Dennis & Jessica's Wedding

We attended our fourth and last wedding for June this year! It's been fun to celebrate with all these friends.





Najah was honored to be able to stand up for his friend Dennis.






The threesome all dressed up!





Jessica, the beautiful bride.
















The newly married couple.
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Hankinson















The hall was lovely and the decorations beautiful.
























What a fun way to eat the cake.

























Both sets of Grandparents were there with us. We were able to sit together and share the reception meal.

What a blessing to have a close knit and loving family.

Our Congratulations to Dennis and Jessica as they form a new family!

Andrew's Birthday

Last weekend we got together to celebrate Andrew's birthday! It is so much fun to all be together. We miss Andrew'a humor and fun spirit. Oh the stories! No one can make us laugh like Andrew.

The Family

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Psalms 127: 3-5

Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers.
Proverbs 17: 6


Happy Birthday Andrew!!
WE LOVE YOU!!!

The Importance of Being Earnest

Melissa just emailed this week. We haven't seen her for a while and decided to say "Hi Melissa" here on the blog.

In fall 2006 Gretchen and Melissa had the fun of working together in a weekend acting class. They were cast together in a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.



Gwen the sophisticated 21 yr old meets Cicely the wide eyed 18 year old.

Gwen looks Cecily over and decides that they will be great friends.

They each talk about their engagements and show their rings.

They think that they are both engaged to Earnest.

They are verifying the dates and times of their engagements in order to decide who has the prior claim.

This was the best scene of "friendly" conversation while fighting over tea.

They did a splendid job. They have worked together in Passion Play for years and it was a pleasure to be able to stretch their wings with such a totally different exercise.

There were 4 to 5 scenes worked on over the weekend. Each pair of actors did their own costumes, set and staging for their scenes.

Do you recognize these actors?? They are now relatives and one is about to become a first time Dad! Hooray!

Cousin Time

The cousins came through town on their way home Saturday night.


We had a little late night gathering to view their vacation pictures. We saw more than 300 slides in less than an hour. Not bad.

















We about fainted when we saw Tim's goatee. (Is this really the way you spell that? That seems awfully close to calling someone a goat!)

Actually everyone in our family liked it!









They stopped back by on Sunday as they left for Indy.
We thought they were going to claim their prize for the "Blog Watchers of the Month". They hadn't read about it yet.

Guess they will just have to come back to claim that auspicious prize! =)

Our Own Pictures at the Wedding

We had to take advantage of the beautiful flowers for some pictures of our own.
We were blessed to have Kyle spend the weekend with us!

Wedding Celebration

June is Wedding month this year!

Last Saturday was Matthew and Kaitlyn's wedding. It was celebrated under a tent at Kaitlyn's home. Although it was raining, the wedding went on as planned and with the Lord's blessing.

Anna-- Kaitlyn's sister in law

Becca and Martha -- Matt's sisters

Kaitlyn's sister Kathryn
She played beautifully!

The rain stopped as the bride and groom left the tent!
We were able to enjoy the reception in the yard after all.
Everyone was thanking the Lord.

Becca and Martha

The cake cutting

The groomsmen and ushers decorated the car and pushed it down the driveway. They were wearing swimming goggles, snorkels and swimsuits instead of their tuxedo pants!

A little rice

The car was filled with balloons!

Off they go

Congratulations Skarins and Johnsons!!
We are excited about these new families the Lord is forming. =)

Potato Salad at Midnight!

What do you do when you are determined
to stay up carousing until midnight?. . . . .
. . . . . . . Why, make potato salad of course!

Nothing fosters laughs and good conversation
like a bowl of potatoes and eggs!
You really ought to try it sometime.

Serious work, or is she just trying to keep her eyes open?
That's doubtful, Haley is our night owl.

To add more mustard, or not to add mustard? That is the question!

Time for a midnight snack!
Nate can fit that whole gigantic spoon right in his mouth.

Now that's just plain scary, midnight or not! - GJ

Blog-Watchers of the Month

. . . and the "Blog-Watchers of the Month" award goes to the:

Dr. Thomas D. Jones family!

These Sisson Times readers follow this blog
with a devotion that never wanes - even on vacation!

They have been spotted huddled around computers
in states all across the the mid-western part of our nation.

There are reports of this family (cleverly disguised as Aunts, Uncles & Cousins) blog-watching in public buildings, hotels and, yes, even in internet-connected candy stores!

Our winners may stop by this weekend to claim the grand prize: *a sumptuous one course breakfast, lunch or dinner (at the discretion of the cook)!

*Void where prohibited by law.
Claimants must be present in person and show proof of identity.
Leftovers are included, however, doggie bags will not be provided.
All other local restrictions apply. This offer expires 6/22/08.

Cherry Pies, Yum!

She can make a cherry pie Billy Boy, Billy Boy;
She can make cherry pie charming Billy.

She can make a cherry pie quick as a cat can wink it's eye.
But she's a young thing and can not leave her mother. ;)



On Friday evening before we left for the wedding, Matthew and I went out and picked eight cups of cherries. A bumper crop I must say for three small trees (and considering the number of black birds flying around). We got them just in time. :) On Monday I made two cherry pies, they were late Father's Day pies. Mom really likes the last line in the song. :) I flatter myself that the pies turned out wonderfully and that they were delicious.
Haley