Recent Happenings!

Life here in Ohio is going so much better than I ever expected. I give credit to the visitors we have had, along with our various travels. For not living around either of our families, we still feel busy enough.

Lance and Sara came out for the first time to see our abode. My parents wanted to get out here before harvest started and before the busyness overtook them. So they asked Lance's to come along, and it truly made my day! Nate and I enjoyed having them here for supper, and then they joined us for church that Wednesday night.

Lance & Sara

Tessa & Mae in front of my zinnias. My zinnias actually started looking better after Mae so generously picked some.

Monday, we headed up to my Grandpa's lake cottage to spend Labor Day with the Fiechter family. I had full intentions to snap some pictures, but unfortunately I was not feeling in the 'picture-taking mood.' Needless to say, it was a great time, you can just take my word for it.

On Wednesday my garage was overtaken by busy ladies, along with several kids, setting up for a garage sale. One of Nate's cousins asked to use our garage since we live on a busy road, which provides a prime location for a garage sale. All the proceeds went to an organization planning to build a school in Ethiopia.

The garage sale went on Friday & Saturday

I wasn't used to so much action going on at my house, nor so much stuff in my garage, but it was fun to see/meet so many faces.

Brenda and her nephew by the lemonade stand

Nate & Maelea

 On Saturday I drove to Ft. Wayne to meet up with some girls for supper. Jenae is getting married this coming October, and a few of the bridesmaids planned to steal her away from her fiance for a night. Sadly, I didn't get to participate in the kidnapping, but this is how I hear it went. Brooke, Taylor, & Shelby swooped into Jenae's house, where Randy and Jenae were peacefully playing a game. The kidnappers were disguised wearing different colored masks and jean skirts (can't go wrong with that combination). From the video I saw, it looked like a very loud, clamorous entrance into Jenae's living room with toy guns continuously shooting into the thin air. They blindfolded her, handcuffed her, and stole her away into the night (well not exactly, seeing as it was about 4:30 in the afternoon, but it made the sentence flow better.) Randy had been in on it from the start, so he let his girl go, but only on the condition that they would be reunited at 10:00 that night.

The three stooges and poor, innocent Jenae
(photo credits to T.G.)

Me, Jenae, Taylor, Brooke, Shelby, & Lena

Randy & Jenae when they came out a couple Sundays ago. So excited for their wedding on Oct 26th! 

Yesterday morning we woke up early and headed to Smithville for the day. We went out to celebrate some birthdays. Nate's mom and our nephew Stuart have birthdays 1 day apart. 

Stuart blowing out his 3 candles

Birthday gal

The nieces of the family
(Kamri, Kendra, Austyn, Alena, Jericka, & Ashlie)

Peyton was so excited to give Stuart his present

Stuart dressed up in the firefighter suit that we gave him

Kamri & I

Lena & Kamri

We had a great time with the Zollingers! It was good to see and be with everyone again.

Nate and I feel abundantly blessed. We are so thankful for all the love and loved ones in our lives.