Nate's News

This weekend Nate headed out to Colorado Springs to work on the audio for a feature film. He's filling in for another intern for a little over a week. We are all excited about this opportunity for him to work with a professional.


He will be working on the film Come What May produced by the Advent Film Group. These men and women want "to do far more than curse the darkness--they want to light cultural candles of hope for the glory of Christ."

"When Christians fail to advance our culture for Christ (which includes filmmaking) we are inviting the enemy to bring us more darkness, despair and depravity,"
George Escobar AFG Founder

www.adventfilmgroup.com

Cowboy Night

We had a cowboy dinner last night for Grandparent's night. Grandma Sisson looked so cute with her bandana and Navajo Indian made necklace. Grandpa Sisson had his bolo tie also made by their Navajo friends.


We ate on enamelware with red checked napkins. The menu consisted of Hot Dogs on Cast Iron, Chili with Cheese, Buttermilk Biscuits and Sarsaparillas. We had salad as well with Ranch dressing. =) We also had beef jerky on the side.

Aren't they cute. I love Dad's boots, but Grandma should never be given a gun.
She's dangerous!

I got a bunch of cowboy jokes off the internet and we had a good time laughing together. My favorites were these guidelines for life. Enjoy!

A Cowboy's Guide to Life

1. Don't squat with your spurs on.

2. Don't interfere with something that ain't bothering you none.

3. If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

4. Always drink upstream from the herd.

5. Telling a man to git and making him do it are two entirely different propositions.

6. When you give a personal lesson in meanness to a critter or to a person don't be surprised if they learn their lesson.

7. If you're riding ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still back there.

8. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.

9. If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around.

10. And never, ever, miss a good opportunity to shut up.

Easter Weekend 2008

No one expected the beautiful spring snow fall that came through our area this weekend. We got 10 - 12 inches! I was going to take down our snowflakes in the dining room but decided that they must still be appropriate if it was snowing outside.

These two pictures were taken from our up stairs office.

It was truly a beautiful treat. It sure beats the ugly brown that was everywhere.

Our Easter table before the food and folks arrived.

How wonderful for all of us to be gathered around the table as a complete family. Each of us knowing in our lives the truth of Jesus' resurrection.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies. . . . . . ."

Easter Eggs

Tuesday some friends were here and we made decoupage' Easter eggs. I was having so much fun that I forgot to take pictures until everyone was gone! Oh I have got to get better about that. They had some of the cutest eggs. Unfortunately they took their eggs home with them. (the nerve) So here is a picture of some of the eggs I'm working on.

Some of these are Ukrainian Pysanky eggs that the kids did in past years. I'm varnishing them. The coats of varnish add strength to the shells so they don't crack or break as easily.

If you look closely, you will see my "Alien Egg" from this year. I tried an experiment. There's a black and white picture of Kyle and Gretchen that I decided to apply to an egg. Well, the ink reacted with the varnish and they---- well-----they turned green! Greener than what shows in the picture. Sigh.
Oh well they are cute aliens aren't they?

This year we did manage to hang our eggs on a branch. Sometimes when I can't find a good branch, we just hang them on the light fixture over the table.


All the beautiful colors remind me that spring is coming and with it all the new life. =)

Part 2

All the girl cousins!

Sheila and a relative that I somehow missed meeting. :-(

Steve and sparkley Miss Mia!


David and Samuel
Matthew gets such a kick out of Samuel's toothy smiles!

Pat has the cutest children and the sweetest wife.
I'm so glad that Gretchen will be living near them.

Hey Victor are you going to share your pictures with us?? It's time for all the girls to get together for a viewing............

Do I need to say we have been blessed with wonderful friends??

Najah!!

Aunt Joanne and Uncle Keith

What sweet people they are. I sure hope our whole family will be able to meet up with them again in the near future.

It was a BLESSING to have the Buntrocks there. Boy you go back before even Ken's time. It was so good to see you. Jerrie and Mike you are such supportive friends.

Brenda and Mike

John and Max
Boy these guys look sharp!

The Krabels

What a beautiful family.

Mike and Kim

My brother Gregg's 3 favorite girls!!
Can't wait Gregg. How'd you get soooo lucky?

Leah you have the best looking escort in the room!

Brenna and Therese
Brenna your picture of Kyle and Gretchen kissing after they came back in to greet and dimiss everyone is the only one I've seen. Nobody expected them to do that!! Hope you don't mind if I copy it.

Faith and Melody make marvelous music.
Hey---it just came to me. Not everyone is so talented with words!!

Their new CD just came out. You must get a copy at the state convention!

Kyle, Kirk and Sheila
What a pleasure to get to know them. I heard rumors about one of them possibly contributing some cans to the car. Good job. K&G couldn't escape without anything being done to them!

I'm not sure they noticed though-------

Miss Sarah thanks for your sweet help.

Taylor and Haley Great job!

Grant and Conner
These two kept everyone supplied in the lobby.

Taylor and Sandy
We know how to keep everyone energized!

Brad
He did so many behind the scenes things to make the picture taking such a success. Thank you Brad for all that you did for us.

Our Friends and Relations Part 1

As I write this post, I feel like Rabbit in Winnie the Pooh. I am blessed with so many wonderful friends and relations. Just looking at you all in these photos makes my heart rejoice.

Well here are a few. More are coming as I get them loaded. Have fun!

The Best Man--Clay Phillips

Berni & Melissa soon to be in-laws!

Judy and Jane

Helena and Ava

Mary and Sharon
Sharon is expecting my new niece in just a couple of weeks!

Barry we love you!

Don Phillips

Chris Thanks for your humorous words of wisdom!

Mike Capp
Friend and Cousin

















Troy and David
Two of Kyle's nephews.

Karson

Grandma Glenna


















Aaron

The Lewis Family!

My Niece Leslie
Miss personality!

Andrew

Kevin

Johanna & Rachel
Long time friends.

Leon
Please say his name with an English accent if you can!

Gretchen's best friend.
Nathaniel

Newlyweds. Matt and Kaitlyn

Jim Keena

Captain Tjader
Gretchen and Nate were crew on his yacht in Lake Michigan for a couple of summers. They loved it.
Gretchen will have to get Kyle out there sometime.

Greta Henry

Ralph a faithful warrior for Christ.

Dennis a newlywed himself.

Mike Taylor








Kyle and Gretchen are surrounded by a strong community that loves them. What better way to start a family. ;-)