Carrie & Denver Off To Africa

Carrie Connett Christensen and son Denver McClelland (20 years old) are off again for Africa.  They will be gone for three weeks this time.  They have collected bibles, bible video's for the blind, flip flops, tooth brushes/paste, some lap top computers, jump ropes, clothing, and other items to give out when they arrive.  They will be helping with the "crops" (corn and yams) and teaching from the Bible.  (Yes they took their boots and gloves)...

They can each have two suitcases weighing 50 lbs a piece.  It is rather hard to pack all the "above items" plus their clothing and food that they take.  But, they do manage.  This time, one of the village ladies asked Carrie to show them how to make a cake from scratch, so she is prepared with some cake pans and items.  Of course the flour and all ingredients are a little different there, so Good Luck Carrie on your cake baking...  Gucci (Carrie's dog) sitting on the lower left of the picture, knows when mamma is leaving, so she is sitting by the suitcases wondering when this is going to happen.  She will sit by the door every day awaiting for their return.

August 2, 2017 off for Africa...

Denver is great with the young children, and they love him so much.  Before Carrie and Denver arrive, the children will go by the "house" where Carrie and Denver stay, and they keep asking when is Carrie and Denver going to get there.  This will be Carrie's eighth trip there to spread the word of GOD, Denver has only missed a few.  Below are a few pictures of the family they get in touch with every year and some of the residents in the village(s).

This is Pastor Francis and his family, who Carrie keeps in contact, and works with when there.

Pastor Francis' wife...

 Carrie will have a "dress" made like the village women wear on Sunday's.  This way she "fits" in more...

Please pray for Carrie and Denver a safe journey.  

Michael LaFrenz

Michael LaFrenz, son of Melissa and Jim, was featured in the DeWitt, Iowa newspaper as a student who succeeds.  Michael has done so much and is only 19 years old.  He has accomplished becoming an Eagle Scout, has worked with the fire department and has climbed the ladder at McDonalds where he works.  He has now graduated from high school and is off to his first year of college this fall.  We're proud of Michael and wish him the best in his desire to become a "Law" man.  Good Luck Michael....

Time spent in Iowa

Dick and I spent a few days back in Iowa again.  We were there for Willie's funeral which was on Friday.  Between 350 and 400 there to view his body and listen to all of the "memories" that had been gathered throughout his 86 years of life.  It was a sad day, but again a happy day to get to see all of the families. 

The remaining "sisters" were each given a red hanky (wearing around our necks) to remember our brother Willie, as he always carried a red hanky (or blue) in his pocket.  Below, another sister who I finally found in the crowd. 

Now there are just six of us siblings left from the twelve. 

Trudy Hauserman, Carolyn Richeson, Phyllis Connett, Don De Joode, Bev Pearson and Barb McGrean.

This day was also a special day for Dick and Phyllis, which was a 55 Anniversary.  Our daughter baked a cake....

Willie is now resting in peace

Our oldest brother Willie De Joode passed away this morning at 2:12 AM.  He had just turned 86 on Sunday.  He hasn't been well for awhile and has given up.

Willie was a farmer all his life and he was the happiest when he was on his tractor working around the farm.  He was the second born out of us twelve children.  He will be greatly missed by the family as the many, many friends he had.  RIP brother, we love you.

SUMMER FUN

Milton High School - Milton, Wisconsin Summer Band begins.  Means Nick is going to be a busy young man this summer.  Good luck Nick on all the new music....

Nick is the circled picture with his instrument.  Nick is the son of Lynsley and Chris Hipsky.  Grandson of Dick and Phyllis Connett.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today is Carrie and Dirk Christensen's 12th Anniversary.  You're both looking great.

Congratulations!

Making Jump Ropes

In my spare time (ha, ha, ha), I've started making jump ropes for Carrie and Denver to take to Africa.  This will be Carrie's 7th trip to Africa to be with the children which she has gotten to know quite well.  Denver has been there several times also, and they will both be leaving in August.  This year they will be helping to teach planting a garden and caring for it.  The children didn't know what a jump rope was until Carrie took some one year and taught them to jump rope.  These I am making from plastic bags, cut into strips and braided together.  WHAT FUN...

Looks like a snake, but only a 6 foot plastic jump rope...

Actually it goes pretty fast.  Have three done and only worked about an hour.  Gotta keep braiding...

ANYONE WANT TO MAKE SOME???

2014 Carrie introduced the jump rope...

LaFrenz visit the Wisconsin Dells

While Melissa and family visited the Wisconsin Dells, they became gangsters for a short time.  Cute picture.

Adam (Brianna's friend), Brianna, Jim, Melissa, Michael and Matthew. 

On The Road Again

It has been non-stop traveling for Dick and Phyllis.  Since we arrived back in Illinois, we have made a few trips to Iowa for Alumni Banquet, Memorial Weekend and Family Reunion.  But this last few days we spent time with some RV friends who we meet with each month.  This month we made it to the little town of Big Rock, Illinois.  The campground was beautiful.  We had thirteen Winnebago coaches that gathered for a four day outing.  Out to eat a lot, shopping at unique shops, but two outings that stood out was the tour through a "House of Wool" and for the men, the Air Classics Museum of Aviation.

They came by Air...  and changed history forever.  From the bitter-cold skies above war-torn Europe, to the scorching-hot desert of Iraq, air power has decided the outcome on the battle field - ultimately the world.  As Americans, we owe the freedoms and riches that we're blessed with, to the heroic sacrifices of our fighting men and women in the air; for without their courage and determination, it would be a much darker world indeed.  It is at the Air Classics Museum of Aviation who were dedicated to preserving these planes.  We have four men from our group who were once or still a private pilot, so this was really enjoyed by them.

Dennis Olson (Rockford, Illinois) served in Viet Nam and flew in a helicopter exactly like this one.  This is were he sat.

Dick Connett (a private pilot) in front of the 725

Jim Gastel (another active private pilot) also from our town - Freeport, Illinois

I think the men all enjoyed the museum very much.

THEN, while the men were away, the ladies

went to the big town of Hinkley, Illinois to an old home that has become a house of wool. 

The family raised sheep and decided to open up the home to selling wool and the products.  It was amazing as to what our guide could do with the lambs wool. 

The Esther house was named after the first sheep that they raised, which lived to be ten years old.  The house had many items of what could be made from wool.  She showed us how to dye the wool, how to spin the wool into thread and other techniques.

Our lady on the left (next to me - Phyllis) was our guide. She could make almost anything from wool.  She showed us how to take a "frame",  put some wool in the frame and punch down with a special needle to make felt. 

The heart below is an example.  She also made the owls.  (Purses, clothing, bird houses, figures, bracelets, you name it, she could make it)

She demonstrated how to make the wool into thread...

It was a very interesting morning.

HAPPY TUESDAY

54th De Joode Family Reunion

Family Reunion

Yep, it's Monday again and another weekend gone by.  Dick and I spent the weekend in Iowa again and visited with family and friends.  Saturday we had our 54th De Joode Family reunion at Prairie City, Iowa with sisters, our brother, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  With approximately 69 in attendance, one of the smallest reunions we've had in years. We had food galore, bingo, games, picture taking and visiting.  This year Trudy and her family were in charge. Had a few from the Harmison and De Joode cousin side, but not as many as usual.  Guess they forgot we don't send out invitations anymore, but it is always the same time and mostly the same place each year which was announced last year.  Hope to see more back next year which will be same time and place. 

From left is Trudy Hauserman, Carolyn Richeson, myself - Phyllis Connett, Bev Pearson and Barb McGrean.  All back home now and busy with their own surroundings. 

Happy Monday to all. 

Milton High School

Milton High School (Wisconsin) placed FIRST in the state in the Saxophone band which Nicholas is a member.  Nicholas is right in the middle of the picture with the red shorts.  This is not their "usual" uniform, but they were having a great time for this picture.  Nick is the son of Chris and Lynsley Hipsky and grandson of Dick and Phyllis Connett.  Way to go Nick.

A Visit To Iowa

Dick and I spent the weekend in Runnells, Iowa.  Outside of visiting with our family, we attended Phyllis' High School Alumni Banquet with four of us who represented the class of 1959.  All those who graduated from the school were celebrating.  Phyllis only had 16 in her graduating class and five have already passed, so four was pretty good...but we did have a great time.  Dick attended with us even though he didn't attend that school.

Jeanette Grossnickle Cashatt, Ralph Busby, Phyllis De Joode Connett and Janice Kain Thomas

Saturday we visited four different cemeteries checking out the family who have gone before us.  All the cemeteries were beautifully decorated with the flowers and flags.

This tree was bad but instead of cutting all down, an artist came in and created an "angel" to look over the cemetery.

My mother and fathers grave site.  There were seven we decorated and could have done a lot more.

Dick with his sisters Alice and Bobbi, visiting his grandmothers grave site.

Again Dick with his sisters standing over their parents grave site.

We also had time to visit the Runnells museum.  This is in an old church where Phyllis attended as a child.  The town has bought the building and have created a very nice museum for all to enjoy.  The chair below belonged to Phyllis' family and all the kids once sat in this chair for their meals....If you haven't visited the museum you need to do so.

There were many interesting items that were all so familiar from the town and our family.  Below is an old "singer" sewing machine which I used growing up.  The black long wool skirt is one my great-great grandmother made and wore.  Notice the piece where my mother had once started to make another quilt for the family.  In the background is the original equipment from the town barber shop.  So many of our relation (including my sister Barb) who works so hard to keeping the museum organized for all to enjoy.

And of course we had to eat.  Had a great meal with sister Barb and her family.  This particular meal our youngest daughter Carrie prepared for us.  There was a lot more besides these pictures....

We just purchased an iron skillet for her and a iron skillet cookbook, so she had to give it a try.  A huge granny apple pie.  We headed back to Freeport to accomplish a few things and will be going back to Iowa next weekend for the big family reunion.   FUN, FUN, FUN....