Family birthdays, a Fence and Furloughing

". . . there is a time for every purpose and for every work. Ecclesiastes 3:17"

On our "to do" lists during this 12 week mini-furlough are a number for projects for loved ones. One of the projects is to help Rob build a fence to provide a safe place for Jake and Noelle to play. One of the first tasks was to dig the holes for the posts. The two-man auger was a work out for Rob and Tony in the hot, humid SC heat.

What better way to make Ethan, son-in-law-to-be, feel a part of the family than to enlist his help when he arrived for dinner! Doesn't the Bible say, "If you don't work, you don't eat?"

Seriously, after 20 post holes Rob and Tony were in need of some fresh help to finish the larger corner posts. Ethan's help enabled them to finish all the holes, have supper, and return the rented auger by the 4-hour deadline.

The youngest worker was almost four-year-old, Jake.

Jake's birthday party (celebrated 2 weeks early in order to accommodate our travels) had a pirate theme. Amy asked me to decorate his cake. That was a challenge after only making birthday cakes with "girlie" themes for all these years since 1981!! It was a huge success. While we were in town for his birth in 2007, this was the first time we have been able to celebrate a birthday with Jake.

Noelle waited patiently at the food table while the little "pirate" friends of Jake enjoyed a treasure hunt.

The next week we were able to help Ethan and Emily do some painting, cleaning and garden work at the house they will share after their wedding on 13 August. I made a stir fry that we enjoyed in the dining room when we took a break for dinner that evening after Emily arrived from work.

We were with Tony's mother in Georgia from 16-27 July. We visited 4 supporting churches and gave a report at three of them. Tony painted 3 ceilings for his mother, but I forgot to take a picture! On 27 July, we traveled to NC to be with my mother at a surprise celebration for her 80th birthday.

My mother was really surprised by several out-of-town relatives who came to share the evening with us on 30 July. We were very happy that our middle daughter, Clare, and her boyfriend, Shayne, traveled down from DC to spend the day with us.

Twenty-eight adults and 2 children shared a dinner of NC barbecue and "the works!" Many of the friends from Mama's church have known her for over 50 years.

My only brother, Dave, lit the four candles, representing four score years, while we all sang "Happy Birthday."

We truly enjoyed reporting to two churches in eastern NC that have supported us for 25 years on 31 July. The next evening we were with Grace Baptist Church in Hampton, VA for their VBS. By the time we returned to SC on 2 August, Emily's friend, Lizette, had already been in the USA for 5 days!

We were just barely able to visit with another South African who was in town before he left Greenville. Nicholas joined us for a family dinner the night before he flew to Florida.

On 5 August, I enjoyed the opportunity to speak for Ladies' Missionary Prayer Group at our sending church.

These ladies help to hold up the hands of missionaries around the world.