All About Family

This week it was all about family. Sure, there were other things – work, weather, gardening, and all that – but really it was all about family.

The weather and garden parts were nice. We had unseasonably warm weather. Wednesday and Thursday we were in the mid 80's and that’s high summer weather for us. I loved it and so did the garden. We even had a rainbow on Thursday. The lilacs and bluebells are blooming. The orchard is beautiful in full bloom. Planting Out Day is a week away and I am optimistic that this will be a good year for the garden and the fruit trees.

My favorite lilac bush.

Bluebells in the woodland garden.

The orchard in bloom.

The rainbow on Thursday.

The family part actually began last Sunday afternoon. On Mother’s Day we got to Skype with or talk to a lot of family. We talked to all of our children, even Josiah. He’s doing great and he looked great and it was great to talk to him and see his face. I got to talk to my parents. They are doing great. It may have all been long distance communication, but it was good and it was just the beginning.

Skyping with Elder Howe.

Monday after school I had an appointment with my doctor to get the results of a follow up blood test to see how my efforts to control my insulin resistance are going. It was all good news. My blood pressure and all the indicators are normal. I’ve lost 36 pounds so far and have 24 more to go to reach my goal. I was happy to find out that my lifestyle change is working.

Wednesday was Stacey’s birthday. We had a treat when Jillian, Phi, and Freyja brought us dinner from next door – delicious tacos. Then Stacey opened gifts and had birthday brownies that Jillian made.

Stacey's birthday.

The best part of the week began on Thursday evening when Rachel, Tabor, Hazel, June, Mabel, and Miriam arrived to spend the weekend with us. We got to meet adorable Mabel, our newest grandchild. Then later that night, Sarah and Tosh arrived – also with a new member of their family. On their way here, they stopped in Ohio and picked up a puppy they bought – a blue Doberman named Winston. When they got here they told Stacey it was a surprise birthday present for her. You should have seen her reaction! She was so relieved when we told her it was a joke and the dog would be going home with them.

Meeting tiny Mabel.

Tosh and Winston.

So we’ve had a houseful all weekend and it has been wonderful. We’ve played games, of course – new board games that Stacey got for her birthday and some old favorites.

One of many games played.

We played the first game of croquet this year.

The first croquet game of the year.

Hazel and June had fun playing with their cousins Phi and Freyja.

Hazel, Phi, and Freyja.

We went fishing with Tabor.

Fishing.

We went swimming.

Swimming.

We put flags up in the cemetery.

At the cemetery.

We went for a drive to shop at the Amish dry goods store and to the dairy. June got to see sheep, calves, and cows.

June and the sheep.

June and Miriam and a calf.

June and the big cows.

Hazel and June helped collect the eggs every day.

Grandma and Hazel coming up from the barn.

Hazel holding Sylvia (Josiah's favorite hen).

Tosh did some auto repair work for us.

Tosh working on car repair.

And Sarah made us delicious food.

Having so much family here this weekend has us all happily anticipating our family reunion this summer. In July a great group of us will be gathering down in the Harrisburg area – Rathfons and the Howes – to spend a few days together. After the reunion the Howe group is coming up here to spend a few more days together. It’s going to be wonderful.

We are a happy family.

We are home from church now. Sarah is making something amazing for our lunch that smells so good, I’m salivating as I sit here. After lunch we will sit and play games and revel in being together. The Thayns and Miriam are leaving tomorrow morning. Sarah, Tosh, and Winston are leaving on Tuesday. Then it will just be Stacey and me until July when the house will be full again. That’s something I’m looking forward to with all my heart.