BANNER OVER ME IS LOVE

He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.  
                                                                                      Song of Solomon 2:4

 This past week has been a very special week for us.  On Tuesday, November 25^th we headed to Commerce, GA to spend Thanksgiving with our family at the home of our daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Rick.  Joining us were our other children; Christiane from Atlanta and Roger from Modesto, CA as well as grandsons, Darien and Logan.  On the way down, we spent Tuesday night with Paul’s brother and sister-in-law, Vic and Sherry, near Knoxville, TN.  The next day we continued on to Georgia. 

 The following four days were a delight.  On Thanksgiving Day several from Rick’s family joined us including his mother, step-father, brother and his family and his sister and niece.  Thanksgiving morning was spent preparing all the food for the feast we were going to enjoy later that day.  Everyone in the family was busy with the task they were assigned.  The most interesting part was watching Logan and Christiane making the pies.  Logan at eight years of age is quite the pie maker.  He helped Christiane make all six pies.  There were apple, pumpkin and even pecan.  Some were even gluten free.  On top of that the members of Rick’s family who joined us brought many delicious things with them which added to the already succulent Thanksgiving feast.  Both the food and the fellowship were fantastic.  Rick’s family is such a joy to be around.

 

Christiane, Logan, Rebecca and Gail baking up a storm.

After the Thanksgiving dinner, family members played corn hole, worked on a 3-D puzzle, and played Farkel.  When you get together with the Shimkets family, you better be ready to be challenged to a game.  They are extremely competitive which is very much seen in Darien and Logan as well.

 

Paul, Roger and Darien solving the 3-D puzzle.

Unfortunately Roger had to leave on Friday to get back to work.  Christiane left Sunday morning due to a speaking engagement at Indiana University.  For Paul and Gail the remainder of the time was spent helping select a Christmas tree for Rick and Rebecca’s family, watching the University of Georgia lose a close football game to Georgia Tech, shopping at Chico’s, and helping Darien with his Jesse tree project for school.

 One night we headed to bed and were joined by Logan who loves Patsy and Penny.  While in our bedroom he played with the dogs and even got in their crate with them.  He thought it would be neat to spend the night in there with them.  However, we asked Logan if he was supposed to be in bed.  He quickly disappeared and headed toward his bedroom.

 

Logan joining Patsy and Penny in their crate.

It was such a blessing to be with family during the Thanksgiving holiday.  It gave us time to get to know and appreciate Rick and the boys even more.  It is obvious that he and Rebecca are very much in love and truly care for each other.  We are so glad we made the trip to Georgia and realize how much we would have missed if we hadn’t.

 

Dottie, (Rick's mom), Gail and Paul

Blessings and Encouragement,

 

Paul, Gail, Patsy and Penny