A new picture of the Johnstown Albertsons

This picture was taken on Sunday, November 22, 2009 after church. We were happy to have two families worship with us twice this month!

The rest of "what we've been up to" in November will have to wait until after Christmas to be revealed, Christmas secrets, you know!

November bonfire with friends

On November 21, we were invited to join some friends for a bonfire, weiner roast, and devotion time in a farmer's field near LaSalle. It sounded like a fun thing to do, and we wanted to get together with the friends, so we did it. We arrived at 4 PM and the temperature was about 44 degrees. It was 34 when we went home at 8:30 PM.
Ephraim Cruz got a nice fire going. The Cruzes had brought hay bales to sit on and straw to cover some of the mud. After the nice snows we have been having in November, the field was pretty muddy, and there was still snow around.
Ephraim never donned a coat all evening, but the rest of us were not so brave!
Beth had a babysitting job and Jeff had to work until after 5 PM and came later, so they are not in this picture. (Rowen was taking the picture.)

It did get dark soon and very dark later!

We enjoyed our roasted 'dogs and marshmellows and the other salads and food that was available.

After everyone had eaten, we sang some songs and told some stories.

At the end, a new Christian burned two boxes of things she no longer wants in her life. She obeyed God and burned her bridges. I thought it was a lot like baptism--a testimony of a new life to be lived for God alone!

A short visit with friends

On November 13, a couple of Emily and Jason's friends, who now live in WY, were in Loveland for shopping. Because Emily and Amy were desperate to get together, we went shopping at the same exact moment and place, so they could see each other.

Amy and Emily talk almost every day. They play their violins to each other, and read their original stories to each other on the phone.

Daniel and Jason are techno-type friends, so Jason brought his new laptop to show Daniel. They chat a lot on line and learn and share their computer skills with each other.

November Homeschool field trip to LASP, Boulder, CO

We had so many J-M Homeschoolers at the November field trip that we were divided up into 4 groups. This is the group that had our camera in tow, in the machining room. I thought with all of us wearing safety goggles that maybe the innocent would be protected!

A couple of pictures of Jeffrey and Harrison visiting after the field trip. Harrison thinks Jeffrey is pretty nice.

Janet and Beth visiting with Kelly, Quinten, and LeAnna in the stroller.

How we learn colors around here

Since Randy was a little boy, and that was a long time ago, I have had hair fasteners in the bathroom drawer. We have sometimes used them in people's hair, but mostly they have been for entertainment and learning for little children, while I was combing my hair or someone else's hair. If I wanted to have the little child where I could watch them while I was tied up with hair combing, I got out the bag of hair fasteners. This morning as I combed my hair and Emily's, and Lincoln was with me so that Beth could do some school, I thought about how I have taught my kids and those we babysat all about colors, counting, and sorting with these fasteners. Some of them are losing their elasticity from old age, but they are still fascinating to little ones. Today Lincoln sorted yellows, reds, blues, and whites, before he made them into a necklace of sorts. I knew where he was the entire time, and Beth got some school done!

Drummond Family Visit

Dave and Twila Drummond with Lena and Kent visited us over the weekend. They are missionaries in Ukraine. In 2006, Brenda Stevenson (now Albertson) did an internship with them for about 8 weeks. The Drummonds have a special place in Brenda's heart because of their kindness and the good times they experienced together. We have wanted to meet the Drummonds in person, but this was our first opportunity. We were so glad they put us on their travel schedule. They were a blessing to have in our home.

After our Sunday morning service online with Hobe Sound Bible Church, the Drummonds shared their power point presentation of the work they do in Ukraine. Here Dave is explaining about the picture on the computer.

Twila is telling us why we should answer God's call. In these pictures are our friends, the Kaus family who join us for church and who also enjoyed hearing from the Drummonds.

After church, the boys played some Legos.

Beth and Lena looked at some blogs.

Later, Jason, Kent, and Emily played some competitive Foosball.

Our girls enjoyed getting acquainted with Lena.

We were blessed by the privilege of hosting some of God's wonderful people!
It was special also that Jeffrey, having just returned from Ukraine, could share his experiences and pictures with Dave and Twila, as they are very familiar with the places he worked and how much the work was needed! God's timing is so wonderful to put the Drummonds in our lives this weekend!

Jeffrey's home from Ukraine!

On Friday afternoon, Nov. 6, we were excited to welcome Jeffrey, John McVey, and Jonathan Lucas back from the Mission Helps trip to Ukraine. It seemed like forever as we waited. Here are some of the Lucas children and Emily.

John came through first, having preferential treatment because of having crutches. Jeffrey and Jonathan had to wait in the long line much longer.

Finally, we got a glimpse of Jeffrey!

Here is the entire Lucas family glad to have their daddy back!

Jeffrey will be working on getting his blog updated soon, (we hope) to share the work accomplished in Ukraine.