Beth's 17th birthday, September 26, 2010

We've never had a seventeen-year-old girl before!!!! Beth celebrated her birthday this past Sunday pretty much like we celebrate every Lord's Day, except that we had two families for church and lunch, instead of the usual one guest family. Beth drove us to Federal Heights in the afternoon for the children's service.
Beth got a Cricut, partially as a gift from us, partially paying for herself. She has already used it to make two song visuals for the children's Sunday School at Federal Heights. It will be used for scrapbooking, besides making more song visuals. She also asked for and received the newest Victory Trio CD, entitled "I Must Make Heaven." The songs will be a blessing in our home; we all enjoy listening to the Victory Trio.

Beth is a wonderful blessing to all of our family as she daily helps in the kitchen and with weekend cleaning in our home and the Chamber of Commerce. She is also a blessing to the Brown family by faithfully babysitting Lincoln on Mondays and other times as needed.

A funny picture of Beth and Lincoln "in jail." They are actually kneeling behind a kitchen chair.

Beth is studying hard in her senior year of homeschooling, taking hard classes like Human Anatomy and Physiology (Advanced Biology), Speech, Economics, Spanish, Driver Training, English 12, British Lit., Algebra 2. She continues to publish the God's Girls' Newsletter every month, which is an inspiration to many girls who receive it. She is a busy girl!!

We love and appreciate Beth very much!
Here are some Albertsons, Hinkles, and Kauses around our table for Sunday dinner, enjoying the birthday cake Kelly Kaus made for her. (Not everybody got in this picture.)

Mathew and Nicole Hinkle, Phoebe and Ethan joined us this Sunday. They come for church every few months.

We missed Jeffrey; he is in Cincinnati this week at God's Bible School taking the onsite classes for his online studies.

Other pictures from my trip to Indiana and the wedding

For Friday lunch, Tim and Brenda, Audrey, the Susans, and I went to a restaurant and ice cream parlor named Zaharakos in downtown Columbus, IN. It is a unique place because it is also a museum of old fashioned soda fountains and mechanical music orchestrions.


When the Susans and Tim arrived, we were given a large booth in the back, but we still got to hear the Welte orchestrion play twice. I do not have a picture of the one that played, but it is on their website. The one pictured here, I took because I knew Emily would be interested in the violin featured in it. These orchestrions are played with the player piano type "rolls" with holes the air goes through.


These pre-wedding pictures are taken at Cummins Corporation headquarters in Columbus, IN where they have beautiful grounds (and street side parking! woohoo!) Of course, while the real photographers were using the beautiful backgrounds, I was snapping shots toward the street side parking!

The brides' girl cousins, Ava and Reese, who were flower girls

One of the groomsmen, Jesse, enjoying the flower girls' photo op, while Shushan and Melissa look on. The little girls were taking care of the brides' bouquet.

Shushan, Melissa, and Audrey, the bridesmaids

My son, Tim and his father-in-law, Phil Stevenson, father of the groom

My son, Tim and his wife, Brenda. Brenda's brother is the groom.


Seth smilingly receiving sisterly smooches from Audrey and Brenda. Of course, the photographers were forcing this PDA!

Alesia and Seth and the flower girls, Reese and Ava Pruitt

Brent Susan and Tim Albertson

Brent, Alicia, and Tirzah Susan

One post wedding picture in the foyer. Alesia and Seth greeting Martin Barnard, a friend from Faith Bible School days.

The reception at the Otter Creek Country Club

Maria, Daniel, and 5.5 month old David Byler

Paul, Sarah, Brynna, and Amara Koerner. (Maria is Paul's sister.)

Lindell Howard and the Susans

My plate--all yummy stuff!

Seth and Alesia Stevenson's wedding September 17, 2010

Seth Stevenson has been an honorary member of our family for many years. In 2003, when Randy went away to Faith Bible School, he regularly brought friends home with him for weekends and days off school. Seth was one of those who came to our house often. We made a practice of "When you are here, you are FAMILY" long before our kids bought us the plaque which hangs in our entry way. Seth was one of our first "adopted" sons.
For one of Seth's visits, he brought his sister, Brenda, along. That was a Thanksgiving visit, which got extended by a major snowstorm! During those days, the whole idea of Brenda becoming a part of our family was planted in Tim's mind! Now they have passed their second anniversary!
Because of Seth's adoption into our family, we have frequently prayed for a companion for him. This year God has answered our prayers, when Seth opened his mind, eyes, and heart to Alesia Pruitt who has been working at the Kentucky Mountain radio station with him for two years.
I was privileged to fly to the wedding in Columbus, IN this past week for their vows before God and many witnesses. It was a beautiful ceremony and God's presence was there. Seth and Alesia's home, ministry, and future in God's work are in our prayers. That's what you do for those you love--you pray!
Here are a couple of "fun" pictures. Yes, Alesia is going to be good for Seth, and keep him laughing!

Seth and Alesia with her cousins: the boys were ushers, the girls were flower girls

Melissa Lorimer, Matron of honor, Brent Susan, Best Man, Audrey Stevenson, bridesmaid, Tim Albertson, groomsman, Ava and Reese Pruitt, flower girls, Shushan Richardson, bridesmaid, Jesse Muehlbauer, groomsman

Jesse Muehlbauer, Seth Stevenson, Brent Susan, Tim Albertson

Alesia and her girls

Alesia and her parents, Rick and Alissa Pruitt

Alesia and her mother

Seth and two of his sisters, Audrey and Brenda. I am sorry I did not get a picture of the whole family and especially Enid!

Seth and his parents, Kathleen and Phil Stevenson

A view from the back pew during the wedding.

Seth and Alesia and Alesia's childhood pastor, Rev. Keith Robinson

Alesia and Seth with "Colorado Mom" Janet

Seth and Alesia with the cakes Seth's parents made and decorated


My gift to the couple is the quilt I made this year.

Reiff Family Reunion 2010

Rowen's Mother, Alice (in her Dad's arms in photo above), was a Reiff. Her parents, David and Ada Reiff, had five sons and four daughters. Their descendants have kept in touch with a circle-letter since the 1960's, and several times through the years have gotten together for a family reunion. Now, all of these original Reiff siblings have passed from this life, along with all but one of their spouses. Only Rowen's uncle, Alvin Gafford, remains alive of that generation, for the Reiff Family.

So it was Rowen's Reiff cousins that wanted to get together again, and some 40 people did so on Sept 6, 2010 (Labor Day), in Colorado Springs, CO. Cousins and second cousins came from Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and from Colorado to spend nearly 8-hours getting reacquainted, recalling former days, contemplating the current and future state of our country, and this world, among many other topics. There were various kinds of music played and sung, and many photographs of days gone by shared and discussed. It is quite unlikely that those same individuals will ever be together again, as some of the people are doing what seems to come so easy to God's created beings...they are getting older! It was good to be able to attend this event!

Entire Group in the Church Sanctuary, just for the photograph:


Uncle Alvin Gafford:


Original Reiff Family Cousins that attended the 2010 Reunion

In descending age order: (Front) Paul Reiff, Dave Reiff, Glen Reiff, Wayne Reiff, (Back) Harold Reiff, Howard Albertson, Edwin Gafford, Katherine Gafford, Esther Mendez, and Rowen (youngest Reiff cousin!)