Aunt Naomi and Uncle Andrew tie the knot at Sunny Slope Farm!

Cute cousins

Bride, groom, ring bearers, flower girls

Silas was not enthusiastic about all the pictures and/or photographers.

 

 

The newlyweds.

We tried a group photo on the side of the slide, which didn't hold up very well.

 I said, "Strike a pose!"

 The bouncy house and slide was the greatest thing for the kids while they waited for talking grown-ups.

After sending the newlyweds off with bubbles, Silas enjoyed his on his own time.

meeting baby Meredith, more goodbyes

I was so glad to have the chance to make a quick trip to Pennsylvania to meet our new niece and cousin, Meredith Olive! 

Last IMC summer picnic that we will be able to enjoy this summer...

We were lucky to get a picture this good after the evening crisis.  Silas is so sorry for breaking your piggy bank, Nina.

The kids loved Jeanne days -- Thanks so much Jeanne!

So glad these two can finally smile together!

Happy 2nd Birthday Miguelito!

Picnics, Group Pictures, a Wedding

The first Immanuel Mennonite Church summer picnic, this one at our house.  We're going to miss these good play friends!

Lia as flower girl in the Stutzman-Sauder wedding. She did fine! She'll have this job again in another week!

We might call this the Third Culture Kid club. Good friends currently living in Bangladesh and Thailand

We missed getting Jim in this picture, but the Hershbergers are an invaluable resource and support for our connections and work ahead.

Our small group (now also our MST - Ministry Support Team) hosted this IMC picnic of Nicaraguan dishes, a quiz game that Wendell organized, and a Q&A time. The Klassen/Zimmerman family hosted this group with a wealth of knowledge and experience.  Klassen/Zimmermans (Nicaragua), Peachey/Durham (El Salvador), Gullmans (Guatemala, Chad, Ethiopia), Muñiz/Cordova (Mexico).

Johann brought out his guitar for some singing.  A new song to some of us - José Luis Orozco's "Paz, queremos paz"

Paz, queremos paz   (Peace, we want peace)

Y libertad en este mundo  (and freedom in this world)

Para los niños de todo el mundo  (for the children of the world)
Queremos paz y libertad    (we want peace and freedom)

Ya no mas hambre, ya no mas guerra  (no more hunger anymore, no more war)
Queremos paz en esta tierra (we want peace in this land)

Para los pobres y los ancianos (for the poor and the elderly)
Queremos paz y libertad (we want peace and freedom)

Ya no más bombas con radiación  (no more nuclear bombs anymore)
No más ideas de exterminación (no more ideas of destruction)

Goodbye parties... Hillandale Park

Thank you so much to those who gathered this evening at Hillandale Park to see us off.  Thanks especially to Reem and Loris and your families for initiating this and for bringing delicious Iraqi food. Thanks to the many other great friends who came with other amazing foods and your wonderful families.  Thanks to Kristin for the children's blessing; those are beautiful words. This month looks to be full of these bittersweet moments.