Day 205: July 28, 2016 Love Wins

July 28, 2016

Day 205

Love Wins

Love is essential.

 Love is powerful. 

Love moves mountains. 

Love dies to save. 

Love fuels love. 

Love covers sin. 

Love pushes past sin. 

Love understands.

Love waits. 

Love knows. 

Love needs nothing. 

Love energizes. 

Love stills. 

Love calms. 

Love speaks. 

Love listens.

Love silences. 

Love teaches. 

Love Learns.

Love feels.

Love surpasses spiritual strengths.

Love lives eternal.

Love faithfully remains. 

Love never rejects.

 Love Wins!

Day 204: July 27, 2016 Sadie Lynne

July 27, 2016
Day 204

Sadie Lynne

To love a grandchild is a new kind of love and Sadie Lynne broadens a "Gee's" love, as Theo, her dear brother, affectionately refers to me. This little peanut is the biggest tiniest individual. She knows who she is, what she wants to do and where she is going. She reminds me of my Nicky Sue as an infant, small but mighty.

Sadie really wants to know how you are as she looks intensely in your eyes with a call to the depths of your being. With her old soul eyes she is always asking, "how are you really doing? Though she is intense, she is pleasant about her intensity.

She is now motoring around and pulling herself up.  Before you know it she will be walking. Time pushes on even when you want it to linger. It waits for no one.

The connection that we have all made with Sadie Lynne is remarkable. There is a depth to her spirit with which we are all attracted to. And here we thought we could love no deeper than Theo. Watching her and her brother enjoy one another's company is refreshing and encouraging. These two are already dear friends and all of us know it is just the beginning of something wonderful between them.

Sadie Lynne, thank you for being who you are. You bless us daily.

Day 203: July 26, 2016 Early Tuesday Morning

July 26, 2016

Day 203

Early Tuesday Morning

The other week I was gardening...bending over, mind you, but from a bench. Here I thought I was sparing my knee, when in fact it was killing my back. For the next week and a half getting up and motoring ahead was slow, real slow. I knew it was time to strengthen my core. So that is what I began to do. Per advice of my son, Christopher, I am using my natural bodyweight to exercise. My core is strengthening and in the process my knee's muscles are doing the same. Walking is again a joy. My mornings are spent, praising, praying, photographing and pondering. There is a God!

This morning the stop sign and lamp spoke volumes to me. Having light along your way doesn't always mean you have the freedom to walk. The light sometimes sheds on a stop sign.

Lynn and I are beseeching God for some miracles, and while we are beseeching He is teaching. He is revealing to us what it is to have faith larger than a mustard seed. He is saying to me (in His way which is rarely an audible voice), more faith means less sight. The picture above was specifically taken to picture this spiritual truth.

I enjoy looking at the intricacies of a web. Then put droplets along the lines, I'm over the edge! This morning was wonder filled with fog, dark green crops and dew highlighting the beauty of a spider's work.          

 This morning I looked out over the sea of soybean and could hear the crop give praise and glory to the Lord, their maker.

I love my backyard and I do not take the beauty and the space for granted. The early morning fog was expansive.

This morning I brought my father in law to his occupational therapist. But we had time to spare and so I brought him to this lookout. We drank in the goodness of the Lord. Today started off on the right foot and will soon end with both parallel to the bed. God is good and His mercies endure forever!

Day 202: July 25, 2016 Kauffman Cousins Photo Bombers

July 25, 2016

Day 202

                                                   Kauffman Cousins Photo Bombers

The Kauffman Reunion is every two years. We so look forward to this time. However, there is one problem. While our spouses line up against the wall according to age and height (I always encourage according to weight but no one ever listens to me) we, the ever present (for 30 some odd years) in-laws, rarely get photo time. We freshen our spouses for the photos, we take their pictures, and we run after our children (it's so hard to catch up to them these days). Though this helps us go deep into servanthood, we just want one picture of us. But no, there are no in-law line ups. Who are we? We're just the ones to pack the van, put gas in the car, and provide our spouses with descendants for their family.

Left to right: Cheryl Kauffman, Beth Boll, Gary Kauffman,
Andrew Blank, Wanita O'Donohue,
Christine Blank, Rosita Combs,
Lynn Burkholder (no smiling dude),
Dan Swartentruber, Charles Swartzentruber,
Judy Swartzentruber

This year it all changed. We finally did it.  We lined up according to however we wanted, we created no paradigms, we did not even ask for a camera. We just lined up. Though the crowd thinned we were just so thankful to have at least one camera heading in our direction. Thank you Chad, thank you! You have always been so very kind.

Left to right: Me, Audrey Swartzentruber, Jimmbolay O'Donohue, Kevin Boll, Kim Kauffman, Merlin Ebersole, Rosanne Swartzentruber, Josie Swartzentruber

In all honesty, the group photo shoot of the Kauffman Cousins provides me with a heart overflow of warm fuzzies. I love this group and to be accepted by them is simply an honor and not a difficult process, they make it very easy. This is a loving and gracious family. Sunday morning we circled around those in our midst dealing with health issues and we asked God to do a big and mighty work. We put our trust in His kindness, His goodness, His mercy, and in His healing abilities. To our Heavenly Father, family matters and the Kauffman Reunion is a reminder of this very thing.

Day 201: July 24, 2016 Saunders' Family

July 24, 2016
Day 201

                                      Saunders' Family



Of course I am biased. This is my daughter's family, the Saunders. But you would also agree upon spending any amount of time with Robyn and RJ, Theo and Sadie Lynne. They are a great family authentically living life! I love the intentionality of this family. They stand for what is right, not what is common!

Enjoy the following pictures:

Day 200: July 22, 2016 Elva's Family Reunion

July 22, 2016
Day 200


Elva's Family Reunion


Elva, my mother in law, would love this reunion and would speak of it for the next year, if she were here. I believe she is at another reunion of sorts in heaven and though we miss her I am convinced her heart is at such rest and contentment that if she is at all seeing any of this she is simply smiling and urging us on in the faith.

I do miss seeing her in a corner speaking with her sister. So many are here. And she would have so loved that. I am thankful that the Kauffmans have done this for over forty years for it has allowed me to be a part of something wonderful. That wonderful would be a family full of twists and turns, loyalty and comfort, and great hope for tomorrow. This family understands that family matters.

Christine, like her father is a photographer and the following pictures are just a drop in the photo bucket. The first night is often marked with a flipping through albums and tonight was no exception.