Celebrating 52 Years of Marital Bliss

Today is my parents 52 anniversary.  That is a real accomplishment!  Marriage is the union of two imperfect people who are committed to each other for life.  This is nearly impossible.  My parents have done it well as they have added God to their relationship.   As they have gotten closer to the Lord, they have grown closer to each other.  I have watched their marriage improve through the years as they have learned more about each other.  They are well armed to face the new challenges of aging.  They have each others backs.  They have learned to work together as a team.  Are they perfect?  No!  But by God's grace they are getting better and better at loving each other.

Thanks Mom an Dad for your example of faithfulness and perseverance!  Love you!!

Honoring our Grandparents

I am truly blessed to have had wonderful Grandparents and Great Grandparent!  This is a photo of my Great Grandma and Grandpa Lambert.  By the time I was born they lived in St Petersburg FL.  We would go down most every year to visit them.  My Grandpa would read books to me by the hour.  One of the first phrases I learned to say was "Read a book Grandpa!" The love of reading was transmitted to me by both sets of Grandparents.

My Grandpa worked as a train engineer.  He also smoked a pipe.  Every time I smell pipe smoke something like his brand, it transports me back to my early childhood and visiting them in FL.  Incidentally, He died of lung cancer when I was about 12. My Grandma was a gentle lady. She was very patient with us as children.  She lived to be 81 and then she died of lung cancer also.

These are my Mom's parents.  My Grandpa died too young.  He wasn't even 70!  He was one of my very favorite people ever!  He was a great game player.  He was excellent at pinochle and horseshoes.  He was a quiet man who gave the best hugs ever!  He adored Grandma, even when she insisted on finishing most of his sentences.  He worked as an electrical engineer in the steel mills.  He was in a union and his schedule (re shifts) was always changing.  He built the house for the family himself. He loved daffodils.  He loved to go fishing and so did Grandma.  They raised a big bed of strawberries every summer so they would have money to go to Canada fishing.  All their different activities involved family.  Whether it was playing games or going on vacation they did them with their extended family.  I am blessed to be able to remember a few fishing trips to Canada with lots of cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles.  The old guys were always happy to take along a child or two.  My grandpa taught me how to clean fish.  From the time I was six or seven we had to clean any fish we kept that was smaller than 12"!  Grandpa would do the bigger fish and the catfish.  He was a very patient teacher.

Grandma was a blessing.  She was a very neat and proper lady.  She was proud of the fact that she NEVER in all her life ever wore a pair of dungarees (jeans).  She also never did any formal exercise.  She was insistent that she would never lift weights.  Grandma was struck by lightning while she was in her house when she was in her mid thirties.  She had many health problems through the years.  Mostly relating to her gut. ( I strongly suspect that she may have had a gluten allergy)  She had at least three heart attacks.  She struggled with digestive issues and had many abdominal surgeries.  I called her my 'Grandma Grandma' because she was your traditional Grandma.  She never forgot a birthday or missed a gift giving event.  She was very affectionate and really enjoyed her grandchildren.  She was feisty but sweet.  She never considered herself very smart as she had had to repeat a grade in her elementary years. ( She did graduate from high school.)  BUT she would finish the newspaper crossword every day  and she read all the time.  Even when her mind had almost totally slipped away with dementia, she would catch you if you mis-added numbers or misspelled a word. She was doing word search puzzles right up until 3 days before she died. We were blessed to get to spend her later years with her close by.  She and Grandpa were excellent example of faithfulness in marriage.

Our children are blessed to have a godly heritage on both sides of their family.  My DH parents met in college and raised a family of 9 children together.  They are both still living.  They currently reside in NM with a daughter and her family.  Bill worked as a science and Math teacher in the inner city for 30 years.  Then they retired and went to work at the New Tribes Flight training base in AZ for the next 18 years. Dad did maintenance and Mom ran the library and had other duties.  My father in law spent much time holding Bible Studies with prisoners in Arizona.  He would go to the jails as often as 10 times a week.  This picture was taken at one of their last visits to our house.  They are no longer able to travel up to Ohio.  They are in their mid eighties.  Now we go as often as we can to visit them!

This is an old picture of my Dad's family (me and the guys).  The oldest looking gentleman was my Dad's grandfather.  Then my Grandpa Austin Reader next to him.  On the left side is my uncle Paul and his son Tim and then in the middle on the floor is my Dad's youngest brother, David.  When my Dad was 13 Grandpa bought a farm right on SR303.  My dad remembers with great fondness those years of living on the farm.  Grandpa had his own hanger and airstrip on the farm and taught my Dad to fly as a teenager.  They had horses and a nice pond.  If I remember this right.... Grandpa started his working life working in a bicycle shop.  Then he worked for Goodyear tire and Rubber.  His final career was working for NACA ( which later became NASA).  He was well known for his inventiveness.  He often took principles and things he learned while working in the bicycle shop and applied them to spacecraft and rockets.  He was a very bright man ( and so are all his children).  He struggled with heart problems and high blood pressure all his life.  He had one of the first open heart surgeries done at the Cleveland Clinic.  He died of a massive heart attack at the age of 54 while saying grace over dinner.

This is My Grandma and Grandpa Reader at their farm.  I have very little memory of them together as I was only 4 when Grandpa died.  I do remember my dad taking me out to visit at the farm when I was a young child.  Mom and my sister would take a nap and we would go off to play at the farm.

After Grandpa died,  Grandma kind of lost her anchor in life.  She left the farm and bought a house and stayed there until her youngest finished high school.  Then she became a travel agent and travelled all over the world.  Israel was one of her favorite places to go. She also went all over Europe.  She moved to florida and was in the Clearwater area.  She moved from apartment to apartment.  She was robbed frequently.  One time her son was going to be coming home on furlough (he was in the navy) while she was on a trip.  She hid all her valuables, but she wanted him to know where she had hid them so he could use the TV etc when he got there.  So she left him a note.  She was robbed again before he got there, and everything on the note was taken, But at least the thieves didn't have to mess up the house to locate it.  She was a smart lady though.  Another time, she was home alone when thieves were trying to break in.  She hollered loudly, "David, get your gun, someone's trying to break in!"  They left in a hurry!
Grandma was an incredibly gifted knitter. Grandma would knit a sweater EVERY week during WWII.  All the ladies would get together and knit wool sweaters for the sailors. Grandma spent her last years near-by. Visits with Grandma were always fun and unique. She was a wildly creative lady.  Her projects (and food) either ended up amazing or terrible.  There was no middle ground. Mom and Dad took care of her and then she ended up at a nursing home when her dementia worsened.  She lived to be almost 90.

These are my parents.  They have been wonderful parents.  One of the neatest things in my life has been to see God work and change their lives through the years.  They have taught me much about faithfulness and hospitality.  My children have been privileged to grow up near them. 

 I know my children will always look back with fond memories to the times they got to spend with their grandparents... on both sides!

I know I do!

Saying Good-Bye....Again

This past July my Sister and her family once again left to return to the Philippines.  It was sad to see them go, but we are pleased that their heart's desire is to serve the Lord.  We will miss them a lot!

 There were last minute pictures to help reinforce precious memories.  Was T-Bob really ever that much shorter than Josh?  The picture wouldn't lie.

 The three oldest girl cousins worked together packing and making memories as they worked together.  They are so glad that with the modern technology of Skype and Google Chat and facebook they can stay in touch!
 

 I think that Katrinka and T-Bob miss each other the most.  They are bestest friends.  They are happy though to play games on the computer even though they are across the world from each other.  It is a blessing.

 The last day before leaving was spent packing, despite the best laid plans of Todd and Miriam.  Everything always takes longer than planned and so many things pop up unexpectedly that you have to do before you go.  So many challenges!  But they got it done and made it to the airport.

 Josh has officially passed Dad up in height.  Dad did everything but stand on his tip-toes to get every possible millimeter on his side of the height chart.

Then the final good-byes.  There were tears on all faces as the time to say good-bye for the last time was here.  Lots of hugs.  We miss them a lot!  One of Josh's final requests to me was to start writing on the blog again.  Here you go Josh....

Traveling in the South West Part 2

After lunch Grandpa and Daddy read, dozed, finished up projects, or toured the mission base to see what was new there.

After taking a nap, Grandma and I took a walk around the block. On one of our walks I told her I had recently read a biography about A.W. Tozer. She then told me that she regularly listened to him when he was on the radio. That was interesting, but then she said that she had disagreed with him on a certain topic and had written him a letter. Mr.Tozer wrote her back. He discussed the issue and closed with "Please pray for me." I thought that was neat. I wasn't able to read the letter, because it is at one of my aunt's homes, who we'll be visiting soon. Grandma gave me permission to track it down and read it, so I will. :) I have enjoyed learning about my grandparents history and how they interacted with now famous people.
After our walk on Monday Grandma and I spent some time looking at Colossians. It wasn't all Bible study though. Grandma opened up and shared some things about how she has grown spiritually through out the years. What a privilege!

While we were exercising our legs, the men exercised their minds. It was good for Daddy to have some down time to sit and read.

Suppertime! At this meal I listened as these three reminisced about my Dad's growing up years.

I am learning to play the hymns on the piano. I enjoyed practicing and they enjoyed listening.

This picture represents the best time of the day. We would all pray and share a passage of Scripture. Then we would sing. It was a sweet time of bringing our requests and thanksgivings before the throne of grace as well as learning or being reminded of God's truth. (Which is the only truth and absolute standard.)

I am so thankful that God has given me godly parents and godly grandparents on both sides. They have trained me by word and example. May God be glorified!

~JoAn

Traveling in the Southwest Part 1

Each spring since 2006 Daddy has taken one or two of us children as traveling companions with him to visit his parents (and help them with projects). This year I was the chosen one. We were absent from home eight days. We only spent 2 full days and 2 part days with Grandpa and Grandpa Mango. What we did in the other approx 5 days will be given in a later post. Hint: We drove 1,200 miles after flying into El Paso, TX.


Near their small Arizonian town lies a B&B decorated to be a 1930s home. It is run by a middle aged Christian couple. They were a delight to get to know. Mr. A. describes his wife as a true Proverbs 31 woman. Not only is she proficent in domestic duties, but she is also fluent in carpentry. Mrs. A. has many stories to tell. I could listen for hours.




Grandpa and Grandma 'retired' to be volunteers at the New Tribes Mission and Aviation base in Arizona. They used to put us up in a guest house, but since they retired from volunteer work, they now have us spend our nights at the local Bed and Breakfast. It is called Sojourners Homestead. I'd recommend it to anyone who is visiting nearby.




I'm writing about the middle part of our trip part first, because it was the primary reason for our trip. Grandpa and Grandpa are very regular in their habits. Therefore, I just need to describe a single day and you know how we spent our time, except for the weekly happenings that came up on the days we were there. :)

Each morning Daddy and I arrived at Grandpa and Grandma's shortly before 9 A.M. The first morning Grandma and I went over to the base to attend a ladies prayer meeting, wash some clothes, and have a computer lesson. Grandpa is resolute in his determination to stand against the flood of technology. Grandma is learning what she can and is doing quite well. While we were gone Daddy and Grandpa worked on spraying the weeds and fixing the swamp cooler.

The second morning I trimmed Grandma's hair. I was a little nervous, but it came out okay.

Grandma has a big heart for those in need. She showed this to me by the conversations she had with various people on the base. Throughout our visit she shared stories of goings on in the town as well as from her past. It made me think, "How much do I love and care for others? Do I love them enough to share the gospel with them?"

Fixing the swamp cooler took two days. Working in the Arizonian sun is no fun, especially if you have fair skin.

After mounting the roof once Grandpa decided that he would be the ground man. He later stated that he was done going up on roofs. The three of us were glad, and hope he keeps his word.

Late in the morning Grandma and I picked up the mail from the Post Office. Upon returning to the mobile she would process it with Grandpa's help. On Wednesday, they unknowingly entertained us as they went through their mail. Grandma cuts open the end of each envelope and skims the contents. If they're worthy of reading she passes it onto Grandpa. Two of the envelopes contained stamped envelopes. The stamps were cut off and duly saved. Grandpa and Grandma raised nine children and are very thrifty. This is where I inherited my thriftiness from, much to some of my sibblings dismay. :) However, though they are thrifty, they share with those in need generously. I am trying to emulate this.

One of the envelopes contained a letter for Grandpa from a doctor who practiced 75 miles away. Grandma asked Grandpa as she gave him the letter, "You're not going to go in for your annual check up, are you?"

Grandpa replied, "No. Why would I go in for him just to ask me, "How are you?" He began reading the letter aloud. We soon found out that the doctor (who was in his early 80s also) was retiring. I don't think that Grandpa's going to see the new doctor either.

I love how Grandpa begins their meals. Each meal he chose one of us to give thanks for the food. After that we would each read a verse card. Most of the time we'd get a 'double portion' and read both sides of the card. I'm a firm believer that we need our spiritual food just as much and more than physical food. I enjoyed this simple reminder.

At lunch on Monday as he took up his card he broke out with, "That big old nasty cheating slimeball....." The topic on his card was "The Tempter."

During the meals Grandma would tell us stories of the past, but mostly of the goings on in their small town. Many seniors live there and several have died in the past months. Death and the earthly consequences was a subject brought to our minds by Grandpa and Grandma. They are working on getting rid of belongings and preparing to move into a daughter's home. (They want to stay in Arizona as long as possible, but they also want to be ready in the event of an emergency.) Even though we talked about death, it was with heaven in view and the sure hope we have of spending eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ. I am thankful to have had this time listening and learning from them. It is sad for me in some ways, but their attitude was catching. Not that I'm want to die, but I want to alway be ready for it. I want to daily be looking forward to when Christ calls His bride home.

Do you know that you're ready for Christ's return?

~Joan

P.S. Yes, there is a part 2. I will finish up our day with Grandpa and Grandma in Part 2. I want to tell you about the other parts of our trip too. I will keep working on it, and will do my best to get part 2 out in the next day or two.

P.S. S. I hope you get a little laugh out of some of Grandpa's remarks. It is always best to hear them live, but I still chuckle as I write them.