Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Memorial Cross at the Harvest field

As you remember from my previous blog post, five days after my brothers death, a large group of friends, family and neighbors got together to harvest the rest of the wheat. There were at least 10 combines, several big grain semi trucks and tractors pulling grain wagons. What a blessing that was for our family. I have now plenty of space on my blog for pictures so I will finish the report on that memorable day and also some earlier harvest events.
This is Jamie's best buddies who were combining the very field where my brother suddenly past away while swathing. They had stopped out of love and respect for Jamie who was at that very moment combining the last swath that his father had cut only 5 days earlier.

When Jamie got to the area where my brother had his heart attack, he stopped the combine for a very special tribute and memorial to his dad.


"Good idea Jamie!" That's what my brother would have said.


Jamie along with the assistance of his two sisters, Angel and Amber pound the steel cross into the wheat field. Jamie and his two brother in laws constructed the memorial cross.


My brothers family as they listened to the ringing of the sledge hammer.



My dad at far left on his 4 wheeler, My mother is in peach color just behind the cross. Family gathered for a devotion and prayer by my husband, Jeff.
Jeff reads from Psalm 90.
4For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by. or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning--- though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
16- 17 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us. ---yes, establish the work of our hands.
I did not copy all of Psalm 90, only portions, but you can read that yourself.
Jeff said a nice prayer and we all joined in the Lords Prayer.
Then My brothers wife led us in singing "Now The Light Has Gone Away."
The cross memorial. Below you will see close up pictures of some of the signatures.


Jamie back in the combine. The harvest must continue!


My youngest daughter, Dales Niece, Melissa signs the cross before heading back to their home.

*******

The afternoon of my brothers funeral, a group of Jamie's friends turned out to help him swath the rest of the wheat fields. What loving support and friendship.


Planning!

And there they go! It seemed to take no time with all the swathers to help.



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Later that evening, Jamie received a call from a neighbor who lives close by. They had been hard at work combining the "Home" barley and wheat fields and wanted to know where Jamie wanted the grain. What a touching surprise!




Unloading the wheat from Tennisons big truck!



Jamie and his mother Kathy watch with tear filled eyes. What a special blessing when friends and neighbors come together to show love and compassion at a time as such.
It had been a long, emotion filled day!


Jamie taking time to drive the tractor with my grandson who just 2 months earlier had been on this same tractor with my brother, his great Uncle Dale.

My grandson's, my youngest granddaughter and my oldest daughter.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust." Psalm 91:2

Monday, October 18, 2010

Update

I have added more picture space to my blog so you will be seening updates. I did create a new blog called Porcupine Nana but still needed the picture space update purchase. There is one blog update on my Porcupine Nana blog. I thought I was on this blog and had already uploaded too many pictures to start over.

http://porcupinenana.blogspot.com/2010/10/birthdays-birthdays-and-more-birthdays.html


Birthdays, Birthdays, and more Birthdays

As long as I'm talking about Birthdays, we might as well start with mine.
We traveled to ND to my parents home and as we arrived, you can see that a family gathering awaited me and my husband. My big brother grilled turkey breast for the occasion. This was a few days before my actual birthday. It was a Sunday and we could all be together.



On Aug 5th, my actual birthday, My Uncle Ed came over and we had a old fashioned sing along.
At coffee time (lunch time in ND) There were even more relatives there and everyone sang Happy Birthday to me. This was a very memorable time for me as this was the last time I would hear my big brothers voice sing Happy Birthday to me. I remember that I also wished him a Happy Birthday since I knew I would not be there for his 62nd Birthday on Sept 9th.
God called my brother home on Aug 17th, less than 2 weeks after my Birthday celebration.
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As most of you already know, my dear husband turned 60 years old this year.
The above pictures were on his actual Birthday. We were in NE with our oldest daughter and family. What a fun time we had both then and again with a group of Friends when we had a fun night out at Hill City, SD.


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The next 2 Birthday's were my loving parents. My Mother turned 89 on Sept 1st, and my Father turned 92 on Sept 20th. I did not get a picture .
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Sept 26 th, our youngest granddaughter turned two. The Birthday celebration was on Sept 27th so we could be there.
We were stopping there for the first few days of our 3 week trip to WV and back.

The pink cake had Kipper Dog on it, it is from her favorite book. Her mom sure did a good job of creating a special home baked, decorated Birthday cake.




Singing Happy Birthday song!


She blew out one candle!

She had trouble with the second candle so she used the candle snuffer.
She knows how to get those candles out!


Just a little more of that delicious Butter Cream frosting!

Papa and I gave her this cute little bike. We just couldn't resist, after all, she is our youngest grandchild and they just grow up so fast.


Her eyes really lit up when Papa showed her the pretty pink bike.
Next summer she will be riding it all over.

*******
The next Birthday was on the next leg of our 3700 mile trip.
We stopped at our dear friends home, Leslie and Ryan (Claire the 2 year old) and celebrated
Leslie's early Birthday (Oct 15th) by going out for I Scream for Ice Cream. We enjoyed a nice visit both going and coming back from WV. Thank You Leslie and Ryan.
*******
On our way home from WV, we celebrated both Charity's Birthday and our oldest granddaughter's Birthday. They are both on Oct 29th, so it was a couple weeks early but at least we got to see them open their gifts from us.

Sorry about this picture, I just don't know what might have happened to it!

It's very hard for me to believe she will already be thirteen years old.


*******


One of the main reasons we traveled to WV this fall was so my husband Jeff could take part in their family Birthday celebration. Every Year the Falin kids get together at a special restaurant to eat a lovely Birthday meal, and exchange Birthday cards that have been very carefully picked out for each of their siblings. You see, their Birthdays fall on five consecutive months.

Jeffrey (August)
Debbie (September)
Tina (October)
Regina (November)
Kenny (December)
All five of the Falin children.

Tina got to enjoy Breakfast with us and Debbie on her Birthday.
Debbie sure can cook up a delicious breakfast!
We were actually in WV for Tina's Birthday on Oct 7th, so we made her hold a candle (that she had been making fun of all week) while we sang Happy Birthday to her.
Then big sister Debbie, joking around feeding her Birthday soup from big gourd.
Silly kids!

Jeff with his baby sister on her Birthday.



The Five Falin children, standing according to age. Jeff, Debbie, Regina, Kenny and Tina.
Two Falin children have already past on. The oldest sister, Rhenda past away about 8 years ago. and there was a baby boy who only lived 2 days, Jackie Neal, he would have been between Jeff and Debbie.




They enjoyed a couple days together, laughing, reminising and making memories.

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