Tuesday, September 29, 2009

September 2009

On our way to the Family Reunion--Talon and his friend Austin in the back seat, Kallee and Keegan in the middle.
Sept. 4-7
We had a great time this year at the family reunion! This is my Dad's family reunion that we attend every year on Labor Day weekend. We were able to see a lot of family that we only see once a year. I think it is wonderful that even though we only see many of them only once a year, we pick up where we left off and have a great time! It is a fun-filled weekend beginning on Friday evening and ending on Monday evening. From the time we get there, till the time we leave, we have a great time!!! There is so much to do, so if you attend and can't find something to do...you might as well stay home : ) There is a family game time; with BINGO for the kids and a Euchre tournament for the big kids. Then there are all kinds of sports; basketball, softball, volleyball, horse shoe, etc. Each evening there is a kids fun time in the kitchen and a teen time too! The teens have their own dorms and are chaperoned by a couple of my cousins, they have a lot of fun staying up all night playing games, singing and such! There is a pie baking contest, a talent show, a gospel sing, etc. On Sunday there is always a morning worship service with one of my cousins doing the preaching. This year my cousin Earl Aungst did an awesome job with his message, it was on holding grudges and letting go of them and letting God work in your life! The weekend fun comes to a close on Labor Day with a huge family meal, an auction, a family meeting, a time for trophies for the winning teams, etc. I am truly blessed to be a part of this family! There were around 300 there for the family meal on LD, what a nice group to have lunch with : ) Until we see our family next year, may God keep and bless you!
Uncle Norman being crazy, as usual!
Jerry and my Daddy playing in the Horseshoe Tournament, my Daddy was on the 1st place team : )


Basketball Tournament
My Dad a couple of his brothers catchin' up; Cecil, Mac and Dad

CJ, my niece, and Kallee singing for the Talent Show
Here's my Daddy telling his story about the "mystical button"! One day he put a shirt on and hanging by a thread was one of the cuff buttons. He ripped the button off and threw it in the trash, as he doesn't enjoying mending like Mom did. Not that she enjoyed it, she just didn't like it to pile up. He went on his day and returned the shirt to his closet when he was done with it. When he wore the shirt again---there was a button on that cuff. It puzzled him so much, that he began to call us family members and ask us if we sewed a new button on it while we were there. None of us had, so it puzzled him some more. One morning while doing his devotions, the button came to his mind again and he began to think about it over and over. Finally he heard God whisper to him, "I CAN do ANYTHING I want"!!! Dad now smiles when he tells that story, because he is convinced God Can DO Anything, with Anything!
Here are me and my sisters and one of my BILs singing, "God Can Do Anything" with Anything!

My Aunt Georgie reading one of her poems
This beautiful quilt was made and donated by my Aunt Myrtle for the family auction
A couple of my uncles; Norman and Cecil
These are a couple of my aunts; Donna & Myrtle




Sept. 18th
I was able to attend the boy's first field trip of the 2009-2010 school year, what a great time we had! We visited the Koh-koh-ma Re-enactment camp that was based in the year of 1750. The kids had a great time seeing all the neat things from way back then; teepee's, canons, Indians, food being cooked over an open fire, canoes, animal furs, etc. I always enjoy the times that I am able to go on field trips with the kids, I hope to be making memories for them that will last a life-time! My Mom worked full-time so she wasn't able to go on many field trips with me, so I want to make sure I can go with them as much as possible.
This lady was full of information, what a great start to our day!
The boys getting a lesson on how to load and shoot a canon
One of the Indians telling us what life was like in the 1750's
One of the neat cabins in the woods
The Indians getting ready for battle


Sept. 19th
We had our first fundraiser for our schools A.C.E. Convention today and had a great time!!! We had a car wash at our local Pizza Hut parking lot, and made over $500, YEA!!! We are so thankful for all the kids that showed up and worked themselves half to death, and for all those that showed up to have their cars washed. We will be having several fundraisers throughout the year to help us reach our goal, so keep posted.
The teens working hard for their money : )
Talon and Geo being crazy! When we wouldn't have anyone in line waiting to have their car washed, the kids would run down by the road and bring them business in : )
Bro. Mowery waiting on his truck to be washed. He is such a good sport, he ALWAYS is there to support our church, school or other great organizations!
Talon got a little "spray happy" with the hose a few times and this is what it resulted in, at the end of the day : )


Sept. 23-24th
Kallee and I headed back to MI today with my sisters. I helped coordinate "my" 15th class reunion, so I went early to help do whatever I could do to help. I was invited to one of my best friends (from high school) for dinner on Thursday night, thanks Jill. Your girls are beautiful and Kallee really enjoyed playing with them.

Sept. 25th-28th
On Friday afternoon I headed to the hall where we had our reunion to help set-up for the event. On Friday night we all headed to the homecoming parade and then onto the game at Shepherd High School, what a fun night that was! They won but I can't remember the score, I guess that is the girl coming out in me : ) On Saturday morning I headed back to the hall to help finish up what needed to be done for our reunion and then we went to the reunion that evening. It was great fun catching up with 17 of 93 that I graduated with, thanks to everyone that showed up! I hope you all had a nice time and I can't wait to see you in another 5 yrs : ) --The 26th was our oldest son, Talon's, 13th birthday, WOW where has the time went?!?!? I can't hardly believe we now have a teenager living in our house, ugh! We weren't able to have a party for him since it was the same night at the reunion, but we do plan on having one for him in October. We love you buddy and want you to know we are praying that God will guide and direct your life in the direction He has for you!!! --We, my sisters and I, headed home on the 28th, tired and ready to come home. We had a real nice time with Dad this weekend, but it was time to get home and back to life here at home.
This is my cousin Michele's son, Mitch. He is in the middle, #2
One of the new additions being put on the school, this is where the old football field use to be
The Shepherd Bluejays Marching Band
The team getting ready to play
Mitch running off the field
The 17 of our classmates that showed up, what a great time we had!
Back Row (l to r): Jon Leazenby, Jamey Nelson, Brad Hetherington, Greg Moeggenberg, Thad Holton, Don Milligan, Brad Stanke, Jaime Huber & Jill (Emelander) Spindler. Front Row (l to r): Ed Haney, Jen Austin, Kim (Root) Warner, Jason Doepker, Aaron Hubble, Allison (Breidenstein) Curtiss, Me & Katie (Bolton) Curan

The tables at our reunion, decorated by myself and Kim (Root) Warner
This table was the "In Memory Of" table for Shane and Amiee. Amiee was one of my good friends in high school who was killed 13 yrs ago in a car accident. She was pregnant for her first baby, 7 months along. Shane fought cancer on and off for years, cancer finally won the battle a few years after we graduated.
Some of the memorabilia at the class reunion


Jerry and I at my 15th yr class reunion