Family & Friends - a great combination

We have had such a marvelous time with Carla here for over ten days..and we have spent quality time together as well as sight-seeing. Our road trip was to visit my cousin on the Olympic Peninsula, with our first stop in the quaint town of Poulsbo, where Carla has a good friend (from back in Burke VA, Carla's first call after seminary). Robin had us for dinner and a marvelous walking tour of this town - and we want to go back another time. With the kind of rainy cool weather we have, flowers are just magnificent everywhere, and Poulsbo was no exception. Our time with Carl & Sue was exceptional - a visit to Port Townsend with all its cute stores and sites, hiking to Marymere Falls, and the most spectacular trip to Deer Park - where it seemed we might be falling off the edge of the earth. It was both eerie and gorgeous, and we were so high! We have also toured the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery, with lunch at the Red Hook Brewery nearby; visited our neighborhood pub a couple of times, worshipped at University Pres in Seattle with our friends, Peter & Diane Wilson, and special friends of Carla's who worship there, Jessica & Mike. Last Sunday, we were joined by Jane & Joe Skeen, who have been mentioned in previous blogs. It was such a fun reunion for Jane and Carla - when we all lived in Marshall MO, Jane used to baby-sit with our daughters...and tho we have kept in touch over the years, the girls probably had not seen each other for over 30 years! This week Jerry and I had a treat - we were able to join two dear friends from our Wichita KS congregation for lunch at Cutter's, down on the water near Pike Place Market. Sharon Moore and Sandi Simon had been hiking on the Olympic Peninsula for several days and had this free day in Seattle. We were so grateful to spend some time with them catching up. We are always grateful when friends keep track of us and let us know when they are in the area! Tonight we just finished having dinner with Brian, a friend and colleague of Carla's in the Kansas City area, who is here visiting his family. They enjoyed a Mariner's ballgame this afternoon, and now Carla and I are packing...because tomorrow I am leaving to accompany Carla on a drive down the coastal highway as far as San Francisco...and really looking forward to the beautiful sights along the coast.

Tears of joy!

Carla - our very emotional daughter - could not contain the tears as she watched Michael Phelps bring home his 8th gold medal. What an exciting race to watch. And what joy for Michael, his mother, his teammates, and our country. Way to go, USA!

Bloys Cowboy Camp, August 2008

This was our second year at Bloys with Jerry as the Presbyterian Bible Study leader, and it was another joyful week as folks from all over the country (tho primarily Texas) gathered to worship, pray, sing, eat and visit together. We began our week by flying in to El Paso to spend the night with our cousins and celebrate Wayne's birthday with a delicious Mexican dinner (Seattle does not quite have the hang of that cuisine!) Was it ever yummy! Bill & Wayne drove us to Bloys on Tuesday and stayed overnight with us, having their first Bloys experience after having heard about it for years. This is the Presbyterian Cabin provided for the Bible Study leader. During the week our house guests included Bill & Wayne on Tuesday, Barbara Bingham (Edmond OK) who arrived on Wednesday through Sunday, and our kids from San Antonio who came for the weekend. We shared the week with many friends - among them were Gene & Becky Needham of Midland (on the left) and Diane & Peter Wilson of Bellevue WA. We met the Wilsons last summer at Bloys just as we were preparing for the move to Sammamish - and we are so grateful for their friendship during this year in WA. We meet often for dinner and worship with them at University Church, Seattle, as often as we can.

On the cabin porch, Jo and Scott enjoy a visit with Midland friend Missy Grimes and Jerry. Missy and her family (husband and 3 children) have shared in the Uganda Mission for the last 3 years.

For more magnificent photos of the Bloys experience, please click on the following link:

http://albums.phanfare.com/4835464/2550855#imageID=42452712

These are Jo's photographic memories of Bloys and really tell a great story.

Valley reunion, then Marshall MO reunion!

After enjoying a Valley reunion on Friday in Edmonds, we were delighted to share morning worship on Sunday not only with Sally and Scotty Campbell (right end of each row), but also with Wayne and Susan (Knipschild) ONeal, also from Marshall Mo. We shared many happy, funny and memorable stories from our time when Jerry pastored Covenant Presbyterian Church in Marshall for 13 years. Susan's parents and sisters have been an integral part of our life over the years--even visited us during our interim in Wichita KS--so it was great that Susan & Wayne took time from their vacation in the Seattle area to attend Sammamish Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning. That visit was followed by an all-church picnic at one of the nearby parks...as Jerry enjoys his veggie-burger. And I can't resist sharing one of the vegetable stands' decorations at Pike's Market last week - makes green beans just irresistible doesn't it? We are off to Bloys Cowboy Camp Meeting in Ft. Davis this next week, and then 3 days in Midland--to you will next hear from us and our adventures when we return! Blessings on you all....

Missouri Valley College Reunion

"Valley will roll tonight, Valley will roll" - so go the words of the school song of Missouri Valley College, Mashall MO. And Valley surely did roll with this marvelous reunion of college classmates from 1961 and 1962. Sally & Scotty Campbell (couple on left) live in Marshall MO, home of MVC, and Jim and Mary Orvis (in the middle) live in Edmonds WA. The men were fraternity brothers in Alpha Sigma Phi, and the women were sisters in Alpha Zi. The hours flew by as they all reminisced, went through yearbooks from their senior years, and browsed the alumni directory. From the stories, laughter, and smiles, you would not have known over 45 years had gone by. Thanks, Mary & Jim, for your hospitality - and to Mary, who even had the Valley colors on the napkin rings!

Surprise!

What a delightful surprise we had this afternoon when we ran into our Midland friend, Susan Askins, at Pike's Market. You can see our joy and surprise reflected in our faces!

Thanks, Susan, for being our friend in such an unexpected place!

Or maybe you would like to see a parrot fish on display at the Fish Market - and its really that gorgeous color! What a place and what an experience - sharing Pike's Market with our friends, Sally & Scott Campbell from Marshall MO - and running in to Susan.... Join us in another day for the Missouri Valley College reunion coming up tomorrow! Good night for now.....

Friends - God's great gift

After reading daughter Carla's blog on the amazing number of friends she is reconnecting with and seeing along her sabbatical journey, I decided I needed to do a blog on FRIENDS - because we have had a marvelous opportunity to reconnect with a number of friends from over the years. Ralph and Sally Green (we call her "Saint Sally" for her loving care of our house in Midland while we are gone) came out before Seattle's summer arrived, but we had a fantastic visit and opportunity to show them some of our favorite spots. Our highlight was attending a conference with Philip Yancy up at Warm Beach - and he is as good a speaker as he is a writer, which was refreshing. (The Greens are pictured right.) Below, you see Jerry and Tom Gwaltney. Jerry and Tom went through school together in Crane, Missouri - and Tom now lives out here. The guys had not seen each other since they got out of high school, which was a FEW years ago. It was marvelous to hear them reminiscing - while their wives got acquainted with one another. Jim Morris came by for a visit a couple of weeks ago..Jim was a part of our family in Marshall MO when he was a senior at Missouri Valley College and Jerry was beginning his pastorate in Marshall. Both our daughters have visited him in Providence RI, but we haven't been together for over 20 years. Jim has added years and maturity which is most becoming to him, while we haven't aged a bit, making us all closer to the same age now (isn't my reasoning wonderful?) Joining us for the day were the Skeens from Port Orchard...to Jane (Imlay) Skeen, "Jimmy" was like a big brother, and she had the joy of introducing Jim to her grandson.

Glenn & Louan Rogers from Midland came right along with Seattle summer - and we could see Mt. Ranier from our balcony every single day they were here (and then it became hidden again as soon as they left!) Isn't this a beautiful spot - the harbor over at Bainbridge Island as seen from Doc's Restaurant..one of our favorite spots. We also took in the Glass Museum and Tacoma Art Museum, walking across the Chihuly Bridge in Tacoma--very spectacular.

Pat Mundy from Enid OK spent last week with us - and coming from the heat and flatlands of Oklahoma, she was having sensory overload with all our trees, mountains, water and spectacular views. This is taken at Pike Place Market where colors abound..and went on from there to hiking on the Olympic Peninsula and attending the Lavender Festival in Sequim, with my cousins, Carl & Sue--spectacular colors and aromas!

Thanks to all of you who have been by - that includes Drew & Susie Anderson of Midland who treated us to dinner at Salty's on the Harbor and an evening of great conversation. We had a family reunion with the Shewey family of Enid who were embarking on an Alaskan cruise from Seattle so we got to spend a day with Bill and Jana and their kids and grandkids - a real treat for us. We have special memories of family times with their family over the years -and a fruitcake that has been exchanged between us over all these years (Yes, the SAME fruitcake!)

More family/guests arrive today and you will hear more about that next week. Thanks to all of you who are our friends and have so richly blessed our lives with your presence.

Carla's Sabbatical

Our youngest daughter, Carla, who is the Director of Christian Education at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church, Kansas City MO, is on her three month sabbatical journey. She is traveling by car renewing many friendships, visiting places that have been important in her life, and seeing new sights. Her visits range from Graceland in Memphis (seen in the pictures) to just having completed a few days working (again) in Katrina Relief in New Orleans, accompanied by one of her Red Cross friends from earlier trips there to spending time on Hilton Head (mostly because of its most famous name!) with my cousin-in-law's sister whom she has never met but have welcomed her to stay with them...to revisiting churches she served in Virginia, up the east coast, seeing persons who have been important in her life from elementary and high school friends to seminary, ministry and Red Cross buddies. If you would like to read about her travels, there is a link on my blog which says "Carla's blog" - click there and you can see where she has been and what she has been doing, as she delights in the opportunity to travel, visit, read, relax, and reflect. And please support her with your prayers!

Madison WI weddings

Twenty-four years ago, Jerry flew to Madison WI to officiate at the marriage of his college classmate/fraternity brother, Don and his wife Ann. This past weekend it was our joy to spend an evening in their home, catching up on our lives, getting acquainted with their daughter Elise who just graduated from college and is moving to Chicago with AmeriCorp, and bringing up a lot of memories. One of Jerry's favorite memories is this: the day of the wedding, Don told Jerry he was going to the airport to pick up his best man, Milton and his wife, and then would pick up Jerry to go to the house for the ceremony. When Don pulled up, a man was in the front seat, and Jerry climbed into the back seat by a delightful petite lady whom Jerry thought looked familiar..and Don made the introductions of Milton and Joyce to Jerry. And it was Dr. Joyce Brothers...a real treat for Jerry to make their acquaintance. Milton is also the person who taught Jerry the "thumb trick" and gave him the thumb--some of you have seen Jerry pull his thumb apart for the children over the years! Fast forward 24 years - and we are back in Madison to participate in the wedding of Matt, who is the grandson of Gordon. Gordon, his wife Julie, and Jerry were all college classmates as Missouri Valley College (along with the aforementioned Don). In 1972, both our families moved back to Marshall MO for our various professions and shared life together. In fact, the mother of the groom (Gordon's daughter) used to babysit for our girls. The parents of the groom live in our area and are frequent visitors at our church. It was a great reunion! Its so nice to cross paths with folks who hold an important place in our lives and just pick up as if all those years had not passed by. Once again, I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God. In addition, Jerry and I made a new friend in Don's daughter, who is now my friend on Facebook--what a treat for me!

Orcas, eagles, foxes, fawns & FUN

Orcas Eagle and eagle's nest..we saw at least a dozen eagles at one time! Fox.... twin fawns and momma near our cabin..and many other deer during the week... Mary & cousin Carl at the English Camp on San Juan Island..M&J on whale-watching boat. A great time was had by all!

Washington seacoast

Our camping trip to the coast was marvelous! We were camped near the beach and could see the waves breaking from our motor home picture window-on-the-world, and sleeping at night you could hear the sounds of waves breaking. Of course, it was VERY cold on Thursday but we walked the beach anyway, but by Friday it was overcast but much warmer with very little wind and we were able to ride our bikes on the hard damp sand which was like riding on asphalt. Do you know what this is? We do now. This is the bubble in the sand that indicates that a clam is below buried in the sand. On Saturday we watched a clam dig...lots of folks all up and down the beach with their shovels, tools, net bags and buckets, with lots of dogs and kids. It was a perfect morning for it - warm enough for them to be walking in the water barefooted (or some in their waders!), and we got quite an education...and all this before the pancake breakfast at the campground. This is what the beach looked like all up and down our coast, as the diggers leave hole after hole in the sand, to be filled in once again when the tide comes in. And while folks dug for clams, we gathered up a few beautiful sand dollars that came in with the tide. We are grateful for this adventure!

45 years - an incredible journey!

May 23, 1963- we were married in the chapel of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City in the presence of friends and family, which included both of Jerry's grandmothers, and my maternal grandparents who had also been married on that same date 57 years before. Little did we dream of the incredible journey that was ahead of us. We lived one more year in Chicago while Jerry completed his seminary studies, followed by five pastorates--Hobart OK, Aurora MO, Marshall MO, Enid OK and Midland TX, for a total of 40 years in active ministry. We were blessed with two daughters both born in Hobart. Last year, near our 44th wedding anniversary, we had the opportunity to be back in the chapel of Westminster Pres. in Oklahoma City. Our journey has been filled with the opportunity to serve some wonderful churches, make lots of friends with whom we continue to be in touch. You know from reading these blogs that we are now in Sammamish WA, near our special friends Greg and Bobbi - and Greg we have known since we arrived at our first church in Hobart 44 years ago. (Please pray for Greg as he battles cancer right now.) The people God has placed in our lives over these years have been such a blessing to us - and we are better persons for knowing YOU. We have marvelous memories of our travels as well - the Holy Land, Greek Islands, England on several occasions, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, beaches of Normandy, Oberammergau for the Passion Play, Mexico, Canada, and Jerry's special trips to Uganda and Thailand. And then came retirement - and how grateful we have been for these four years together to travel in our motor home, see many of you during those travels, and serve God when He has opened a door for Jerry to minister again in Wichita KS and now Sammamish WA. We are so grateful for these 45 years together--the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, all woven together in a magnificent tapestry that we can call our marriage. Thank you to each of you for being a part of that tapestry in some way. And thanks be to God for this incredible journey! We love you! Mary and Jerry