Johnstown Albertsons

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Catching Up: Christmas in Joplin, Part 1

We were glad to have the blessing of going to Joplin for Christmas. All of our family were able to be together except for Beth, who had babysitting, as well as Ace Hardware obligations.

Janet and newest grandson, Jonathan

Charissa, learning about her cousins' cars at a young age

Emily and Jonathan with a funny look on his face!

Rowen and Tim

We were playing a game of Taboo after supper at Randy and Joy's house.

Another view of the Taboo game. We were so happy to have Jeffrey along on this trip. He got really tired of traveling over Christmas break. He rode/drove out to Colorado with some friends from Cincinnati who came to ski. We left the next day for Joplin! The following Monday, he made a trip with Randy to Indiana to pick up a van full of ABE Painting calendars. Then two days later, we drove back to Colorado.
Joy's mother and sister are also in the group. We were glad to get to see them again.

Jason with Jonathan

Emily and her friend, Joanna (Joy's sister)

My dad, Rex Scoles, leading song service on Sunday

Joy leading the children's songs for the Christmas program

Quil and Micah singing with the children

Joy telling the story

Micah and Quil memorized part of Luke 2, and said their verses at the appropriate time in the service.

I was very proud of them saying the verses so well.

Emily sang with Joy's sisters, Joanna and Ranae. Brenda played for them.

Brenda and Emily played their violins together. Jason played for them, but he is hidden in the picture.

Catching Up: Wedding in Salina, Kansas

I guess this wedding holds the distinction of being the first wedding we were ever invited to on Facebook! We knew the bride's family, the Wisemans, from our visits to Faith Bible School back in 2004-2007. We knew the groom's family, the Hursts, from our attendance at Kansas State Holiness Camp in 2002, 2010, 2012. Kinneth Hurst and Josie Wiseman got married on December 21, 2012. We were planning to travel to Joplin for Christmas so we decided to stop in Salina and see these dear young people join their lives in marriage on the way. It was a beautiful and simple wedding. We pray for God's blessings on their home and that He will use them in His kingdom.

Catching Up: Birthday Party for Wanda

In early December, we went to Wanda Skeen's 60th birthday party. Wayne and Wanda are life friends to us. Wayne was our pastor for 17 years.

Wayne and Wanda's son, Aaron, and his wife, Alissa.

Wanda and Janet

Catching Up: December Quilting Projects

In 2012, I participated in a Block of the Month group on Facebook. Someone chose the block for us to make each month. Most of them, I chose to make two blocks, changing something about it so they were not just alike. In November, the leader gave us November's and December's block assignments. I finished the blocks and put the quilt together in November, so our Joplin kids could take the quilt top with them to the quilter in Galena, Kansas for me. The quilter was SO KIND to quilt it for me between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In December, when we went to Joplin, I was able to get the quilt. I got it bound before the end of the year. I gave this quilt to our doctors, whom we babysit for, and whom we love like they are part of our family.

This pillow goes with the quilt. This quilt block was the hardest block assigned. It is called 20 Ts. There are so many pieces to this block, that I actually did two of an alternate pattern that only had four Ts. But Rowen said, "Don't back down from a challenge, Janet!" so I made one 20 Ts block. With so many pieces and seams, it is hard to make it turn out the exact size I needed to match the other blocks. So I left it out of the quilt and made it into a throw pillow.

Beth wanted me to make a shelf runner that would fit on her long shelf at the bottom of the stairs. So I found this pattern online, added to it to make it fit her shelf.

Catching Up: Johnstown Historical Society Activities in November and December

Anyone who reads our Christmas letters knows that Rowen has been the treasurer on the Johnstown Historical Society Board of Directors for the past four years. At the November Members' Meeting, we celebrated all the volunteers who helped with the fundraising events of the year.

Rowen is giving a treasurer report, seated with the board members who were present.

Our family was honored to be chosen Volunteers of the Year for JHS. This yummy cake featured a drawing of the Parish House, our town museum.

Our names were added to the Volunteer of the Year plaque which resides on the Parish House porch.

We were given a gift of a beautiful trifle bowl.

On Saturday, December 1, 2012, the Johnstown Historical Society celebrated "Christmas in Johnstown" with a mini tree and wreath event, and a home tour. There were over 80 people who bought tickets and toured the six homes.

This picture is made from four pictures, so it isn't perfect, but it shows most of the trees and wreaths that were bid on at the Senior Boutique, with proceeds going to the Historical Society.

These signs were in front of the the six houses on the home tour with balloons attached to each sign.

Rowen and I posed for a picture in the sleigh at one of the homes.

This home featured over 50 nativity sets in the decorations!

This is the living room of the Parish House decorated for the Christmas tour.

Our dear friends, Ross and Maria, who opened their home for tours.

Inside this home was an extensive collection of Santas.

Another beautifully decorated home on the tour.

Catching Up: Beth's New Place

The end of October, we were presented with an opportunity for a change in Beth's life. Some friends who had had Beth babysit for them, were finishing their basement into an apartment, and were praying about Beth coming to live with them (for free) and being their nanny two days a week (for free) for their three children, ages 5, 3, and 1.5. We prayed a lot about it as a family, and felt that God had prepared her for this opportunity to be a blessing to this family. So the first part of December, Beth moved into this apartment about a mile from us. She has trained alongside the previous babysitter, because the littlest member of the family has diabetes and is on an insulin pump.

Behind the desk is the stairway that comes downstairs from the Rs house upstairs. Some of the furniture, the Rs are letting Beth use, like the couch, ottoman, table and chairs, bed-frame, dresser, and large wall hangings. They have been very generous and kind to Beth. Mr. R did a great job finishing the basement.

Looking from the living room to the dining kitchen area. To the close right is the pantry, and next to the refrigerator is the furnace room which has the washer/dryer in it.