FRIDAY AFTERNOON WE PAINTED SET

When we began, it looked a little garish.

Adam had to put the first paint on his White Christmas mural. I just couldn't do it. This is midway through the afternoon. Things are looking a little better.

We started getting some masonry up. Adam and Shaylynn did a nice job with the rocks.

MARCH 8TH, SET BUILDING DAY

The construction leaders:
Mitch Racker (our foreman), Kenny Light, and Chad Engelke.

The lunch crew, and precision flyer cutters:
Corrie Welshymer, Becky Hall, and Ashley Riefer.

The Patient and Diligent:
Mr. Welshmymer and Mr. Quakklaar .

The Super-Strong:
Gabe Quakklaar, Jenna Light, Erik Davidson, Adler Davidson, and Josh Riefer.

SET BUILDING DAY, CONTINUED

"So, what's the lastest poll on bebo", or waiting for the next platform:
Nathan Brown, Nathan Hickle, Joel Nisbett, Justin Mosher, Mark Hickle, and Josh Riefer.

Setting a brick wall in place:
Colin Welshymer, Mr. Welshymer, Mark Hickle, Kyle and Kameron Alford, and some unidentified tennis shoes.

The most important helpers, the "Glory Crew":
Rachel Hickle, Glory Nisbett, Eva Quakklaar, and Clarrisa Light

Josiah Nisbett and Steve Martin and the beautiful palace steps!

THOUGHT PROVOKING QUOTE

"The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it."

-John Ruskin

JOEL'S FLIGHT LESSONS

Joel has been taking flight lessons for the last 9 months. He is really enjoying it (and so far always comes home safely). He should be able to solo in the next few lessons.


Pre-Flight Instruction with the flight instructor, Darrin Bacon CFII

The plane seats 4, so this time Keith (the photographer) and Anna got to tag along.

Pulling the Cessna 172 out of the hangar.

Our farm from the air. If you click on the picture, it will enlarge and you can see our grass runway. Joel hopes to get it in great shape this summer. (Then he'll start trying to get a plane!)

HOUSES OF A FEW FRIENDS FROM THE AIR

While they were flying, Keith took pictures of places he recognized.


This is the Jacobson's farm on the left.

Stanley's Garden Center, where Caleb works.

Chad and Amanda's house on the right.


The Hamacher's farm and "pond".

MUSIC AFTER CHURCH

We've been treated to some beautiful music after church recently, first the "Mosher String Quartet"

and then a member of the soon to be famous "Jacobson Bluegrass Band".

A NEW DESTINATION IS DISCOVERED

The town of Nisbet, very near Amy and Nate, with mountains, rivers, and state parks nearby. You can be sure this is high on our list of places to visit. Let us know if you'd like to join us!

A SAINT RETURNS TO HER SAVIOUR

Our dear friend, Mrs. Jean Ranes, went to be with her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ on Monday, February 25, at noon. This was exactly 11 weeks after she quit eating, 77 days. The seventh day represents a day of rest and she has entered her rest of rests, eternal rest. We thank the LORD for the opportunity to have known her, and her beautiful joyful spirit.

"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest. . ." Hebrews 4:9

PLAYING IN THE MUD

Over Christmas Break, my sister Julie and her husband Jon, from Atlanta, GA came for a visit. We had a wonderful time, and Julie gave me a refresher course on throwing on the wheel. She then taught the kids the fundamentals. It was so much fun, and Julie is such a great teacher (and a great sister.)

We got really good and muddy, which is not hard for me to accomplish.

Joy throwing her first pot. And below we have Anna throwing a pot, and Nathanael just hanging around with Julie

CHEESE BALL

No holiday would be complete without the famous "cheese ball"!

John dumps in the parsley.

Anna and Glory help mix.

And Zoe (Julie and Jon's hound) helps with quality control.

MUD, THEN CRYSTAL AND CANDLES

After playing in the mud, we had our favorite turkey and dressing together. It was quite a contrast, along the lines of Sense and Sensibility, or the Agony and the Ecstacy, just not as poetic.

Adam playing with a new lens

Jon playing with nieces.

And everybody is about to play with the apple pie, ice cream, and hot cider.

THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER

We have been very busy, and having a great time too, preparing for our next play. We are doing a musical version of "The Prince and The Pauper", by Neil Berg. The music is great, the story is great, and our cast is great. What more can I say, other than don't miss the performances (April 11, 12, 17, 18, & 19). Here we have Alex Goff (our prince) working on his swordsmanship.

Blocking a scene (with the backdrop from White Christmas still showing) We start building set March 8th.

Nathan Brown and Josiah taking a break.

Amy has been working away on costume design and construction up in Pennsylvania. She brought the first batch of costumes in last week(and we had a great time visiting with her.) Joy and Anna decided to model the prince and pauper costumes for us. They look even better in real life on their rightful (at least for half the play) owners.