One of the wives of some of the faculty here invited the ladies for a tea party. It was just a delightful time together. There were six of us there. Her beautiful tea cups set an elegant table. The visiting and connecting together was the most important part though. It was refreshing to take time for tea and a visit.
We ladies also went on a little shopping adventure and out for lunch.
Final Days
The greenhouse project is as complete as we can get it in the two weeks we were able to work on it. The greenhouse looks so much better and we thrilled to hear of their plans to use it in the future.
The men were working in the new appliance repair shop getting it ready for habitation. They ran conduit and other things I don’t know much about.
Mike our leader found a “Squeaky Clean Joke Book” at a thrift shop and has been enjoying presenting the joke of the day following our devotion time. He’s had some pretty good ones. One of them had us laughing out loud unable to catch our breath.
Playing Clue
“The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.”
Charles Dickens
Hive Bakery
Then just in the blink of an eye the three weeks are complete. One wonderful staff family had us over for a taco bar our last evening there. It was wonderful and we really enjoyed their oldest daughter playing the harp. She played a number of beautiful songs and hymns.
Granddaughter
Goodbyes are so difficult and we will miss this team tremendously. Two couples are headed back to Iowa and we are going to Dallas to see our son and family. Then we will head home to the prairie. It’s been a great adventure.
“Home is a shelter from storms—all sorts of storms.”
Gladewater, TX celebrates the 1930’s oil boom that occurred in East Texas. They are celebrating with food and craft vendors, live bands, food vendors, chili cook-off and a bass tournament.
“The World’s Richest Acre” moniker was given to Kilgore, TX (just a few miles from Gladewater) as by 1940 24 wells were pumping in one city block. Oil companies and prospectors drilled everywhere, including the Presbyterian church, where members tore down their sanctuary to drill in its place, and the Kilgore National Bank, where oilmen drilled a well right through the floor. There were 1000+ oil derricks in Kilgore during the 1930’s boom. As of 2017 5,379,780,304 barrels of oil have been produced from East Texas. Kilgore’s population ballooned from a few hundred to more than 10,000 in the early 30’s as the railroad brought an influx of characters fleeing the Great Depression. By the 1960’s all but one derrick had been removed from that block, as production declined. There is a new movie out called “The Miracle in East Texas” that depicts some things about this history.
This last weekend was the weekend for the Gusher Day celebration, but the festivities were dampened as the rain fell most of the weekend. The farmer and I have enjoyed the rain. We had eight inches of rain and we had maybe 2 inches of rain this weekend. We love to hear the sound of rain on the roof of this camper. Ponds and lakes are full in this area. Being from dry Western Kansas, this rain is phenomenal.
All of us SOWER couples went to Gladewater Museum and had a delightful two-hour tour of the Museum provided to us by a wonderful tour guide. She made the museum and the city’s history just come alive. Elvis Presley used to stay in the Gladewater Hotel and so did other country music stars. Her name was Lois Reed and she is the Chamber of Commerce President. She had just finished the chili judging contest but was delighted to give us a tour of the museum.
Magnolias
Week two had us continuing with some of the same projects. The women continued pulling weeds and cleaning junk out of the old greenhouse so that it might be useful again. It will be delightful to see this facility useful to this camp again. At one time it was a thriving part of this community and hopefully it will be again. We are very thankful for leather gloves and knee pads as we crawl around pulling weeds. The men continued working on the miles of white fence around this campus. They also cleaned out a storage building and sorted trash piles and salvageable items.
Before picture of greenhouse
Alert Academy feeds us two meals every day that we work. We have homemade bread and just delightful meals. A diet will be in the plan when we return home. The ladies are hungry at noon as we have worked and burned quite a few calories by then.
Of course, one evening we had to play “Sweep”. This is a well-known SOWER game. It seems every SOWER couple has a different set of rules. It is a good game as it is not too intense so that you can still visit while playing.
It was not all work as we traveled to Mineola, TX to visit the train museum. We also worked in a lunch at East Texas Burger, a visit to the Nut House, and we came away with delicious pieces of cheesecake from the local cheesecake business. It was not a low-calorie kind of day but it was fun.
Serene Lake
Ps. 18:7 Show your marvelous loving kindness by your right hand. O you who save those who trust in you!
On April 8, North America experienced its second total solar eclipse in seven years. The moon glided over the surface of our sun, casting a shadow over a swath of Earth below. Along this path, the world turned dark as night. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon orients itself between Earth and the sun, shielding the solar surface from our view. In cosmic terms, it is unusual that this happens: the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but it is about 400 times closer to us. That means that when these two celestial bodies are aligned, they appear to be the same size in the sky.
At Big Sandy, TX we were in the path of total eclipse and as the sky darkened and the temperature cooled we briefly got to see the total eclipse before the clouds obscured our view. One small child started to cry as it got night and declare that he was not ready to go to bed. We are here to do a SOWER mission for the month of April at Alert Academy. This is our second time to work at this camp. The camp ground here is hosting a family camp with the theme of “Beholding the Glory of God”. This theme was very fitting for this spectacular weekend. We were able to hear some wonderful presentations from Spike Psarris an Astrophysicist. For a number of years, He worked as an engineer in the U.S. military space program. He went into that career as an atheist and committed evolutionist. By the time he left, he had become a creationist and a Christian. Our first week of work here started with three days of heavy rain. We had eight or nine inches of rain. Being from Northwest Kansas we haven’t heard a rain like that in 20 some years. It was a beautiful sound to our ears as we heard of dirt storms at home. Thankfully we had inside jobs. The women painted boards for a board fence. The men replaced almost 200 light bulbs in the administration building. It was an enlightening experience. We are blessed to be working with two very special couples. Mike and Jackie and Tom and Glenda. These four are all from Iowa.
At the end of our workweek the farmer and I headed to Buda, TX to spend the weekend with my brother and family.
Some of the words used to tell of our 2023 are: graduations, cousins, prayer journeys, reunions, loss, kids, grandkids and praises.
Texas and Iowa were the places we served in church camps with our SOWER ministry. New friends, old friends and ministries that are making a difference in the Kingdom of God were found in both of these places. We take our camper and go to work in these camps for a month in March and in September. Painting, remodeling, office work, kitchen duties and other responsibilities are some of the projects we are involved in. It is such a treat to be able to be a blessing to these facilities.
Conrad lost his last brother, Jim, this March. Three brothers have now advanced to their heavenly home. The youngest brother is now left alone to try to keep three sisters in line. That thought has now terrified the little brother. His oldest sister, Dorothy has informed him that he will not succeed in trying to keep her in line.
Two grandsons graduated from high school in May and one grandson graduated from KSU last weekend and has accepted a new job. He has now joined the adult lifestyle of work and more work. We are very proud of all of Jordan’s accomplishments. Anna is a Junior at KU and Joshua and Roman are Freshmen at UNW and KSU. We are very proud of all of our grands.
Hosting a reunion of cousins here at the home place for the Jamison’s made for a fun June. All but four of my cousins were able to come. Then in August we were able to have Cousin Camp also here at the farm. This is a special time for this grandma and I cherish every moment. Grandpa and I also traveled to some of our children’s homes and spent time with grandchildren for various reasons.
Our little teardrop camper headed out on a journey in early July to travel the border of Kansas. We decided to answer the call to pray the border of our state and to stop and pray in every border county. We traveled 1550 miles, we met beautiful Kansans, camped in special places and prayed and anointed the borders with oil. We spent a little time at the geographic enter of the continental US. We couldn’t have picked a more beautiful time to travel our state. The Lord blessed this trip tremendously.
Pam completed the book of her childhood memories for her grandchildren. The Lord put it on my heart to write my story for my future generations. This is not really a story of my life but more of the story of what my Savior has done in my life. I also completed a king size quilt for Haley. This was my fourth king size quilt to be finished.
Conrad has been busy making 75 wood boxes for Operation Christmas Child boxes, being creative with the wood lathe, and driving semi in harvest season for some neighbors. May you all be blessed with the greatest gifts of God and may this Christmas season find you all well. Merry Christmas from the farmer and I.
A lady that was blind and her seeing eye dog, were on a plane flight that they take frequently. This time there was a layover and the pilot who knew the blind woman well asked her if she would like to stretch her legs. She told him that she was fine, but her dog might like to stretch his legs. The pilot took the seeing eye dog on a little walk in the terminal while they waited to reboard the plane. He also had sunglasses on. The passengers saw this and began to try to switch flights and airlines. This is a true story. The pilot was misunderstood and misjudged.
Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt misunderstood and misjudged? How did that feel to you?
For the first seven grades of my education, I moved every two months because my dad built telephone and electric lines and we moved our trailer home wherever dad needed to be. His whole crew moved together. I was the new girl in a lot of schools. It is hard to be the new girl so much. Girls already have their friend groups. We looked very strange to most of them as we moved to town in a caravan and settled in trailer parks until we moved on again. Many times, we were called gypsies. I felt misunderstood many times.
David was misunderstood by his older brother. 1 Samuel 17:26-28
Hannah was misunderstood by the High Priest Eli 1 Samuel 1:13
Jesus was misunderstood by many Matt. 12:24, Luke 5:20-25,
Jobs friends said that surely, he has sinned. He must have had trouble. Surely, he has done wrong. Their conclusion is that God sends calamity on the wicked only. Once again God was misunderstood.
Job 42:7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite; “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”
Many times, we have misunderstood God! Many times, His actions have taken us by surprise. But then He is God and He created even us. And He said HIs creation is good! He continues to love us even when we misunderstand. His mercies are still for us when we think the worst of Him. This we can know… God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!
I do not know anyone else who would send His son to die on the cross because of my sin so that I could be set free. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
We can take the mercy of God and we can use His mercy for the foundation of our life.
CHRISTIANITY is to glorify the mercy of God in Christ. We exist to display God’s mercy!
Build your life on the mercies of God. Our lives need to be built on something and rooted in something. Build and root your life on the mercies of God.
Mercy here implies not only forgiveness for the guilty, but especially tenderhearted compassion for the helpless and desperate. See if you hear both in Romans 5:6-8.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for the righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Did you hear both sides of mercy? One side is we were weak and helpless, and the other side is we were sinners and guilty. Have you saturated your life with that? Have the mercies of God in saving you sunk to the center and core of your life, so that you are living from a deep spring of humble, brokenhearted happiness in the God of mercy?
While we were in Iowa, we attended a testimony night at a church for their Celebrate Recovery ministry. Everyone there gets up and says “Hi, my name is Pam. I am a faithful follower of God and I deal with _________.” The testimonies of some of these individuals are so powerful. God has rescued them from so very much. God has set them free from addictions, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual sin, and many other sins. God has delivered them from the trauma they have experienced in their lives. These captives have been set free. And you see it in their hearts and their lives. They love Jesus in a big way because He’s delivered them in a big way! They do not misunderstand Jesus. They really know Him. They have a real relationship with Him and His mercy, firsthand.
Scriptures on Mercy
2 Pet. 3:9 Matt 5:7
2 Sam 24:14 Matt. 9:13
Col. 3:13 Ps. 23:6
1 John 1:9 Ps. 25:6
James 2:13 Ps 86:5
Micah 6:8 Lam 3:22-23
Titus 3:5 Heb 4:16
1 Pet. 1:3
My Pap-paw was a nice man until he drank alcohol and then he would be mean to his family and people around him. He would hop on a freight train and disappear for weeks. His depression haunted him around every corner and emptiness filled his heart. Three men kept inviting him to the local church, but he would not go. Finally, he did go to a revival meeting there and he gave his life to Jesus, and he found what his life was missing. He never touched another drop of alcohol. He told me when I was 10 that the most crucial decision that I could ever make would be to give my life to Jesus. So that is exactly what I did.
I received Jesus as my Savior and began to live my life for Him. About twenty years ago I gave my son some wrong advice and I could not forgive myself for this. I have asked God to forgive me, and He has but forgiving myself was another story. I am supposed to be a Christian and make right decisions. The Lord showed me that by not forgiving myself when He had that I was making His sacrifice on the Cross worth nothing. I have had to forgive myself.
Maybe you are like me, and you have a relationship with Jesus, but you have failed to understand His mercy to forgive you and others?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Matt. 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
No matter your age, no matter your story, no matter your history, God loves you unconditionally and His desire is for you to come to KNOW him.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
If you are still unconvinced, read this story in Luke 15:1-7. Jesus would leave 99 others and go looking for you. That is how important you are to Him. Jesus will ford every stream and climb every mountain just to find His one lost sheep, but He will not make you receive Him. It is a free gift, but you must accept it.
NOW is the time to receive Jesus as your Savior. It is a FREE gift. All you must do is receive it. And here is the road to take to receive that salvation.
Roman Road
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Prayer for salvation:
Dear Lord,
I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life again. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide me Lord and help me to do your will. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen
We can afford to be wrong about saying we are going to a certain city, but we cannot be wrong about going to heaven. Once you have prayed and received Jesus as your Savior, here are some scriptures to help you to know that you can have assurance.
Old Church in Canton, MN started in 1856 Original Flag with 44 starsCedar Springs Camp with Fall Starting100 Steps through the WoodsCedar Springs
The Farmer and I had a few final days in Iowa before returning to the prairie home. We did some tourist things. We went to see the Lidtke Mill in Northern Iowa and took a different road on North in Minnesota. We were met by hundreds of old tractors on the road. They must have been having an old tractor show someplace close as they were driving these old tractors. It was fun for the Farmer and I to get to see all these restored old iron relics.
“We travel, not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” -Unknown
In Lanesboro, MN we had signed up for an Amish tour. The town of Lanesboro was packed that weekend but we found our tour departure and were on our way. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and the history of the Amish folks who had moved to this part of Minnesota in the 1970’s from Pennsylvania. We visited a quilters home and even though it was afternoon it was dark in the home with no electricity. I love to quilt but need to have many lights on. I did see that her treadle machine was set right in front of the window. She had made some lovely quilts. We visited a furniture shop, bakery, and basket shop. The Farmer has been looking for a nice narrow belt but narrow doesn’t seem to be in style. He found a handmade one at one of the Amish shops.
The farmer’s wife kept her eye open for quilt shops. We were able to find a few and she bought some more fabric that is just crying out for use. It brings her joy just looking at these fabrics. The quilt store in Osage, IA is her favorite. The quilt store closest to her home just closed. This was seen as such a tragedy. Fabric and quilting are the answer. I don’t care what the question is.
“Wondering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and universe.” -Anatole France
The Farmer loves his barn pictures, so we spent some hours looking for just the right photos before we prepared to travel home. There was some wonderful prayer time with the other SOWER friends as they left for some time with grandkids and a new SOWER project, and prayer time with director Brian as he and his family moved to Texas and with Sarah, the interim director of the camp.
It was difficult to leave this beautiful place with precious new friends but many new adventures awaited us at home. The farmer’s wife was scheduled to speak on salvation at a women’s retreat closer to home and we had agreed to read 1 Samuel outside and out loud in Gove County. So, the journey had to begin.
Back roads and scenic byways, were the order for the trip home. We made it to Genoa, NE the first night and camped in their city park with full hookups for $10.00. We got an early start the next morning and planned to see our prairie home by afternoon. We were detoured off of the highway due to an accident onto a country road. Three semis were in the lead. One semi made it through but the other two were too tall for the railroad bridge that we came upon. It took some time but the semis were able to move over and let us through. They were going to have to back out that last mile.
Home looked so good. Now to clean the camper and put it away until the next adventure.
So many times in the Word of God there is a problem solved by two words: But God! Following are some scriptures that show many times the changes that happen when God intervenes.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Psalm 73:26
And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him.” – Acts 7:9
But God raised him from the dead. Acts 13:30
but God shows his love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.” – Galatians 3:18
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” – Ephesians 2:4-5
Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” – Philippians 2:27
But God are two gloriously pivotal words upon which everything in life turns from death to life, sin to salvation, and hopelessness to eternal joy.
This assignment in Floyd, IA at Cedar Springs Camp was a big task for four people and we did not think it was possible for us to complete that task. But God had other plans! In His great wisdom he helped us to do something bigger than all our dreams. It was something bigger than was possible for us without Him. Of course our leaders, Jim and Cathy Fry were excellent leaders and had a good plan from day one. We were also thankful that they were younger and stronger. When my brother saw the pictures of this finished project he said, “I’m sure you saved all the high work for yourself!” Brothers!! They know us too well. He knows I don’t like ladders. But I did do ladders this month but I didn’t do the really high ones.
It was a great advantage to us and blessing that the directors here were so helpful with supplies and encouragement. Brian Goode and his sweet family moved to Texas the last weekend of our work here. He took tremendous care of us and went the extra mile. He made steaks for us, took us out to eat and gave us gift cards. We were sure treated like royalty and we would highly recommend this camp to all SOWER couples.
Jim and Cathy Fry also fed us well as we had pork nachos one night, chicken cooked in their air fryer and many nights of fires and games. We have made real friends with them and it is our desire to work with them again in the future. They’re farmers too and most importantly have ran a Home for Boys for many years. They sure knew how to make the Farmer and I tow the line! Jim always said work is spelled FUN!
Our thankful and grateful hearts are so full. But for God this project would not be completed. I’m so thankful His Word says in Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Floyd, Iowa does not have a grocery store. There are two truck stops and two antique stores. This weekend there was a Gospel Music Festival with 20 or more groups performing at the concert in the park. The Gospel Lighthouse Church has sponsored this festival since 1995. The gospel sing brings in funds for the Christian school that the church also sponsors since 1988.
This little town was booming. People came from many states to attend this amazing concert. Visiting with many attendees gives us much hope for our nation.
On Sunday we attended Lighthouse Gospel church and heard Keepers of the Faith. Their harmony is heavenly and their testimonies rich. We think that we tasted a bit of heaven! The Farmer and I were truly blessed to be in attendance. The group are Hawaiians that have moved to Washington State.
UNW Football
Some football was on our schedule Saturday. I and the Farmer drove to St. Paul, MN and the University of Northwestern to see our grandson. He is a Freshman there and is on the football team. It was so great to see him and to take him out to eat. The Christian atmosphere there on campus was tangible. Josh picked a restaurant called Kahn. The Farmer was unsure about this kind of Mongolian cuisine. He did find meat and potatoes so all was well!
“Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a burden. Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed fence, and sat down on a tree-box discouraged. Jim came skipping out at the gate with a tin pail, and singing Buffalo Gals.”
Mark Twain
It sounds like this week was all fun and games and it was. But we worked very hard. Four of us are painting the exterior of a two story dining hall. It was red but is now tan, trimmed in brown. We used 20 gallons of primer, 15 gallons of tan and five gallons of brown so far. Yes, there are some sore muscles. And yes there are some sorer muscles. Some of the area has been sprayed, brushed, and rolled.
From RedTo Tan and Brown
Jim and Cathy are our leaders and have really carried the load on this assignment.
“All you need to paint is a few tools, a little instruction, and a vision in your mind.”
Bob Ross.
This is our last week to work here and we would sure like to see it completed.
What did the painter say to the wall? One more crack like that and I’ll plaster you.
Floyd, Iowa is our late August destination. The Farmer and I are working in September at Cedar Springs Camp and Retreat. It is beautiful and green here. And well, the trees are stunning for a couple of prairie kids. The trees are so tall and the shade is delightful. The smell of the pines is breathtaking.
We met the other couple we are working with this month and they are a blessing. They have only been married 41 years so they are younger than we are. They ran a Boys Ranch for a number of years so they have so many dynamic testimonies of how the Lord has worked in and through them and the boys they helped.
The project here is a big one for four people. We are painting the exterior of the dining hall. It is red right now so we started the week with primer. Lots of primer! We are still putting on primer. We have put on 15 gallons so far. We think then it will take two coats of the new tan color to cover.
Primer
Because it is Labor Day weekend we have done some playing this weekend. The camp has quite a few here for Family Camp and there have been some great activities. There was a canoe trip down the river, a float trip, water slides, campfires, corn hole tournament and more. The Farmer went down the water slide twice with all the youngsters. The Farmer caused quite a stir when he fell on his rear and then his head as he sailed down the slide. His cowboy hat left his head and made its own descent down the slide. We both floated down the really lazy river. And the Camp Director, Brian has fed us all very, very well. Jim and Cathy our co-workers won the cornhole tournament and we were very proud of them.
“Time is like a flowing river, no water passes beneath your feet twice, much like the river, moments never pass you by again, so cherish every moment life gives you.”
–Unknown
Some precious friends that are SOWERS and are the Sponsors for this camp came to visit today and we enjoyed hamburgers, beans, salad and dessert together. We had all worked together at different times at Alert Academy in Big Sandy, TX. We shared some delightful stories and fun times of working together and with others. Mike and Jackie are some of our favorite people.
“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”
– Jim Watkins
Last Tuesday night after work, we attended a testimony night at a Celebrate Recovery meeting at a local church. My goodness, God is so good and has rescued so many from some terrible situations. Jesus is in the rescue business. Their love for Jesus was so inspiring. When the Lord forgives you of so much, your love and appreciation for Him is very evident.
Luke 7:47 “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Thursday evening after spray painting all day, Jim decided to cook up a Shrimp Boil. I thought for sure he would be too exhausted to cook, but he started up a big fire, got out a big pot and put out a masterpiece! He’s got it down to a fine art for sure. Shrimp, sausage, lots of vegetables and some spicy seasonings and just the right amount of boil and Voila! Delicious!
Friday, the Farmer and I made a little trip to the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, IA. That hymn was an old time favorite of ours for years. We were excited to find that it was only forty miles away. William Pitts wrote a poem in 1857 as he rode by the area on a stagecoach. He had a vision of a little church in the midst of the town called Bradford. He wrote the poem about that church of his vision. He put the poem away and forgot about it.
Imagine his amazement when he returned to Bradford in 1862 and found a little church being built just as he envisioned it. In November of 1864 the church was dedicated and Mr. Pitt’s vocal class sang the song in public for the first time.
The world’s smallest church also beckoned us that day and we drove out in the country to find a little chapel that a family built many years ago.
We prayed together in the beautiful little prayer garden found at the Little Brown Church and were deeply blessed and honored to have been able to see this part of history of a country and a people that church was one of the most important structures to be built in any new town site. They still have church there and thousands of weddings. The bell still has a melodic tone that can be heard far and wide. It’s most important to note that one hundred and sixty one years later, Jesus is still loved here and served here and the Word of the Lord is preached here.
In June the Farmer and I hosted my grandparents’ family here at the homestead on the prairie. All but four of my cousins were able to attend. It was just a special time of remembering stories about our grandparents and our parents. One of my grandsons and his dad made the trip to spend part of the day with us. As my grandson listened to all our crazy stories, I told him, “Do you see why I have Cousin Camp at my house for you and your cousins? I had such a great time with my cousins that I want you to know and enjoy your cousins!” I think he understood. We even reenacted an old picture that I found of my cousins and I on the lawn tractor pulling a wagon load of cousins. We spent hours doing that!
“Cousins are different beautiful flowers in the same garden.”
-Anonymous
The first of August this grandma traveled to Olathe to gather the four cousins that could come to cousin camp. We were short eight cousins this summer and we acutely felt their absence. Four had to adult with jobs and internships, three were on a family vacation in Mexico, and one was involved in Cross Country practice already. Grandma still can’t believe that three chose the family vacation in Mexico over some great fun on the prairie!
On our way home from Olathe, we stopped at a Russell Stover shop and indulged in some chocolate! Nothing starts off cousin camp better than chocolate. The two youngest ones got caramel apples which they really enjoyed at the next stop, the zoo. The afternoon was warm, but all agreed it was a fun time. We got wet wherever we could find water. It was nice and cool in one area, but the two girls could not take the smell! They desired the heat over the stench! PU! The boys were undeterred by the smell.
“Cousins are people that are ready-made friends, you have laughs with them and remember good times from a young age, you have fights with them, but you always know you love each other, they are a better thing than brothers and sisters and friends ‘cause they are all pieced together as one.”
-Courtney Cox
Highs, lows, and buffaloes is one thing our daughter’s family does every evening at the dinner table. This makes for some great sharing and discussion of each family members’ day. It was such a great idea that the Farmer and I incorporated it into our evening meal. Each member of the family shares their “high” of the day. This is something that was the best part of their day. Then they go around the table again and share their low of the day, and then their funny, silly, or weird thing of the day (this is called a buffalo). Grandma was delighted to hear what the kids enjoyed every day about cousin camp.
Our youngest grandchild thrilled us when she wanted to pray at each meal after grandpa prayed. She threw her arm up in the air and sing songed, “Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you for our food and all the things you do. Thank you, God!” I know the Lord was so pleased with her enthusiasm!
We always try to make a trip to the local soda fountain in town for some extreme ice cream treats. This year a gentleman from Ohio was there and he paid for our ice cream. I don’t know his name but would like to send thanks. We also went swimming at our local pool and tried out all the slides. It was decided that the purple slide can be pretty painful so should be avoided but the green and blue one are so much fun.
“God made us cousins because he knew our mothers could not handle us as siblings.”
-Anonymous
Painting with our feet was a hit!
The farmer had a woodworking project for the cousins. They made a wooden tablet/phone stand. They had fun staining, sanding, and finishing this project. They used the router to make some nice edges. Grandma had them tie dye pillowcases and hair scrunchies. We also did other crafts. A scavenger hunt around the farm is always a must and using the lawn tractor to pull a wagon load of cousins is, well its tradition!!
That’s a wrap! Cousin Camp 2023 is in the books and the pictures and hopefully in the memories!
Where the Dutch Ovens Roam 