North side of Shasta has little snow for June!
The South side has even less....
It's gonna be a long dry summer!
So......with the passing of Grandma from her earthly home to heaven, we decided to make the trip to California. Levi and Amie had never been to Grandpa Kenny's, and Sophie was too young to remember. Who knows what occasion would bring us to Ripon again, but chances are slim that we would have this kind of opportunity again, to be at my grandparents' home,
...my dad's childhood home!
Making the trip with us in convoy was
Sarah, Emma, William, and Nathan.
This is a long entry....with lots of pictures......
My own walk down memory lane,
and new memories for our children!
Rest stop....getting some exercise
Levi does some pull-ups!
Then, shimmies up a tree!
Grandpa Kenny was always exploring nature with the kids,
so it seemed natural that there was collection going.
Lots of kids!
Loving time with Aunts and Uncles!
Cousins too!
Amie and Dom are catching ant and "killing' them with water!
Pull-ups on the walnut tree!
Water painting with chalk
Simeon
Chloe putting war paint on Amie
What kind of leaf is that, Janine? =)
Singing in the living room...
songs for the service the next day!
A. Marilyn, what a great smile!
So nice to be able to smile and laugh.
God's promises of life beyond this earth
makes this an occasion of joy!
So much yummy food provided!
Thankful for the hands that prepared it....
so helpful when there is so much stuff going on!
A. Jan got to shoot the gun she used to shoot birds with
when she was little!
Dear U. Larry.....So much time invested here the last 8 years!
Thank you for taking care of your Momma!
New cousins get acquainted!
New crop of cousins hanging
from the branches of the walnut tree,
enjoying its shade!
Graveside Service
Beautifully made reminder of the empty tomb,
and our Savior who conquered the grave
and made a way for us to be with Him!
Sweet times talking with kids, explaining what was...
...what is,
...and what is to COME!
Surprisingly, Levi was willing to help!
Amie could hardly tear herself away from all the activity!
U. Larry hand Sophie some dirt to throw in.
"There is a Hope"
by Stuart Townend
There is a hope that stands the test of time,
That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
To see the matchless beauty of a day divine
When I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die,
And every longing satisfied.
Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
For I am truly home
After all was over, the little ones got busy!
I am pretty sure Grandpa Kenny would approve!
Packing up
Climbing the clothesline
Clothes drying in the warm California air.
The neighbors had fruit to share...YUM!
Kenny gets the mud hole started.
We used to play in the irrigation water as it poured from the pipes and flowed out into the orchards.
Levi thinks its funny, but doesn't want in!
Betcha if his older brothers were here,
it would be a different story!
Janine's boys knew right what to do!
New to this throwing mud stuff!
Lather up, boys!
Emma's getting brave...
Sophie's dirty now; well kinda!
She got collateral mud splatters!
The rinsing off was COLD!
Don't you dare! I've got a camera!
A far cry from where she started!
Bath in the big sink! Lots kids have been in there over the years!
Dinner on the clothesline.
Not sure how she got up there without spilling her food!
The HookeyLOwl
Grandpa Kenny's name for it!
I love this old red fence!
Jasmine.....mmmmmm
The air horn Grandma blew to call Grandpa in
from the far side of the barn!
Grandpa's wheelbarrow has seen a lot!
The pump house
I love this barn! I can still hear the walnuts
rolling over the conveyor belt and into the dryer!
And the clacking sound they made being poured into gunny sacs!
This chunk of wood has seen many a fish carcass!
The crumbling pavement in front of the barn.
A favorite scene from my childhood!
The manicured tidy rows of the walnut orchards!
Nice and shady! Perfect for walks!
Looking down Mohler Road
Town has reached the other side of the road,
where once it was lined with almond orchards!
Grandpa's dog water bowl....a constant drip.
The sun sets on the old barn....
putting to bed those memories of old.
To be reclaimed at just the right moment
of passing on to the younger generations
the true stories of the past....
of their great grandparents, their hard work,
the joys and struggles,
their Faith in God!
Morning dawns....
as we once more load the cars and pull away.
The faster pace of town life faces this old house,
across the street,
but, I will live with the memory of quieter days on this road!
And what fun it was to grow up in the little town of Ripon!
Thank you, God, for the gift of good memories!
and now let us press on!
***
Eccesiastes 7:10
Do not say, "Why is it that the former days were better than these?"
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
(In the midst of trouble and discontent,
it is easy to lose touch with reality)
New Generations coming behind us!
Lots to live and teach!
