Four generations

     It has been a busy but wonderful week of being with family.  My parents, Russ and Dody Barton had my older sister Janet and her husband Mike Ewing from Colorado Springs stay with us for a few days starting on Saturday June 4th. The reason for the family gathering was to celebrate the college graduation of my younger sister Ginny and husband Mark Hedman's daughter, Hannah.  Hannah's older brothers came from the South, East and North - Daniel from Florida, Luke, his wife Angie and one year old son, Josiah from Michigan, and Joel (minus wife Meg who couldn't make it) from Alaska.

L-R back row: Mike & Janet Ewing; Carolyn &Jim Mudge; Josiah, Angie & Luke Hedman; Daniel Hedman; Hannah Hedman and Ginny Hedman.  Front: Russ and Dody Barton; Joel Hedman



     On Tuesday we welcomed them all plus a couple of Hannah's college friends for lunch here.  It was the first time for my parents to see their great grandson and naturally he was the star of the occasion.  He entertained us all with his love/fear relationship to my parent's cat, Penny, his desire to be outside, and his love of watermelon. 


Josiah and Gramps Hedman play with Penny and entertains everyone.



     We got to repeat the fellowship at Ginny's house in Mattawa on Thursday with a BBQ of hamburgers and hot dogs.  There Daniel played guitar while we sang some favorite hymns and an old time song my Dad likes about not leaving the watermelon on the vine.  It was great to get time with four generations!

     The actual graduation ceremony was yesterday, Saturday June 11th, at Eastern Washington University about 2 hours away. Although my parents couldn't go, Jim and I joined the family to watch Hannah "walk" and then picnic in a park in nearby Spokane. 


Hannah is the one with the red sash.



     We toured a few of the beautiful gardens.  I enjoyed the Lilac garden (just coming into full bloom) and the Conservatory, which had tropical plants that made me homesick for the Solomons!   Unfortunately Jim's allergies did not like the pollens in the air and today he has had to give in to medication. 

       We praise God that we are family not only physically but spiritually as each one is God's child.  Now the family is gone again but I still have something to look forward to.  Emily comes next week after she finishes her commitment to the Red Cross through the AmeriCorps Vista program.  Stay tuned for updated photos and more news from our own kids!



 

God's designs

     Last Sunday, May 29th, Jim and I drove "to the other side" - of the mountains that is.  Specifically we went west through White Pass near Mt Rainer to Eatonville, WA.   Although cloudy and cooler than on our side of the mountain we enjoyed God's design in the beautiful scenery as we wound our way around Mt. Rainer.   

The weather was cloudy and cool but we didn't get rain until on the way home.

It was hard to believe it was almost June looking at the snow still covering the sides of the road.

 
     The purpose of our drive was to enjoy another of God's designs - the celebration of marriage of Janell Talbot to Joshua Lum.  Janell's family attend church with us in Mattawa where her father, Brian, manages an apple orchard. Her mother, Mashell, comes from the founding family of Eatonville. 

Brian walks Janell down the aisle.

 
        A couple of the church families arrived early enough to help with setting up for the ceremony.  Jim and I helped put the "clouds of apples" centerpieces on the reception tables. 

 As Pre-med and Chemistry majors at Whitworth University in Spokane, both Josh and Janell are putting God first in their relationship. That was evident in every part of the ceremony. I was impressed with the floral arrangement that greeted everyone as they entered the church. The apple box container declared to all that this was a "Triple J" relationship - Josh, Janell, and Jesus!

 Praise the Lord for this young couple and pray for others in the up-coming generation to establish their marriages on the foundation of God's design.