Kay arrived with 3 of Mandy's girls and Indigo joined in on the games out on Mom's deck.

David was the first to take the new to us canoe out fishing.

David's friend Chad arrived with his boys.

Taunya arrived with her boys and soon the boys outnumbered the girls. 

A group swam across the lake to go off Rachel's high dive. Martha Kay took a group out on the canoe.

A bunch took the floating lily pad over to Rachel's 

When I saw them all heading to the high dive I took the golf cart over but had to wait a bit as Mike was mowing the trails.

The phone was used to take videos of them jumping off the high dive. When they swam back across the lake I drove up to the playground where Sarah's girls were jumping on the trampoline. That tramp is under a mulberry tree and was covered with purple ripe mulberries.

When River climbed on the golf cart for the ride over to the house I had to take a picture of the bottom of her feet.

What is her mother going to say?

The girls climbed on the golf cart for the ride over to the house.

We had a snack when we got here and just as we were getting ready to go back over to the playground here came the rest of the grand kids.

They all came in for a snack of ice cream. On the way back out Elisabet, Zion and Eden picked some of Mark's flowers and put them behind our ears.

Below we are loaded and heading back to the playground.

When we got to the playground the adults were up ready to go home but the kids asked if they could stay a while and play on the hay bales and were pleased when given permission.

Joan called about then to ask if we could meet a man this evening as he needed to rent the last camper. He arrived about 6:00 pm and was thankful to be able to rent one. He had to move out of his house as the bats had moved in.

He was waiting to get permission to move back in but was told it would be 5 more days. We had just enough time to make dinner and eat it when our 5th hip campers arrived. They had a brand new Sunseeker motor home and this was their second trip.

The were really pleased with the campsite. I as they were getting situated as Carle and  Debbie had just arrived and brought a brand new grill. They decided they needed 2 grills for the Waibel reunion tomorrow. I helped unload then showed them around and we had a good visit. It is amazing how like minded Christians are.

Below is a video of the fun today.