Keith and Phyllis visit Olive's house

Keith is one half of the group 'Comfort Food' with my cousin, Joe.  They graciously played a benefit concert last October at the Olive McLorn home.  It was a great day and everyone enjoyed their music so much.  Keith was intrigued by the home and all he learned about Olive.  When I saw him at the family reunion in Kansas City he mentioned that he would like to bring his Mom up to visit the house.  It turns out that Keith's Mom, Phyllis, and Olive had a lot in common.  In fact, their lives intersected at at least one point!  (more on that later)

Keith and Phyllis came over to Julie's house the evening they arrived and we all enjoyed listening to Keith practice some songs in the living room.

The next day we met for lunch at Take Root Cafe before going to tour the Olive McLorn house.  So glad Julie was able to join in for lunch.

Julie, Phyllis, and Keith

First stop at Olive's house was the sitting room and photo albums from the trunk.  Phyllis was recognizing many places in the photos because Phyllis herself grew up in the International sector of Shanghai as her father was an engineer building roads with the Chinese government.  Clearly we could see that her family and Olive & David had run in the same circles.

Then an incredible thing happened... Phyllis quietly pointed to a photo in the album and said, "That's my Mother."  What??  We all jumped up we were so stunned!  Phyllis pointed to one particular photo and said, "yes, that is my mother in this photo."

This photo makes me smile... Keith getting a good, close look
at the photo his Mom had just pointed out...

"Yup," Keith confirmed.  "That is my grandmother in the photo!"  Isn't that incredible?  It still gives me goosebumps.  :)

We learned a lot from Phyllis because she was able to tell us where many photos were taken and who they were of (tennis group, ladies club, etc.)  What an experience to sit with her and go through these photos together.

Then it was time for the tour of the house.  Phyllis is an art historian with an emphasis in Chinese art, so the house was quite interesting to her.

It was heartwarming to see Phyllis and Keith
enjoy the house as much as we all do.

I think this dress really caught Phyllis's heart.

I have to say the signs that were so lovingly placed on Phyllis's walker touched my heart deeply.  I had to take a photo because I was so moved by them.  Beautiful.

This one says "Awake, put on thy strength."

And this one says "Tender mercies are holding you.  Love, your son."

Okay, that one did me in.  Keith, you are a wonderful son and I am proud to know you. And Phyllis was a delight to meet and spend the day with.  Her resilience and determination had a lasting impact on me.  Although she has great difficulty walking, she made her way up the flight of steps to the second floor because she wanted to experience the whole house.  It is something I won't soon forget.

I really love this photo of Phyllis and her son, Keith.  

Oral History project

Daddy spent a good deal of time this spring and early summer preparing for a big Oral History project at Truman documenting the years of his Presidency.  People came in town from all over to participate.  We so appreciate everyone who came to be a part and wish we could have had more time with all.  Mama and Daddy enjoyed a meal with some of them at their house the night before the big event.  I stopped by briefly to say hello and get a few photos.

Dorothy brought peach cobbler!

and fresh peaches!

A marvelous group of people...
Mary and Dean, Mama, and Daddy, Dorothy, and Steve

Stormy weather

You know I am fascinated by weather and skies and storms.  Marvin and I were coming home from town one day as this storm started brewing.  It was incredible how quickly it formed and how it changed just in a few minutes that we were driving.

This was on our main road.  I was driving toward this thing and trying to figure out what I was seeing... you can't really get a good view in this photo, but I was seeing something swirling along the ground - from ground level and up about 10-12 feet high.  I was trying to see if it was smoke or what... but as I got alongside it, it hit my car and I realized it was twirling wind that was carrying dust twisters.  It was kind of spooky!  It rocked my car and I responded by stepping on the gas and getting out of the way!  It was just in that one area so once I was past it I was out of it.  But that was something pretty intense in that section!!

This is looking back just seconds after driving through that dusty twister.  Crazy!  You can see the wind power blowing that tree.

winds were pretty strong here at home, too.

Sunday of the family reunion - Family church

Family Church on Sunday morning is one of my favorite things about our reunion time.  To be able to gather together as family and worship is so meaningful and powerful and special to all of us.  We are thankful for the legacy of faith and love that has been passed down to us throughout many generations.  And we take seriously our role in making sure that continues to be the legacy of our family.

Joe later wrote that he and Sarah felt the house was so empty after we all left and that they were so thankful for the blessing of having had all of us there.  That they felt it truly blessed their home (they have lived there less than a year).  I completely understand that feeling from hosting reunions in years past.  I wrote Joe back and told him I truly felt that worship at their house was anointed.  And that I know what he means about the family presence sort of seeping into the floors and walls of a house.  It is a beautiful, lingering thing.

After church we went to lunch at Paolo and Charlie's.  Dear Liz paid for the entire crew!!  Goodness!  And it was delicious.  I had the best Eggs Benedict that I think I have ever had there.  They also had a pannacotta for dessert that would make you cry (in a good way!)  Yum!!  Our waiter was a great guy who joined right in with all of us.  We told him he was now an official member of the family.  :)

I have to share this excerpt of a column written by Sarah about the reunion.  I truly believe she summed it all up perfectly.  :D

"Joe’s family comes together annually to weave and tighten the love knots of one big, grateful heart that focuses on adoration and acceptance, whether there’s a common bloodline or not. Boyfriends, girlfriends, childhood friends, old classmates, college roommates—if someone shows up, related or not, they are treated like family. The more the merrier! Have another brownie and let’s sing a song together!"

https://www.facebook.com/TheThunker/posts/1933129350121412
(You should follow The Thunker on facebook - Sarah is extraordinary!)

One side of the duplex...Jonathan, Jackson, Brianna,
Anna, Matthew, Laura, Julie, Rojina, James

The other side (just missing Megan)
Stephen, Rachel, Kerry, Candace, Hannah, Susanna, Rebekah

family church at Joe and Sarah's house

Julie

Jackson and Brianna

Zac and Hannah

Sarah and Joe

Laura and Julie

Priscilla, Jane, and Candace

Matthew, Stephen, Rachel, James,
Anna, Rojina

James and Daddy 

Jonathan and Kerry 

Singing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'

Brianna transcribed a song into another key...  :)

After church, Matthew sang 'They Call the Wind Mariah' for Mama...

Mama then told the story behind that song and why it is so important to her. 

lunch at Paolo and Charlies

Jackson, Brianna, and Jane

Kerry, Mama, Daddy, Anna, Matthew, Candace

Karen, Jonathan, Susanna, Hannah, Zac, Robin

Laura, Julie, David, Becky, Rojina, James

group with our wonderful waiter  :)

Rojina, Daddy, Jonathan, Jackson

Anna, Daddy, and Rojina

Jackson, Brianna, Laura, Jonathan 

Everyone who was at lunch that day!  :) 

You can see a huge album of photos from the entire reunion at this link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/williscreekranch/albums/72157710458260922

And here is the video of our full church service.  I will work to get shorter videos of individual songs uploaded at some point.  But for now, the whole thing is here.