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?





 

this and that from Damaris's camera

Beautiful Grandma Troyer...she's almost 92 but still so youthful at heart. Sun. after lunch I asked if she wanted to go to her trailer or along with us to a cookout. She told me she had seen enough of her trailer for the day :) So here she is, the life of the party!

Katty Katty....

Damaris sometimes complains that she doesn't have anything to wear.... This is my file photo that I'll pull out after this :) What a colorful row of dresses, and they're all hers!

camping at Dale Hollow

We had a window of time without a lot of commitments and suddenly decided to go camping. One of the guys at the barn shop told Martin about a nice campground just below the Dale Hollow dam. Supposedly there is good trout fishing there. (notice I said supposedly?) Anyway after Martin finished work on Mon. afternoon we headed down there.
 We had a nice time, but even though Anthony got up at 5 the first morning, he never caught one trout. :( There were other devoted fisherman there and they all had 1 reason or other why the fish weren't biting. 
                                                          Anthony getting ready..

 

                              a very nice private site in front of the river by a paved bike trail

The boys building a fire



I'm not sure either???
 

coffee by the campfire

ducks

 

 

 

 

I was sitting quietly on the river bank when this deer decided to cross the water

he didn't read the sign :)

 

  

sunset on the river

the perfect ending to a summer camping trip....

Mother / son outing

So on the same day that the fathers and daughters were having a happy time together, Esther and Matthew planned a day out for mothers and sons.
 It was just right down our alley (Anthony, Dennis and I) First of all a long strenuous hike was planned back to a waterfall and then a cookout.

Here we are at the church carpooling.

and "un"carpooling at the trailhead    

 

                                            Heading down the trail with backpacks loaded

                                                 First resting point soon after mile 1.

 

                                                          beautiful Laurel Falls

 

                                         Trying to start the camp fire with very damp wood.

                                         Beautiful Sherry who adopted Matt for the occasion

                                                  Success with the fire, and hotdogs roasting

 

After lunch the ladies and younger children hung around the falls and relaxed. The big guys headed another 2+ miles back to Virgin Falls. We took our time as we started back and let the children swim on the way. Soon after 4 we packed up and went to Cookeville. Esther had arranged to meet some others there at the bowling alley and we played several games and then went to eat. Dinner was Mexican at El Tapatio. About 8:30 the tired, happy crew headed home. A very nice day!

Father/daughter day out together

 

 

Monday was scheduled as an outing for the fathers and daughters from the church. Jona and Amos planned and organized it. They all met at Cane Creek Park in Cookeville soon before lunch and had a cookout together. The girls said there was WAY too much food since the guys are used to planning for the father son campout.

 

 

They spent the afternoon together boating, playing softball and other games.

 

When it started to rain, they moved indoors

 to the gym and played volleyball.

 

                                                            Spending time in prayer

 

Kathryn took time to dress and take along a doll that she called "Jessica" in lieu of her missing married sister. Maybe not the best substitute, but the thought is what counts. So Jess, you got to be with your dad and sisters for the day after all :) 

 

In the evening they ate out together and had a time of appreciation sharing between Dads and daughters. That was probably the most emotional time of the day.

 

 Michael Horst and daughters

 

Posing for pictures together...Martin and 3 of his lovely girls

 

 Joe and Jasmine

                                                                     Jay and Julissa

 

                                                                     Jake and Josephine

 

                                                                           Pete and girls

                                                               Jonathan and daughters

 

                                                               Dan and 5 daughters!

                 Micah and Mary / Susanna is Micah's sister, but he loves to claim her as a daughter

 

                                                          Abner Brubaker and daughters

                                                                   Amos and girls

 

                                            Clayton and his 2 prized daughters after 4 boys!

 

                                                               John and Jeanna

 

                                                               Jona and his sweet girls

 

and here's the sweet ending to the post with Hadassah enjoying her cotton candy...