JUST A LITTLE DONKEY

Just a little donkey,

but on my back I bore

The one and only Savior

the world was waiting for.

 

Just a little donkey,

but I was strong and proud--

I gladly carried Mary

through the chaos of the crowd.

 

I brought her to a stable

where she made a tiny bed...

A place for Baby Jesus

to lay his little head.

 

I pray the world remembers

that special Christmas night

when just a little donkey

carried Heaven's Precious Light.

          --Rita S. Beer

 

I received this verse from a very dear friend, and thought it was worth sharing.  May each and everyone of you have a Blessed Christmas.

Bev and Donnie

Beverly Pearson- Update -  is now home from surgery.  She had right kidney removed due to cancer and is doing well.

 Don De Joode  - Update - Fell from trimming a tree with branch and chain saw.  Concussion, broken collar bone, broken thumb, all ribs on right side (except two) broken, broken pelvis.  Rod and screws in pelvis.  Now out of ICU.  Still in hospital.  When he does go home he will be in a wheel chair for approximately five weeks.  Very black and blue all over.

OUCH

 On Monday, November 9th, Trudy Hauserman had a fall in her home.  She hit her head on the tile causing a brain bleed, and rushed to the hospital finding she has a compound fracture on her left foot.  A broken bone that went through the skin bleeding and another broken bone on the other side of the same foot. 

 After a few days in ICU, her right foot was painful also and very bruised.  In checking out that foot, she learned she had another problem - a fracture in the arch - a broken metatarsal bone plus another broken bone.   

But, she is looking on the bright side, as she was told she gets to wear a special "wood" shoe.  This will give her some support to help her put weight on the right foot. 

After spending a few days in ICU, she will be going to a nursing home where she will be having therapy for a minimum of one week.  

Connett Fall Gathering

Saturday, September 26th - it was fun and excitement as the "Connett" family all gathered for a good Fall Gathering in Freeport, Illinois.  (Carrie) and family coming in from Waukee, Iowa and (Lynsley) and family coming in from Milton, Wisconsin.  Of course besides eating all day long, we had to have a few pictures and make more memories.

 Phyllis and Dick with Lynsley and Carrie.

Our guest Paul, Granddaughter Danielle, Grandsons Dakota (showing off his new Iowa State socks), Nick and Joseph.  Denver couldn't make the trip due to another commitment that was planned far in advance of this date.  Dirk couldn't come due to other commitments.

Our "noon" lunch was at the Country Junction in Freeport.  Grandson Joseph thought he could tackle the "Freeport Burger" which was two beef patties with all the trimmings in-between three pieces of Texas toast.  Although he was very hungry, he just couldn't quite finish the works...  

After lunch, we spent a little time at Krape Park in Freeport.  "Our guest" had never been to Freeport, so we had to show him the town.  We "got to ride" (more or less just sit) on this old fire truck (approximately dated in the early 1900's) which has been in the park for years. 

(Phyllis, granddaughter Danielle, Lynsley, Dick, grandsons Nick and Dakota, guest Paul, son-in-law Chris, and in front is Carrie and grandson Joseph)

Grandson Nick was our "driver"...

 Back home, more pictures, more eating and more fun... 

We don't travel back north for Christmas, so this is the time we get together and have a good time.  Each year we have a Christmas Gift Hunt, and the grandchildren have to go around and collect their goods.  They are patiently waiting....  After a good long day, a lot of food, laughs and stories, all left for their homes in Iowa and Wisconsin...

 

 Early Sunday morning, Dick and Phyllis drove to Milton, Wisconsin where they met Lynsley and then all drove up to Milwaukee to watch grandson Nick (in the red hat) march in the high school marching band competition.  We tell everyone that we are retired, but sometimes I don't think we even have time to or know that meaning ....  Now Nick is back in high school and the rest are all back to college. It was a great day with the family. 

High School Graduations

Dick and Phyllis have been back to Iowa quite a few times this summer.  This time was for Denver's high school graduation. 

 

Denver is now all settled in his dorm at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa where he will be a medical major.  

 

 

Then a trip to Milton, Wisconsin for another grandson's high school graduation. 

 

Joseph is all set for the University of Wisconsin, Platteville, Wisconsin where he will be majoring in Engineering.

 

We are very proud of our grandson's. 

 

Dolls for Africa

Carrie and Denver have been going to Africa for a few weeks doing missionary work.  Every year we have collected different things that they can take to help out the village people.  This year 70 dolls that Phyllis made with the help of Dick and her sister Barb, was sent along with 100 tooth brushes, 100 flip flops and medical supplies.  Phyllis has now completed another 37 dolls ready for their  trip in 2016.  Thirty-seven dolls don't sound like a lot, but when you have to stuff two legs and two arms for each doll - 148 parts - now that is tiring.   But, the enjoyment of those receiving the dolls is well worth all the work.

 

Some of the children getting a doll, our daughter Carrie and our friend Maddy in background.

 

And some of the ladies want a doll for themselves also.  As this lady is heading to collect water, you can see the doll hanging beside her tub. 

 

 

This gentleman wanted in on the action also and clutches his doll.  In the background is Denver with friend Maddy.

Graduations for 2015

I believe this year (2015) is the largest number of high school graduates for the "De Joode" family.  Congratulations to all.  Sounds like all have some great plans for the future.

Denver Richard McClelland (Carrie Christensen)...Plans:  Medical at Iowa University - Iowa City, Iowa

Joseph Christopher Hipsky (Lynsley and Chris Hipsky) Plans:  Electrical Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Platteville - Platteville, Wisconsin

Jessica Trimble (Mark De Joode) Plans: undecided - entering DMAC - Des Moines, Iowa

Kayla Mead (Tennille and Brian Mead)  Plans:  Joining Air Force

Matthew Lafrenz (Melissa and Jim Lafrenz)  Plans:  Elementary Education/Special
Education.  Scott Community College in Bettendorf, Iowa then onto UNI

Natasha Bartos (Rick Wilson)  Plans:  Pursing Art and Photography classes

Shelbie and Dakota are grandchildren of
Steve Curry






Shelbie Curry (Clint and Loreesa Curry) Plans:  Medical at Ellsworth College - Iowa Falls, Iowa

Dakota Timmins (Mike and Jen Timmins) Plans:  Diesel Mechanics and Farm Ag. at DMAC










GOOD LUCK TO ALL

New Arrival

The De Joode Family welcomes another new arrival.  Liam was born on his grandpa's birthday (Steve Freeland), and has the name William after his great grandpa (William Arthur De Joode). Congratulations Katie and Chris...

Big Brothers (Ben and Sully) watching their little brother Liam.

Dick and Phyllis's back yard in Texas.  Those prickly, sticky, ouchy cactus sure can produce some beautiful blooms. 

Runnells Alumni Banquet

Back to Iowa again for the Runnells Alumni Banquet on May 23rd.  Not many there, but Phyllis's class of 1959 had six who was in attendance for the evening.  We had a good time visiting before and after the meal.  It was nice to see the classmates.

 Ralph must have cracked a funny joke, while Kaye says "I don't get it"...

Phyllis, Janice, Ralph, Marilyn, Jeanette and Kaye.  Our speaker was sister Barb McGrean who spoke on the new museum in Runnells. 

Good Job Sis...

Nick Turns 14

May 31,  2015, Grandma and Grandpa Connett (Dick and Phyllis) had the privilage to spend the day with grandson Nick Hipsky and his other grandmother Loxia.  Nick was honored to be born on grandma Loxia's birthday.

 Were both Nick and Loxia 14 years old???

After a huge meal, we all enjoyed ice cream cake with Nick.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NICK AND LOXIA HIPSKY.

Visiting The De Joode Farm

While in Iowa for grandson's graduation, Dick and Phyllis took extra time to visit brother Willie and Nephew Rick on the "De Joode" farm.  Willie and Rick took us on a little tour of the "big" building.  Willie can just venture through his side door apartment and can watch the action all day while the "guys" go about their business of repairing and keeping up the machinery required on the farm.

William and son Rick De Joode

 

 

 Brother Willie with sister Phyllis.  We had a good visit.

2015 GRADUATES

We have six high school students graduating in 2015. 
 
May 17th - Matthew N. LaFrenz - Calamus-Wheatland High School - Wheatland, Iowa 
                    (Melissa and Jim LaFrenz)
May 17th - Kayla Mead - Carlisle High School - Carlisle, Iowa
                    (Tinnelle and Brian Mead)
May 18th - Denver R. McClelland - Waukee High  School - Waukee, Iowa
                    (Carrie Christensen)
May 24th - Jessica Trimble - Indianola High School - Indianola, Iowa
                    (Mark De Joode)
May 26th - Natasja Bartos - Urbandale High School - Urbandale, Iowa
                    (Rick Wilson)
June 14th - Joseph C. Hipsky - Milton High School - Milton, Wisconsin
                    (Lynsley and Chris Hipsky)
 
Congratulation to all.

New Arrival

The De Joode family welcomes the latest new arrival.  Owen Matthew Phillips was born on April 2, 2015 and looks like he is doing super.  Congratulations to Chelsea Hove and Bryan Phillips.

 

 I think Grandma and Grandpa Hove and Great Grandma and Grandpa Richeson are pretty proud also.

 

Also congratulations to these new arrivals:  Samuel Joe - born to Kim and Steve De Joode on 01-28-15, and Kaven Jon born to Jon and Tammy De Joode on 03-17-15. Don't have any pictures yet of these new borns.

Joseph Hipsky Receives Honor

Congratulations to Joseph.  We are proud of you.

 Joseph is the first one on the left.

Dolls for Africa

Carrie and Denver will be leaving on May 25, 2015, to do some missionary work in Africa where they have been doing so for the past three years.  We have been collecting throughout the year, flip flops (80), baseball caps (100), toothbrushes (100) and have been making little dolls (67) for the children in the villages.  This past week Barb McGrean visited Phyllis, Carolyn and Trudy in Texas and while there she volunteered to help Phyllis and Dick finish up the little dolls.  Quite a process...

 DOLLS FOR AFRICA

 DICK AND BARB STUFFING ARMS, LEGS AND BODIES...

 PHYLLIS SEWING - TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THOSE STUFFING.

 Carrie, Denver and a friend will all be leaving on May 25th, and then others from their church will catch up with them in a few weeks to do their missionary work.  They will be there for approximately five weeks.  Need your support and prayers for them.