Family Picture

A quick family picture after pop's funeral. The picture below of pop and mom was also posted today, but I must have been on the "edit" screen of a previous post.

Mixed feeling and emotions

What a blessing grandma is to the three grandsons!
This past week has been a time of mixed emotions. One time we were together laughing and then shedding a few tears and doing alot of reminising. Yes, pop, you are missed badly already! We spent alot of time together. I love and praise God for the family He placed me in!
A real look of anticipation, excitement and wonder!
Meet the newest addition to our family. Very cute and lovable!

A picture we hold in our hearts

This is a picture we as a family will forever hold in our hearts! Thanks Julia!!

Birthdays to special folk

Happy 86th Birthday mom!! We are so blessed to have you as our mother!!
Happy Birthday Leroy!! We won't mention the age but you are two years older than Mel!! We enjoyed being at your surprise party!

We feel blessed!!

Fall truly is here. This is one of the prettiest falls I can remember. We have an awesome God that does not have boring scenery!
Story time with our reader- Tammy. She makes it so interesting!
Doug and Dawson are the ones to build us a cozy fire in the fireplace
Our family spent a weekend in Canaan. We had a wonderful relaxing time, just being together, reading, scrap booking, taking walks, using the hot tub. We treasure these family times.
This was on pop and mom's 67th wedding anniversary! What a wonderful example they have been to us as a family and others.

Sunday in Canaan

Pop and mom were getting ready to leave. Gordon & Edna, Dave & Wern left this eve.Doug & Tammy, Dawson & Jasmine joined us for lunch and the afternoon.
Just sitting and chatting
This is especially for you Marlene. You requested a picture of Gordon. We cannot read the napkin, but he wrote "Cracker Barrel" on it for you. :0)
Here we are--Marlene, we wish you were here too. Someone even asked if we had a picture of you to hold up.
The brothers we have learned to appreciate very much!!
Here is the eldest of the bunch. Doesn't he look macho?

Friday in Canaan

This is our "mamma" thinking it is time to head for bed.
We had alot of good laughs!
After supper some of us were watching a video, some were at the table playing Farkel.
Eating is a big part of the weekend! Tonight we had a delicious ham dinner-fried potatoes (pops request) green beans, sliced tomatoes, applesauce.
Edna also brought some puzzles to work on. Mom was sorting and then they worked on the puzzle together.
Pop spent time today showing Edna how to carve the roosters. Sun was out and they sat on the porch.
This was almost done spinning.
We brought some caterpillars up that had spun into their chrysalis. This is our first "baby" that appeared and we released this am. Dave and Darwin gathered some more this pm and we actually watched one that was in a j shape spin its chrysalis. Amazing!!
It seems like everyone helps out in the kitchen either preparing or cleaning up. Martha and Mel are making breakfast. We had eggs, pancakes, sausage gravy over biscuits. Very ummy!

Canaan

Sharon and Carla arrived this morning. We all heard a horn blowing several times. They arrived in the car that Rich and Sharon were blessed with this week. Friends and family are blessing them in assisting to provide another vehicle for them. It is so nice for them.
Supper time- a table full of family and food. We had Yumasetta, corn on the cob, applesauce, sliced tomatos and a yummy butterscotch dessert.
This afternoon some of us were sitting at the table and doing our own thing-reading, word search books etc.
The house we are enjoying this weekend.
Getting the corn husked for supper. Beautiful weather today.
Everyone looking at the computer where Dave pulled up google earth- checking out the farm and the various homes. Quite interesting!

Family weekend in Canaan

Pop and mom were watching one of our videos of the western trip. I asked pop if he is excited about Canaan and he looked up and said "wow" !
Hello there everyone! We are at Canaan enjoying a family vacation with the family. Not everyone has arrived yet but till this eve, the others will arrive. Marlene and Richard, we wish you could have joined us. Maybe the blogging will help you be a part of us.We wish Rich could be here or also keep up with the blog. This is the computer table that is used for the laptops. :0) Dave & Wern, Pop & mom, Martha, and Mel & I arrived last eve. The weather was cool last eve and the sun is shining this morning. Just talked to Sharon and Carla on the cell. They will soon drive in.

Home again! Aug 22

Well folks, we are back home with "dial-up" and it is late, so I will not post any pictures at this hour. Yesterday morning we were at the St Louis Arch soon after they opened. We went through the museum there and did ride the "bubble" to the top. We were afraid we could not see anything since it was a rainy and foggy morning. Much to our surprise, we could see quite a bit and could take some pictures. I thought it was really pretty around there. The walkway to the arch is just a beautiful walk. A person could spend alot of time there just walking and also enjoying the river there (if the sun shines) We then hit the road for the east. It was planned earlier that we would take a more southern route home, but we both were feeling the need to get back home to be with family.We drove into our "motel" for the night and it looked good! The black eyed susans and the morning glories are blooming since we left. We also are noticing the "night" sounds already. It was so good to see everyone today. We spent most of the day today with Rich & Sharon at the hospital today.Continue to join us in praying for God's will and acceptance in this difficult situation. Praise God for Drs, and the nurses working with Rich and the kindness shown to Sharon. I may be able to post pictures again when it is not so late.

Day of driving-Aug 20

We took turns driving today. We would drive 100 mile or a little more and then switched drivers. As we came into Missouri, the sign was right overhead in a very busy traffic area, around Kansas City, so this shot will need to do. We are spending the night near St Louis at St Charles. We plan to go see the arch tomorrow and then head east again! We enjoyed the satellite radio today alot. We also listened to an audio book on this trip which was an interesting thing to do while traveling. We would remember what chapter we ended on and then start from there the next time. This way we could read and sight see at the same time!!
A snap of Kansas City s we drove by. The weather today was overcast, but made better driving since the sun was not so bright. There is always something good in a day!!

Aug 18 & 19-Pikes Peak, and more

We drove longer than we planned and are staying in Hays, Kansas tonight. It was so nice to see the fields of sunflowers blooming.
We visited Focus on the Family and took the tours through the Operations and Administrations buildings. It is a large campus. We enjoyed the Bookstore, visitor center and the theater. It was very refreshing to see God as the center after touring the country and seeing many things.
One of the buildings at Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs.
Grandpa and "Mr. Whitaker" at Odessy at Focus on the Family.
Very interesting place to visit.
"Chief Elroy" coming out of the tepee
We visited the Manatou Cliff Dwellers. It was so interesting! We went through the museum, watched Indian dances and walked through a house in the cliff.
Grandma coming down from the second story of this house.
We also visited and enjoyed walking through the Garden of the Gods.We watched some rock climbers while there.
A big balanced rock at The Garden of the Gods. Do you happen to see grandpa under there?
A view from our walk in the Garden of the Gods. This was what they called the "kissing camels". I could not get the whole thing in the picture.
It was 29 degrees on the Summit. At one point we were above the clouds, but then the higher we went, it was very foggy. The 86 yr old lady that sat next to us said she is so sorry that we couldn't see more. She lives there and had her 2 granddaughters with her. If on a clear day, they say we could have seen all of Colorado Springs and also into Kansas. We were still glad we went up and saw what we could.
These boys were very concerned about the lady that was using oxygen while on the Summit.
All the way! We could tell a difference in our breathing. An elderly lady that also rode the train, needed O2 while there.
Of Course, we reached the summit and there was snow!!
A pretty view on the way
A view on the way up the mountain. The one area reminded me of Sound of Music hills.
WE did take the cog railway up the mountain. There was a guide talking on the way up explaining things seen on the way up.
Yesterday we did go to Pikes Peak. I could not get the internet last night so I will do double pictures tonight.