The county fair is not happening this year due to the pandemic - all 42 years of our married life it has been part of our summer! There is a sadness yet we are more free to have family time without the chores, projects due, and pressures of shows and State Fair trips that come with a county fair and 6 kids involved. Our week with Susan/Hallel was much more wonderful and complete without the fair looming over our heads. Pat, who is on the fair board was not off getting this or that job done in preparation for the fair. The fact that he has been on the fair board for most of our married life shows how much the fair means to him.
We were happy to find Matthew 16 as the Gospel today! Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?..." Matthew 16
Sweet corn crew 6 years ago in the our kitchen on the farm... now totally different as this is the bathroom/bedroom and the kitchen is on the other side of the house. 2 year old Rose loved to help and still does!
Rose 4 years ago in their new kitchen facing the south bright sunlight and their beautiful farm sink! Wonderful changes in her childhood home by Ruth, who has a vision for how things would be for her farm kitchen for huge canning family jobs!
Beginning our morning of tests... "You are 95? You sure don't look that old." "Isn't he cute?" That one kind of got a little annoying. I probably would have said that as a young nurse myself, and I see now that it is a bit immature to say that of my wise old father, who is having humbling procedures.This morning as Pat and I prayed together... Pat prayed for my father and how humbling and humiliating it is for him to be going through all of this. Truly his most hurtful and difficult cross he is called upon to carry so helplessly at this weak point in his life. This is just what Jesus is asking all of us, his followers to do today in the Gospel! So I am looking to Jesus and my father to show me the way to gracefully humble myself and die to self so that I can follow carrying/dragging my Most Cherished Cross!

Birdie is such a peaceful and prayer ful little sweetheart at 3 months!
Peace surrounds her! How her parents, brother, and grandparents rejoice with her peaceful contentment and how it lifts us up!
The Best!!! Jesus, we need you and long to follow after you and to find that place of submission to your perfect will where we will find the fruits of the Spirit for now and forever in paradise! May we take one step at a time trusting in YOU and carrying/dragging our most Cherished Cross after you down the narrow path with heaven forever as out goal. As dad says often; "Thank you, Nancy, for your more prefect prayers for us!" Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
The prayers of children are so powerful! Bless-bless, Barbara and her namesake, Birdie Barbara!







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