ORCHARD SNEAK PEEK

It's a lovely time of year! Spring brings new hope and energy! Allow me to show you what we see and smell living in an orchard every year. Seems a pity not to share it. :)  Each fruit blossom is similar and yet uniquely different.

One of the first signs of Spring. Robins are rather cute...really. They are such ladylike birds even though they sit on the wash line and poop on our nice clean sheets.

 

Plum blossoms with a pollinating bee

Plum orchard

                                       More plum blossoms

                                        Pear blossoms

Peach trees in full bloom beside our garden.

                               Peach blossoms

Future apples

Apple blossoms are still prettiest of all.

Apple blossoms next to the barn.

....and of course, these dandelions are everywhere. They are such a happy yellow and very pretty until their gray heads blow all over the place. But that makes for even more happiness next year....


Mattie Kauffman

                  (just realized I forgot the cherry blossoms)

LIFE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH FAMILY 

 Bender Update

When we were born we were surrounded by family and when we die we are again surrounded by family. (for most of us that is) Family is special and I believe very close to God's heart.

But in life as time goes on it gets difficult to keep family connections. We Bender siblings are scattering and God calls us to different projects and locations. When we do gather again, it's not difficult to pick up where we left off.

Because of our time in Kenya, it's been a few years, but our family finally arranged to meet at Camp Moses in Linwood, NE. This is located in the northern part of the state along Platte River. It was a beautiful place, lovely facilities and wonderful service.  The June weather was gorgeous!  What a great time we had... cousins playing and reconnecting.... it's interesting watching the athletic bent being passed on to the next generation. We siblings tried as well but we stumbled around more stiff-legged than ever and got weak laughing at each other. We are getting more content to sit around and gab....ah yes, some things are changing but other things never change. We do, however, look at each other with a new appreciation since one of us almost left this life.

Camp Moses - a Christian facility in northern Nebraska we would highly recommend.  

Here we are folks, Mom and Dad and all 9 of us. Somewhere along the line we have become downright middle-aged.

It all started here:

Glenn and Anna Bender, now in their 70's.  

Auburn, NE

Standing according to age, for those of you who could never quite get the birth order straight, ages 50-34.

left to right: Mattie, Nelson, Miriam, Merlyn, Martin, Dwight, Marcus, Everett and Roger.  (yes, Dwight is standing in his place, though somewhat awkwardly)

Sam and Mattie (Bender) Kauffman 

Martina, Monica, Daniel, Miriam, Myrna and David

Lancaster, PA

Merlyn and Lois (Yoder) Bender

Tyler, Jana, Joshua, Bethany, and Cody

Auburn, NE 

Martin and Kristy (Byler) Bender

Amanda, Alex, Derek, Clark and Franklin 

 (not pictured: Nicholas born in Jan)

currently in Kisumu, Kenya

Dwight and Rachel (Yoder) Bender

Caleb, Megan, Emily, Luke, Isaac and Heidi

LaMonte, MO

Marcus and Janet (Byler) Bender

Dorian and Michael

(expecting in May)

Bonners Ferry, ID

Everett and Ruth (Yoder) Bender

Wyatt, Leah, Travis and Zachary

Auburn, NE

Roger and Rhoda (Harnish) Bender

(expecting in Sept)

 Lancaster, PA

(not pictured are Nelson and family and Miriam)

Platte River bottom

 the cousins horse back riding

-camp fire sharing time- 

We were all present except Nelson's wife, Kathy, and their 2 children, Michael and Krissy. 

Sitting in his wheelchair, Dwight is sharing some memories and what family means to him.

 Dwight continues therapy with 'Project Walk'  in Kansas City. Slowly he keeps getting stronger and is taking longer walks with the walker.  Spasms also keep being a problem and in time we hope he will be able to over ride them. 

Being the oldest, I am rather intrigued watching Merlyn and Martin do something I have never seen before.  :)

All good things come to an end and duty called us all to our homes again.

In closing, I would like to share an inspiring commitment of a pastor in Africa. We need this commitment if we are not going to drift. We need it if we will be a separated and non conformed people to God. 

"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I will not look back, back away or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I do not have to be first, tops, recognized or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and labour by power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough. My guide is reliable. My mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured or lured away, be turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I will not give up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go until He comes. Give till I drop. Preach till all know and work until He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me-my banner is clear."

May this be ours to claim, for you, my family and my friends.

Mattie Kauffman