An End to the Summer Fun

On Monday one of my elders called and invited Shawn and me to join him for some golf today. Knowing it was Shawn's last day of his summer vacation, we accepted his invitation. At 2:30 we met him in Ellington, CT for some golf at a par 3 course we like to play. It was a great afternoon of fun and frustration (it was golf after all) and a reminder that life is about to return to a routine that has been missing all summer. But for this afternoon, we enjoyed the beauty of summertime in New England.Here is Gerald Stevens, but did his putt go in? Ask him when you see him.Here is Shawn preparing to tee off, can he reach the green? I will never tell!

When we finished our nine holes we came home and had a supper of leftovers while Barb was at work. It was then I realized that with Shawn's return to school tomorrow we enter a whole new year of scheduling around his school calendar. Gone will be those wonderful cookouts at Janet's camper like the one we enjoyed a few weeks ago.

Here Dotty Sylvester and Gerald Stevens await a feast while my son David reads in the background. We had some great times at Janet's camper this summer. And when there we always had plenty to eat, thanks to Chef Rodney, shown below. This summer we enjoyed being with our family at the reunion in BC, enjoyed having David and Marianne here for almost a month, I enjoyed my week in Maine as Bible teacher at Lakeside, my trip to General Conference outside Chicago, and we enjoyed our occasional visits to the Berkshires to see Barb's family there. Now everything has to be scheduled with an eye on Shawn's school calendar.

I wonder when we will get the chance to go do something fun again, I hope I don't have to wait too long.

Saying Goodbye

At 5:30 this morning Barb and I drove David and Marianne to the airport here in Windsor Locks and put them on a plane to Texas. They will spend another week in the states and on September 4th, our 32nd wedding anniversary, they will begin their return trip to China. Here is a picture of Barb with the kids as they said goodbye at Bradley Airport as the sun began to brighten the horizon in the background.
It was great to have the kids with us for most of the month of August. We got to visit, the girls got to shop, we went out to eat together and shared many meals at home. They were on the road a good bit, visiting 4 churches in 3 states on the 4 Sundays they were here. They found this a very difficult time to do support raising. But they will return to their assignment with a trust in the LORD for His provision and direction.

Marianne is beginning to look pregnant and it looks good on her. David has that happy father's approving grin on many occasions. The Lord willing, the next time we see them, it will be in China after the arrival of the baby. A trip to see them at their home in China is tentatively scheduled for mid-March of 2009.

Yesterday was a fun day. Our niece Rachel, her husband Matt, and their new baby Judah came to see Marianne and David before they left. Rachel's mom Dorinda drove them down from Massachusetts and we were able to have lunch together. Last night we had a fun meal to send them off. Beginning with the cranberry and brie appetizers we went on to enjoy a dinner of garden fresh salad made with ingredients from our garden (the tomato actually came from a friend's garden) but the lettuce, carrots, cucumbers all came from our garden. The entrees were bacon wrapped steaks, swordfish steaks, and salmon all grilled outside. We had sauteed yellow and zucchini squash with red onions, baked sweet potato, rolls with olive oil and dipping spices and for dessert, we had some wonderful tarimisu. It was wonderful. The next time we share a meal it will be in Kunming, China!

It was great to spend time with the kids but life marches on. Barb works the next three days. I have a luncheon meeting today with another pastor from Windsor. Shawn returns to school tomorrow. And David and Marianne must return to their ministry in China. I am left to wonder what it will be like to hold my grandchild when we go to see them next year, the Lord willing.

A Wonderful Reward!

It is in Psalm 127:3 that we read "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward." (ESV) This afternoon my wife Barb and I, along with our son Shawn, got to go to visit our niece Rachel, and her husband Matt, at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, MA. The occasion of our visit....the birth of Judah Matthew Keesee at 10:26pm on August 16, 2008. Judah arrived weighing in at a hefty 8 lbs. 15 ozs. and being 23 inches long. His mom, Rachel, spent 20 hours in labor before she gave birth to her reward, the baby we affectionately call - 'lil moose! Here is what Judah looked like on the afternoon of the 17th, when he was about 17 hours old!It was an honor to be able to visit with this new family and share in the excitement that comes with a newborn. We were thankful to be able to share in this special time since Matt and Rachel were the only members of my wife's family who could not be with us at our recently concluded Shaw Family Reunion in British Columbia. But seeing the joy on their faces as we visited with them, and sharing their excitement, made us believe this was every bit as special as the reunion, for them probably moreso. Here at the proud parents in Rachel's hospital room.We all got to take a turn hold the "little big man", and we got to visit with their good friends Caleb and Eva Joy, who are expecting their own reward this coming Wednesday! Here are the happy parents to be.Before we left, Judah's 3 year old cousin Emma arrived and took her turn holding the reward that God had given to Matt and Rachel. Here she is practicing for her duties as a big cousin.
Our visit caused us to rejoice with the new parents and to look forward with anticipation to the arrival of our own grandchild next February when God gives a reward to David and Marianne, if that is his purpose for them. I wonder how much excitement will fill our hearts as we travel to China to see our grandchild and his parents.

It's About Time

It has been a while since I have been able to post to my blog. There are several reasons for that and I won't bore you with them here. But tonight I thought I'd share a few pictures and thoughts. Since coming back from the Shaw Family Reunion in BC in July, we have been busy.

A week after I came back from the reunion, Shawn and I were off for Maine and a week at Lakeside Family Camp in Belgrade, Maine. We had a great week. We got in a round of golf, Shawn got in a lot of swimming, we got to visit with my parents (who have a cottage there) and I got to be the Bible teacher for five days as I led a group of folks in a study of the book of Ephesians. Here are some of those who attended the Bible study in the lovely chapel on the campground.

It was fun to be able to study God's word together and learn more about how He wants us to "walk", as Paul shows us in his letter.

One of the real joys for me was getting to meet and be led in worship by Mr. Dean Neal who is a gifted and inspirational worship leader. Here is Dean as he led us in worship one evening.When our week in Maine was over we travelled back home to Connecticut and were blessed to have our son and daughter-in-law come to visit while home on furlough from China. We were able to be with them at the reunion, but it is wonderful to have them staying with us without so many others as well. What a thrill it was for us to learn that David and Marianne are expecting their first child in February of next year. Here is the happy couple at a picnic we attended with some friends at Moose Meadow Camping Resort here in Connecticut.

It is wonderful having David and Marianne home, but we can only wonder what it will be like to have a grandchild born and raised on the other side of the world! We are already praying that God will make it possible for us to visit them in China soon after their family expands.

A Week Well Spent

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!"

Psalm 133:1 (ESV)

The 2008 Shaw Family Reunion is now history. It will undoubtably be remembered as one of the most spectacular.

From the mountains that were climbed to the vistas that were all around, from the big bucks to the little fawns, from the wild flowers to the growing grand-children, my mind is filled with images that bring a smile to my face. Over 28 years we have enjoyed 15 family reunions. Here is the list, each entry complete with memories of its own.

1980 - Brandywine Meadows Camp in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania

1982 - Shaw family home in Middle Simonds, New Brunswick

1984 - Dean and Dorinda's home in Hamilton, Ontario

1986 - Alton Bay Christian Conference Center in Alton Bay, New Hampshire

1988 - Shenandoah Acres Resort in Stuarts Draft, Virgina

1990 - Will-O-Wood Campground on Lake Willoughby, Vermont

1992 - Clearview Cottage Resort at Youngs Point, Ontario

1994 - Mountain Top Cottages on Parker Moutain, Nova Scotia

1996 - Cabwaylingo State Forest in Dunlow, West Virgina

1998 - Dunrovin Cottages in Victoria, Prince Edward Island

2000 - Richibucto River Resort in Rexton, New Brunswick

2002 - Magog Mont Orford in Quebec

2004 - Lakes Resort Cottages and Campground in Margaree, Cape Breton

2006 - The Lakeside at Loon Lake in Chesterton, New York

2008 - Alpine Resort Village in Kimberley, British Columbia and Mark and Teresa's home in Wycliffe, BC

Now we are back home in Windsor Locks, CT. A thundershower is moving by outside and will bring down the temperature that was over 90 degrees earlier today. Shawn attended his youth group this evening. We all miss being with our family but must face the reality of returning to the routine of living.

We are looking forward to having David and Marianne visit with us in early August. But for now, we look back on being together as a family, both our Dean family (shown here)

and the larger Shaw family shown below.

DAY SIX - Winding Down

After my bear sighting of yesterday, I had 6 people join me on my early morning walk today. We did not see any bear, but what a joy to come upon these two spotted fawn who were following their mom but stopped long enough to look at all the curious camera carrying tourists!

This year's Shaw Family Reunion is now winding down, and that is probably a good thing, I'm exhausted. But I couldn't relax until after I took part in our now traditional omlet breakfast. It has become a tradition for me to cook omlets for everyone at the reunion who would like one. This year I cooked 29 3-egg omlets over 2 and 1/2 hours.

Barb assisted in getting the plates prepared and served and everyone seemed to enjoy this year's installment. I think this is a tradition we may continue. After cleaning up from breakfast I took Jennifer and Erin into Kimberley so they could take an afternoon white-water rafting trip. Then I took Robbie and Kelley and we went to see the Marysville Falls. It was a beautiful sight as you can see from the photos below.

At lunchtime the Shaw children all went out with their mom for some apple strudel and conversation, another important traditon at Shaw Family Reunions. But as always happens, we began to say our goodbyes as Dean Shaw and family were the first to leave at 4:00 pm as they began to make their way back to Massachusetts and New York. The condos that have been home since we arrived began to be less crowded.

Supper was leftovers as we attempted to use up the food from our various condos. We had more tacos, hamburgers, salads, kabobs and the remains of the desserts. After supper, Jay and Holly headed back to New Brunswick. When we had cleaned up from supper we headed off to spend some time at Mark and Teresa's. There I got to sample some of the area's famous apple struddle and watch more of the amazing scenery as the sunset on the day and another family reunion.

DAY FIVE - Adventures Aplenty

On Wednesday I went for an early morning walk. The first part of the walk was with my wife and brother-in-law. When we got to the end of the paved road, they renturned to the condos but I continued on taking a walk on a cross-country trail through the woods. The views were breathtaking. About half-way through the long loop I met a mountain biker who told me he had seen a small black bear and suggested I keep my eyes open. You can bet I did. Just about 5 minutes later I saw the bear pictured below. The bear is hard to see, but I was not about to get any closer since it was large and brown, The bear is behind a tree in the upper left quarter of the picture and it is heading up the hill. My walk was at a much brisker pace following that sighting. My son Josh and I returned later that morning for a second walk but never saw the bear again.A large portion of the reunion group headed to Ft. Steele for part of the day. Ft. Steele is an historical site with life re-enacted from the early days in the Canadian west. There was far more to this than could be enjoyed in the time they alotted but most seemed to enjoy it. My son Robbie, and his wife Kelley, spent the day on a white water rafting trip.

After I returned from my two walks in the woods I took advantage of the hot tub on our deck.

Then it was time to transport a group of the younger reunion group members to a paintball field and take my granddaughter and daughter-in-law Jennifer for some ice cream. Now that is my idea of a good time. Let's hear it for Dairy Queen!

After our ice cream and some shopping for supplies, we returned to pick up the "Shaw malitia" following their war games at Echo Field.

When everyone got back from their respective adventures and excursions, it was time for the cousins and their spouses to prepare the meal. The kids did a great job putting on a Mexican feast. Food included 2 kinds of dip with tortilla chips, salad with salsa, and soft tacos made with the finest ingridients. David's Delight was the dessert for the evening.

Just before we ate dinner we shared in our traditional picture taking event and here is the group who attended this year's Shaw Family Reunion.

God has blessed me richly with a wonderful extended family and I thank him for the opportunity to have been able to share in this adventure with them. I wonder where our next reunion will be in two years, rumor has it, maybe in western North Carolina!