Kids Fest '08

What's a Kids Fest, you might ask? It's fun, games, Bible stories, singing, puppets, Emmons Sisters, crafts, snacks and balloons-lots of them. Last Sunday Faith Presbyterian Church had their third Kids Fest at Riverside Park. What is the reason? To meet people, show them love and invite them to Christianity Explored, a study for those wanting to know what the Bible teaches about Christianity. We praise God for nice weather, a good turn out and a blessed time!


When those puppets came up all eyes were up front!


Guest appearance from John the Baptist

We also had John the Baptist's neighbor "Obed" come for a visit to explain who John was, what the word repent means and other important lessons that only a person can do.

The Beauty of God's Creation

This is on top of Mount Erie, in Washington, where Mark conducted a wedding

this past weekend. Out in the distance are the San Juan Islands.

Here is the wedding with the gorgeous background!

Looking out from Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands

A live Jellyfish off the dock at Friday Harbor

The beautiful sunset seen from the San Juan Island ferry

This will make you smile!

Shaking Tovia's fat cheeks is very entertaining for the grandparents. Chipmunk cheeks run in the Sumpter family!

-Peggy

Persuasion

I just recently read "Persuasion", by Jane Austen, again (for like the third time) and it is an excellent book! I've heard some people say that it is not one of Austen's best books, but I disagree. It's definitely one of Austen's best! Here's why:

1. Anne is a perfect heroine. Not in the sense that she is just too good to be believable, but she is a great role model. Unlike other Austen heroines she has good sense and a helpful personality.

2. The story draws you in from the beginning. You might say, "wait a minute, I read this book and it starts with the history of the Elliot's (Anne's family), how is that interesting?" Well, whenever a history comes along I have to start figuring out how this fits with the story. If we pay attention we catch things earlier and can understand things better if we read this whole history. Also, this was a great way for Austen to introduce all the Elliot's together and then we get to know each of them afterword.

3. God's plan. This book has a good example of God's providence in it. I won't give the story away, but it has to do with our heroine and 8 years gone by.

So, I hope I made you want to read it now. One good thing is that it is actually one of Austen's shorter books. :) Enjoy!

Family Reunions Are Wonderful!

This was the year for my sisters and me to gather, with as many of our family members as could come, for a family reunion. It was held at Loon Lake, about 20 miles east of Reedsport, Oregon (which is on the coast). It is a beautiful drive and a beautiful spot to enjoy with your family!


Some of the cousins enjoyed the beach one day. The weather was perfect!


Molly and Aunt Debi cleaned up the kitchen together. The lodge house was awesome!


My husband getting ready to ski! Yes, he did get up and he managed to keep his hat on the whole time too!


The water was cold at first but then you soon got used to it. This is Jesse & Molly on the dock and Jeremy & Andy in the water.


Mark won the Rail Baron game, much to the dissapointment of the brother-in-laws!


We are so blessed with a great family! We look forward to 2010 for the next reunion!

Party, Hugs, Books, Bee Stings, Knights, Smiles & Cooing

I just returned home from a trip to Idaho. I stayed with Jesse & Kate the first three nights and Toby & Jenny the last four.


We celebrated Casey's 26th birthday; Kate made a yummy chicken enchilada meal. The youngest siblings gave Casey a singing card with the song "You're unbelieveable"!


I enjoyed hugs from the grandchildren and reading books together. River received his first bee sting, but was able to bounce back quickly.


I had the privilege of babysitting a couple of times; on one such occasion I sat on the floor in the middle of a battle between good knights and bad knights and a little princess cooking some food. Masculinity and femininity at its best!


It was a joy to get my "baby fix" as I held Tovia many times! When she smiled and cooed it made my heart melt. She is a miracle baby!



Thus the adventures of a Mom/Oma with a happy, growing family...

Our Purpose

God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives.

-John Piper