So excited about Elizabeth bringing the grandkids up for the weekend. They are excited about Heroes Unmasked - our church festival Saturday night. Please pray for dry weather so the kids can enjoy playing at the creek and the new-to-us swingset!!
The autumn colors on the mountains that I get to see every day driving back and forth to Huntsville are so brilliant and vivid -- not enough words to describe it!! Where is Nate with his super camera??!!
Sweet Home Alabama! But we will always have a Texas connection with our son and his wife living in Fort Worth area and our daughter/hubby/grandkids in ministry at the Fort Hood Soldier's Hospitality House.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Family Ties
We lost Uncle Jim (Wilkins) yesterday after a valiant struggle following several heart surgeries. The best news is we know he is with his Lord and Savior in a much better place where there is no sadness and no pain, and reunited with those family members who have gone before! That can put a big smile on your face, just thinking of that wonderful reunion, and we get to join them soon. (I do believe our time here is getting shorter!)
One of the best traditions of the Wilkins' family was their annual reunion. I remember the first one I attended after Barron and I married. The reunion locations alternated between Georgia and Alabama each year and this particular time the event was near Lake Jackson, GA. The strange thing was that Barron, having been away in Vietnam for several years, didn't recognize some of his distant kin so I didn't feel quite the stranger, and years later I still remember some just from that event, and got to know some much better over the years.
One thing you knew you would enjoy at the reunion was the meal. Those ladies (and sometimes men, as my husband is one of the best cooks around these parts) knew how to cook downhome southern style, and there was always a very large assortment - from fried okra to sweet corn to fried chicken to wonderful desserts - sometimes even homemade ice cream.
My leap into family genealogy came out of the family reunions. My mother-in-law had particularly asked me to trace her family tree, so I would come prepared to these gatherings with notebook and pen, and strive to get as much info as I could from people I was just beginning to know. I continue to pursue genealogy and especially learning more about our families, where they came from, how they worked, raised their families, worshipped.
Uncle Jim -- you were loved by your wife and children, your extended family, your church fellowship. You will be lovingly missed!!
One of the best traditions of the Wilkins' family was their annual reunion. I remember the first one I attended after Barron and I married. The reunion locations alternated between Georgia and Alabama each year and this particular time the event was near Lake Jackson, GA. The strange thing was that Barron, having been away in Vietnam for several years, didn't recognize some of his distant kin so I didn't feel quite the stranger, and years later I still remember some just from that event, and got to know some much better over the years.
One thing you knew you would enjoy at the reunion was the meal. Those ladies (and sometimes men, as my husband is one of the best cooks around these parts) knew how to cook downhome southern style, and there was always a very large assortment - from fried okra to sweet corn to fried chicken to wonderful desserts - sometimes even homemade ice cream.
My leap into family genealogy came out of the family reunions. My mother-in-law had particularly asked me to trace her family tree, so I would come prepared to these gatherings with notebook and pen, and strive to get as much info as I could from people I was just beginning to know. I continue to pursue genealogy and especially learning more about our families, where they came from, how they worked, raised their families, worshipped.
Uncle Jim -- you were loved by your wife and children, your extended family, your church fellowship. You will be lovingly missed!!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Oktoberfest - Cullman style
We had a beautiful day on Saturday to get out and participate in Oktoberfest activities. The farmer's market was open at the Festhalle Plz, but there was German food, drink and music. The Cullman County Museum was open and free, and we enjoyed checking it out, plus the quilt display upstairs. We walked through the Classic Car show but missed the doggie parade. A quick stop by the Duchess Bakery for a treat, and perusing the items at A Touch of German.
Back near the house, the Garrison families were making Sorghum Syrup -- we are so glad they let us watch, and they had the Honey Barn open so we stopped in there as well.
For dinner, we dined at St. John's Evangelical Presbyterian church for a traditional German meal, my first taste of pickled cabbage! The apple cake was delicious!! We stopped by the sanctuary and sang along with a group performing there, such songs as "Turn your radio on" and "Unclouded Day".
Thanks Wendi for coming to visit and enjoying Oktoberfest right along with us!! Everyone can check out pictures on Facebook.
Back near the house, the Garrison families were making Sorghum Syrup -- we are so glad they let us watch, and they had the Honey Barn open so we stopped in there as well.
For dinner, we dined at St. John's Evangelical Presbyterian church for a traditional German meal, my first taste of pickled cabbage! The apple cake was delicious!! We stopped by the sanctuary and sang along with a group performing there, such songs as "Turn your radio on" and "Unclouded Day".
Thanks Wendi for coming to visit and enjoying Oktoberfest right along with us!! Everyone can check out pictures on Facebook.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Travis Lee Band
Last weekend we hosted the Travis Lee Band in our home! What terrific folks: Vic, Travis and Allegra Puhse. Mighty talented too. Vic and Travis (father and son) shared with the Spring Arbor Men at the monthly breakfast (thanks for allowing Allegra - Travis' wife - and Jan to join you). After getting back to the house, they took some time to catch up on some sleep as they had driven straight through from Baton Rouge, leaving Louisian after midnight -- just did make it in time for breakfast. Then we headed to the church to get all their band paraphanalia set up -- and we certainly appreciate Rex Helms coming over to make sure we got it done right!!
Pastor Roger and Vickie joined us for dinner Saturday night -- Barron cooked some fantastic hamburgers (voted as "the best hamburgers in the world")and everyone enjoyed Jan's homemade peach cobbler straight from the oven and topped with vanilla frozen yogurt!
Sunday morning the Travis Lee Band was in charge of the worship service (they even had a little time to join us in Bible Study) -- and Travis shared a word from the Lord as to the urgency of the times!!! Spring Arbor again showed themselves to be a super congregation by hosting a covered dish dinner - yummy!!!
Barron played tour guide as we drove around the streets of Cullman seeing the Festhalle Plaza, the Catholic Church twin spires, some of the beautiful older homes, and a walking tour of the Ava Maria Grotto!! JJ and Lisa Maze called and invited the Band and us to come over for a game of volleyball which we greatly enjoyed (of course Barron and Jan were delighted to observe). Unfortunately Allegra did take a fall and received a large bump on her leg but an ice pack made it feel much better - and I think she enjoyed her time in the jacuzzi tub too!!
Monday morning Barron and the Band headed to Cullman Christian School for a time of sharing with the middle school kids. Barron reported it was a very special time. As Travis had been a school principal and Allegra a teacher before God called them to step out in fulltime Christian evangelism, it was a perfect setting for them to share and enjoy! Thanks Roger for taking all four out to lunch as well.
They headed home to Missouri that afternoon and made the trip safely. If you would like to have the Travis Lee Band come to your church, retreat, conference, etc., we will gladly put you in contact with them, or you can find them on Facebook!!
Pastor Roger and Vickie joined us for dinner Saturday night -- Barron cooked some fantastic hamburgers (voted as "the best hamburgers in the world")and everyone enjoyed Jan's homemade peach cobbler straight from the oven and topped with vanilla frozen yogurt!
Sunday morning the Travis Lee Band was in charge of the worship service (they even had a little time to join us in Bible Study) -- and Travis shared a word from the Lord as to the urgency of the times!!! Spring Arbor again showed themselves to be a super congregation by hosting a covered dish dinner - yummy!!!
Barron played tour guide as we drove around the streets of Cullman seeing the Festhalle Plaza, the Catholic Church twin spires, some of the beautiful older homes, and a walking tour of the Ava Maria Grotto!! JJ and Lisa Maze called and invited the Band and us to come over for a game of volleyball which we greatly enjoyed (of course Barron and Jan were delighted to observe). Unfortunately Allegra did take a fall and received a large bump on her leg but an ice pack made it feel much better - and I think she enjoyed her time in the jacuzzi tub too!!
Monday morning Barron and the Band headed to Cullman Christian School for a time of sharing with the middle school kids. Barron reported it was a very special time. As Travis had been a school principal and Allegra a teacher before God called them to step out in fulltime Christian evangelism, it was a perfect setting for them to share and enjoy! Thanks Roger for taking all four out to lunch as well.
They headed home to Missouri that afternoon and made the trip safely. If you would like to have the Travis Lee Band come to your church, retreat, conference, etc., we will gladly put you in contact with them, or you can find them on Facebook!!
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