15 years and Still Madly in Love!

  

A New Blog for kicks (pun partially intended)

Yup! I want to rant and rave, but not undercut the dignity of my other blogs, so I have started a laid back place to comment on stuff unimportant like World Cup Soccer at Nachos and Dip.

Brown Family Mini-Concert

I don't know if you all have heard of the five Brown siblings or not, but we were able to go hear them play a few pieces at a piano store the other night prior to their concert at Brevard School of Music. It was a lot of fun. Jo and Ruth were able to get CD's signed. They ran out of them, so the rest of us didn't get any. Pics don't do it justice as it is hard to see, but they were pretty impressive. They range from ages 20-27! All are or have graduated from Juliard. They just recently started their concert careers as professional pianists travelling together and doing 10-hand pieces specially arranged for them. (Tim stayed home with Miriam who has been sick, but the rest of us enjoyed the evening out.)
 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

To the world's most wonderful fathers! (Posted by Donna--verbatim as dictated by Mom!) 

Relaxing...

Our Wonderful guys planned a great relaxing evening for us. First they let us shop for a few hours sans enfants while they put the girls down for naps! We then teamed up girls vs boys for a little lawn bowling. The guys won both games... but that was the plan, right Brenda? Then Brenda made us a wonderful steak dinner with the aid of her sous chef Daniel manning the grill. After a little more lawn games we topped off the evening with baths for the girls and a splendid strawberry & Lemon trifle by Brenda! We all had a great time!!! Thanks Dan and Brenda for the fantastic B&B, R&R and MOA!

Cousins + MOA = A Great Time!!

This is Patience and Isa on the Lil' Shaver with Daddy/ U. Bob.... The smiling pic is the first time around the track... then they all made "scared" faces for the camera.

Are you having fun???

Here are the four cousins on the hot air balloon ride... I'm sure there was just enough space for two more small cousins!

The little mothers could not be talked into getting babysitters for their little ones.... It was a fun day together and we all made lots of wonderful memories.

Family Reunion at the Pahnke Farm

Well, we enjoyed a full weekend at the Pahnke homestead last weekend for the occasion of the Blackburn (my grandmother's family) Reunion. As always, Micaiah enjoyed feeding the cows and riding some tractors with his Papa Pahnke & Uncle Richard. Other highlights included all the good eating and visiting with some distant relatives that I hadn't seen in years, many of whom Tim had never even met. However, Tim did experience a little fame. If you can, notice the markers on the below maps which represented the "diversity" of the family (i.e. how many lands we have spread to). You'll see that most of the flags are located in the Southern region of the States (especially around Savannah, Ga., where much of the family is still located). However, Tim, as a grandson-in-law, has helped to diversify the Blackburn family line by being born in CAR. :-)

Recognize any Old Friends?

We surprised everyone (including ourselves!) and came back to Greenville Sunday night. We went a total of 3,500 miles on the first trip and we needed to unload the car and re-organize before heading north again. It was a great trip. After being with the family in Illinois and Minnesota, we went to Michigan. We stayed with the Gearharts in Flint (no picture :-( ) and enjoyed the company of Mary's parents, Dr. and Mrs. Cummins. We also had a brunch with the DeVores--JoJeanne and her husband and family live in the same neighborhood, so they were there, too. That is her baby that I am holding. We were surprised to find out that Rebekah and her husband are faithful members at Faith. We took them out to lunch so we could get to know Jeff. They are a sweet couple.

Next we headed to Grand Rapids to see the Elmers. Aunt Cheryl organized an Old CARer's meal. It was lots of fun. Besides the Elmers and us, Aunt Clarissa was there (77 years old), Dick and Nancy Teachout and Larry and Sally Fogle. The only non-old-african missionary present was Donella, a friend of Donna's who recently moved to GR to work with Bibles International. (that is where they all work now!) It was a delightful evening of cathcing up on each other. Elmers, Teachouts and we were at candidate seminar together 37 years ago!













The next evening we had supper out at Vicky's. Her husband is a farmer. They have three children and a foster child who they have had from birth. Shawn and his wife were there and then Lane and family came for dessert. They have 7 children (one was not there). It was so much fun to be with them again and to see them as adults. They send their greetings to you all. As always, we had a wonderful time with Uncle Eric and Aunt Cheryl.
 

"I'm not two anymore ... I'm free!!!"

That was Micaiah's breakfast announcement to us this morning. We had a great time yesterday. We celebrated with Auntie Donna, Auntie Jo, Mr. Brian, Miss Amy & Miss Jeanine. We enjoyed homemade pizza and a choo-choo train birthday cake (although Micaiah had a hard time seeing how the frosting blob in the middle of the cake looked like a train--OK, so my artistic abilities more closely resemble Picaso than Rembrandt). We all enjoyed the celebration, and our little boy is growing up ...

Three Years and Counting!

Happy Birthday to Micaiah! Hard to believe that he is already three years old. Seems like just yesterday I was sitting in that hospital room waiting to hold him. Can't wait for the party tonight which I am sure his mommy will blog for the rest of you. 

Tim's Book Review of 1776

Title: 1776
Author: David McCullough
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review: The year 1776 was a colossal year for the newly united continental states of the Americas and this is an epic telling of it. The book is divided into three parts: Part I: The Siege (of Boston); Part II: Fateful Summer (in New York); Part III: The Long Retreat. For a person who associates history only with a high school textbook, this book will convince him or her that history can be as exciting as the present--it just happened a long time ago.

Though the book opens in London with King George III addressing the opening of Parliament on “the increasingly distressing issue of war in America,” the scene quickly switches to the American Colonies and to the newly appointed general (of a newly appointed army) George Washington. Characteristically unpretentious, Washington wrote to his wife Martha, “far from seeking this appointment, I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too great for my capacity ... It has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service.”

As previously mentioned, the first major division of the book describes the siege of Boston. Technically, it was the “rabble in arms” (the British designation for what Washington called the “Troops of the United Provinces of North America“) who were laying siege to the British troops held up in the city of Boston. But in actuality, it was difficult to ascertain who it was that had the upper hand, for, while the British were confined to the city, the Americans--in their makeshift and unsanitary camps, with no flag, no uniforms, and an evanescing supply of ammunitio--were no better off. A general stalemate ensued which lasted for months. [Though a certain Lieutenant from Connecticut named Samuel Bixby described at least one skirmish in which “many regulars (British) fell, but the riflemen (Americans) lost only one man” (39).]

In early 1776, the élan in the American camp could not have been worse. Washington himself confessed: “If I shall be able to rise superior to these, and many other difficulties which might be enumerated, I shall most religiously believe that the finger of Providence is in it, to blind the eyes of our enemies; for surely if we get well through this month, it must be for want of their knowing the disadvantages we labor under” (79).

The “finger of Providence” was indeed “in it.” Everything changed when, at the end of January, Henry Knox, the big, gregarious Boston book-seller, arrived with the “guns of Ticonderoga.” Knox had been gone for two months and had exceeded all expectations, “despite rough forest roads, freezing lakes, blizzards, thaws, mountain wilderness, and repeated mishaps that would have broken lesser spirits several times over” (82). He had succeeded, on a budget of $1,000, to transport 120,000 pounds of cannon nearly 300 miles through the dead of winter.

On the morning of March 5, the British of Boston awoke to the guns of Ticonderoga looking down on them from Dorchester Heights. In one night, the Continental Army had employed more than 14,000 men to establish the fortifications and position the cannons, all without being noticed. Now within range of the American cannons, the British were forced to choose between attacking the heights or abandoning the city and escaping by sea.. “Never [were] troops in so disgraceful a situation,” wrote a British officer. The British chose to take to the sea. The “rabble in arms” had outsmarted the British army and won control of Boston. Though the British would return (this time to New York) and the war itself would continue for another six and a half years (the Treaty of Paris ending the war was signed in 1783), the siege of Boston served as a prognostication of the success of the American cause.

As a Christian it is impossible to read history, even secular history, and not find it redolent with evidences of the “finger of Providence.” Unlike many historians of our day, McCullough does not glory in the execrable elements of society but simply tries to recount it as it happened. Perhaps a little slow at the beginning, the pace quickens up once the focus switches to the colonies. With no pedantry whatsoever, the book reads almost like a novel--except that it’s history, and history is always better than fiction!

Sudoku!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa bought me a Sudoku book and I'm on puzzle 8. Some of them are hard, but others are real easy. I love it.

Benjamin 

My Demonstration Speech

I had to do a demo. speech today, and did it on how to make homemade lemonade/lemonade stand. I gave lemonade to everyone in the class. I practiced last night on Grandma and Grandpa and Grandpa got to have the glass of lemonade! I got an A+. It was fun but I am glad it is over!

Elise 

All By Myself!!!

Poppa helped me a tiny bit. Then we go'ed to a Park and Poppa helped me go down a sidewalk. I go'ed on a sidewalk all by myself. We played on the swings. I like to ride my old bike.
Love, Isabelle 

Our Memorial Sunday Picnic, Baptism, Swim party....

We were thrilled that Mom and Dad could be with us this Sunday and enjoy our church family as we celebrated baptizing 4 young ladies and heard the testamonies of Pat and Lacey a couple who also joined the church. We all had a great time in fellowship and were thankful for the sunny weather all day. The kids enjoyed the swim time after lunch. 

Tea with Mum and the girls.

Patience and I along with Ruth and Crystal took my Mom to the teahouse today for Mother's Day. We had a lovely time in our private garden room. Patience enjoyed having her own little teapot, butterfly PB&J's and English hush puppies. And the cookies and desserts were wonderful. So who is going to come and go with us next? 

Caption this picture...

 

Our Bath Project continues...

 

JO at PINE RIDGE CAMP

Found these on the web and thought you might enjoy! Notice Andy playing the harmonica on the far right of the music pic. For more pics and daily schedule got to : http://pineridgeministries.org/photos.htm
 

Wrong Again, Aunt Ruth!

Notice that Poppa actually went to the Mall in a teeshirt! Now, that is a first, but the reason is clear in the picture--or should I say reasonS. Those are the hand prints of 3 super grandchildren! You have one guess left and we are running out of PATIENCE! 

Second Stop--Memorable Minneapolis!

Well, here we are in Minnesota! It was wonderful to see Dan and Brenda and the kids again. I had seen them in January, but Poppa hadn't seen them for 18 months! They are all so sweet. The a\c is out here and so we spent the day at the Mall of America. Hopefully, it will be fixed tomorrow. It is actually hotter here than in SC! It is in the 90's. Grandma had to go on the water ride in order to give Elise the courage to do it!

Plans keep changing here, but it looks like Dan will go on to Texas alone and Brenda will stay here. She is responsible to feed about 700 people for the funeral which will be on Saturday. It is overwhelming, so pray for her. (In case some have not heard, a family in their church was in a horrible accident last Friday. The father and one teen daughter were killed instantly. The 15 year old boy is in critical condition in a coma. The mother and older teen girl are doing ok.)
 

THE CHEF!