Monthly Archives: April 2015

Grandpa and Grandma’s Night

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Grandpa and Grandma have enjoyed an evening each month for the grandchildren from a particular family to join us for dinner, playtime, and Bible time. Last Tuesday evening was Grandpa and Grandma’s special time with Nathan and Melanie’s children. It is always a wonderful sound when our front door is thrown open, and a bunch of little voices and giggles can be heard as the grandchildren come piling in.

After dinner, Grandpa and Grandma’s planned activity was sidewalk chalk. We had quite the city, including streams, lakes, and miniature people decorating our driveway very soon. We ended the evening with a nice Bible time. Melanie has done an excellent job teaching Abby and Bethany to read, and they are able to read their own verses even though Abby is only finishing first grade and Bethany is still technically a preschooler.

Anna

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Bethany is working very hard at coloring her stream.

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The Uncles found this jeep out for the trash and were able to get it up and running with a few minor tweaks.

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“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous:
and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”
 Psalm 32:11

Three is Better Than One

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“Life” requires maintenance, and if we can include our children, than we get a bonus in our time usage. Christopher and Nathan are so good at spending time with their little ones. Here is a “quick view” of Christopher doing a project and including Joshua and Ruthanne :).

A special thank you to Jesse for taking the video, editing it, and adding music.

“And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children,
and the heart of the children to their fathers …”
Malachi 4:6

John Maxwell’s Perspective on His Trip

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Hey folks. John here. Quick update. I am having a total blast. This trip continues to be amazing. The people are some of the nicest people I have ever met. I totally love all my new friends over here.

They are all so friendly, generous, and caring. In the states we don’t have anything to compare their generosity to.

One thing that this trip has done is make me so much more grateful for all that we have. Most nights, under the mosquito net, it is 85-90°, with high humidity. I thought I would have trouble sleeping, but so far I have slept well every night. If there is a breeze we are SO grateful. However, if it quits, I feel like Jonah when he complained that his shade tree died. The Lord said it wasn’t yours to begin with. True Lord. A good reminder to take what comes our way and run with it.

Thank you all for praying.

John

trip-18Dinner, anyone? (Yes, it’s true.)

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“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Psalm 100:4

Teri Maxwell’s (Mom’s) Retirement Celebration Day

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Mom invested so much in our education, and we wanted to show her a small token of our appreciation. How? Anna and Mary had the idea for a zoo day, knowing Mom’s love for family time and seeing the little ones’ enjoyment of the animals. The girls planned extensively, around all sorts of obstacles. You probably don’t know how complicated it is to get about twenty people’s schedules to work out. But the day was agreed upon and set in stone, March 31st. That Tuesday proved beautiful, and around 7:30 am, the Maxwells headed north to the Omaha zoo.

Mom has very special memories of going to the zoo when Joseph, John, Anna, Jesse, and Mary were little. Now she experienced the grandchildren’s enjoyment, and it was wonderful time together as a family.

Scroll down to journey with us through pictures of the day. If you are in the Omaha, Nebraska area, the Henry Doorly Zoo is great. It’s worth the money!

Love,
Sarah

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Drew with a Snugars’ hat he was gifted with!DSC_1283DSC_1308

Christopher’s family, except Anna Marie and Lydia, came too. GiGi kept them company.DSC_1318DSC_1338DSC_1350DSC_1366DSC_1385DSC_1412

One of Joshua’s highlights was the goats.DSC_1437DSC_1440

I enjoy capturing selfie photos.DSC_1448DSC_1470DSC_1473

There’s more ways than one to eat a sandwich.DSC_1499DSC_1517DSC_1528

A tired little guy.DSC_1541DSC_1552DSC_1557DSC_1572

The cute threesome!DSC_1580DSC_1589

Taking a break at the aquarium. DSC_1616DSC_1624

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Me with my camera bag.DSC_1638DSC_1649

John and Drew in the desert. DSC_1666DSC_1671

“Porky” the porcupine takes a ride.

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Jesse talking with a zoo employee who was holding a tarantula.

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Another selfie: this one at dinner. Some of us went out for pizza afterward.
DSC_1699The happy retired couple ;).

“And ye shall teach them your children, speaking
of them when thou sittest in thine house, and
when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down,
and when thou risest up.”
Deuteronomy 11:19