Love the Lord your God, listen to His voice and hold fast to Him, for the Lord is your life! Deut. 30:20


Saturday, July 5, 2025

Celebrating 50 years!

The day after the kids came, they all wanted to go to Drubers for memory sake.  When they come for Christmas, it is always closed as the owners go out of town.




We went to Norms next


In a smaller town, you see lots of friends at the coffee shop.  We visited with lots of them; the children's babysitter when they were toddlers, a friend who moved to Destin and several church friends!


Hannah had been doing her work at school on-line before we got there.



For lunch, some of us went to the Breadbasket.  The little girls needed to go down for naps, but we got bierrocks for Jason!

When we got home, Allen and I were ready for our naps.  While we were napping, the kids were busy decorating for a party.  We had no idea...



They had pretty plates and ordered flowers to match our wedding flowers!


Emeri made us a wedding cake, using a photo from our wedding as a model.



We woke up from our naps and came out.  Surprise!!



They had us cut the cake.



And feed eachother.


And kiss!



"Let us praise the LORD together and exalt His Name."  Psalm 34:3  This is the verse that was on our wedding cake topper.


The cake was delicious!!  Chantilly cake.

We were ushered to the living room for a game.  50 questions for 50 years.
We were asked all kinds of questions and we each had to write an answer.


Who said 'I love you' first?   -  we didn't know
How long did you date before your first kiss?  - we both knew that!  On our first date!!
What was your first fight about? - we didn't agree.  Ha!
What is the best thing you've done as a couple?  -  Maybe enjoying going to Greece, Turkey on Paul's Missionary Journeys?  (It couldn't be loving Jesus or having children)
What was the first concert you went to together as a couple? - he thought Gaithers and I was thinking Oak Ridge Boys
What's your song?  -  I Don't Wanna Say Good-bye for the Summer.
On and on.  So much fun!



If our answers matched, we had to kiss.


* * *

On Sunday, my brother Dave and his wife Linda came to help us celebrate our years together also. Look at this cookie bouquet they brought!


Sharing some of my Japanese snacks from Sakuraco with Dave.
Tastes like "home"!


Dave and Linda brought some of their Japanese clothes.
They are getting rid of their extra things - downsizing.




Thank you family for celebrating our 50th with us!  50 years of being faithful.  And speaking of faithfulness....

Allen had to miss the time with my brother and wife because it was one of his pharmacist's last days as he was retiring after 30 years of faithful work!  Of course he had to be there to say "thank you" and "good-bye"!  Good-bye, Harry!!



Thursday, July 3, 2025

Celebrating with our family

Here we are enjoying the calm before all the chaos (fun chaos!) when all our kids would be coming.  The lawn was mowed and house was cleaned.  Eleven guest beds made.


This past week our children came from Wisconsin, Colorado and Arkansas to help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and my 70th birthday.  

In preparation, I had to purchase lots of food!  The kids help decide what meal they will prepare but I purchase the ingredients.  Below is the first of about 3 trips.  I could use an extra fridge!


We have Life 360 and it was fun to watch the kids throughout the day to see how far they were!


Josh's family from Arkansas arrived about 5 minutes before Mindy's from Colorado.  It would be dusk before the Wisconsin family arrived.  Jill told us it took them 13 hours this time.

After dinner (gyoza and rice and Asian salad), the 2 little ones wanted to swing.  Tenley is enamored with a lady bug.


Josh brought his drone and that was pretty awesome!




Jill's family arrived. Hugs were given all around!


We had watched them with the drone as they drove up the highway and into our neighborhood.  They had driven through the Flint Hills as Highway 50 was under construction.  When they come in the winter, it is always dark so are not able to see these beautiful hills.  We love the Flint Hills!  (this is not my picture)


Coming to our home in the summer is not a "thing" as we like to go to the beach or elsewhere.  Last year we went to Wisconsin Dells.  But this year it is what I wanted to do.  I wanted the kids to come here to help us celebrate our "love story".  I wanted to show them places of our story and how we started.


The LORD answered many prayers for this week and I am so grateful!  Thank you to my friends and family for praying!

"Let us sing for joy to the LORD,
     Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving
      and extol Him with music and song."
                        Psalm 95:1-2