January 2020 New Year, New Decade

Abi and Gaby Montero were with us over the turn of the year.  On New Years' Day, they and Elizabeth and Emily slaved away in the kitchen for many hours and made a lot of tamales.  They made red sauce for the chicken, and green sauce for the pork.  They also made a small batch of sweet raisin tamales.  Everything was made from scratch, the hard way!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided it was a lot of work, and probably worth whatever it costs to not be the ones doing the work!  We bagged them up the next day, for giving away, freezing, and eating.

 What Janet did instead of slaving away over tamales.

We all got the puzzle done on January 2 before Abi and Gaby went back to GBS.

That evening, Jason and Karen came over and we had tamales for supper!    This picture was when we were playing a game.

 Emily got her afghan completed over Christmas break.  She started it after we moved to Kentucky, but only worked on it during breaks from work or school.  She bought the yarn for this project from a gift card from her high school graduation.

 On Sunday, January 5, we were invited over to eat with Gary and Denise Mitchell.  It was a very sweet time together.  Erica Biggers, a GBS student they have "adopted" was there too.

 The kids played some Dutch Blitz after dinner.  Eron Miriye, a new second semester student from PNG, Erica, Emily, Wesley Mitchell are in the game.

We got this apparatus to display the pictures that came in our Christmas cards.  

On January 12, we had our four adopted GBS kids (Caleb, Jimmy, Danette, and Rebecca) and Kashleigh (a special "bus kid" from Junior Church) for dinner and the afternoon.  Kashleigh has become a regular going to church with us on Sunday evenings the past few months.

 Elizabeth, Kashleigh, and Danette playing Clue

 Elizabeth was able to take time to go to the latest adoption of our church family.  Tim and Patty Stamper, amazing foster and adoptive parents, added Lilyanna in their family of six.  They have raised Lilyanna from when she was a few weeks old as a foster child.  I am so appreciative of this wonderful family and their hearts for children.

 This is the church folk who were able to be at the adoption.

 The Stampers who are still at home.  They have a couple kids who are already married.

On January 19, we had Caleb, Jimmy, Danette, and the Witt family:  Lyle, Michelle, Bryan, Landon, Emily, and Julie over for Sunday dinner.

On Rowen's 62nd birthday, January 21, there was a special String Concert at GBS that Emily was privileged to play in.  Below, Emily and her friend, Kimberly Dickinson

 Emily with Rachelle Ferguson, who was first chair violin in the concert

Rachelle is a very talented violinist, but also writes amazing plays and vignettes for church youth groups, homeschoolers, and ACE students who need drama material. Kittywham Productions is the name of her business.  We highly recommend and endorse her product!!  

Her mother, Laura Ferguson, directs a string ensemble in Salem, Illinois and brought her group to join with GBS string players and guests to give us that delightful evening of music.  Laura arranged the three hymn selections that were played.

Dr. Vincent Phalen was the guest conductor.  

 Emily wasn't able to be in the String Workshop where they practiced all afternoon, because of her ASL classes at another college, but she practiced on her own and in SWSE and was able to play in the concert.

 The last half of the concert was very challenging and beautiful.  We are thankful for the opportunity to hear and enjoy the evening, watch Emily participate in this unique concert, and to see our dear friends, Rachelle and Laura Ferguson!  It made Rowen's birthday a very special day!

January 23-26 was Revival at GBS.  Daniel Edwards was the speaker.  The music and messages were all very good and a blessing to the students, staff, and faculty.

 Emily with her friends Jenny DeLeon, Melanie Hilling, Rebecca Bennett, and Hanna Kreml, (a second semester new student)

 Moto and Massa, talented Japanese brothers who have been/or are students at GBS.

 We were privileged to eat Sunday dinner with Leonard and Janet Sankey at their home on January 26 and enjoyed the food and the many stories!

We enjoyed hearing Daniel play his saw for offertory.  It reminded us of Uncle Alvin's saw playing.

We've had a little snow in late January, early February.

 Daffodils are trying to come up in our front flower beds.

 These next two pictures were taken January 31 at GBS by Rachel Pohl, one of our campus photographers.  

Jenny and Emily

 Janet on the way into chapel

 Emily and Melanie

Check out Emily's blog from time to time.  When she gets time, she will include all this and more--things she did without the rest of us.