Briana

Last week on Wednesday, Briana celebrated her 20th birthday.  That right, our granddaughter is no longer a teen.  Happy birthday Bree!

I posted a birthday greeting on her Facebook wall.  “In keeping with the family tradition, I come here today to wish you Happy Birthday. It’s our way of extending the celebration of a special day.”  In that same spirit I’m posting this greeting here today.  How long will it take for her to find this?  Will she find this?

Bob

I’ve known Bob Rose for over 50 years.  I met him when I was a student at Michigan State University and he was working in the Engineering Department.  We soon discovered a mutual enjoyment of the outdoors and, when we were single, had some fun camping and fishing.  When Bob married Sue, Sylvia and I stood up with them.  In 1972, Sylvia and I had been accepted for missionary service at HCJB in Quito, Ecuador.  We were trying to sell the old farm house and eleven acres, which we were buying on land contract.  Bob and Sue were ready to move out of the small house where they were living and inquired about buying our place.  I called the mortgage contract holder and found he would be interested in financing the deal for the Roses.  They bought our place and by the end of the year, we were living in Costa Rica while studying Spanish.

Sue, Bob and their daughter

Bob turned 80 last Wednesday.  Sue organized a surprise party for him.  Sylvia and I were glad to be there on Saturday to help celebrate.  It was great to see these special friends and to visit with them.

In the fifty years since they bought that place from us they have torn down the old farm house and barn.  A new huge garage (or is it a barn) and a modern earth-sheltered home with vaulted ceilings have taken their place.  Their home features some of Bob’s stained glass works.  It’s really nice!  I failed to get pictures. Yet again. 🙁

They buried the remains of the house and barn, covering them with soil.  By doing this, they have added some interesting contours to the land and multiplied the value of the property.  Here’s the view if you walk toward the back of their place.

We’ve had dry weather lately and the water level in the pond is low

That is the house to the left of the vehicles.  As you can see, it is well sheltered from the elements.  A very nice place.

A short way from the back door there is another water feature.  Yes Lin, there are frogs.

It never looked this way when we lived there.  Ingenuity and hard work transformed an old farmstead into a nature lover’s dream home.  Well done Bob and Sue.  Here’s wishing you many more happy and healthy years of togetherness.