On January 6, we had Brian and Lois Harvey, Lonnie and Leta Witt, and Leonard and Janet Sankey over for Sunday dinner. We had such interesting table conversations with themes of missions and ministry. All of these couple are dear to us and we are thankful to get to worship with them.
Our dear friend Natalie flew back from her Christmas break in Colorado and retrieved her vehicle we were car-sitting and went back to her college in Ohio.
On January 8, Janet started working in the GBSC kitchen Monday through Friday as cook's helper. This is enjoyable, but physically taxing work. Sometimes, she gets to eat lunch with Jason, when he has a late lunch break and Janet is also getting her break.
On Fridays, she usually gets to serve lunch.
On January 13, Elizabeth and Emily went and stayed the night at our friends' apartment while the mother and daddy went to the hospital to have a baby girl. Elizabeth and Emily babysat Kaden and brought him to church and home for dinner with us. We also enjoyed having Danette and Jimmy, and Austin and Anthony Paulus as guests. We learned all about deer hunting in Pennsylvania from the twins.
After dinner, Elizabeth and Emily took Kaden to meet his baby sister, Kalena Asbell. Congratulations to Jonathan and Diane!
Emily holding the new little girl.
Elizabeth holding Kalena.
She was over nine pounds of sweetness!
We had several snows in January. Emily did this creative art on our deck.
And at school...
Emily ventured out on a winter walk to take pictures.
The sky was beautifully contrasting the snow.
A picture of the Albertson siblings
Janet went to Venetian Gardens to see Beulah. She was having a groggy day, but Janet did enjoy visiting with the other residents in the dining room.
On January 19, we started a search for a different house to move to in this area. We are looking for a Ranch with a basement with laundry on the main floor and plenty of room to have Sunday dinner guests.
Rowen had his 61st birthday on January 21. We went out to eat at Olive Gardens with Christmas gift cards from dear Colorado friends.
GBS had Winter Revival with John Parker preaching. All of the services were wonderful.
A matching selfie in church on January 27.
Rebekah Barkman brought this so-yummy carrot cake for dessert.
Danette helped her serve it.
Jimmy, Danette, Rebekah and Zach were our treasured guests for dinner.
On February 1, there was an art exhibit in the Flexon Library on GBSC campus. Emily displayed some of her photography work.
February 3 Sunday
Matching girls
It was our honor to have Drs. Allan and Nadine Brown and Marianne and Stephen Brown over for dinner. The stories and conversations were fun and stimulating. We appreciate Dr. Brown's influence in our college kids' lives in the Bible classes he teaches at GBS.
Janet finished up backing and binding a bunch of baby blankets that were donated to the Crisis Pregnancy Center.
She also made a bridesmaid dress for Emily to wear when she flew to Oregon and was in her friend Ivanna's wedding on February 16.
On February 17, we had Dr. Phil and Marianne Brown and sons, Allan, Daniel, and Stephen for dinner. They were in our Care and Connect group at church. We love and appreciate the Browns and Dr. Phil's teaching at church and GBS and input into our kids' lives.
On February 24, GBS was on Late Winter break and the choir (including Danette) was on tour. The kitchen was closed, so we had Jimmy Garcia, Rose Woodard, Gaby and Abi Montero, and Jorden Messner all from GBS for dinner. Also Jonathan Brewer came for dinner. He was part of our Care and Connect group at church for January-March.
We played Wise and Otherwise with Jorden and Rose.
February 23, 28, March 1, 2, Janet was privileged to work at the Duke Energy Center Home Show for Budget Blinds/Tailored Living for Rowen's boss. She was on the Tailored Living side and enjoyed talking to people about closet systems and garage floors.
Budget Blinds side of the booth
Rose actually stayed with us the entire break. We played some Mancala.
On Saturday, March 9, Emily got a surprise at work when the owner/operator of her Chick-fil-A, Brent Linn, awarded her a $2000 scholarship for college!! This is such a blessing!!
Also on the evening of March 9, we had a surprise birthday for Melanie Hilling, a college friend of our girls. Jenny Mejia, Katie and Kara Stamper, Danette Teed, Renee Albring and Kari Smith helped us pull off the surprise!
Melanie and her birthday cake
Playing Dutch Blitz after the meal
On March 10, Zach and Rebekah Barkman, Jimmy and Danette joined us for dinner and Rebekah brought a yummy strawberry cream cheese concoction for dessert.
A picture from the other end of the table for a change!
In the evening, our friend Mikah Litchfield had a missionary service at our church.
On Melanie's actual birthday, with Emily and Jenny
On March 12, our dear friends, Korin and Steve Harms had a new baby boy, Daniel Lincoln. Emily babysat the triplets and their brother the whole day. A couple days later, she got in this picture with the Harms kids.
On March 15, our girls went to the GBSC Spring Banquet.
Elizabeth with two dear friends, Anna Winter and Heather Kessen
Bryanna Shirk, Laura Wurst, and Rebecca Pohl with our girls
"Love 'em like family" Rebekah and Zach Barkman
The weekend of March 16-17, Emily was out with SWSE (Symphonic Wind and String Ensemble). The 17th was her 21st birthday. We "had" to see her on her important birthday, so Rowen and Janet went to the church they were playing at in the morning.
After a wonderful service, we went to the GBSC cafeteria to eat lunch. Jenny and Melanie joined us. Elizabeth came a little later after her bus ministry at Burlington.
Emily got to hold Daniel Harms.
Jason and Karen joined us to admire Steve and Korin's newest edition.
On March 23, we had a wedding to attend close to where Beulah Conley lives, so we stopped by so Janet could visit her. She was very alert and remembered Janet and had a nice visit.
Stephen St. Germaine works in the GBSC kitchen as staff with Janet. He married his sweetheart Brooke Evans.
Sand ceremony result
After the ceremony
There was a nice gazebo at the reception...
We celebrated Emily's birthday by having the Stetlers, Strouds, and Danette over on March 24. Emily had her favorite dessert, Mint Dirt Cake.
Grandma Stetler kept spooning Karilee coffee.
We love our pastors, Darrell and Regina Stetler and Andy and Sherilyn Stroud. How blessed we are to be part of the Burlington Bible Church!
About 11 pm, March 25, Randy and Joy and family arrived at our house!! They brought with them five of our grandchildren and a high school senior from Mitchell, SD on her senior trip. They went to the Creation Museum on March 26 and the Ark Encounter on March 27. We had two short evenings with them. Jason and Karen came over for supper on Tuesday.
Jewelyn
Jonathan
Mishael
Mishael, Joy and Randy
Emily, Micah, Quil, and Jason
Jonathan and Kimberly Kline
Jason and Karen, Mishael
Supper Tuesday evening
Emily reading to Jonathan, Mishael, and Jewelyn
Elizabeth teaching Micah and Quil the Taiwanese game
Family at the Creation Museum
Quil and Jonathan riding the camel at the Ark
Mishael at the park
Mishael and Jewelyn
Elizabeth and Mishael
Jonathan and Jewelyn
Elizabeth coloring with the kids
Mishael pointing to his daddy's little boy picture
Randy and Joy
Relaxing in the living room
Elizabeth playing Dress the Bears with Jewelyn and Mishael
Dominoes
It was a short and sweet visit from our family from South Dakota. They left on Thursday morning to head back west. Thank the Lord for safe travels.
Emily left on Friday morning for SWSE tour: services in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Indiana.
Emily with Jenny and Gaby
Saturday night in Independence, Kansas, Tim, Brenda, Charissa, and Felix drove over from Joplin to hear SWSE and see Emily! Tim calls this picture #catchandrelease They had Emily in their vehicle for a short minute!
Felix was happy to see Aunt Emily.
Charissa and Emily
Emily got to see all of her nieces and nephews in the same week's time!
Tim and the kids by the GBSC bus
Another sweet picture with Felix
On the bus with Jenny, Danette and Ms. Jess
Playing a game on the bus
We are thankful for the safe travels and the good services SWSE has been having.
We got to eat at Dr. Phil and Marianne Brown's house on March 31, with Jonathan Brewer also. We had some very good discussions around the table, but no pictures.
And now the blog is up to date!
Thank you for your patience!
