Truth

Last night the girls and I continued our study in "Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free". It is outstanding to me that with all the medication and antidepressants used to control and change negative behavior, there is nothing more effective to change than truth. Truth cannot change you though, unless you cooperate with it. Jesus said, "I am the way, the TRUTH and the life." I left the study with a heart cry to the Lord to give me wisdom in seeking the truth in every situation. Satan cloaks situations with ambiguity and deception, but Jesus shines the light on the right way. I also long to help my children learn discernment as they face a very muddled world.
 Then the second thing that I noticed in relation to Truth was in Exodus this morning as we were having family devotions. Pharaoh had told the midwives to kill all the male Israelite children that were born. These midwives were not exactly truthful to Pharaoh when they told him they couldn't get to the birth fast enough, but God honored them highly for standing for His truth.
So obviously it's important to get our values from the right Source, and also important to stand strong once we're on the right foundation. I have a feeling that the next 10 or 15 years is going to separate the men from the boys. May we choose right, and stand, no matter what the consequences are. Our destiny in eternity will depend on it, and God help us to lead the "little lambs" straight to Jesus for answers. Their destiny also depends on it.

Jessica and Jordan's wedding

Whenever Elizabeth plays "A Thousand Years" on the piano, I feel an emotion. I've tried to analyze it, and I think Kathryn's right, when she says it's nostalgia. It's kind of a mixture of sad and glad, tears and joy all in one. There are other things that evoke that emotion for me too, but one of the easiest ways is just to remind me of Jessica's wedding. My beautiful oldest daughter has married a wonderful man and I'm so happy for her.....but.....It also seems so final that jess will never be our daughter again in quite the same way. I may be slightly biased, but I just thought the day and occasion were so beautiful. So here are Jess and Jordan on their wedding day.

               Yellow and grey were her colors, and isn't Jordan's niece, Chloe, just adorable?

                                                      The bridal party shivering in a light snow.

                                                                       Our family

                                                                    Jordan's family

 

  Damaris & Nate / guest registrars

 

                                                                                                          

beautiful music by Betsy and Billy

little scallywags

 

Jordan's parents

Jess's parents

 

 

emotional moments...

 

Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Wagler - finally!!!

 

At the reception

 

off to the Dominican republic..

 

So that's why I feel nostalgic sometimes :)

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!