Thanksgiving at the Homestead (trying again!)

Thanksgiving at the Homestead
We had a rather small but very nice Thanksgiving at the 604 homestead.We were really hoping that Uncle Mike would be able to come, but he didn't make it.There were only 12 people, but it was still a royal feast and the fellowship was great.So many memories in that house.Thanking the Lord for our heritage and the wonderful memories that Grandma and Grandpa helped create in that house. God is good.

Thanksgiving in France (yesterday)

With the Rockfordites!

No words needed :-)

Ohio Visits!

While we were in Ohio, we were able to stop by and have supper with Dale, Madeline and Jacob (the other 3 kids are at BJU). It was great to see them again and catch up on news.



The next day, we went to see Aunt Mary. She was as bright and cheery as ever. She had a mini-stroke last June but is doing very well. She is 95 years old. Looks like Grandma Bixby, huh? She reminds me of her too in some of her expressions-- especially "Well, let me see...".






From her house we went to see the Wagners (Betsy's parents) and had a great time with them. We forgot to get a picture. Then it was off to Findlay where we enjoyed staying with the Kalmbachs (part of the family on lower right) during the mission's conference. We weren't too great at getting pictures but I did remember to get one of Christy and her family for Donna (Christy taught in Germany with Donna many years ago and they go to Calvary!) And Pastor and Mrs Carroll. You kids will remember him as the pastor of Tabernacle in Wilson, NC and the man who gave you gum!! He had recently had a stroke so couldn't come to church so we went to the house to see them. In all, we had a great week in Ohio.

Birthday Cheesecake!

Besides just enjoying being in France with my family, my main birthday highlight this year was the cheesecake my sweet husband worked very hard to prepare! For those of you who have had it before, this is the Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake recipe, with "fruits rouges" (a blend of raspberries, blackberries, cassis, etc.) substituted for the strawberry purée. We had recently learned about a type of cream cheese available here called "fromage à tartiner" that seemed to work perfectly. I was a VERY happy birthday girl! ;) Two EBP students recently had birthdays as well, and so we were able (I forced myself!) to share a piece with them after Tuesday's prayer meeting. (In the picture in the middle, I am just about to blow out the candles on yet another little sweet treat that one of our students had left on our doorstep for my birthday.)

Wednesday was a holiday here (Armistice Day). I was very ready for a day off! We had talked about taking a day trip somewhere, but due to the weather and how worn-out we all were after a lot of recent activity, we decided just to take a short drive into the French countryside and then to return home for some family time and R&R. The gray day actually provided a different kind of beauty for us as we explored some country roads just outside the city near La Brede.

Happy Birthday, Ruth!

Have a wonderful day, Ruth. We love you and are glad you are part of our family :-) Wish we were there to spoil you but I am sure that your little family will do a great job!!

My B-day

I had a wonderful birthday and got spoiled rotten!!!

Florida!!!

Happy Birthday to a Very Special Girl!!!

Just as pretty and sweet as ever!! We love you and can't wait to see you at Christmas.

When you follow GPS--

There is just no telling WHERE you will end up!!!! We just couldn't leave Jo, Brian and Stefan sitting in an empty house all day for another week.

The Quilter!

While we have been running around visiting this week, Karen has been hard at work. She has started quilting in a big way, but she took the time to make me a "Quilted Sweatshirt." I love it and I know that it will gets lots of use.

Old Friends

Here are some pictures. Some of these people, you kids will remember. Others you may not, but my sisters will (if they look on here!)
From the top left in a circle-- Karen (our very gracious hostess this week), Ralph Whitehead (and me :-), Ronnie Phelps (Wanda's brother), Rana and her husband Chuck (she says hi to all of you kids !), Faith, Wanda (Grandma Morgan's best friend growing up), Grandpa Morgan (just kidding--Harry. But doesn't he look like Grandpa???) and Bill and Irene Elkins (the lawyer friend of my folks-- he is 88 and wants to practice for 2 more years until the supreme court judge for whom is the court attorney has to retire at 70! Imagine!)

Family time au Jardin Public

Since the kids have every Wednesday off of school, and since Saturdays are inevitably busy and therefore not exactly a good day for spending time together as family, we are trying to dedicate some part of every Wednesday to family time and to getting to know more of the sights around us. This week we took a few hours in the afternoon/evening to take the tram into town to the Jardin Public where we enjoyed a walk in some brisk fall air and a light picnic supper.

On the way back we discovered that there was a fair going on at Quinquonces, and so we stopped in just long enough to enjoy a Chichi and to let the kids enjoy one ride.

Neighborly Love and Les Gâteaux

Our neighbors, Alexandre and Émilee, just recovered from the grippe (read: H1N1). We had to cancel our outing to the park yet again because of their illness, but in lieu I sent over just a few small pieces of some cookie bars I had made for our family to try to encourage them and let them know that we wanted to help if we could. You can imagine our surprise earlier this week when Alexandre came over to deliver their gratitude for our "support" in the form of these cakes! Apparently, Miriam had recently given them one of her drawings when she and Micaiah saw Alexandre in the yard a few days previously. So that's why they made the special teddy bear cake just for her. The gâteaux were so beautiful (and tasty, too!) that we just had to take pictures.

Enjoying the beautiful winter...

Here are some pictures out Karen's window! What a change in one day. But it is beautiful, too.

Enjoying the beautiful fall...

but it is starting to feel like winter-- even had snow flakes this morning!
(This blog needs some activity!! )

Dad's illustration....

must not have been too exciting :-)

Sunday Dinner at "Grandma's house"

Today we had dinner at Uncle Steve and Aunt Donna's house. There was going to be quite a crew so they set up tables in the den. A. Donna out did herself with a Thanksgiving feast. I am sure that you will recognize everyone so I won't name them all!! It was a nice day.

Night Out!

Last night Dad and I went to the BJ Artisit Series to hear the Dallas Brass. They were fantastic! Of course, Dad was in 7th heaven but I almost was, too :-) We had great seats. Uncle Paul, Aunt Theresa and Grandma were a few rows in front of us. I was trying to be smart like you all and put a picture of the Dallas Brass here but I didn't succeed, so you just get to see a picture of the 3
ladies !

Jordhals

Yesterday Dad and Grandma went to Charlotte to pick up Aunt Faye. She is going to be staying at Aunt Donna and Uncle Steve's for a few days. They met at the seminary where Uncle Ron is the librarian and had lunch together and then came back. Thought you might enjoy the pics--the building behind, of course, is the seminary (and I don't know what it is called :-)