It has been quite a while since our last blog, but not because there has been nothing to say or no pictures to share.  A lady in the Life Group we host in our home each Tuesday evening said this of retirement:  “Retirement is when you get up in the morning with absolutely nothing you have to do, and come to the end of the day only half done.”

We enjoyed an extended family gathering at our house in April to celebrate the birthdays of both Ryan and Erin – Stephen and Meagan’s two children.  Ryan has turned four years old, and Erin is now one.  Stephen and Meagan decided it might work to celebrate both birthdays together this year because the kids are both too young to care about separate birthday parties.  That is likely to change before very long!

Our celebration included Stephen’s family, Meagan’s parents (Dr. Bruce and Connie Seymour), and the family of Meagan’s sister (Chip and Heidi Clampitt, Zerlinda, Amos and Benjamin).

Erin clearly enjoyed the catered Mexican meal which Stephen and Meagan provided.

Ryan probably took a greater interest in breaking the pinata which was part of the party.

Moving inside as darkness closed in, it was time to open birthday gifts – and there were plenty of birthday gifts to be opened!

With two birthdays to celebrate, there were two birthday “cakes” to enjoy – a chocolate brownie cake for Ryan and a pretty pink cake for Erin.

Erin clearly enjoyed “digging in” as she sampled her first birthday cake!

We are enjoying the opportunity to be close enough to Stephen and Meagan’s family to be able to take in the celebrations of the grandchildren’s birthdays – and to have other extended family members close enough to join in on the celebrations.