Change

It was a year ago that I wrote to say that David's brother, wife, and their three daughters moved to our town.  We have really enjoyed them living just a mile down the road.  Hannah and Ellie babysit quite regularly for their cousins, the cousins come here to play, or my younger three go there to play.  Michele and I talk to each other almost daily, and it is so nice to have them sitting behind us each Sunday for worship.  I especially like that little Emily wants to sit with me after her parents and I have been at the communion rail.  What fun to hold a little two year old girl on my lap once again.  David is affectionately known as "Uncle Pastor" by his nieces, and we both light up with the squeals of greetings from the three girls whenever they see us.

This week we will see more family move to our town.  David and Matt's parents will be moving into an apartment from their farm.  I can't really imagine what it must be like for them.  Edgar and Myrna have lived on that farm their whole marred life, 48 years.  It is where they raised their children, provided for their family, greeted their grown children and spouses and grandchildren, not too mention the many, many memories.

It has been a big chore for them to downsize and all of us (their five kids plus spouses) have helped as much as we can.  Everything has either been sold, boxed to give away, or boxed to move.  We're all going to miss the farm.

Here we all are gathered together at their 45th wedding anniversary in 2009:

Grandpa and Grandma,  Five Kids, Five Spouses, Twenty Grandchildren

Grandpa and Grandma and their five children

Here are the oldest granddaughters who spent a couple of nights together last summer:

Hannah is the photographer

The house where we all have many fond memories.

My first memory was my visit with David over Thanksgiving Break our junior year of college.

His sister Mary and husband Sam were there as were his brother Mark and wife Beth, his brother Paul and girlfriend (who were also fellow CURF students), and younger brother Matt who was still at home.  It was cold, and it snowed, and there was a blizzard.

I remember calling my mom and telling her, "I'm so cold.  I have on long underwear, two pairs of socks, several shirts, and a sweatshirt.  I can't believe how cold it is.  And the wind whips by the windows at night making an eerie sound.  There is frost on the inside of the wall!  It is cold at night, but they have this wonderful quilt lined with an old woolen army blanket on the bed, and I snuggle down under it to stay warm at night."

That was a fun time.  My first experience of Minnesota and a blizzard.  We had a blast hiking in the snow, taking pictures, and while inside, chatting and playing games.  That was the first of many, many memories from the farm.

We're all sad that those memories are now nearing the end.  But the farm will always remain a special place in our hearts.

The Barn - How does it remain standing?

What we all think of when we think of the farm: The barn, Grandpa's truck, tractor, and the machine shed