Our Labor Trip

Over Labor Day week-end we took a trip to visit dear friends from the past. I thought you might like to see some of the pictures we took:

First we visited the Cowdens in Seattle. Both the girls are living with Twila and Gary at present. Here are pictures of Amy and John and their two little boys, and of Rachel.

From there we went through Acme on the way to the Kaplans near Bellingham. We had to take pictures of our old house... and the little yellow transparent apple tree -- still quite small.

We were shocked to see the condition of the Morrises old house!!

Driving through Acme...

The old church and school building (vacant)

The Kaplans took us to see Duane and Ruby Cooper (our former pastor from Acme). They live in Bellingham now and seem well. When Jim was taking the picture of all of us, Duane requested that we try to make it look like he isn't shorter than all of us....

We also visited Julie and Dave Mitchell,

and then the Rich and Melody Morris and Carol Fentress came to visit at Kaplan's with us.

It was a fun week-end. Things have sure changed since our Acme days!! -- mostly all for the better.

kaleidoscopes

Beth & I found an entertaining function on Paint Shop Pro this weekend. You may need to use the restroom before proceeding...

The original photo is posted first, then follows the kaleidoscopes. For some of the last ones, you'll want to click on them to enlarge the pictures for full hilarity factor.

Another original. This is from Timmy & Heather's wedding.




Yes, Timmy, you were included in this too.




And the famous beach day photo of 2004.

Aaron at the Zoo

A MOONLESS NIGHT (sort of)

Just wanted to show that even old dad can get up and take a picture or two in the middle of the night! But I wasn't up very long . . . was an interesting sight to see the reddish eclipsed moon at 3:30 AM.

NLCC Reunion

Today was NLCCs 50th anniversary celebration. It was a lot of fun! I thought you might like to see some pictures from the day.
It was so much fun to see the Coffeys, Kim Jones, and many others of our friends -- some of whom have moved away or attend another church, and some of whom still attend NLCC. Just walking into the foyer was like going back in time. It felt like a family reunion (only better!)

The Coffeys were still the same. They were both happy to see everyone, too. Here's Dave taking pictures while Diane talked!
The service was started with worship team from the past, including Dave and Dan VanSlyke, and Cheryl at the keyboard. It was nice to have Dave leading worship again!!
After the old worship team, they had the young team that leads at the church lead a segment of worship -- reminded me of the worship I've heard at Joann's services in Bend.
Here's one of the old pastors :^)....

...and here is the current pastor, Tim Powlison. He seemed like a good pastor for New Life. We liked what we heard from him.
It was a good turn-out. (The empty seats in the front were for the worship team, etc). The church was full -- including the seats in the side section.
Here are all the pastors, past and present who have ministered there. You can barely see Kim Jones on the left by Shirley Yates. Dave and Jill York, Dan and Phyllis Ferguson (the first pastors of NLCC), Steve Sherman and wife (Sutherlin pastor now), The Powlisons, the Coffeys and Jerry Harrison.
Kim Jones with Ken and Kathy Walz.
I forgot to take pictures at the picnic in the afternoon -- except for these two! I had the camera with me, but was too busy getting caught up with lots of good friends to think of using it!
Yes. Ron Perkins still wears tie dye!!

Donny comes home

Our precious baby!

Kim and Andy brought their little bundle home on Monday early afternoon.

He looks so tiny in the car seat!

Admiration!! What an amazing gift!!

Contented in his Daddy's lap.

Past time for an update!

This is the busy part of my summer! Just finished two 4 day 'bursts' of tractor driving, then two nights security at our school/church fireworks booth (first year our school has done this - will be interesting to see how it comes out financially) - Tim will be doing about 9 nights of security at the booth, Monday through Thursdays, the next two weeks, so if you are up in the middle of the night, give him a call - helps to keep him awake!


This Thursday I head to Roseburg to do the McMahan's parking lot sale - didn't have one last year, but they called and wanted me down again this year. There will be 11 nights there - perhaps a bit of 'dumpster diving' during that time! Anyone need furniture? Actually a bit hard to transport anything I might find . . . especially to Singapore! Mama will most likely be in the Portland/Vancouver area most of that time, so lots of family to family minutes on the cell phone.
After McMahan's, I'll probably head home for a day, then to wherever Mama is, then back to the tractor driving. Not sure where our summer will take us after that . . .
Yesterday Mama and I went to the wedding of a special young lady we knew in Roseburg, Melissa Welty. She taught with Kim at UVC - I believe both Joann and Tim either had her or were at school during her time there.
She is a sweetheart! The wedding was really well done - the pastors adding special comments to keep the special moment extra special . . . Weddings with two people who have waited so long for this moment and kept themselves pure are extra special - both Melissa and her groom are about 30 (he's two years older than Melissa). He is from Texas (Austin area) - they were introduced through mutual friends, then got to know each other long distance (email, phone, etc.) until he came up to visit and then she spent quite a bit of time down in Texas so they could get to know one another.
It was also fun to visit with a number of UVC friends who also attended the wedding. Probably the biggest surprise was seeing Bryce Peterson - remember him from when we did childcare for him as a preschooler? Then later I had both he and sister Emily in my class. Bryce was the only one from his family to make the wedding and I just barely recognized him . . . slender, about 6' tall, sharp looking young man! Still had the look of Bryce, but grown up! Also enjoyed seeing some former staff members from school . . . (in the picture: Mrs. Harmon, Mrs.Barbara Keller, Jill York, Ms.'R', the Zinks - also Shannon Goble Risley in background on right).

Guess that's about enough for now. Except to say to my five 'kids' - thank you for making good choices with your lives. I am a very proud papa! Times like Melissa's wedding where I did a lot of updating on where and what you all are up to, it's so fun to share - no embarrassments among you! Every where I went, UVC people asked about various ones of you and what is going on - you are remembered!

God bless to each of you: Kim + baby, Beth + babies, Danny and relocating, Joann + Mexico trip & housing & work, Tim + summer work (fireworks stand!), plus your great spouses . . . (Joann - your time may come - Lord directing - and often the longer the wait, the greater the blessing!) - I'm praying for you! Lots of love!

Papa Daddy Jim