Progress

On Friday, the cement truck came in and began pouring the subflooring for Cora's Playground.

Jess and her mom, Kathy, picked out the colors for the flooring and that should go on this coming week! I let my grandkids try out the play equipment when I needed to go to church to do some work. We didn't play very long. It was a little scary because I didn't want them to bonk their little heads on the concrete. But the kids LOVED the equipment and they cannot wait until they can actually REALLY play there!!

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Pretty Prairie's First Mennonite Church was celebrating their 125th anniversary this weekend. I decided to go to the festivities. Allen had to work and then was on call so he could not leave town.

Here is Pretty Prairie. A mile long, a mile wide. Around 500 residents. It boasts the largest night rodeo in Kansas. Hometown of my Dad and my husband's family. My Dad lived in town for a couple of years, but mostly lived out on a dairy farm by Castleton. Allen grew up 3 miles outside of town.

This was the parsonage back when our family came to the States in 1971 and my Dad pastored the First Mennonite Church. Lots of memories in that hous! My bedroom was in the upper left corner.

At the church, they showed how wheat was threshed back in the day.

It was around 100 degrees. Plenty hot.

Luckily they had lots of water for us to drink.

I just noticed that the sign says "driven by great-great grandaughter...".

I don't think he looks much like a grandaughter!

It is actually Richard Stucky, or Schnooks.

Richard was my husband's best friend growing up.

Fishing buddy.

Drinking buddy.

Until Al met Christ.

And then met me!

Al replaced Richard for my company!

We joked about that yesterday.

Inside the church were various rooms with displays. This is a black wedding dress worn in 1849.

The note mentions that prior to the 1850's, the wedding dresses were black. The tradition of wearing white wedding dresses started in Europe and then came to America.

I found Allen's grandparents' wedding certificate.

There were a couple of rooms that had displays from the many missionaries that the church has supported over the years. My parent's put one up of Japan. Then I found one from this family who served in Africa.

Some of those who read my blog will recognize Stan Graber and also Jeannette Jantz! You should talk to them sometime about their experiences growing up in the Congo!

After a pulled pork bbq dinner outside under a tent where I enjoyed fellowshiping with lots of old friends (including the couple who caught our garter and bouquet at our wedding - and yes, they were the next couple to get married in the church), there was a program in the church.

There was a DVD that included pictures of the many musical groups from the church over the years, along with the songs that had been taped. Pictures of Al's parents. His brother and wife too. A cousin, Kathy Voran who was killed in a car accident north of Newton. She was a very talented organist.

It was a journey back in time. The story of our forefathers leaving Switzerland in the 1500's because of persecution, going to France and then to Prussia and finally to America in 1874. The people in the skit were historical people who spoke of the days of old and the changes over the years. It spoke of God's faithfulness to His people. The message was "where God leads, follow Him."

"I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all the generations." Psalm 89:1