...AND COMING

And the birthdays keep coming.

Today it's Peter's turn to blow out some candles,
thirty-two of them,
to be exact.
Happy Birthday with love from home and me.

THREE YEARS FOR JAKE AND VERENI

On a Wednesday, three years ago today, Jake and Vereni were married by Pastor Brian Vriesman in the church office. Typical of Jake, getting married that day was a decision that he made over breakfast that morning! Dad, Elly, and I were able to make it into town, on such short notice to witness Jake's and Vereni's vows to one another. Immediately following the "I do's", Jake and Vereni headed to Yellowstone National Park to begin their journey in life together.

Wildlife photo from Jake and Vereni's United States honeymoon trip.

On December 22, 2006, Jake and Vereni had a wedding service in Mexico in the town of Yuriria, near Vereni's hometown. We are so happy that our whole family was able to travel to Mexico to be a part of the service and the celebration which followed.

The church where the wedding ceremony for Jake and Vereni took place in Mexico on December 22, 2006.

Vereni and Jake enter the church on the day of the wedding.

The mariachi band that played for the wedding and for the reception.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
JAKE AND VERENI!

DILL PICKLE AND A GLASS OF MILK

This is a story of dill pickles and a glass of milk. It is a true story.
When I was young, much younger than I am today, I returned home from school one day. My older sister Mieke said that she had heard that if you ate a dill pickle with a glass of milk, you would die. Though it sounds ridiculous, she explained that it had something to do with the chemicals of the two foods combining and becoming toxic to man. Mieke decided to experiment on herself to see if the report was true. Elly and I were certainly curious, but also horrified. We began pleading with Mieke. "Please don't do this! What if it's true?" But Mieke was determined. Slowly and deliberately she downed her afternoon snack. Elly and I looked on with nail-biting concern. And we waited. And we waited.

Nothing happened.

And still nothing happened.

The End.

If (a very big "if") I ever write a book, I think that I will name it "Dill Pickles and Glass of Milk". There's something about that incident that fascinates me. What a conflicting range of emotions rages through the simple tale...despair, defiance, horror, fear, curiosity, anticipation, disappointment, boredom, relief....

IDAHO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Thanks Elly and Robbie for the tickets to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival that you gave us last Christmas!
It was a fun evening.
Arriving at the Shakespeare festival,
carrying our picnic items - wine, bread, cheese, and grapes
AND our newly purchased Gobbler Loungers

Adriana, Elly and I enjoy the production of "Tuna Christmas" from our seats on the lawn.

Idaho Shakespeare Festival's outdoor theater.

....AND COMING

Happy Birthday Joey!

...AND COMING....

Nicolas is one-year-old today!
He's in Mexico today, perhaps celebrating with all his relatives there.

THE BIRTHDAYS KEEP COMING

Today it's Robbie's birthday!
I think he's 37 years old.

AVA IS FIVE

Ava celebrated her fifth birthday today!

Relatives and neighbors came to her house for dinner, fun, games, presents, and

OF COURSE! birthday cake!

RELATIVES, Gracie and Lizzie, strike up a pose at the park across the street.

NEIGHBORS, Will and Ian, join the fun!

DINNER of Chicken Tetrazini and Spaghetti is served on the backyard patio.

Benjamin is having FUN coloring!

GAMES of horseshoes attract the men.

PRESENTS...

PRESENTS... PRESENTS!

and, of course, BIRTHDAY CAKE!

A moment of RELAXATION after the festivities.

LABOR DAY

I know that
there is nothing better
for men than to be happy
and do good while they live.
That everyone may eat and drink,
and find satisfaction in all his toil
--this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13



Pictured: Harry milking the cows
in 1974, shortly after we moved to Idaho

NICOLAS' BIRTHDAY PARTY

The party for Nick's first birthday was at Balanced Rock Park. We celebrated early (his birthday isn't till the 16th), because Jake and Vereni and the kids will be heading to Mexico in a few days to be with their family there for awhile. It was a beautiful afternoon, in a beautiful setting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLAS!

Nicolas........ Johanna........ Repairs

Conversation........ Shish-K-Bobs........ Swings

Horseshoes........ Friends........ Family