Friday, August 3, 2012
Welcome to the family, Jonathan!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
What We've Been "Up To"
Beth writing:
A few friends have written us recently and I haven't had a chance to respond to them, but hopefully if I blog everyone can read it and know what "we are busy" with! Check back in a few days-- I want to add pictures to this very post when I have time.
We are getting excited about Randy and Joy's baby boy coming... it looks like he will be born over-night tonight. We'll finally get to know this precious boy who's been veiled from view up to now while God was making him! Mother is staying with R/J and going to help with whatever she can as they do a home birth with a mid-wife. Emily is also in Joplin with Mother. Mother and Em will fly home a couple of weeks from now.
On Monday the 20th, Mother, Emily, Jason, and I drove to McPherson, KS for camp-meeting there (Kansas State Holiness Association camp). Jason and I were delighted to both be given vacation time for the same week. We were planning on going to this camp whether or not anyone else went with us, but we were really glad to have Mother and Em too. On Thursday afternoon we all drove to Joplin. We ate supper with all of our Joplin family and spent the night and a few hours of Friday morning with Grandpa and Grandma. Then Jason and I drove the four hrs. back to McPherson to stay the rest of camp. Friday's drive was kind of an exciting adventure for Jason and I, because we had to use our memory from the day before, watch for signs, take risks, and reverse the googlemaps instructions for going to Joplin. We stopped in Augusta at Subway, (happy to have a giftcard to use there) and got back to McPherson at the end of the afternoon service. We all really enjoyed camp: the services, seeing friends and making new ones, and working in the kitchen. Jason, Emily, and I, and about 15 other young "campers" did camp dishes for free room and board. We Albertsons mainly washed/put away in the pots n pans room, but Jason did get to help "tear down" the food line most meals too, and I got to help with food preparation a bit on Sunday. There are normally two meals a day, but three on Sunday, so cooks/helpers/dish-doers spend a lot more time there that day. As far as services, Jason and Em got to go to the youth services every morning, and I decided to go to the children's VBS so I could learn from the teacher and get ideas for Federal Heights. During the same time as youth/children's services was "Bible Study" with evangelist Rodney Loper (our online pastor at HobeSoundBibleChurch.com). Rodney and Melissa (and their children) were the song evangelists as well. Bro. Dan Stetler (president at Hobe Sound Bible School) was one of the other evangelists. We have heard him before and always appreciate the messages. Bro. Steve Mills from Ohio was the other. His wife has been working to make complete and full lesson plans for Jr. Church, Sunday School, and VBS workers to use. We enjoyed visiting with her, and purchased her lion lesson series to use at Federal Heights. Jason and Emily played their cello and violin in most every afternoon & evening service, which was a blessing to them, and those who heard them. This past Monday Jason and I made the long trek home (shorter than from Joplin though!!)... I was the only driver, because he can only drive with a parent in the car, and so his job was to help me stay awake, which was a big job! All of our driving days (Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Monday) we went through roadway construction, which slowed us down, but I don't mind it too much, as far as driving through it. I was really tired and really glad to be home.
I'm sure Daddy was happy to see us too, because he'd stayed home alone. He worked every morning, then came home to work on our upstairs bathroom renovation. We have wanted to replace the 70's cabinetry and counter set-up there that was getting old, and were watching for a way to do that. Then some home-schoolers we know were getting rid of their 90's bathroom set-up, and offered it all to us. We were thrilled to find that everything was exactly the right size. Dad's been working very hard on the cabinets: first stripping, then sanding, priming, and painting them. It's been a long, frustrating job, and he's our hero for getting it done. So while we were vacationing, he's been working. Now that J/I are home, and back to our busy work schedules at Ace, it's hard for Dad to have the time for the bathroom project -- two more people add more work to home-life!! ;)
We were really happy (and sore) to have 14 quarts worth of green beans to pick, snap, and can this week! What a blessing that will be to us later on. These last couple of weeks have been the biggest production time of green beans for the summer.
Yesterday afternoon/evening Dad and I had several errands to do in Greeley and also wanted to go to Loveland Chic-Fil-A for a chicken supper to show our support of their choices for morality. We got there, and first thing we got to do was sign a pro-life petition... my first petition. What a good cause. We stood in line for 15 minutes, maybe, and then were told they would be out of chicken by the time we got to the counter. We would have stayed and bought something anyway, but we had an appointment in the evening and had to make sure Jason and we were all fed sooner than later for that.
We had chicken sandwiches of our own at home, then went to test-drive a van for Jason or I to buy. It is a Chevy Venture, exactly like our currant family van, only a year older, and of a slightly browner grey color. It was listed on craigslist, and we were highly interested-- we'd like to have something else to drive to/from work besides Jason's truck, and we're already totally used to this model. Well, we drove there, and found out that the sellers were a couple we know as (nice) customers at Ace. That was fun. So we test-drove it, and loved how it ran so well. The price was right, and everything was good, so Jason bought it. Now we have two Chevy Ventures in our family!
Speaking of buying vans, Jeff recently bought one in Joplin. He knew he really wanted to have one when he goes back to God's Bible School this fall, and was going to come out here to get his adult driver's licence upon his 21st birthday, so he could also get a vehicle licensed at the same time. He and our nephew Quil (5) came out Saturday-Tuesday in mid-July for those purposes. Quil was very happy to get to come out here, and spend time playing cars, being read to, playing with Lincoln and Uncle Jason, and doing our Sunday with us. That Sunday we went down to Colorado Springs Tent-meeting, had lunch with Uncle Alvin and cousin Katie, had Federal Heights Sunday School (Quil liked that), and went on a walk here in town. We were amazed and glad that Quil didn't even get homesick while here. He enjoyed all the personal attention, but was surprised about things that were different from when we have the WHOLE family here at holidays (we don't eat in the living room, there's no snow!, etc., etc.)
Speaking of Jeff and God's Bible School, it was a huge answer to prayer when he was granted a full-tuition scholarship for the rest of his schooling in the Missions Division there. He's been living in Joplin this summer, working for Randy and Tim's painting company. He did all the sermon/story/lessons for VBS there with the sketchboard. So he's been living a busy life too!
That's all I can think of tonight, and it's getting time for bed, so I better sign off.
A few friends have written us recently and I haven't had a chance to respond to them, but hopefully if I blog everyone can read it and know what "we are busy" with! Check back in a few days-- I want to add pictures to this very post when I have time.
We are getting excited about Randy and Joy's baby boy coming... it looks like he will be born over-night tonight. We'll finally get to know this precious boy who's been veiled from view up to now while God was making him! Mother is staying with R/J and going to help with whatever she can as they do a home birth with a mid-wife. Emily is also in Joplin with Mother. Mother and Em will fly home a couple of weeks from now.
On Monday the 20th, Mother, Emily, Jason, and I drove to McPherson, KS for camp-meeting there (Kansas State Holiness Association camp). Jason and I were delighted to both be given vacation time for the same week. We were planning on going to this camp whether or not anyone else went with us, but we were really glad to have Mother and Em too. On Thursday afternoon we all drove to Joplin. We ate supper with all of our Joplin family and spent the night and a few hours of Friday morning with Grandpa and Grandma. Then Jason and I drove the four hrs. back to McPherson to stay the rest of camp. Friday's drive was kind of an exciting adventure for Jason and I, because we had to use our memory from the day before, watch for signs, take risks, and reverse the googlemaps instructions for going to Joplin. We stopped in Augusta at Subway, (happy to have a giftcard to use there) and got back to McPherson at the end of the afternoon service. We all really enjoyed camp: the services, seeing friends and making new ones, and working in the kitchen. Jason, Emily, and I, and about 15 other young "campers" did camp dishes for free room and board. We Albertsons mainly washed/put away in the pots n pans room, but Jason did get to help "tear down" the food line most meals too, and I got to help with food preparation a bit on Sunday. There are normally two meals a day, but three on Sunday, so cooks/helpers/dish-doers spend a lot more time there that day. As far as services, Jason and Em got to go to the youth services every morning, and I decided to go to the children's VBS so I could learn from the teacher and get ideas for Federal Heights. During the same time as youth/children's services was "Bible Study" with evangelist Rodney Loper (our online pastor at HobeSoundBibleChurch.com). Rodney and Melissa (and their children) were the song evangelists as well. Bro. Dan Stetler (president at Hobe Sound Bible School) was one of the other evangelists. We have heard him before and always appreciate the messages. Bro. Steve Mills from Ohio was the other. His wife has been working to make complete and full lesson plans for Jr. Church, Sunday School, and VBS workers to use. We enjoyed visiting with her, and purchased her lion lesson series to use at Federal Heights. Jason and Emily played their cello and violin in most every afternoon & evening service, which was a blessing to them, and those who heard them. This past Monday Jason and I made the long trek home (shorter than from Joplin though!!)... I was the only driver, because he can only drive with a parent in the car, and so his job was to help me stay awake, which was a big job! All of our driving days (Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Monday) we went through roadway construction, which slowed us down, but I don't mind it too much, as far as driving through it. I was really tired and really glad to be home.
I'm sure Daddy was happy to see us too, because he'd stayed home alone. He worked every morning, then came home to work on our upstairs bathroom renovation. We have wanted to replace the 70's cabinetry and counter set-up there that was getting old, and were watching for a way to do that. Then some home-schoolers we know were getting rid of their 90's bathroom set-up, and offered it all to us. We were thrilled to find that everything was exactly the right size. Dad's been working very hard on the cabinets: first stripping, then sanding, priming, and painting them. It's been a long, frustrating job, and he's our hero for getting it done. So while we were vacationing, he's been working. Now that J/I are home, and back to our busy work schedules at Ace, it's hard for Dad to have the time for the bathroom project -- two more people add more work to home-life!! ;)
We were really happy (and sore) to have 14 quarts worth of green beans to pick, snap, and can this week! What a blessing that will be to us later on. These last couple of weeks have been the biggest production time of green beans for the summer.
Yesterday afternoon/evening Dad and I had several errands to do in Greeley and also wanted to go to Loveland Chic-Fil-A for a chicken supper to show our support of their choices for morality. We got there, and first thing we got to do was sign a pro-life petition... my first petition. What a good cause. We stood in line for 15 minutes, maybe, and then were told they would be out of chicken by the time we got to the counter. We would have stayed and bought something anyway, but we had an appointment in the evening and had to make sure Jason and we were all fed sooner than later for that.
We had chicken sandwiches of our own at home, then went to test-drive a van for Jason or I to buy. It is a Chevy Venture, exactly like our currant family van, only a year older, and of a slightly browner grey color. It was listed on craigslist, and we were highly interested-- we'd like to have something else to drive to/from work besides Jason's truck, and we're already totally used to this model. Well, we drove there, and found out that the sellers were a couple we know as (nice) customers at Ace. That was fun. So we test-drove it, and loved how it ran so well. The price was right, and everything was good, so Jason bought it. Now we have two Chevy Ventures in our family!
Speaking of buying vans, Jeff recently bought one in Joplin. He knew he really wanted to have one when he goes back to God's Bible School this fall, and was going to come out here to get his adult driver's licence upon his 21st birthday, so he could also get a vehicle licensed at the same time. He and our nephew Quil (5) came out Saturday-Tuesday in mid-July for those purposes. Quil was very happy to get to come out here, and spend time playing cars, being read to, playing with Lincoln and Uncle Jason, and doing our Sunday with us. That Sunday we went down to Colorado Springs Tent-meeting, had lunch with Uncle Alvin and cousin Katie, had Federal Heights Sunday School (Quil liked that), and went on a walk here in town. We were amazed and glad that Quil didn't even get homesick while here. He enjoyed all the personal attention, but was surprised about things that were different from when we have the WHOLE family here at holidays (we don't eat in the living room, there's no snow!, etc., etc.)
Speaking of Jeff and God's Bible School, it was a huge answer to prayer when he was granted a full-tuition scholarship for the rest of his schooling in the Missions Division there. He's been living in Joplin this summer, working for Randy and Tim's painting company. He did all the sermon/story/lessons for VBS there with the sketchboard. So he's been living a busy life too!
That's all I can think of tonight, and it's getting time for bed, so I better sign off.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
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
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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.”
Thursday, July 12, 2012
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!
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?"
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.
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.
Albertsons' involvement in Johnstown Barbecue Day June 2
Rowen walked the parade route carrying the Johnstown Historical Society banner with Pat Kiovsky.
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.
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