Vera Schrock and Family

Here is the extended Vera (and Manassa) Schrock family gathering on Saturday, December 27 in Silverton, OR. Represented are Floyd and Mary with kids and grandkids, Peter, Mark and Susan with Eli and Curren, Jonathan; Barb and Don; and Jerry and Vevi with kids and grandkids, Marty and Mar'cia with Willow, Sophi, Thaile, and Naomi; Jill and David with Mia, Kai, Tallie and Seth; and Kari. (Ha-ha! You thought Jonathan wasn't there....take another look!)

A Happy Robin

Floyd "captured" this fluffed-up robin enjoying our hawthorne berries in spite of the layer of ice coating everything this morning.

Lovely couple

Alan and Grace attended the Witmer Inc. Employee Appreciation Dinner. (Of course, Grace was busy telling her employees what a good job they do. I'm sure they appreciate her, too!)

Another Happy Daddy

Mark and his boys looking for the perfect tree!

One Very Happy Dad!!

Eight week old Henry and his Daddy just hanging out together.....

Susan's Gingerbread Chapel

Here's a masterpiece from Susan's kitchen!!

More Snow overnight

We had 4-5 inches of snow overnight on top of the week's collection.......not our usual OR weather! It seemed troublesome all week, managing snow removal and staffing adjustments at work, but today I'm home and can actually enjoy the beauty of it all.

Headed for a White Christmas!

The snow keeps coming here in our neighborhood......we took a walk tonight to enjoy the beauty!
Looks like it might stay around for awhile!!!

Henry at 7 weeks

Grammy Beth (is that what you call yourself?) passed this photo along for our mutual enjoyment! What a special little boy! Can't wait to meet him in person!

The Arctic Blast 2008

The Arctic Blast actually showed up in McMinnville.....serious snow started late afternoon, and a few hours later we had 4-5". It's dusty, dry snow......not the typical OREGON wet snow.

Thanksgiving 2008

Back row: Peter, Floyd, Mary.....Middle row: Susan with Curren, Mom and Dad..... Front row: Mark with Eli, Jonathan



Lots of fun times together in PA over Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

Here's a link to some photos from our Thanksgiving celebration in PA-

http://picasaweb.google.com/photozippy/Thanksgiving2008#slideshow/5274672298968598050

Meeting 1 Year Old Claire

I met Claire Walton, the little one year old that I'm holding, last Saturday at the new Slow Train Coffee house nearby. Claire's mother is Kim Baerg Walton (she's standing up talking to me in the photo), daughter to cousin Louise Benner Baerg ! They live in the next town from here, but I hadn't yet met little Claire! Seems impossible, but true! Sweet little girl!

Daydreaming.....

Floyd 26, Mary 25, Peter 3
Mary 31, Susan 4
Mary 32, Jonathan 2

Having scanned some of our favorite slides from years past, it's easy now to "travel down memory lane" and enjoy the sweet memories........imagine life without photos!

Henry Frederick Isadore Styer at One Week

Here's new grandma, Beth, relishing her introduction to little Henry, son of Michael and Cate!
He appears amazingly advanced for his very young age of about 1 week!!!

Welcome little Henry!

Just wanted to welcome little Henry to the Styer blog! Congratulations to Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa! Looking forward to more photos of the whole family! Hope everyone's doing well!

A Saturday in October

On Saturday afternoon, a gorgeous, blue-sky day, we visited a local "Pumpkin Patch" with Eli and Curren and their mom and dad! We took a hayride out to the cornfield where we found our way thru a maze to get to the pumpkin patch. There were also goats to feed, slides and rope swings to ride, a big pile of dirt with buried treasures to find, ending up with a warm hotdog and some Tillamook Ice Cream..........(Eli and I spent 4 hours there!!)

Rodeo at Sisters, Oregon

We (Susan, Mark, Eli, Curren and I) went to the rodeo at Sisters, OR - a town close to Bend - on Saturday afternoon, along with Uncle Jerry, Aunt Vevi, Kari and her friends, Erica and Johnny from Ireland. To most of us, the world of the rodeo is new territory. It was exciting and lots of fun to watch. (Floyd is still away on his recruiting trip to South America.)
Susan Ellis: photographer.

Equator in Ecuador

Floyd is finding himself in all kinds of amazing places, and sorry that he doesn't have the time to do more investigating. Doing College Fairs and visiting schools is the reason for all the travel.
Meanwhile, he's greatly missed here at home!! Home on Sunday, 9/28th.

Revisions

Susan had emergency surgery on Monday evening for a tubal pregnancy.
We are so thankful for good doctors, hospitals and staff when you need them!!!
Susan is doing well. She just moves more slowly for the next few days.

We never know what a day may bring, but we certainly are grateful for
the promptings of God and for His care!!

We are grateful for friends who generously show their love by meals brought in, phone calls and visits.

Thankful!

After doing some Saturday chores today, we decided to escape the >100 degree heat of the "valley" and headed to the coast. In honor of our 39th anniversary, we had a delicious, leisurely dinner in Oceanside, then meandered down the coast a ways before heading back home. We were going to walk on the beach after dinner, but we weren't prepared for the 40 degree drop in temperature! We are so thankful to God for the special relationship He has given us.

Special Effects

OK, I'm playing again.......:)

Running happy!!

We had Curren and Eli from noon Friday until Sunday evening while Mark and Susan were on an anniversary vacation. They are the most amazing little boys!!

Thirty-nine!

It will be 39 years this Saturday since this photo was taken. I've been "playing" with a new website: www.picnik.com. (Susan, you shouldn't have.) I'd hate to tell you how much time I've spent "playing". Did you notice the yellow rose?? :) Anyway, life is good!

Summer Schrock Picnic

Our Schrock family gathered in our backyard last evening. Vera, the mother of the clan, is seated on the far left. Her youngest son, Jerry is beside her. Her daughter Barb, is behind her, and of course, Floyd, the oldest son, is - well, you all know who he is!! We were blessed with Susan and company, Marty and company (red shirt) and Kari - all from the 3rd generation.
As you can see, the 4th generation is well represented. Missing were our Peter (CA) and Jonathan (OR), and Jerry's Jill (Ireland).

Celebration in Bend for Jonathan's 30th!!!!

Climbing buddy and landlord, Dylan and wife Cheri, help celebrate with a "climbing wall" cake!!!
Curren helps Poppi husk the corn!
Curren stands alot, but still thinks crawling is faster and more efficient!
It was a fun time at the Ellis household over the weekend. We were together to celebrate Jonathan's turning 30. Perfect weather, good food, and special people all helped to make it a happy celebration!!

Alan's flowers and Patio

The Patio Alan built last summer is lined with flowers this summer. We really enjoy sitting around a fire with friends in the evenings.

A Quiet Summer Evening in the Garden

Is there anything more lovely and restful to the eyes than the colors of the earth! Many thanks to the Creator!!

Summer Softball

This is a first for me - playing on a Coed Softball team in our city league with my coworkers!!!
Yesterday our team was up against a team with no losses, and we've had no wins!!! We were nervous at first, but possibly the challenge gave us an extra boost. No, we didn't win, but we gave great effort! Since I am the only 60 year old on the team, expectations are low. And they don't know my history of striking the boys out in the 8th grade!!! :) Anyway, I surprised my team (and myself) when I took the first pitch and dropped a nice fly between the 3rd baseman and the left fielder!! You bet I made it to first, and then was batted in to home to make the first point on the team!!!! I was only up to bat one more time, and after letting the first "ball" go by, I took the second pitch, hit it on the ground to the second base; they got the runner ahead of me out, but I made it again to first, and then was batted into home again for another point!!

It was a sunny, warm, breezy summer afternoon and my legs aren't used to running, but IT WAS FUN!!!

The photographer was one of my bosses (Dr. Schieber) who isn't playing softball right now because of a great toe fracture he got while getting out of the water after doing the swim part of a Triathalon. Although in pain, he went on to do the biking and the running part before taking the time to really check out his pain!