Sunday, May 29, 2011

Cornell Graduation!

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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Isaac's Hooding Ceremony

On Saturday our family journeyed up to Itacha and arrived at Bailey Hall intime to watch Isaac's hooding ceremony. A hooding ceremony is for any graduate with a doctarate in any degree. After the event we stepped outside of the hall for refreshments and pictures.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Chosen Ones





Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Baby Chicks!

On Monday morning we received a phone call for a pickup of our long-awaited order....chicks!
I furnished their new home, a rubber maid tub, with wood shavings, a feed dispenser, two water dispensers, and a heating lamp to keep them warm on the chilliest of the summer nights.
The two day old, extremely tired babies in their shipping box!

Their new home!

Yummy chick food!
As Maryella would say,"Cute, cute, cute, they are really cute!"
Fill er' up!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Go Eagles!



I arrived home just in time to attend Becca's championship volleyball tournament. It was so fun watching Becca and her team working well together on the court and giving the glory to God! Congrats Eagles - the 2011 Champs!

Monday, May 16, 2011

It Is That Time of Year

Anna, Rebecca, Clarence, and I attended Caleb's baseball game in Hyde Park, where we all had a nice time and his team played well, winning 13 to 6.



Little boy, he adjusts his hat
Picks up his ball, stares at his bat
Says I am the greatest, the game is on the line
And he gives his all one last time

And the ball goes up like the moon so bright
Swings his bat with all his might
And the world's so still as still can be
And the baseball falls, and that's strike three

Now it's supper time and his mama calls
Little boy starts home with his bat and ball
Says I am the greatest, that is a fact
But even I didn't know I could pitch like that
-Kenny Rogers

Monday, May 09, 2011

Our Grandad, Stephen Leroy Angell, September 3, 1919 - May 6, 2011

Growing up, Grandad lived just down the road. Often as kids, we would walk down the narrow trail in the woods that meandered to his house. I remember as a young boy taking that trip to spend a special afternoon with Grandad playing a board game, or looking at his collection of artifacts from his foreign travels. When Grandad was home on Bentley Farm, he would usually join us for supper, walking up that same footpath from his house to ours, and arriving in his trademark Hawaiian shirt.

Those evenings were special and memorable. Grandad was a fun character or as he would put it "a scalawag"! Grandad would rough house with us kids, putting us in "traps" and not letting us go until we said "Uncle!". Grandad would sometimes surprise us, with pieces of his favorite cinnamon gum or little bars of soap or bottles of shampoo from his travels abroad. Or he would sometimes really surprise us by offering us a portion of dandelion salad or some other tasty culinary creation. Grandad was a gentle soul. He would hold the youngest member of our growing family in the rocking chair after dinner and usually both of them would be asleep by the end of the evening. During family devotions, Grandad loved to sing and to harmonize. Two of his favorite songs were "Fairest Lord Jesus" and "Seek Ye First (the Kingdom of God)". On one particular evening, Sarah was playing guitar and softly sang to us a song that touched Grandad's heart--so much so that he requested that Sarah play and sing the song in his memory when he passed away. That time has come and Sarah is now living in Kansas, but the words remain among us.

And Jesus said "Come to the waters
Stand by my side.
I know you are thirsty,
You won't be denied.
I've felt every tear drop
When in darkness you cried.
And I strove to remind you,
That for those tears I died."

Jesus, I give you my heart and my soul.
I know that without you I'd never be whole.
Savior you open all the right doors.
And I thank you and praise you from this earthly shore.
Take me I'm yours.

A decade or so ago, Grandad sold his house and moved to a retirement community outside Philadelphia. The narrow path between our houses is now hidden by brambles. His old house is for sale again. But even though this life is transient, physical distance can separate us, and death and decay is a present reality, our hope is that Grandad heard choirs of angels singing the words of this song he loved so as he breathed his last--and that he joined their voices in perfect harmony.

We'll miss you Grandad!

Hard Work = Beautiful Results

Isaac and Allie are inching forward to a beautiful remodeling job of the bathroom in their country cottage. The sheetrock is awaiting paint, the tile is awaiting grout, and the floor is awaiting tile!

Sunday, May 08, 2011

Smiles!

On Saturday evening we were joined by one of our friends families. We all enjoyed their pleasant coversation, adorable children, and all the smiles and laughter that issued from the mouths of these children.