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

Dr. Scott Peters, PhD

Scott received his PhD last Thursday night from the University of Texas in San Antonio, and his family gathered to celebrate the occasion...Jerry, Mary, Carla and Scott's three sisters, Lynn, Lisa and Leslie. We had a fabulous time with lots of conversation and sunshine. We are SO proud of Scott! Scott will be an adjunct professor at UTSA for summer school and the fall term. Way to go, Dr. Peters!

70th birthdays - once in a lifetime!

Beverly Spann (from Wichita) and I spent one full week celebrating our 70th birthdays with our husbands, Richard and Jerry, and all our friends from Disney World. It was the Spanns 26th visit to WDW (at least!) so we were in good hands, and did we ever have a magnificent time!! Pictures tell it all.... I'm sorry to be so late in posting this, but I have really been not well ever since the day we returned home. Richard (the Doctor) calls it Mickey Mouse Withdrawal Syndrom...the Urgent Care doc called it bronchitis and sinusitis--whatever it was, it has not been fun! Thank God I am feeling much better today, because we are off on an adventure in San Antonio on Thursday--and you'll hear about THAT next week!

The Tulip Festival, Skagit Valley

What a glorious day! The sun is shining, the temperature is warm enough for no jackets, and the flowers are absolutely spectacular. The daffodils were in full bloom, the tulips at Tulip Town were breathtaking, and the fields of tulips we drove by are just now beginning to open--they need a few more days of sunshine. Mt. Baker was really a sight to behold, and the Mt. Vernon Kiwanians served up a great meal in the park...so its been a super day.

Seattle, Coffee & Birthday

One thing is certain - in Seattle the drink of choice has got to be COFFEE. Everywhere you look, every corner you turn - there it is...from Starbucks to Tullys to Peets to tiny drive-through kiosks in every parking lot. In our immediate neighborhood, we have two Starbucks within walking distance, and a Tullys directly across the street...which makes it MOST convenient, especially for Birthday Boy. This was Jerry's 69th birthday (and for a few days we are now the same age). Was he surprised to walk in to Tullys for his latte and find these three cute baristas (who couldn't resist posing) waiting to serve us and wish Jerry a "Happy Birthday". Happy Birthday, Jerry - and enjoy your cup'a joe.

March 30 in Sammamish!

Who would have dreamed it? Last Sunday (Easter) it was pouring buckets of rain..and this Sunday, we see the results of the heavy snowfall during the night!

Jo's thrill - no matter your politics!

The night before the Texas Primary, Jo was one of two interpreters for Hillary Clinton as she met the voters in San Antonio. It was a night charged with energy, enthusiasm, and excitement - and Jo was excited to be a part of it. (Top Photo by Barbara Kinney. Other photographs by Leonard Ziegler) We were able to watch the speech live on San Antonio television thanks to the modern marvels of technology and our computer--and watch Jo interpreting. May we all survive the next seven (YES SEVEN) months until election time!

A farewell to "Brazil"

Our dear friend Everett Brazil of Hobart OK left this earth yesterday, St. Patrick's Day - a most appropriate day for a staunch Irishman who was so proud of his Irish heritage. Our life is a lot better for having had Everett in it for the past 44 years. Everett and Cathrine had three sons - and they were overjoyed to be able to have our two daughters in their family. They kept them as often as possible, fed us (as parents) frequently so they could have the girls with them, and spoiled them rotten--even gave Jo her first pair of cowboy boots. And Everett taught them all the bad habits he could think of--he thought it was cute to teach Jo to chew tobacco and smoke cigars....and here is a picture of them just a couple of years ago, still sharing a chew! He taught Jo to sneak the milk carton out of the refrig and take a drink directly from the carton behind the open refrig door so her Mom couldn't see her. As teen-agers, he let the girls drive his 1949 International Harvester pick-up named "Shasta" (because she-hasta have oil, she-hasta have gas etc). He took them out to check the cattle or the wheat, rabbit shooting, or whatever. Brazils lived at Komalty--a grain elevator long since torn down, but that name was always the landmark for their place. The wheat was beautiful, and there was nothing prettier than being in southwest Oklahoma for harvest. When Jo and Scott were married, guests at the wedding in Chicago were given tiny pieces of burlap filled with some of Brazil's wheat to throw at the newlyweds--and Jo and I spent a wonderful day with the Brazil's on their farm cutting up an old burlap bag from the barn and filling them with the wheat. The girls' last visit was in the fall of 2005--and Cathrine & Everett enjoyed time with their girls again. We will miss Everett, but we have memories enough to last out our lifetime...we are grateful to have shared this journey with him. Thank you, God, for the gift of his life in ours.

Same Kind of Different As Me

Have you read this book? Its a pretty quick read, and is a joy to move through. When we arrived in Midland last Wednesday, we found that the authors, Ron Hall and Denver Moore, were speaking at our church that evening...and we were there along with at least 1500 other folks, who filled the sanctuary and into the fellowship hall, where it was relayed on a big screen. The book is the story of the unlikeliest of friendships between Ron, an international art dealer, and Denver, a homeless person with a sordid past. Their story is told alternating between each man's version of the events. Ron does most of the talking...Denver saying "don't tell it all to them, then they won't buy the book!" Denver, who didn't read or write until recently, is still a very bashful person, who doesn't want to talk about himself, but will talk about the Lord. Denver tells Ron to "Just tell 'em I'm a nobody that's tryin to tell everybody 'bout Somebody that can save anybody. That's all you need to tell 'em." And through it all is the story of Ron's late wife, Debbie, who had a vision for a homeless shelter in Ft. Worth, and a vision of her husband and Denver becoming friends...not "catch and release" friends, but truly friends who love and care for one another. (Read the book to learn about "catch and release" friendships.) I highly recommend this book to you...and if you find that Ron & Denver are going to be making an appearance in your community, don't miss this opportunity. Love, Mary

BIG adventures coming up!

Jerry and I are each about to embark on adventures. I am presently in Kansas City for a week. I will be able to spend time with Carla in her home as well as spend a couple of days in Marshall MO, where Jerry served for 13 years. It will be grand to see a number of old friends and renew some relationships. I fly to Midland the following weekend for several days. Jo will join me in Midland, and we will be joining two Midland friends to attend the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show for a few days. Jerry will fly out Tuesday morning for Los Angeles to meet up with a "Faces of Children" mission group coming from Midland TX. Several of these "missionaries" have gone to Uganda together in previous years, and now they are off to Thailand to share in ministries dealing with children at risk, which is the focus of Faces of Children. To receive email updates on this mission trip, you can email claufer@facesofchildren.net and ask to be put on the mailing list. If you want to listen to some of Jerry's preaching from Sammamish Presbyterian Church, you can find this at http://www.spconline.org/pages/Misc/CurrentSermonSeries.html (guess you will have to cut and paste!), then click on "sign up for podcast". Jerry wanted me to also share with you the following website for audio sermons by Earl Palmer, Senior Pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. We have been able to attend their evening service on several Sundays. We are always blessed by the service. http://www.upc.org/worship.aspx?id=452 Earl is truly gifted, and can really open up the Word in his preaching. (Now you know what one pastor does on his Sunday evenings off!) We covet your prayers for our travels and especially for the missionaries going to Thailand, in all that they do. Much love, Mary

What goes around, comes around

In 1964, we moved to Hobart OK to serve in our first pastorate. Please meet Greg Calmes, who (as a high school junior) served on the PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee) that called us to that church. Jo, standing here beside Greg, was born in Hobart in 1965; and Carla followed in 1967. Greg's parents, Jack and Mary Jo,(please note that our eldest carries the same name) who had raised two boys, loved having our daughters as their own and had one or the other with them as often as possible. Now lets fast-forward to Christmas 2007: Carla is seen feeding Greg's first grandson, Jake, while we were together over Christmas...just as Greg and his parents, held our Jo and Carla forty years ago. Sharing this year in Sammamish with Greg and Bobbi is just very special to us--and brings back so many wonderful memories of the saints in our first parish in Hobart who nurtured us, loved us, and literally raised us--and then sent us on our way. Like I keep telling you - We're so glad we're a part of the Family of God!

The True Meaning of Christmas

We have just returned home from a truly magnificent experience with our church family at Sammamish Pres. The Mission Committee decided many months ago to partner with World Vision in providing Caregiver Kits for the caregivers of Aids/HIV patients in Tanzania. The goal of purchasing 500 kits was set...the presentation was made to the congregation....and we were off and running. It soon became obvious that the goal was set way too low. The culmination of the process was our "One Life One Night" tonight - in which over 400 people from the smallest to the oldest gathered in every nook and cranny of the church facilities to be organized into groups and begin to walk around each assembly table, writing a note of encouragement and hope to a caregiver to be placed inside each and every kit and then filling our bright orange plastic containers with all the necessary equipment--from cotton balls to gloves to medicines. We packed 1,762 caregiver kits which will touch 17,620 patients with a total of 352,400 caring visits. WOW! Isn't that incredible? And that's what Christmas is really all about, isn't it? For Christmas this year, we purchased a Caregiver Kit for everyone in our family - so our kids, my brother and sister-in-law, and our nieces and nephews were all represented in that endeavor. Our thanks and love to each of you! One of our 11-year old girls celebrated her birthday today - her young friends were invited to contribute to purchasing caregiver kits in lieu of birthday presents, and her party was coming to the gathering this evening and participating in the assembling of the kits. What a witness to all of us--young and old! And now we are only ten days away from the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus! May the next ten days bring peace and joy to your hearts, as you hear from friends via the mail, listen to the music of the season, and rejoice at the great gift God gave to each of us.

Advent - a time of preparation!

Can you believe it is December already? And the time of preparation for the birth of our Lord Jesus! What a delightful and busy time, with the beauty of all the Christmas music, the lights in the neighborhood, and plans for our family to join us here in Washington. We are very excited about this month! We had a delightful few days with my cousin Carl and his wife Sue - Carl is the son of my Dad's sister. Its never been our good fortune to be anywhere near my cousins, even as we were growing up. Now, in our retirement time, it is marvelous to know that we will have some time together with Sue & Carl, who live on the Olympic Peninsua in Sequim (which I misspelled in our Christmas letter--oops!) Carl is a retired National Park Service ranger, and both of them are a wealth of information on this area. We plan to go to their home tomorrow for a couple of days to do some exploring in their area. They came over in their 5th wheel, bringing us some additional items to make our apartment living just a little bit better. Are you ready for another small-world story? Here is Carl with Stan Humann, a member of our new church family. It seems Carl and Stan were at Washington U forestry school together and had not seen each other since then - over 45 years ago. You can imagine the conversation they were engaged in after church as they played "catch up" on classmates and careers. Carl had noticed Stan's name and address on a card by our telephone while he was here, and commented that he had gone to college with a person by that name...and now you know the rest of the story! One of the trips we took (twice) over the holiday was to Snoqualmie Falls. It is breathtaking! The first trip the combination of the steam/water rising up from the falls, and the lowhanging clouds from above, made a visual sighting of the falls nearly impossible--tho we could occasionally see 4 kayakers down below us. So we returned on Thanksgiving Day, which was clear as a bell. When you come to visit us, this is a "must-see" spot. We ended our holiday by shopping for our lights to decorate the balcony of our apartment, and Sue surprised us by "wearing" one of the strings when we returned to the truck. A great way to begin the holiday season--with a personally decorated cousin! What a neat sense of humor! Now as we all prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Lord, may your days be filled with a sense of peace from the Prince of Peace...and may you enjoy your time with one another, with the stranger in the grocery store, the delivery man who brings a package to your door, and especially, time with Jesus. Love, Mary and Jerry