Memorial Service for Eileen Owen

I just returned from the memorial service and luncheon in honor of a lady that was a great family friend, who we were privileged to know in her later years. Eileen taught us much, gave us much, and provided many opportunities for our family to learn how to serve others.  We miss her, and as we do we are reminded that we will all pass from this life, and after that is eternity.  Let us all be doing what we'll wish we had done when we stand before God.  (Written by Rowen)

 Graveyard service at the Johnstown Cemetary

 Eileen's Children Jody and Rob Owen

Henry, Grace, Chris, Rob, Jody Owen, Jody's daughters

Book Review: The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack

The Fourth Fisherman by Joe Kissack

I found this book hard to get into at first because every other chapter bounces between an autobiography of Joe Kissack and the adventure of five Mexican fishermen lost at sea in 2005.  Their lives and stories do intersect later on in the book, and there is a purpose for the way the book was written. 

Joe Kissack starts telling his story recalling his success of being executive vice president at a major television studio.  That was in 1997.  He was living high, yet deep inside he was dying by inches.  He could never achieve enough to satisfy the little boy in him who wanted desperately to please his father.  He was married to a wonderful woman and had two beautiful children, but the rat race to attain more was pulling him into alcohol addiction, and later drug addictions.  His life spiraled into darkness and failures.  Thankfully, he had a friend who told him that God was the only answer for him.  His life began to turn around after he yielded it to Him, and God gave him a new purpose for living.  Part of that purpose was to tell the story of the fishermen lost at sea after a terrific storm.

There were five fishermen, at first, but because of the storm, and the owner’s insistence that they try to find his expensive net which was lost in the storm, they ran out of fuel and had no means of navigation.  There was no one to rescue them, or to notice that they were not returning.  Three of them learned to live by drinking the blood of the raw turtles they caught and ate; two eventually died of malnutrition and thirst.  One thing of value they had not lost was a Bible, which they read daily.  They prayed and read that Bible to keep up their courage.  Day after day and month after month passed before they were rescued near Australia nine months later.  Their families had given them up for dead, except for one praying Grandma.

When Joe first heard about the rescue, he became intrigued with their story, especially the report that the Bible had sustained them.  He knew about being lost, and found, and knew what a lifeline God’s Word was in his life.  He felt an inner urging to learn and tell their story, to give hope to all who would hear.  The Mexican media was saying they were drug runners and cannibals, as those stories sell better.  Joe couldn’t rest until he got the true story to share with the world.

This book reveals the emptiness of success, money, and acclaim.  Only God can fill the hole inside of each one of us.  It also shows how important loving, accepting parenting is to children.  The power of prayer and the Bible is displayed in the miracles that took place in the lives of Joe and the fishermen.

Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

July 1-8 visit from the Albertsons

Our nephew, Herb Albertson, his wife, Jenny, and their six children: Abigail, Ben, Celeste, Daniel, Zeke, and Zach came to spend some time with us last week.  We had a great time together!

 The Mendez cousins came over on July 3rd and 4th too, so we had lots of fun cousin time!

 The grown-ups table, July 3rd:  Dan and Esther Mendez, Abigail, Stepheni Mendez, Herb, Josiah (Stepheni's little boy), Jenny, Maria Mendez, Janet

 The kids' table: Sarah Mendez, Daniel, Zeke, Ben, Celeste, Emily, Kwani and Hadassah Mendez

 Mendez/Albertson group

 We girls had a tea party one morning, using Beth's tea set and some of my China.  

Jenny and Janet

 Beth, Abigail, Emily and Celeste

 The Mendez cousins came over on July 4th for a water balloon war.  Most of the pictures are movies, but this is taken before everybody got wet!

 This was the evening before when the kids played in the park.

 Celeste and Zachary on our trampoline.  All the kids enjoyed the tramp.

 We played many, many games that week!

 Herb and Jenny celebrated their 20th anniversary by going away to the mountains for a couple of days.  The kids did great staying with us without their parents.  

 I cannot tell you how many games we played, but we had a great time together.  The kids were all well behaved, cooperative, and helpful and were a joy to have in our home.

 Celeste and Emily. 

 Emily had fun braiding Celeste and Abigail's hair different ways.

 Beth and Abigail

 The cousins played a crazy "amoeba" game.  They look calm in this picture, but it was a pretty wild game.

Janet's June projects

A while back, Beth was doing her usual greeting at the ACE check-out, "Did you find everything you needed today?" and the answer was, "No, I can never find what I am looking for.  I want containers to put my end wrench sets in where they will be organized at all times."  Beth answered, "My mother has made those for my daddy and my brothers out of denim.  Would you like her to make you some?"

 So, I finally got around to doing it.  The gentleman came over with his end wrench sets and laid them out on his truck tailgate, so I could draw around them in the arrangement he desired.  He wanted two different organizers.  This is the smaller one of the two he requested.

 This is the larger one that went from very, very small, to very large.

 This is the day he picked them up, and put them all in the appropriately marked slots.

 After this, he closed them, rolled them up, tied them, and they are in the bottom of his tool box to this day!

 My more beautiful June project was making the second grandson quilt.  It is a twin size. I will be taking it to the quilter very soon, and will pick up the first grandson quilt.

Here is the first grandson quilt.  There are three fabric differences between them.  #1 the animals are random, and #2, the animals are paired up.  I made # 1 quilt in April.

Trimming the trimmed tree some more

One evening in June when we came home from our walk, Rowen noticed there were broken limbs in our poor half tree, so sadly ruined in last October's snowstorm.  We had had some wind, so probably some limbs that were damaged previously gave way.  He felt they were in danger of falling down, so he got creative in reaching high enough to cut them.  

I'm thankful that he was able to take care of it without mishap; he was 'way up there!

More visitors in June

June 22, Marlene Reynolds dropped by for lunch and a visit, with her children.  We had never met Shane before, so it was very special for her to come by and share him with us.

 Titus

 Kassie

On June 23, Mike and Carmen Durkee came for supper and the evening.  We got to see lots of their pictures from their trips to Washington, D.C. and Yellowstone.

 On June 25, C. Dean and Marsha Grant stayed the night with us.  We had a nice time visiting with them.  They also visited us a year ago on their way to the mountains for vacation, but we hadn't posted about them.

We love having company, so we were glad for those who have stopped by to see us!

Albertsons' involvement in Johnstown Barbecue Day June 2

Rowen walked the parade route carrying the Johnstown Historical Society banner with Pat Kiovsky.

 Several years ago, Jeffrey worked on this clown car to get it running for Pat James.  We were glad to see her driving it in the parade this year!

 Janet was at the Parish House all morning in case people wanted tours.

 Rowen participated in a ribbon cutting of our town plaza dedication.  The Historical Society was involved in the ribbon cutting with the Town Board because of the historical pictures on the wall behind them.

 Rowen, Janet, and Emily worked at the Historical Society booth in the park.

June visitors

On June 16, the Worden family came to visit us from Kremmling, Colorado.  They spent Saturday and Sunday with us, even going with us to our ministry to children in the evening.  This is a picture of Beth and Beth Ann Worden.  They have been penpals for several years.  We had met the Wordens in person two years ago when we stopped in Kremmling on our way to Delta.

 Hannah Worden and Emily

 A six person Foosball game!

                                     

 Paul and Faith Worden, parents of Beth Ann, Daniel, Hannah, Cherish and David

 The whole Worden family

 We enjoyed the kids playing hymns together on instruments.  

Beth, piano, Beth Ann, guitar, Jason, cello

 Emily and Daniel, violins, and Hannah, recorder

 We also went to the Walker Hymn Sing together.

 On our walk around Johnstown Lake, we saw this blue heron.

 The Worden kids at Johnstown Lake

We were blessed to get to spend this time with our friends.