Troyer Reunion



On Fri. afternoon the Troyers and their aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews and great grandchildren and other connections all started gathering for the weekend reunion. But what would a family gathering be without the Schwartz Quartet???


The Aunts and Uncles have arrived!

So many wonderful things happen in the kitchen!
We socialize and gather around, choosing which type of gourmet coffee we want to try from the Cernavas' stash. We watch our own cooking show unfold as Jake (head cook for the meal) and Lydia (his oldest sister) argue heatedly and humorously about how to fry hash browns. We all take our turns cooking and doing dishes and generally catching up with sad and glad things that have happened.

 

 

Juliana is admiring one of five cakes that the aunts made for the occasion.

 

 

lined up for basketball...

 

The bubblegum race

Moe with his music

Matt at the ping pong table

A group hiking on the ladder trail

 

cousins reconnecting

 

Lots and lots of discussions took place.

 

What an incredible family! Definitely not a boring bunch. Thank you, everyone for coming and adding to the mix. Praise the Lord, most of all for the gift He gave us of placing us together.

 

the merry-go-round

Lately Kathryn's been singing the chorus to a song that Charlotte Kropf wrote. She composed music as well, and the tune is very catchy. (meaning it goes around and around in my head :). )

"So I stepped off the merry-go-round
What they've been looking for is what I have found
I already know where I'm bound
I'm just watching the wheel go around"

I've just been tossing thoughts around in my head about whether it would be a good thing to get off the spin we seem to be on?
I guess it would depend a lot on why, and if you had a purpose in withdrawing. I tend to feel like it's a bit of a "cop out" for some people. When we lived in Central America as children, we made up little ditties like:

We live in Belize
sit under palm trees
eating cheese
never have to sneeze.....ect., ect....

We lived in a certain version of paradise I guess. (At least if you didn't think about the heat and bugs and thieves)
I wonder if some of the stress I feel now is a condition of my mind? Isolation doesn't necessarily equal peace.
Jesus did leave the crowds for short seasons, but then He went back into humanity again with renewed vision and purpose.
Anyway, I don't have a plan to "get off the wheel" but I know I need to live with eternal purpose and not just mindlessly rush around.
Solomon said it well. "So teach me to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom."

later summer 2013



harvest time

fresh blueberries

 

chopping down the old cornstalks

 

 

Troyer Reunion 2013 information

I've heard from several of you who definitely plan to make it to the reunion this year.

There are those very faithful "regulars" who are the backbone of almost every gathering, and then there are those of you who just come once in a blue moon and make big splashes:) (You know which kind you are) but we like both types a lot!!! It's just good to see family, and in my opinion, there's something really special about Troyers. :)

So....Cernava's, Dindingers, Garbers, Kropfs, Schwartz's and all you Troyers and any others planning to come this year....WELCOME!!!! and we're looking forward to being together as the Lord wills.

 

I thought it might be the easiest just to post information here, and if anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me through email or phone.

 

On August 23 and 24 we are again planning a Troyer family reunion for as many of you as can, or want to come.

I’ve reserved Pickett State Park’s group campground again (the same place we were last year) and the plans are to arrive on Fri. afternoon and leave on Sun. morning. Our first meal will be served Fri. eve. about 6:30 or 7 to allow for stragglers and late comers. We'll hope to have brunch on Sun. and then clean up and leave about 10 AM.

The group camp will accommodate up to 144 people. It consists of six bunkhouses, two bathhouses, and a large dining hall and kitchen. You need to provide your own linens for single bunks, and towels and wash cloths. I also would encourage any of you who care to contribute dessert type things to let your creative juices flow :). The only dessert we have planned is a birthday cake and ice cream for Mom's 92nd. b-day. I believe Aunts Margie and Martha Schwartz have agreed to make that. So if you want to bring sweets for the morning coffee hour, or something for after the main meal, we will all be delighted and enjoy it together.

I’ll take care of food shopping for the main meals and paper products.

 

The cost is very reasonable. There will be a $3 per nt. Per person charge for the camp and then our food expenses.

I’ve already heard from several of you who plan to come and I would like to hear from lots more. please let me know if you can make it, so I can plan accordingly with food. Please let your families know about the arrangements since I only have a limited amount of addresses.

Blessings to all of you, and hope to see you in just a few days…..Rose  

 

3100 Muddy Pond Rd. Monterey, TN 38574

931-445-3743 or 931-239-2886   or  horsts@twlakes.net

 

Pickett State Park

4605 Pickett Park Highway
Jamestown , TN 38556-4141
Office: 931-879-5821

 When you reach the park office just continue about 1 mile further on the same road and you will see a  sign for the group campground on the right.

 

marriage

I read a quote by Socrates a couple days ago:

"By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."

That kind of tickled my funny bone, but I also thought about the truth that's in the quote. I see very shallow people -not bad people- just shallow. The main thing that's missing is just "life" with all the ups and downs and difficult circumstances that the Lord wants to use in our development. Anyway, I think marriage over the long haul is so good for us. At least it has certainly been very good for me! Maybe I can be a happy philosopher, how does that sound?

For Martin's and my 20th. anniversary last June we did something really special. We left our offspring behind, with 18 yr. old Kathryn in charge, and took a week long trip. We flew into Calgary and spent a week in the Canadian Rockies. Incredible memories!!!!

heading into the mountains at Banff

 

Since it was just Martin and I, we could hike to our heart's content. Almost every day involved some trail or other for us. We also saw lots of wild life including, bears, moose, elk, big horned sheep. an eagle and a wolf.
 

 until next time - may you be a happy philosopher!

 

Noah

I've been planning another family reunion for this summer and it seems like it brought back memories of my dear brother Noah.
 I only have a couple pictures of the time he was with us and I wish I had taken a lot more. I never dreamed he would be gone that quickly. I guess I was thinking of a couple months maybe. It was only 10 days after he got here from Oklahoma that he passed away.
Here's an excerpt from a letter I sent to the family recently:

During this last year we had a “first” happen when our dear brother Noah went to be with the Lord. There have been others who’ve gone before in our family, but none of our immediate siblings. I suppose since he was here in our home the last 10 days of his life, it may have affected me more than it did some of you. I still face a lot of emotion when I reminisce.

Mostly I’m just so thankful that the Lord led every step of the way in bringing him here from Oklahoma and that he could be with us during his last days.

I saw a side of our family that I’ve never seen before. I’m so thankful to be part of a family that unselfishly puts their own convenience aside and ministers when the need arises. I’m so thankful Noah could be surrounded by the love and care of his family instead of being in a hospital somewhere alone. I’m so thankful for each of you who gave financially and sacrificially to love our brother in those last days. I believe God was glorified and Noah was at peace. It was so beautiful that Mom could be right there rubbing her “little” twin’s feet as he passed into glory.

 

for several days Noah was so bright and perky and told us lots of stories. What a memory he had!

Mom sat and read to him but he kept drifting off to sleep

sweet sweet Noah!

 

Anthony's thumb

Hey Jess Dear,
Remember I told you that Anthony smashed his thumb the other day? here it is:
He's a very brave boy and never makes a fuss about stuff. He got tired of waiting for dad to unload a wagon side and attempted it by himself.


Anton's smashed thumb - looks like the nail will definitely come off doesn't it?