9-30-11 Hey Kids…

Last weekend we went to our first monthly hymn sing in about 18 months. Some of us really enjoyed it, while some of us went only because some of us others wanted to go.

This got us thinking about life in a family and how we all have to give and take to get along and enjoy being together.

Here is some history which you may or may not know.

Growing up, Mom’s family almost always went to the monthly hymn sing.

Growing up, Dad’s family almost never went to the monthly hymn sing.

When Dad & Mom got married, we agreed to alternate months. That’s called give and take, and it has worked well for the last eighteen years.

Until the last 18 months, however, when life and busy-ness somehow conspired to cheat Mom of going. Does that mean Mom gets all bent out of shape about it? Of course not. It just means that common sense prevails. When illness and other plans interfere, there is – what? – give and take.

It’s a basic life principle that we want you kids to learn and live. In life, as in a family, you must learn to give and take with others on a daily, hourly basis, never being duped into believing the old lie of “My Way Or The Highway.”

My Way Or The Highway brings little happiness, we can assure you. We’ve seen it, and you’ve seen it, and we’ve all talked about it, and you know what we mean.

Give and take, always. You will be much happier.

One more thing, specifically about singings.

Do you know what it means when some folks go to the monthly hymn sing and some don’t? Do you think it matters that some in our family really enjoy singing and others don’t so much? Does it mean some are better people? Better Christians? Better singers? Closer to God? Love God more?

Nope.

None of the above.

Here’s what it means: It means that some folks enjoy going to the monthly hymn sing, and some folks don’t.

That’s it. That’s all it means. Don’t ever try to make it mean anything else, because it doesn’t mean anything else.

Always remember the principle from the monthly hymn sing:

Give and take.

Always.

You will be much happier for it.

Keep on keepin’ on.

Dad & Mom

9-29-11 Busy Week

(Tori)

This week has been busy; Tuesday we went to the library and Restmor. Wednesday Jacob had to go to the orthodontist so Mom took him, Kate, and Josh and went to Aldi too. 

Josh giving out good-night kisses one night this week.

Tuesday the steers jiggled the chain holding the gate shut loose and got out. As you can see it was very rainy. We got about 1.1” Monday and Tuesday.

An oversized load.

Since the rain Monday and Tuesday the lake has gone up a lot.

 

Comparison picture: this was taken about 3 weeks ago, on September 4.

Wrestling Tuesday night.

    

9-28-11 Saturday

by Jacob

Saturday morning Dad and I extracted honey. At 7:30 I went out and put a heat lamp on all the supers because they had been sitting out in the shed all night; it gets down to low forties at night. All the honey would be really stiff and it would be hard to cut the wax caps off with the hot knife. Then Dad started cutting off the wax with the hot knife and then I got the next frame all loosened. Then we would extract it. We ended up with eight gallons. While we were doing honey, Jesse was at Farm and Fleet buying a gate for across the road. When he got back we went and installed it. Then U. Randy harvested the field in the pasture so we moved the cows into there once he was done. That night we had supper outside around the fire. We had hotdogs, apples with caramel, hot chocolate, baked beans, and s’mores. It was a fun evening.

9-27-11 Grandpa’s Birthday

by Ben

Sunday afternoon A. Sarah came to our house so she could ride in our van to the Fellowship Hall in Cissna Park so we could celebrate Grandpa Rinkenberger’s 90th birthday. There were lots of balloons and candy and party hats and noisemakers.  Bradley, Sarah, and I were trying to catch moths with party hats. We had a fun time.

9-26-11 Last Night

by Sarah

Last night we went away. We went far away.  2 hours away.  Dan and Anne and their kids were there. We had fun.  We think they had fun too.  We played with balloons.  We had so much fun.  It was great then we left.

9-26-11 Cissna Park

By Kaitlyn

Saturday 9-24-11 was Grandpa Rinkenberger’s 90th birthday. Sunday night all the Rinkenbergers went to the Cissna Park fellowship hall for a birthday party. It is a two hour drive so we had to leave right after church. We came home, did the chores, and then we left. A. Sarah came with us! Mom even remembered her camera. We had barbeque sandwiches, apple slices, chips, and fresh vegetables. Except the birthday boy got STEAK!

And of course there were party whistles!!

Grandpa in his party hat.

 

Dessert table.

Grandpa’s cake.

 

Grandpa was glad for all the brown m’n’m’s which Mindy picked out for him! He says they taste better!

 

Doug got Josh to sit on his lap by giving him a few rolls of smarties.

One, two, three, squeeze.

 

  We left at about 7:45 so we got home at about 9:50. It was a pretty fun evening.

9-24-11 Saturday

Walking to the road for a ride in the semi with Levi.

It’s hard to tell, but Josh is in the truck. And he LOVED his ride!

For the record – Dad & Jacob extracted about 9 gallons of honey this morning. This is the only picture – not too exciting but I wanted it in here for reference other years.

We girls got our kitchen work done and then headed to the field for rides. Josh made a birthday cake while he waited for his turn.

Waiting for a truck to come back.

Cloudy but beautiful. That’s our farm near the center.

Love this!

Ben & Sarah with Uncle Randy.

Kate & Jewel with Grandpa.

Unloading on the go.

:)

Success #2 – YUMMMM!!

Spontaneous wiener roast on a perfect evening. Great idea Dad!!!!!

The only healthy thing on the menu -

which is even questionable when you smother them with caramel. But it’s oh so good – and just a favorite part of an IL fall.

Baked beans, of course – and I didn’t get px of the smores or hot chocolate – but all essentials for an IL wiener roast.

Jesse practiced his blacksmith skills.

 

Dad & I took a walk to check on the cows which were moved into Uncle Harley’s field which Uncle Randy harvested this afternoon.

Frisky calves!

One lone stalk was left – which Mama cow found and harvested :)

 

The End.