2015 Week 18: Comings and Goings

"The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”  (Isaiah 40:8)

Yes, flowers do come and go.

One lone tulip.                                                Fading narcissus.

In the light of eternity, our lives are also fleeting.
Every year around this time,we are privileged to attend a special event at Taylor University to remember a beloved professor who died suddenly at age 42. We did not know him well, but his widow became our dear friend. And his daughter was our granddaughter Kayla's friend and dance teacher. Heather and her family moved to Indiana so were able to attend this year's Rick Seaman memorial chapel and luncheon.

Both Heather and Kayla have little girls now. I haven't seen Rebecca in a few weeks, but here is a recent favorite pose borrowed from Facebook.

Wednesday, our ladies' Bible study group gathered at The Bridge Cafe for breakfast and fellowship. 

All week we've been preparing to host two events in our home. Mike asked me to pick up his bronzes from where they've been displayed at the local jewelers ever since the Poetry and Arts festival. 

Now they adorn our home once again to welcome our many guests.

The first group arrived Saturday afternoon, only two,Tim and Barbara, visiting from far away SE Asia. We've known them for many years, but rarely seen them in person. Mike and Barbara were in college together at John Brown University in Arkansas.

Another local acquaintance, also a Tim, has followed their work overseas for more than thirty years. We were all invited for a delightful dinner that evening to his beautiful home on the hill overlooking Taylor Lake.

Barbara was not well, probably bronchitis, brought on by lower temperatures even snow in Colorado and Minnesota earlier on in their travels. 70 degrees is cold where they come from.    

We did get out, however, for a walk in the woods and a visit to Ivanhoe's.

Today, Tuesday, we anticipate our largest group, 50+--the robotics team members and their families--for the annual social. There is so much to celebrate this year. (Read about our trip to the World Championship here.)

The "team grandparents" watching the competition

 Photo courtesy of Eric Wood.

More about the big day next week.