A mix of joy and grief

 Sunday night, a week ago, the family came home for the usual "first Sunday night of the month" get together.  It was a really special time together.  I have a new great-grandbaby that seems to like me just a little bit -- Every time I talk to her she smiles, and smiles and smiles . . .

This is me, talking to Charis.  She has come to bless my granddaughter and her husband, Christina and Jesse Bontrager.

We have such special great grandchildren.  I (probably too often) wish so much that Mark were here to enjoy them, too.

Here is Polly holding her precious Dorie.  Dorie belongs to Mark and Polly's daughter, Queena and her husband, Ethan Mast.
This little one also knows me.  It is such a warm feeling when they respond to me.

Here are the little girlies, making their acquaintance

Dorie is growing so fast.  She can do so many things.  Charis makes her seem so grown up!

Clint hates to get his picture taken.  He and Frieda had come early.  Frieda had some surgery on her foot and is still recuperating.  She is coming along nicely, though.

Elmer, Edie and Queena in the food line.

 
There were times of laughter, as usual.  I don't remember what was so funny here, but You can tell that Mark is really amused at something.

None of us had an inkling of what the morning was going to bring.

AT 8:45 the next morning, my nephew's wife was struck by lightening and died of her injuries.  Mark and I had often been in the home of Jonathan and Dawn Yoder.  Jonathan's father, Jesse, is a brother to my late husband, Mark, and I am a sister to Jonathan's mother, Gladys.  Our children grew up together, and we have shared almost everything over the years.  When Jesse and Gladys would go down to visit Jon and Dawn, sometimes Mark and I would go along.  I have such warm and precious memories of the times we spent with them and their family.  This week has been a really rough time for me, as I've once again, had to think about the finality of death, and about how life changes so completely in a split second.  My heart goes out to Jonathan in ways that I can't really express.  I just feel so sad for him and his children.  As an extended family, we've been blessed to see his attitude of humility and acceptance and trust, and it reminds me that I need to hang on when I don't understand.

I often sang this song as I went about my work as a young wife and mother.  The words are something I need now as much as I ever have. 

". . . So trust Him in Shine and Shade.
Trust Him, be not afraid.
He is walking close beside you.
His hand will safely guide you
His wings securely hide you
Then trust, be not afraid."

In these sad, sad days, would you please pray for Jon and his children; Robert, Kristin, Amber and Stephen.  And for my sister, Gladys, and her husband Jesse and their extended family?
And for me, too?  I need the prayers of those I love.

I had so many invitations for Mother's Day that it was hard to choose.
There was a cookout at Shady Acres (Daniel and Mary Ann's farm)
And since I hadn't been there for a meal for a while,
And since the newest Great Grandbaby was there,
I decided to go there.

Here, I am walking ahead of Christina to get some 4 generation pictures taken.

  
It was really windy, and I was concerned about the baby getting too much wind.
But she seemed to be okay.

 
We had tried to get a picture in front of their big old Magnolia tree.
Mary Ann's big old collar kept giving her trouble.  If it hadn't been for that,
And the fact that she was getting ready to reach up there and put it down,
this would have been the best picture, I think.

We ended up with a couple of this kind.  I like this one really well.
Christina would leave Charis's binky in until the last possible minute
and then pull it out. 
Charis is a precious little girlie. 
Her Daddy and Mama are so happy with her.
And the two sets of grandparents are quite enthralled with her as well.
And so, the generations move on.

It was a beautiful Mother's Day in Delaware.

Rachel, me and Tim
(They are just two of my 27 grandchildren)

Today was such a happy day at my little house on Yoder Drive.

My three daughters were here, and so was my grandaughter, Christina, with my 16th great grandbaby.

Here, my daughters, Sarah and Alma, get their first look at little Charis.

Alma gets the first "holding."
Alma is expecting her first grandson in a few short weeks.
Her son, Jerrel,jr., and his wife Sarah, are eagerly looking forward to being parents.
Another grandson, Chip, and his wife, Susan, are also expecting in June.
We are so happy for all of them.
That will make 18 great grandchildren for Mark and me.
I wish he could see these beautful children.
He always loved babies so much.

Then Sarah got her turn.
Sarah, always so tenderhearted, shed tears of joy as she looked into Charis's little face.
As of now, Sarah is the only one of our children who has no grandchildren or expected grandchildren.
But just you wait.  One of these days, she will have a house full.


Christina cuddled her little one for a moment.
I've noticed that she is a good mama.
She is calm and seems to know what to do with her baby.
This baby was so prayed for -- even before Mark died,
He prayed for this child.


And then I got to hold her.  Finally!
She slept the whole time, and I held her quite a while.
Such a precious little package!
This baby is so loved, so prayed for, so wanted.

Like I said, it was a happy day in my little house on Yoder Drive.
My girls here, my granddaughter, and my newest Great-grandbaby.
Even makes a rainy day seem bright.