Country Chatter

This weekend was our annual Heatwole gathering-that is my siblings, offspring and parents. We had a great time at my sisters cabin at Sparkling Springs at the base of Little North Mountain behind Singers Glen, Virginia.

My parents, Dwight and Fannie Heatwole

Saturday Afternoon & Evening

We gathered on Saturday afternoon and had a wonderful picnic supper furnish by Phil and Evelyn Borntrager, our host this year.

Daddy, Marj Heatwole and Eileen Heatwole

Cheryl Yoder with her children…Max, Bo and Ariel

This dear, sweet little Ariel is 8 months old and she is an SMA (Werdning Hoffman) baby which is the same disease as two of our children and little Truman Lane Heatwole who passed away last year.

My brother, Ed Heatwole, and sister, Evelyn Borntrager, holding her granddaughter Julieanne.

Lauren Hertzler and Karla Hostetter

Cornhole game….Jeremy Yoder and Rich Heatwole

Ryan Hostetter

 

Ryan Hostetter

Uncle Phil reading a bear story to the children and then then went on a “bear hunt”. It was great fun and they came back with two stuffed bears they found; one in a tree and the other in the bushes.

Julieanne Nolt

David Nolt and Bo & Max Yoder

Children playing cards.

Obe Hostetter, Rich Heatwole, Phil Borntrager and Calvin Nolt

Marj Heatwole, Mother and Eileen Heatwole

Brother Ed……Just can’t disconnect!

Brother Rich

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Sunday morning mother fixed lunch for us siblings and our spouses. This was a special time together and mother served us a scrumptious egg casserole, sticky buns, cantelope, tomatoes, and sausage.

Our Sunday Worship Service

We had our own worship service in the outdoor pavilion nestled among the cabins and trees. It was a special worship service.  Richard led us in singing several old hymns.

Ed and Eileen read scripture.

   

Evelyn had a children’s lesson about the shepherd who had 99 sheep and one was lost.

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The shepherd counted his sheep…95,96..97..98…99

And he looked until he found the one that was lost!

     

Uncle Charles (daddy’s brother) shared their personal tragedy;”Journey Through Grief” during the illness of Marlene and accidental death of their son Jay,

Brian and Kerwin Borntrager led us in a medley of hymns…Oh Happy Day, When Peace Like A River, When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, and Shall We Gather at the River.  This fit perfectly after Uncle Charles’ sharing and was very moving to me.

Kerwins family singing “Alive, Alive”.

I shared “I Remember…Our Faith Journey”.

A very special treat for us as a family were the Aunts and Uncles-Daddy’s siblings-that joined us.

Charles and Doris Heatwole

John Reed

Carolyn Reed

Ruth Heatwole and I failed to get a picture of Liz Yoder.

Great Aunt Nancy Heatwole (This would be my daddy’s aunt) also came.

And a few other random pictures….

Brian and Donna Borntrager

Donna and Evelyn Borntrager

Rhonda Borntrager

Obe Hostetter

 

Gene and Pat Hertzler

         

Rich Heatwole

Jill Hostetter holding Macie Jo Landis, Kendra Landis and Lauren Hertzler

A spirited water balloon fight between the grandpa’s and their grandchildren.

It was a fun and relaxing weekend and good to be with family.

God is good and we proclaim His faithfulness.