Another year has rushed by and in the midst of the hustle and bustle we attempt to slow down enough to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday that we celebrate...God's glorious gift coming to earth for us to restore what humanity had broken back in the garden beginning with Adam and Eve. If you're unfamiliar with the passage, you'll find it in Genesis 3. You can also read more about man's fall and the restoration that God provided through “The Child Who Saved Our World” mentioned later.
Here is a brief “run-down” of our year (with lots of photos)...
January: Our family attended a book study “To Walk and Not Grow Weary” along with 2 other families. We shoveled & helped snow-blow our neighbor's driveway during the winter months while they were away. We also planned a “Winter Couple's Night” at Brandon Baptist Church.
February: Early lambing ... Stephen's flock doubled in 2 weeks time. We bottle-fed a ewe lamb that he affectionately named “Clementine”. At the end of the month, we planned a small couple's night with “appetizers” in our home.
March: We received 22” of snow in just a few hours. Stephen had to get 6 stitches in his hand due to an accident with steel in the sheep pen. The two of us continued working on our new bathroom project. Gordy started AiG's “Answer's for Life” study... http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2008/04/28/answers-for-life with 3 other families. We showed “The Bridge,” a DVD about Alzheimer patients to a group of friends.
April: We showed “The Child” (http://www.parentalrights.org/) at the town hall (please look over this site and sign the petition if you are willing). We had the opportunity to assist Pastor Dick Hoff with a AiG video conference at Westport Bible Church in NY. We celebrated a late Easter and had a brunch in our home with our church group. We experienced our last farmer's market and attended our 1st Right to Life dinner.
May: We made a trip to Michigan and visited our parents and dear friends, the Hawes. God provided for this trip in a miraculous way. While there, we presented a "mini-concert" for the Hawe's assisted living group. After that, we drove down to KY and attended our 2nd VCC training conference. Valerie experienced her first camel ride as son Greg led. Stephen flew out and volunteered at the museum's petting zoo at the same time that we were in MI & KY. He worked some with training the zorse & zonkey. The last night there, we met Emily Burch at a museum scavenger hunt. Soon after arriving home we planned another “Couple's Night” (this time at the Valley Bible Church). Valerie made a 9-patch comforter for our grandson, Noah.
Mother's Day, 2011
Dad's flower bed at Telfer Farm
Valerie, her Mom & sister-in-law, Dani.
Gordy, his folks, brothers Doug & Steve, & wives Wendy and Angie.
Our faithful friends, the Hawes.
A warm embrace after not seeing each other for 5 1/2 months.
After the "scavenger hunt" at the museum.
Couple's Night at Valley Bible Church.
June: Stephen bought a Katahdin ram from some folks in the N.E. Kingdom. He also started offering his lamb products for sale in a small freezer on our outside building porch, and in October he added some of his lamb products to Champlain Orchard's "farm-stand". Mid-month, we sold baked goods at friend's alpaca shearing competition in Bridport. For Father's Day, Nicholas surprised his Dad and he & brother Stephen sang a couple of special songs for our service. We picked strawberries in the rain. One evening we showed the DVD “Agenda, Grinding America Down” (http://agendadocumentary.com/buydvd/) in our meeting place.
Enjoying a meal with Kathryn at Birdseye Diner.
Stephen brought a "start" of an heritage rose bush with us when we moved here 10 years ago. It prolifically blooms each year and has a wonderful fragrance.
July: At the beginning of the month, we hosted yard sale. Audrie celebrated her 7th birthday. Mid-month, we picked up Ben in KY and attended a family reunion with Valerie's folks & siblings in Michigan. On our way out of the state, we visited the Hawes and then went drove back to KY to assist at 2011 Apologetics Mega Conference. One night we visited with the Burch family over
"Chalupe" supper. While we were away, Stephen had to have 4 stitches in his finger from a pruning accident at the orchard.
A couple of projects that Gordy built this year for his boss at the orchard.
Playhouse
Valerie's dad, brother Vaughn, brother-in-law Glenn, nephews Jesse & Josh, and Ben.
The Burches & the Ioccos on a hot summer evening.
August: Stephen was asked to judge vegetable entries at the Addison County Fair. We represented Answers in Genesis during the fair week. Les, Jenny, Olivia, Brian, Caleb & Charity gave of their time and resources to make this ministry a reality. Greg & Emily were engaged. Stephen began pursuing a closer friendship with Charity McLaughlin. Vermont experienced heavy rain and winds from Hurricane Irene. Our roof leaked a bit and our corn was partially knocked down in the garden, but we were grateful for the Lord's protection and His mercy. We started splitting & stacking wood for winter.
Stephen & friend, Mark.
Stephen "singing in the hurricane" during a "lull" from heavy rain.
Even God's creatures remind us to keep praying for ourselves, our family (near & far), our friends, and our nation.
September: Ben flew home and was able to spend some time with our extended family. Then some of us went up to Maine for a couple of days. Beth surprised Valerie with a "look-alike" blouse for her birthday. We hosted an “Across-the-Miles” bridal shower for Greg & Emily. We continued to split & stack wood for winter.
Camden Harbor
An unique way of exercise... renting a surrey for an hour.
Kennebunkport, ME
Our family gave us a coffee maker, so we all had to try a cup.
October: Gordy began AiG's newest study, “The Foundations” (http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Ken-Ham-Foundations-12-part-DVD-series,6881,229.aspx) with 3 other families attending. We planned a “Harvest-time Couple's Gathering” at the town hall. We showed “Indoctrination” (http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/IndoctriNation-public-schools-documentary,6945,229.aspx) to our church group and close friends, Valerie made a log cabin quilt/comforter for Greg & Emily and some of our church ladies helped tie it off. And as always, we continued to split & stack wood.
November: A couple of days before Greg and Emily's wedding, we were able to visit Valerie's parents in Michigan, along with Dick & Velma Hawes. Nicholas and his family drove up a day ahead of us. We had a very full weekend with the rehearsal dinner and Greg & Emily's wedding. We had family & friends attend from Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, New York and Vermont. The wedding service was very uplifting with Pastor Steve Hankins officiating. One week later back at home, we began preparations for our 5th live nativity with a work day and rehearsals. Noah turned a year old & started walking. The splitting and stacking of wood continues.
Uncle Dan, Aunt Dani, Jennifer & Aunt Cindy
Grandpa & Grandma Iocco
Visiting with old friends, the Kellys.
Thanksgiving 2011
December: The first weekend we presented Live Nativity 2011 in our pasture (http://www.youtube.com/user/BDReflet#p/a/u/0/Tsx9XO_P2PY) with approx. 165 folks attending, plus our 32 cast members. During the Christmas season, we sold 45 Christmas trees & some wreaths. Nicholas, Beth & family brought over their tractor & log splitter and helped us split & stack firewood, finishing up our need for the winter.
Without conferring with each other, these ladies all wore scarfs one December Sunday.
Live Nativity Closing
Christmas Eve with family.
Also in May, Greg was commissioned by AiG to do the artwork for the “children's section" on whales in the July-Sept. 2001 issue of the Answers magazine, (http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Kids-Answers-Mini-magazine-Vol-6-No-3,6901,0.aspx). He did a wonderful job!
Nicholas remains busy in his dental lab, making crowns and bridges, etc. He continues his passion for hunting, but another new interest is training to be a volunteer firemen. That seems to be right down his alley. Please keep this new adventure (and him) in your prayers.
Beth continues to be busy with Audrie's schooling and an active toddler. She continues to manage their Golden Retriever business and is a very capable wife and mother. A recent update... she and Nicholas are expecting #3 blessing at the end of September 2012. PTL! :)
As earlier mentioned, Nicholas and his family drove their 5th-wheel out for the wedding, however before coming home he went on a 5-day bow hunting adventure in Ohio which had been planned for the past year. He experienced an uneventful week until the last day around 4:30 pm. The big buck of his dreams followed after a doe in front of his sights, and well, the rest is history. Let's just say he was a very happy boy. If you would like to see a photo, please click this link and look on the older post dated: 11-11-11 http://www.facebook.com/pages/
During the Christmas season, Ben reenacted the part of a shepherd in “Christmas Town”, the museum's walk-through drama/live nativity (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=304252336271796&set=a.237242162972814.69483.164175656946132&type=1&theater). He has been enjoying his work at the museum with various exhibits & projects. Recently, his work was mentioned on Ken's blog for the new "Lucy project"...
http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2012/02/04/lucy-to-take-up-residence-at-creation-museum/
Here is a photo of Ben with some of his artist friends (Jon, James, and Travis) in the new art studio.
Ben was commissioned to do artwork for the Answers magazine which has recently been released in the January-March issue (http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/catalog/Answers-Magazine-Subscriptions-Renewals,243.aspx). His work embellishes "The Battle Over Nephilim”. This season, the museum made 2 new Christmas cards from Ben's artwork... http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Beautiful-Jesus,6938,0.aspx & http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Behold,6940,496.aspx
Stephen works as a pruner at Champlain Orchards where his father works too. He continues to care for his flock of sheep, his horse & donkey, however his young lady friend has somehow become his top priority. :) Our home has been somewhat quieter this year with Greg's move last December, but the Lord has been faithful and we have all adjusted fairly well.
Thirty two years ago, on a wet and rainy December evening, we were united in marriage. Soft glowing candles shone from the windows. Two Christmas trees with blue lights sparkled at the front of the sanctuary, and white poinsettias with silvery blue ribbons enhanced the scene. Time goes so fast! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could experience 32 more years together? God has been so gracious to us. :)
We send you all our love and pray that each of us will draw even closer to Jesus Christ as our Lord in this new year.
O come let us adore Him. Merry Christmas!
With our love,
Gordy & Valerie
A sneak preview of our 2012 newsletter...Greg, Emily & Ben's Vermont visit, January 2012.
