Can it be 34 Years Already?

It's just you and me babe! We're back at where we first started. It's been an incredibly fast 34 years! Here's to 34 more... When you said Let's Grow Old Together, you weren't kidding! I love you past, present, and future! :) Happy Anniversary!

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Do Whatever It Takes

Do Whatever Brings You Back to Your Heart and the Heart of God

Against the flesh, the traitor within, a warrior uses discipline. We have a two-dimensional version of this now, which we call a "quiet time." But most men have a hard time sustaining any sort of devotional life because it has no vital connection to recovering and protecting their strength; it feels about as important as flossing. But if you saw your life as a great battle and you knew you needed time with God for your very survival, you would do it. Maybe not perfectly-nobody ever does and that's not the point anyway-but you would have a reason to seek him. We give a halfhearted attempt at the spiritual disciplines when the only reason we have is that we "ought" to. But we'll find a way to make it work when we are convinced we're history if we don't.

Time with God each day is not about academic study or getting through a certain amount of Scripture or any of that. It's about connecting with God. We've got to keep those lines of communication open, so use whatever helps. Sometimes I'll listen to music; other times I'll read Scripture or a passage from a book; often I will journal; maybe I'll go for a run; then there are days when all I need is silence and solitude and the rising sun. The point is simply to do whatever brings me back to my heart and the heart of God.

The discipline, by the way, is never the point. The whole point of a "devotional life" is connecting with God. This is our primary antidote to the counterfeits the world holds out to us.
(Wild at Heart , 171-72)

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Like Father...Like Son

When my Grandma Brunner died, I took the boys to Grant, Nebraska for the funeral.  After the funeral, we were at my Grandma's house, and Joe fell off the top step and face planted on to the concrete walkway. His nose bled so bad we feared we would have to take him to the hospital.  We stood him in my Grandma's ball and claw foot bath tub and he bled like you were pouring water out of a pitcher.

Twenty Four years later, Ari did something similar.  He was pushing cousin Kayley on the trike, when he fell face down onto the brick walkway.  Ryan said he almost threw up when he saw him fall and saw the blood start to run.  He had a flashback to when Corbin fell and knocked out his tooth.  Ari would have been fine had we had his blanket, but since we didn't, we trekked on home.  Mary was worried that Ari wouldn't ever want to come back and visit.  Don't worry Mary...he's one tough little dude!

The Hottest Day of the Year so far!

It was a full weekend for sure.  On Sunday, we got to spend some time with two more of our grandchildren, Alex & Haley, their parents, Ben & Monica, and our newest grandchild to be.

It was a relaxing (but HOT) day that started out with a breeze since they live so close to the lake. We began with blueberry muffins & fresh fruit on the patio.  Marlin ate 3 of Monica's blueberry muffins (clearly his favorite).  He told me later he had a hard time stopping because they were sooo good, but he didn't want to make a pig of himself.  Alex was enamored with Poppe's beard.  He asked Poppe if he could touch it, and commented that he thought it was so soft.  They do say that grey hair is softer so I guess that's true.

We barbecued steaks and asparagus for lunch, and ate salad and corn on the cob. Alex has a loose tooth so we showed him how we cut the corn off the cob. It was a good alternative for him...and for me too. The kids wanted to show us their bikes after lunch so we went around front and watched them ride bikes.

Even Ben got in on the action...popping a wheelie!

It was another hot day. Kids always know what to do when it gets hot...like eating popsicles right down to the last drop!

Moses & Kati Time (aka...Happy Anniversary Curt & Julie!)

Poppe & I were given the opportunity to come up to Warsaw to spend some quality time with Moses & Kati so their mom and dad could celebrate their anniversary with a date to Goshen.It was a hot day so Curt & Jules had the pool filled and ready when we arrived (but they forgot to tell us to bring our swimming suits along...*wink).

I brought a Frisbee that I had found in one of my treasure boxes in the storage room that was still in its original package (it's probably 20 years old...alas...I AM my grandmother!). I threw it around the yard a couple of times with Moses, but he decided it made for a better water toy. Kati thought so too!

Moses loved lounging around or jumping in and making splashes. Kati was content to sit in the same spot.  Poppe & I have decided that Kati is her dad.  She is an observer and watches everything that goes on around her and takes it all in...we might not know what she is thinking, but i guarantee there is a lot of thinking going on inside that pretty little head. Perhaps she will be a philosopher too!  Julie told us that she has somewhat of a sweet tooth. That is like her dad as well. Perhaps someday she will hide in the closet and eat candy just like her dad did.

Moses is a do-er!  He is very good at cause and effect. He won't just move the mountains someday. He will build the bridges to get over them...or the tunnels to get through them!

After playing in the pool for awhile, we thought we'd better take a walk and explore the neighborhood. They have very nice new sidewalks in Warsaw along a well traveled road giving the kids something to look at while we were walking.

After we finished our walk, Moses wanted to play in the pool some more, but Kati was content sitting on her Poppe's lap.  At one point, I tried to get her to come to me and she shook her head No.  

That made Poppe's Day!

Almost Home

Driving home to the land where we can see sunsets (Indiana) from the land where you can't (New Jersey).

A Princeton Man

My son-in-law, Logan Hoffman, graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary today. We are so proud of you Logan!

This year is Princeton's Bicentennial.  How cool is that?

Logan and his proud entourage. 

Only in Princeton...

Birthday Wishes for my Joe Boy!

Joe was my first baby to actually look like a baby instead of looking like he was three months old!

Back in the 80's, I thought it was cool to dress my boys alike and color coordinate their clothes. My experiences with photographers were often frustrating so I always ended up taking their pictures myself.

Joe and Sam were the best of friends at a very early age. This picture was taken at the McGrawville Harvest Party which was held each fall at the church barn which was located right across the street from the church.

Here the boys are in Idaho with their Janzen cousins during our Schrock Reunion Trip to Idaho.

Don't ask me what possessed Marlin to dress Joe like a Samurai. He called me into the kitchen to take a picture and this is what I found.

Joe loved it when I dressed him up or did funny things like spike his hair.  Curt, on the other hand, always hated it. I used to look at this picture when Joe was going through his Jr High spikey stage and laugh because I realized that I helped to create his uniqueness and eccentric personality.

Joe was laughing here, but he wasn't when he gave himself this rug burn. We were watching TV and Joe was running his face on the carpet back and forth.  He told me the rug was his field and he was plowing it. The only field he plowed was his face when the wool rug wore the skin right off of his face.

We went on a mission trip to Kentucky when Joe was in 6th grade. One of the locals had an iguana that Joe became friends with during a Bible Study one night.

 We took the trip on a bus that converted into living space.  Joe and Josh entertained us whenever we got on the bus to drive from place to place. Joe has always had the ability to make me laugh.

Spring Hill was an annual trip with the youth and Joe was always into whatever sport activity came down the pike. To capture this picture, I actually stood under the hill as Joe sped towards me.  I snapped the picture and ducked. I haven't always been the smartest photographer, but I've been willing to do some crazy things to capture memories like this.

Joe has always liked to live on the edge as evidenced by this picture of him standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Joe and Emilie have repeated this picture many times over the years.  This original picture was taken while we were in Colorado during the wheat harvest. They had been playing in the wheat in the semi located behind them.  Needless to say, they were quite filthy.  The last re-enactment is below at Emilie's wedding.  Joe was such a help during the weeks leading up to the wedding, and he helped to make his sissy's big day a grand success. They were also a lot cleaner on this particular day!

I guess I don't need to explain this picture.  What can I say? Joe will always be my little baby boy!  haha!

...except now... He is all grown up with a family of his own. Oh my, how the years have flown by!

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY JOE BOY!

Thanks for all the memories!