Rowen's Job

Here in northern Colorado, as perhaps in other places in the world, especially in the summer and fall, many people take Friday off of work, and so it is very quiet today. My work is such that I have nothing at all to do if nothing goes wrong – for the factory, or for the customers that use our products. The thing is, things are almost always going wrong – I think that it has to do with “Murphy’s Law”. . .

I am the only person in my company strictly responsible for “analytical microscopy”, which just means that I use several light microscopes and related equipment to analyze almost anything that people can get through my lab door. I work on almost nothing routine, but only when there is a problem, real or perceived. I comfortably live in a microscopic world, where otherwise very tiny things can seem very big. I spend a lot of my time studying various materials at 100X – 1,300X magnification; sometimes looking through nearly transparent materials and sometimes studying the surface of solid materials or objects. Overall, it is a fascinating job, and quite rewarding when my detective work can provide the key to unlock someone's problem.

I work at a factory that makes XRAY film (and all of the components that go into making it), color paper for consumers and for professionals, some graphic arts film, some color display film, and some inkjet paper and film. Our customers are all over the world, and so I get customer complaints from everywhere that people live on the planet.

I started in this job with Eastman Kodak Company, and worked for them for almost 29 years. May 1, 2007 a company called ONEX bought all of the Kodak XRAY film manufacturing and marketing organizations and facilities in the world. A new company was formed to be self-managed and is called Carestream Health, Inc.; this is who I now work for here in Windsor, CO, just 12 miles from our house in Johnstown. I work from 7:00 am – 3:30 pm MST Monday –Friday in a lab that is designed for 4-6 people, and now I work here all alone.

I'm looking forward to the weekend, though we aren't doing anything too exciting. I have many home maintenance jobs to do, which I am anxious to get done. At our house, I keep a list of what some might call "honey-do jobs". I make my own list, so that I don't feel like others in the family have to nag me to get them done. Also, I keep the list posted in plain site, so that EVERYONE knows that I do accomplish things around there. I boldly check off completed items ;-). Have a great weekend!

Jason on the Piano

All of our children have learned some about playing the piano; Beth is doing really well, and Emily is doing great for her age. The older boys worked out of the house too much to spend sufficient time practicing. But Jason (12) has had a particular interest in and apparent God-given talent to play the piano, starting when he was 10 years old. His playing (as well as his sisters') is a great blessing in our home! He learns new songs by the notes in the books, then easily memorizes them by the time he gets them mastered.

Here is a video of Jason playing. Click on the play button twice to listen.

Very Nice! Happy Blogging!
Love,
Randy

Greetings from Beth!

Sunday, September 9, 2007 - from Beth


Ahh, the wonderful feeling of fall in Johnstown, CO! The chilly breezes and pleasant atmosphere... the wind that whips leaves down the street.. the crackle of the leaves. A walk on such a day is a refreshing thing. For me, I like to have a jacket on such a walk. My daddy and I enjoyed such a walk this afternoon. We both decided that we love fall. Winter is coming.. with it snow and coldness.




Just a few unusual and little known facts about myself:



- I like some particular Christian children's songs and poems. I can relate to a lot of them.
- I enjoy working on pictures in Adobe Photoshop.
- I like to play the piano.

- I am going to turn 14 this month and am in 9th grade.


I love my family.

- I thank God for the wonderful Godly parents I have; may we never take them for granted. I haven't said all that should be said about them, but it would be an unending list!





- Of Randy and Joy I say this: I enjoy being around people who are so unselfish and loving and whose testimony for God is shown in these ways.
- Quil - I love you. I want you to grow up and serve God like your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents have before you! By the way: Me thinks ye are the cutest baby I ever did see!


- Tim is a really great brother and friend! I really appreciate your big brother counsel and friendship!

- I really enjoy Brenda Stevenson living so near us. She is a good friend and perfect for Tim.


(By the way, you can visit their blog at brendaandtim.blogspot.com!)

- My siblings - Jeff, Jason, and Emily - are kind of like peers to me; we are growing up together, home-schooling together. I love you guys! I pray that we will all "...Grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus.."

A few interesting facts about my family:

- My mother prepares yummy meals which include healthy vegetables!

- My parents like to go on walks in the evenings for exercise and to get out and enjoy some fresh air!

- My family loves going to the mountains for picnics. We do a lot of things together that I will always treasure in my memories.

Quil

I just wanted to put my favorite picture of Quil on here.

This picture just "thrills my little heart".
He's the cutest baby boy I've ever seen.

Sunday

Today we went to church online at Hobe Sound, FL http://hobesoundbiblechurch.com/ and watched their live streaming. We really enjoy the good services. Today is the last day of their school revival with Jonathon Heath. Because of the time difference the morning service starts at 8:30am and at night 4:30pm. When we get done (usually by 10:30am) we sing and pray as a family. Then around 12:30pm we eat dinner. Baked potatoes, salad, roast, cooked carrots, etc.
Then we take naps until 4:30pm when the evening service starts and lasts until 6:00pm. Every other week we have a Bible study with a few other families.

A couple times Dad and I have gone driving on Sunday afternoons in the mountains for my driver training.

I need 50 hours of driving before I can get my license in March 2008, right now I'm at 22hrs. I have to have the permit for a year before I can get my license. For the first six months I could only drive with Dad or Mother, but since Saturday I can drive with others in the car also.

-Jeffrey A.

Tim and Brenda

This summer we have had the priviledge of having Brenda Stevenson living here in Johnstown near us. She moved here after graduating from Faith Bible School in Mitchell, South Dakota in May. Brenda lives with a lady with health concerns, helping her with the daily tasks. She also babysits for a busy family several days a week in their home, and cleans for a couple people.
Brenda moved here interested in maintaining a relationship with our second-oldest son Tim. They got engaged on Aug. 4, 2007, and are planning a July 2008 wedding! Brenda is a great blessing to our family, as she spends most evenings with us, and all day on Sundays.

As you can see in the pictures, we have enjoyed many outings this summer with Tim and Brenda.


They spent Saturday of Labor Day weekend with a couple that was visiting from South Dakota; They went kayaking on Grand Lake in these cool double kayaks.







Notice the rockclimber above the family members! Risk takers they are! This was in Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs.

Randy and Joy

On June 11, 2007 our first grandchild was born in Joplin, MO, where his parents, Randy and Joy, are Associate Pastors at the Church of God (Holiness). The senior Pastor of the church is Randy's Grandpa (Janet's Dad). Randy also works as a painter to pay the bills. They are totally immersed in children's ministry, bus ministry, and friendship evangelism. We were able to be there with them in Nov. 2006, April 2007, and June 2007 (had to see that new baby!).

Joy, Randy, holding two-week old baby Quil in the front of their Church.

Some of the children attending Kids' Bible Club on Sunday afternoons. There are often more than 20 kids on a given Sunday.

Randy's family surprised us by driving out to Johnstown, CO for Labor Day weekend. Monday (Labor Day) was also Randy's 22nd birthday. We went to the mountains, for which they were very homesick!

Here they are sitting beside the Big Thompson River last Saturday.

Grandma (Janet) enjoyed holding her precious grandson.






























Grandpa (Rowen) with Quil































Jason, Emily, and Jeff really enjoyed their nephew, Quil.




















Quil's Aunt Beth loved entertaining him!





























Uncle Tim and (soon to be) Aunt Brenda

New Blog

Hi! We are really new to this thing called blogging. Be patient as we work through a learning curve, and find out how to regularly post comments and images. We look forward to your feedback as well!

Rowen and Janet