Posted on by Dr. J

Catching up with family

We started the day off with a car wash. The kids worked hard to wash our Sub and then two cars and a truck for grandpa. Four vehicles for the price of one 🙂

The memorial service for Chantry’s Uncle Duane was a blessing. They played a lengthy slide show portraying the course of Duane’s life, highlighting his love for his family. It reminded me how much I appreciated him and made me miss him. I found myself smiling through the whole thing, despite the fact that my eyes were watering the whole time. I’m so thankful he died in the Lord and I will see him again.

Four ministers took part in the service and a few others shared in song. The pastor responsible to bring the Word preached on the importance of being ready. On Apr 11, Uncle Duane had worked in the yard, went to the dump, and then drove to a restaurant with a friend for dinner. He parked the car, turned off the ignition, but never got out. He died instantly of a massive heart attack. We were urged to be ready at all times to meet our God (Amos 4.12).

Pastor Jennings bringing the Word.
Duane’s brother Rod played Amazing Grace on the saxophone.

As memorial services tend to do, the memorial service for Chantry’s Uncle Duane provided a great occasion for catching up with family. We took advantage of the opportunity to update our group photos 🙂

Chantry with her stepsister Christal.
This is the Randy and Cheryl (Chantry’s mom) Hulsizer clan.
This is “the cousins and their children” picture (though Rena’s children were missing).
This is “the cousins and their spouses picture” (although Rena’s husband and Rex’s wife were missing).

After the memorial service we went to my brother Paul’s house for a family get together. I regret that I failed to organize everyone together for a group picture 🙁 but here are a few of the photos I did get. We had a blessed time.

Here’s Amanda with her husband Mike and two of their children Andi and Michael (Chloe was down stairs playing). Amanda is my niece, the daughter of my brother Paul and his wife Cheryl.

All the ladies chipping in to help make a couple of our favorite Filipino dishes, pancit and lumpia.
Thanks for all your hard work mom!
Here’s a picture of the 3 brothers/stooges, James, Paul and Marc. I’m sporting Chantry’s hat, Marc’s sporting mama’s cowboy hat, and Paul’s sporting a hat Schylie knitted for him for Christmas.
For the sake of reference, this is us a few years ago… 🙂
Here we are with our dad–and no hats.
Mom couldn’t let us get a picture without getting one of her own with the girls. They’re all sporting the new hats she gave them.
Here’s Michelle, my brother Marc’s wife–wearing her own old hat.

Today we were excited to worship with some old and very beloved friends at Liberty Bay Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Poulsbo, WA. This was the first Presbyterian church of which we were a part–we joined in 1996–and in which I began serving as a Ruling Elder in 1997. River, Schylie, Forrest, Terra, and Sandy were all baptized here–before we moved to PA in 2002 for me to attend seminary. It was such a joy to see so many familiar faces although many have either moved away or gone home to be with the Lord. Pastor Andy preached on the resurrection of the body (from the Apostles’ Creed) using 1Cor 15. He charged us to live our lives every day in light of our hope to be resurrected and live forever with Jesus. It was a great encouragement.

This afternoon we’ve enjoyed our visit here with Chantry’s dad, Wes, and stepmom, Nadine, celebrating an early Father’s Day. My dad and Paul stopped by for a final visit. Dad and mom are heading back to Alaska before traveling to the Philippines to visit her family and of course both I and the boys will be leaving this area Tuesday morning.

Terra caught Paul holding mom’s purse–I think he likes it. He told me not to put this picture on the blog so don’t tell him, okay?
What a great Father’s Day picture! We love you dads 🙂

Thanks for your prayers and for keeping up with us. We’re off to Seattle tomorrow for a little site-seeing. Hopefully I have the time and energy to post another update before leaving Astoria on Wednesday on two wheels. God bless you, one and all.

Until next time… 🙂

4 Replies to “Catching up with family”

  1. Yum! Lumpia!!! I haven’t had any in over 20 years, since the last time I had dinner with Bing ….. Guess I need to take a trip to Alaska! Give her a big squeeze for me!!!

  2. It sounds like you are having a wonderful time, thank you for sharing it with your” church family”. You are missed but we are all doing well. Our hearts will all be with you as you pedal off on Wednesday and with the girls as they say goodbye. Love to you all!!

  3. Love all the pics and comments…..it’s almost like coming along with y’all. love, hugs and kisses

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