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.

Cousins

Just a few of the "Cousins" took the chance to take the snap shot while at a family gathering in Des Moines, Iowa - February 2015

 Lynsley Hipsky, Carrie Christensen, Teresa Hunter, Julie Richeson, Jamie Pearson, Marcia Freeland, Sandi Curry and Marcy Finch (All first cousins)

Carrie Christensen, Lynsley Hipsky,  Joe De Joode with daughter and mother Penny De Joode.

Jon Gaylord Richeson

 Jon Gaylord Richeson

Jon "Dutch"  Richeson, 49, died February 21, 2015 in a tragic motorcycle accident along with his companion, Lanette LeCroy. Jon was born May 23, 1965 to Carolyn and Larry Richeson. He graduated from East High School in 1983 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 6 years. Jon attended Grand View University, and received his teaching certificate from Iowa State. He was employed at Des Moines Public Schools, Central Campus as a painting and drywall teacher for 20 years. He touched and changed the lives of many students. Jon apprenticed and worked as a painter for Victor Machir for 15 years. Jon also taught apprenticeship school at DMACC and was a member of the IUPAT Local 247.Jon was a free mason and a member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. Jon enjoyed outdoor activities and coaching his daughter's sports teams. He was a prominent member of the motorcycle community, enjoyed planning rallies and rides, and was president of the Highland Park Legion Riders Des Moines 374. Jon's spare time was devoted to charity work, where he touched many lives.Jon was a loving father, a great son, a beloved brother, and an irreplaceable friend.Jon is survived by his daughters, Miaja and Sydney, who he loved and cared for with all his heart; his sister, Julie Hove (Dave); his niece, Chelsea Hove; his parents, Larry and Carolyn Richeson, as well as many dear friends, and his beloved dogs Diva, Grizzly, and Bella. He had a big heart and will be missed dearly. Visitation will be held Friday, February 27, 2015 from 3-8:00pm at Iles Grandview Park Chapel. A "Celebration of Life" will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Central Campus Auditorium, 1800 Grand Avenue, Des Moines at 2:00pm. 

Red Hat Outing at Leisure World

On February 24th, seventeen members of the Red Hat Ladies of Leisure went to the Schlitterbahn on South Padre Island for a Red Hat costume party. Some of the group dressed like the 50's.  All attending received a door prize!  This is one thing we do at Leisure World...

Phyllis in the pink sweater set and Trudy in second row far right with the pink glasses.  Poodles on our skirts or jeans and our socks, our painted up saddle (canvas) shoes, and scarves around our neck - what the heck we did had a great time. 

 Canvas shoes from the "dollar store" was purchased and painted to look like the real saddle shoes.

Everyone had a great time.

A Quilt of Honor

WOW - what a great surprise - A Quilt of Honor....  On Veteran's Day Larry Hauserman was honored to receive a beautiful handmade quilt. This quilt was made by daughter Teresa Hunter and the "Piece" Corps Quilting Club of Minnesota.  Larry served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 36 years from 1959 to 1995.  

Congratulations and Thanks for serving Larry....

Carrie and Denver

Included with a team of twelve from Hope Church in West Des Moines, Iowa, Carrie and Denver departed for Ghana, Africa where they would spend several days in about seven different villages teaching the word of God, education on Malaria and deworming the villages.  A few of the team (including Denver and Carrie) spent one night in a village and lived like the natives lived - sleeping on the cement flour.  Carrie even tried to carry water on her head like the natives do.  Just a few pictures below to share with you what some of their experiences were.  They will return to Iowa on August 11th.

 

The Mission Ghana team spent the first full day in Ghana with our GlobeServe partners in a village reviewing living in a healthy village, educating on Malaria, and distributing Malaria nets. A great day with about 200 wonderful children as well including a game of duck duck goose... All is well and we feel blessed to be here.

Carrie in middle of top row, Denver in green shirt.

 Picture not too clear, but look at the "pants" that were made for each.  When they were on their last day of this "adventure" they were all presented with a special homemade shirt for each team member.

One day was a free day to do some "sight seeing" which as you can see, they got to visit with the elephants coming in to drink water and the monkey playing below.  In the below picture I'm not sure which one was the monkey ????? 

  

Carrie was honored at one of the morning meetings.  The leader was naming new born babies, called Carrie in front and this lady wanted to name her baby after Carrie - so Carrie is holding "Baby Carrie". 

 Handing out de-worming medicine to the village.

 Quilts were made to take over, as well as other items that were sent to leave at the villages.

 We made several "rag dolls" and sent for the children.  If they had "food" and a "doll" in front of them, they would choose the food first - but they were also delighted to have a toy to play with.

The kids had never seen a jump rope, but soon Carrie had them all jumping for joy.

 This is one of the dolls that Grandma Phyllis made for the children.

 Denver and his soccer team.

The team took quilts, medication, flip flops, rag dolls, baseball caps, and many other items to share with the villages.  The last village wanted to give the team something as a gift which consisted of a chicken (it was really a rooster) and a guena hen.  Needless to say, these were left with the pastor there, as they couldn't fly home on the plane with them.