Delaware Grammy

 

Happy  Birthday,
Eldest Daughter!!!

 

You’ve brought so much joy to all of us!  We thank God for you!

 

You’ve always been the “Big Sister”  and have taken seriously those responsibilities.
Every one of your siblings respect you and love you.  You’ve always been available to be inconvenienced by them, and it has been something that you have done for us as parents and for them as siblings that has made for a sense of security and belonging that has been so important to who we are as a family.

Even as a small child, when asked what you were thankful for, it was always, “I’m thankful for my family!” 
Thank you for living in a way that we always knew that the people you loved lived daily in your heart.
We are so blessed to be your family.

 

I know that you think we “dressed you funny” when you were a little girl.  We probably did.  But when God “dressed” your face and your heart, He couldn’t have done a better job.

 

We never wonder, though, who really is your FAVORITE!!!
  And we think that you have given us the best Son-in-law that we could ever have even dreamed of. 

 

As the following pictures show, you certainly have your hands and hearts in alot of people’s lives.

You come to the yearly potato salad fixin’ day, and always help with enthusiasm and laughter.

There is a whole passel of children who call you “Auntie Chris!”

Ah-h-h-h-h! Squishy Nevie!!!

What would we do without your helping hands at the family cookouts and picnics on the lawn at Shady Acres?

I ain’t saying nothin’ about this picture, Thank you very much!

Your sisters and you are the greatest of pals.  And it is no secret that it is largely due to your efforts and investments in their lives.

There are so many things that I cannot even begin to put on this page.  These are just a drop in the bucket compared to the many things that are so much a part of your life and our lives.  What a gal!  You put your old Mama to shame over and over again by your efficiency and organization.  If I could claim credit for raising you that way, it would be nice.  (But everyone who knows me would know that I was lying if I did!).  I am so glad that you have developed your gifts in the way that you have, and I am so glad to be your Mama.

Happy Birthday, Christy-girl.  Just in case you didn’t know – –

WE SURELY DO LOVE YOU!!!!

“Ain’t gonna’ lie,”  says Youngest Son quite often.
(when he is about to say something that I often think is pretty obvious . . . )

Well, I ain’t gonna’ lie either.

Sometimes this summer feels like I am:

on a bike-

going downhill-

without any brakes.

And I’m mostly loving the ride-

With panic at regular intervals!

(Now if I could just get my breath!)

 

 

We had a Mark Yoder Family picnic this week. Certain Man grilled the hamburgers and hot dogs and over saw the cranking of the homemade ice cream.

For which there was a LOT of help!

 

 

(This was my favorite.  Andrew Aycoth wanted to help turn, so Raph was “helping” him.

Of course, there were those who got a little bit sidetracked —

 

(This almost fits!)

Faces in the crowd:

Probably motors and things with wheels is the topic of this conversation!

I had another shot of Youngest Sister, but I am under threat of Death if I put it on here!

The evening was the best all week, weather wise, and the gathering wasn’t too shabby, either.  One of the reasons we wanted to get together was that Oldest Brother (Clint’s) son, Chip (with the baseball cap) and Chip’s lovely wife, Susan ( (hand to face) are heading back to their jobs in South Carolina early next week.

“I wonder what Uncle Clinton is up to now!” Sez Raph.

The grass sure is getting brown, but this flower is pretty!

 

Part of the “patio crowd.”  It was so nice to have Ethan and Queena with us.

“Almost an engineer” Nephew David joins the crowd on the patio.

The table had its row of folks

“Is there food???”  Raph is still catching up from his six months away from the variety he was accustomed to.  Jonathan Weber is living with the Heatwoles this summer (Youngest Sister’s family) so it was expected that he would be here, too.

 

“There is nothing nicer than a whole lot of people together who love eachother!”

 

Hugs and caring conversations!  Where would our family be without them?

Jeremy and Cheryl came in when the food was almost cold, but the reception was warm, and we were so delighted to see them!

“I’m just not quite sure about this Beeba-girl.  Mommy, are you sure I’m safe???”

 

Youngest Sister and My Sweet Mama converse by the garage, and survey the crowd.

And then the darkness moved in, and supper was over, people were starting to get chilly.  (Of all things!!!!)

AND THAT IS ALL THE TIME I HAVE FOR NOW!!!

A Golden Day . . .

Now it came to pass that Certain Man and Certain Man’s Wife seldom have time to go away by themselves, but Certain Man determined that he was going to take off from his work and that after a morning appointment in Dover that He and His Wife were going to spend a day away from the noise of phones and such just having a quiet day to themselves.

And so, on Friday, July 20, 2007, they betook themselves to the fair shores of the fine town of Lewes, and decided to ride the ferry from Lewes to Cape May and back again.  It was a glorious day, indeed! 

The Terminal was fairly bustling with activity.  The ferry in port was one of the largest that the Cape May – Lewes Ferry Corporation owns, and we were delighted to be able to ride it.  The day was perfect.  It was not too hot, a stiff breeze was blowing, and the sky was gorgeous.

Our Flagstaff against the sky.  The wind was keeping the flag straight out.  It was actually a strong enough breeze that there were places that were not comfortable to be!

Delaware’s very own Tall Ship, the Kalmar Nyckel, was in port, and the crew was busy givng tours.  It would have been interesting to go aboard, but we contented ourselves with observing from the deck of our own boat.

Kalmar Nyckel — The Tall Ship.
Read about it here:  http://www.kalmarnyckel.org/

We had a few very brief sitings of dolphins, (not long enough to catch any pictures) and the waves were pretty impressive — so much so that Certain Man began to get queasy, so we went below and got a cold ginger ale, found a nice place to sit along the side deck and watched the water slide by.

We passed another, much smaller ferry:

 

And saw this pier as we were coming into Cape May–

 

 

The coast line along Cape May is quite different from the Lewes side:

 

The boat was not very crowded, and people were pleasant.  The three hour ride was well worth the fare, and we came home with wonderful memories, and a sense of renewal and connectedness that we’ve been desperately needing. 

Welcome Home!!!

Saturday

This is the anniversary of Certain Man and Certain Man’s Wife.

Middle Daughter spent this day with a number of people helping to get her house ready to move into.  She is renting a house for at least a year and it is a wonderful little house, but has been empty for almost a year, so needed some work. 

Are CM and CMW really ready for this precious daughter to move out? 
There have been so many nights of family time and it is nice to call her down from the upstairs to lend a helping hand, give us medical advice, or just the comfortableness of having an adult child that is truly a friend living at home.

Are we really ready???

 

I don’t really think so.  But it is time (I guess).  She has a job, she is 27, and she needs some independence (I guess).  If the truth were told, she doesn’t really want to go, either, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the decision was made with our heads.  Hopefully our hearts will follow.

There is a lovely sunroom/porch attached to the back of the house.  It looks like this:

And the view in the other direction from that back porch is very restful:

This really doesn’t do it justice, but I love the view.  I could sit on her porch for hours and soak it all in.

I wish I had gotten some before and after pictures of the yard with all its flower beds, but I didn’t.  I did get this picture of some of the work force:

Laura, Amy, Ruthie, Rachel and Bekah

Holly also came and helped.

As did our fearless youth sponsors:

Actually, Oldest Daughter has been a most encouraging helper to her sister:

And She and Beloved Son in Law are fixing lunch for us tomorrow in honor of our anniversary.  Life doesn’t get much better than that.  I don’t have to cook Sunday lunch!  (We will be eating at home though, because of the space and also Blind Linda’s aversion to anything unfamiliar.

And here we are, 34 years ago today!

Oh, how the years do fly!

 

Thursday

Well, the begonias are bravely blooming in the old flower boxes.

And the boys were there for a short while.  Some of you ladies have the nicest grandbabies.  Well, these sweet guys fill that spot in my heart.  (At least a little.)

The funnest place to be is on the window seat, watching the birds .

Nevin is a little ham — always making us smile.

Carson is quickly growing into a “regular boy”
He thinks big thoughts and says big words.
He is not as fond of the camera as he once was.

Nor of hugs!

“Please, Auntie Chris, don’t squeeze me so hard!”

********************

And the Bible Study Gals took their children to the pool at Becki’s house yesterday.  I will not plague you with pictures of the Grownups, but here are a few of keepers:

Hannah snoozed away:

Jaron is a little water bug!

And Nevin’s favorite place to be was on the edge of the pond.  Carson wouldn’t even put his bathing suit on! 

It’s been hot in Delaware, and parts of our little state are still very, very dry (including Milford and Greenwood!).  The State Fair begins next week, and we almost always have rain during the ten days that the fair is going on.  Maybe we should see if they would move it up a few weeks so that the rain that always comes during Fair Week would come in time to save the crops! 

 

Once she was our little girl–

And she is quite a blessing to many people
in many ways:

She loves her Daddy with a fierce and fine loyalty:

And she is a willing helper and comfort
to her Momma–

She loves adventure, and is always ready for something new and exciting-

But when she’s tired, she’s REALLY tired, and can conk out almost anywhere–

And we are greatly missing her already and she has only been gone three days! (10 more to go.)

“Have a wonderful time at Choral Camp, Rachel-girl.
Be a faithful Servant.
Do all things as unto the Lord.
Remember how it was to be a camper and homesick,
And love those gals for Jesus’ sake.
WE LOVE YOU!”
your back home fam!

I don’t want to give anyone a heart attack by updating two days in a row, but I really had been working on an update with some family pictures:

 

This is our crew about six years ago. Certain Man had just started working for the State of Delaware, and the kids got a portrait taken for him for Father’s day for his office.

Denim, t-shirts and bare feet.  That was our offspringin’ then!!!

 

How very much they have changed!  (That kinda goes without saying, doesn’t it?)  This is the picture they got taken for Father’s Day this year.  (They did buy a nice arrangement for the Momma, too!)

There is still bare feet and some denim, but things have gotten more sophisticated!

Some of you saw these on Christina’s site, so you can just skip them if you want to! 

Our crazy, ferhoodled young men–

And our (mostly) demure and level-headed daughters.

How very much we love all seven of them!

Edit:  Finally www.xanga.com/BIGFATDUMPYWHITEGUY

has posted his pictures of the picnic.  Go there to see some great ones!!!

Thanks, Joel!!!

 

One of the reasons that there has been a dearth of pictures on this site is that my camera is broken.  I have a warranty on it, and it has been packed to be sent back — but lack of time on all fronts has hampered a great deal of things (including updating this site)

The Fourth of July picnic was a wonderful time!  We had over 90 people here, but the pictures were not the best–  Here are just a few that I was able to retrieve from the memory card in the camcorder.

What is a picnic without the small fry???

Last year, Victoria was but a little bitty baby

This year, there is a new Garthwaite baby, but I haven’t found a picture amongst the ones I have!

There were relays–

“Such a wonderful outfit!  I feel so gorgeous!”

“Hurry, hurry, get to the other end!”

Faces in the crowd!

“If I hold my mouth just right, maybe my team will win!!!” (Rachel H.)

“Please don’t take my picture!  I’m trying hard to get out of the way!” (Joanna S.)

 

After the picnic, the youth group plus some of the younger teens piled into the Big Blue Van from the Nursing Home and went to see the fireworks on The Green in Dover.

 

Rachel and Jesse wait for the show to begin.  Shortly after the fireworks started, they were ordered to “MOVE!!!”  It seems that pieces from the fire works were falling on the crowd and people were getting hurt.  So “MOVE!!!” they did!  And came home with pieces of firework debris that they had collected.
(Thankfully, all of our group were unharmed.)

Shady Acres is gearing up for the Annual July 4th picnic.

Some pictures from last year to whet your appetite–

We plan to have the train again– so come on, kiddoes!

There will be big friends and little friends.  These two have the same name — Caleb and Kaleb

We plan to have food — Maybe not crabs this year, (but we won’t turn them down, Loretta B.)

Hamburgers and hotdogs in aplenty.  Youngest Daughter with her favorite condiment.

Bring your friends and your cousins — pose for a picture or two.
(These five are all Mark Yoder, Sr.’s grandchildren
From left to right, Tim (Mark, Jr.’s) Carmen (Alma’s) Maria (Sarah’s) Rachel (our’s) and Holly (Mark Jr.) 
These five were born in less than four years.

 

Certain Man runs the grill, and JR often helps out.  Here, Joel lends a helping hand, too.

And you can always find a place to sit!  We watch out for the small fry, even when they are in the middle of the road!

It is fun to twirl away on the swing.  Here a little Mast lady gets her turn.

 

 

What good is a picnic on a hot Fourth of July without water relays???  Young Mr. Wilkie does his part.

And then there is ice cream to churn.  Tsk, tsk.  Mr. Robert sits while ThisisLoretta does the work!

With neighbors and church family and relatives and friends, short order is made of hand churning three big tubs of ice cream.

A sudden storm can put a damper on things in a hurry!

Literally.  But it didn’t stop the fun!

Oh.  Scary!!!

Several days later, all is pretty much back to normal.

The purpose of this post is just to let you know that if any of you can make it, we’d be glad to have you!!!

Wednesday afternoon, any time after 3:00 at Shady Acres Farm
.  We plan to eat at 5:30-6:00. 
Bring potluck picnic foods, we supply hamburgers and hotdogs.
Help with the drink is always appreciated.

Hope to see you here!

(By the way, if you want to see all of last year’s pictures, go to my posting on July 6, 2007.  That was a LONG, long version of this one and it tells the whole tale.