Milestones of life!

This photo may be dark- but it is a bright moment for Brianna Pfleegor! It is a moment we have looked forward to for so long!
Brianna came into our lives when she was 16 months old! It's been a long story of smiles and tears! She lived in our home and was part of our family for a total of eight years. In the years she was not living here, she had regular visits and continues to be an important part of our lives- now as her grandparents. Because of limited seating, we did not expect to be able to attend her graduation on Friday evening. But then the Lord blessed her with extra tickets- and we sat with her twin sister Brittany on the front row! My eyes filled with tears as I remembered the smiles and tears that have been part of the journey to this moment!
God bless you Brianna as you begin a new part of the journey of life!

This is it- the diploma!



Grandpa & Grandma with Brianna & Brittany!

The white color signifies that Brianna is part of the National Honor Society. She worked hard to earn that collar!

Family fun

Our oldest granddaughter spent the day with us on Monday. It was a super-wonderful day. She and I had plenty of time to visit and get ready for the family supper. She got to see all her PA family in one day plus a school friend. Here you can see her grilling hamburgers for supper.
What an impromptu fun family evening!

The two youngest grandchildren are all smiles!


Trampoline season is in full swing..or should I say full bounce!
You might notice the missing tree in background. It blew over in a storm a few weeks ago. The remains are firewood in the background and bark mulch under the trampoline.

Not every one made it for this last minute grand finale of a photo...but smiles are in vogue!

We are so blessed! Thank you Jesus for the delightful day!

For God so loved the world.....

We attended a home school international evening where some of our grandchildren were part of the activities. In one evening we traveled to Australia, Guatemala, Kenya, India, Netherlands, Thailand, China, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Each family wore costumes and treated us to some food typical of their chosen country. The students gave interesting speeches about their subject.
In the photo above you can see our daughter and her family with a Mexican flavor. Each family had a reason for choosing their particular subject. Our grandchildren have visited Mexico recently or hope to do so in the future. They introduced the group to information they learned about the history,customs and statistics of Mexico, sang two familiar Spanish songs for us and told about their travels. They had a display table with Mexican souvenirs. Their snack was tortilla chips with guacamole dip ( recipe from our Mexican daughter in law) and Mexican ruedas (somewhat like a cheese curl) with a spicy sauce.
Over and over as each student told of the population of their chosen country, I was struck with the reality of the millions of people who do not know Jesus and experienced His salvation. No wonder the Lord delays his return. The fields are white ready to harvest, and one person can do so little. Am I doing the little I can do to spread the Good News? No matter where we live, travel and work, we meet people who need the message of salvation. My desire is to be faithful where I am planted. But so often I am distracted by the cares of this life. O God, forgive!
This weekend we celebrate two of the three greatest events in history- Jesus death and resurrection. God "gave" at Christmas, "died for our sins" on Good Friday and "rose triumphant" on Easter morning. Alleluia
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Holland tiles

Almost 12 years ago, (June 1999), we traveled with cousins to Western Europe. While in the Netherlands I collected pretty 6x6" tiles as our souvenir. My intentions were to replace the counter top in the kitchen and use these as part of the back splash. Well, several years passed and that did not happen. By 2004 we were moving to the "old house on the back 40". The tiles became part of a new plan- the downstairs tub room would be their new destination. Other things kept the tiles on the "back burner" for more several more years. Finally this winter we tackled the project. It became a family affair. Karen & I designed the arrangement of the tiles. Marvin applied them to the masonary backer board. I knew he has a more steady hand and is better with details. Then David volunteered his hand and refined the process too. David also did most of the grouting. Didn't they do a good job? None of us are professional- but in my humble opinion, they did an almost-professional job! The whole thing turned out better than I expected.
I hope we live in this house a few more years to enjoy them. But then again- if the trumpet sounds, we will leave them behind along with everything else.
Ready for a tour?

This shows part of the arrangement of tiles in the tub room.

This tile is my favorite! There are so many little details..the cat lapping spilled milk, Dad milking outside the door, Delft blue on the shelf and more.

Do you like this one?

another favorite tile!

As you can see, these tiles are above the shower head.

About 1 1/2 years ago the Formica behind the stove melted in a hot oil kitchen fire. You can still see the scars on the stove back...but my dear husband and son have repaired the wall with these tiles. Adds to the grape theme in the kitchen/dining room.

CA/MX trip 2011

Frosty morning in Pennsylvania January 14th- heading to CA sunshine!

About 30 hours later..we took this picture- 80 degree January afternoon- on the two hour cruise on the bay between San Diego and Coronado. Can you see us between the shadows?

Six of our sixteen grandchildren-Konrad, Israel, Jonathan II, Elizabeth, Janelle and Betsy.

Coronado Bridge- 2 1/2 mile long between San Diego and Coronado


Br-r-r! The water is cold but so much fun.
First time to the ocean for two of the grandchildren!


Shopping for souvenirs in a big way... on Monday, Jan 17

At the Chinese restaurant with Ricardo, Angelica's nephew who lives in Tijuana, MX.

Janelle, Konrad and Betsy at the butterfly collection in the Earth & Science Museum at Santee, CA. Just wish the picture could do justice to the beauty of this collection. Janelle is wearing her souvenir shirt from Tijuana, MX that she purchased on Monday.

Decorating Christmas cookies in San Diego, CA- in 75 degree weather..with palm trees waving outdoors. Still fun for the cousins in any kind of weather.

Konrad (14) gave a Christmas bundle to Ismael (14) but this 5 year old boy Guillermo (Pauncho) and Konrad became "buddies".

Janelle and her little girl, Erica. She chose things for Erica's bundle.

Betsy and her friend Bianca with the Christmas bundle at the children's home.

Enjoying the Sierra Nevada Mtn. Pass on Sunday afternoon. By this time Karen had arrived in MX for the Orphans for Jesus work week. The six of us rode in an extended cab elderly pickup truck with an aging driver. Adventure of the day!

Back at Harrisburg, PA- Jan 24, 2011- A dream became a reality and is fast on the way to becoming a memory.

The Christmas Hero

Christmas has been and continues to be my favorite holiday of the year. Someone has said "There are only two seasons in the year. One is Christmas and the other is Waiting for Christmas.
The words of the familiar Christmas carol It Came Upon A Midnight Clear have a clearer meaning to me this year than ever before.
Did you ever notice the words
For lo, the days are hastening on,
by prophet bards foretold,
when with the ever circling years
Comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
It's ancient splendors fling
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

My friend poked me in church on Sunday and ask "What is a bard?" I was curious enough to look it up in the dictionary the next day. Definition: A person who composed or sang songs about a hero.
Ah! Who is the HERO of Christmas? Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord! He is not only King of kings and Lord of lords, but the Hero of all heroes ...of all time and eternity. The greater the hero, the greater the celebration of victory!
The angels came singing "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace..."
Oh! for the whole world to give back the song the angels sang!

The world's vacumn

"How do you keep from getting sucked into the world's vacuum?" That was the question posed by a non-Mennonite believer.
For a starter- what is a vacuum? The dictionary definition is 1. A perfectly empty place 2. A space inside a closed vessel from which most of the air has been pumped.
So the world's vacuum is a place of emptiness where there is a shortage of air. Right?
After some thought my answer - "Whatever takes my focus off Jesus Christ and His Calvary love for me has the potential of sucking me into the world's vacuum."
Turn my eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.