Baptism, Grad, and SK Friends

This weekend our dear friends, the Hamms and Ambersons, came all the way here from Saskatchewan to celebrate three baptisms and three homeschool graduates with us. It was a wonderful weekend of friendship, games, singing, praying and glorifying God.

On Friday, the SK guests arrived, and we had our usual Friday fellowship night.

Us teenagers played quite a bit of volleyball, until it was time to gather inside with everyone else to sing and pray and just share what God has been doing in our lives and what He has been teaching us. Afterwards we shared snacks and people talked around the fire, or in the house, or played Rocks. Not having brought a sweater or shoes, I was slightly chilly, so I, Sunday and Alyssa went inside and made tea, then sat in the living room and mostly listened to the boys talk about vehicles. Soon people started to leave, as it was past midnight. Then it was just us, the Ambersons, Friesens, and [SK]Hamms chatting away, until 2:30 in the morning. At that point, Caleb decided it was a good time to go home.

At a bit past four on Saturday, we went back to the Friesens for the graduation and baptisms. We brought snacks to share and several essentials for the tacos we would be eating for supper. People chatted and the little kids enjoyed water balloon games while we waited for everyone to arrive. Right after supper, we went to the Haskett park, where we would play games in the Zorbs that were rented. It was very tiring, but a lot of fun, and very entertaining to watch! After that was done, then came the time to baptize and to give a grad speech. We sang several songs, and then Brad, Michael K and Jeremiah told everyone why the made the decision to be baptized, and then the fathers of each young man baptized them. It is amazing to see God working in the lives of my friends! Then Christiana and Lily gave their graduation speeches, and Ryan's dad put in a few words for him, then we prayed together and had snack again and everyone chatted or played Prisoners Base/Battery until I could barely stand. I got to hold my adorable new cousin for the first time! I could have held him all night, but other people also love babies, so I shared ;) At past midnight, I said my farewell's to the Ambersons, which was a sad moment, but it was wonderful to see them again.

Sunday came about, and so eagerly we waited and waited for Don and Jackie Hamm family to come to our place. Finally, they and David and Susan Friesen drove down our driveway and everyone was happy. We ate supper together, and then most of us older kids sat on the porch and listened to Guthrey play guitar and sing, while little kids played with water guns or ripsticks. A bit later, we attempted to start a volleyball game, but that didn't work out very well, so we went back inside and listened to Guthrey play guitar and sing some more, and just talked until 12:30 am.

We awoke bright and early on Monday, our last day with the Hamms, sadly. Us older children sat outside on the porch and drank coffee and chatted for awhile. After breakfast, we piled in Caleb's truck and went to JB music store and we played around with guitars, mandolins, banjo's and other instruments and Guthrey bought a capo. We played a Dutch Blitz game, and still, no matter how determined me and Sunday were, we still couldn't beat Caleb and Jude. The Hamms stayed for lunch and a bowl of avocado ice cream with strawberries, and then it was time to say goodbye.

Here are some pics from over the weekend.

FRIDAY - Helmut and Anna's place.

Playing volleyball.