Family Fun

Elijah's first time swimming "by himself"

Stephen's underwater camera captures Nate and Jessica under the sea

Starfish discoveries.

Elijah making native friends.

Explorer....paddle, paddle, paddle...

Stephen is so fun and creative. I think I will try to take this idea sometime...

All 6 of us out to dinner. We just had so much fun together. Refreshing and memorable.

Me and my boys, playing in the sand

Double date---lots of laughs.

In need of shade--we made banana umbrellas.

"Uncle Stevo.... so funny."

Day Trip to Waterfall on Motercycles

Elijah is a precious sailor adventurer.

Brothers!

Uncle Stephen and Aunt Joy Arrive

Malachi 9 Months--June 5, 2010

A little late in blogging, but here's the cute little guy. Sitting, smiling, growing.

Biking with Papa

Elijah loves digging in the cemetery.

This is one of our play-grounds. There's always something interesting to see--guys digging dirt, piles of dirt...rocks..

Swinging with my boys at the park.

Wasting Time With God

I found this entry in my journal from November and thought I'd post it here on the blog.

11.18.09W I journaled: In his book on Prayer, Yancey mentioned a book "Wasting Time With God" as a title to show how quiet time and prayer can seem like a waste of time--nothing productive--nothing to show for it. It reminded me of a few Saturdays ago when I had on MY AGENDA that Nate would play with Elijah so I could work on Malachi's paperwork for the embassy. It took Nate a longer time than I'd wished or planned to get ready because in the process Elijah was on the bed wrestling Papa and asking me to read books with him. As the process didn't seem to be progressing I huffed: "Hurry up and get ready--we're wasting this time that I could have been working on paperwork."

Nate noticed the irony in my comment and pointed it out while I cringed inside to realize that I had labeled that special family "hanging out time" in its naturalness as a "waste of time." I hope I never say that again. I'm learning now with small children just how task-oriented I am. They are teaching me to be more relationship-oriented--enjoying just being there. It is hard to change from constantly making time productive to just being Elijah's mom--"wasting time" playing with blocks and making turtles out of clay. It is hard to change from always seeing spare moments with the question "What can I be doing now?" to just sitting and watching Elijah fiddle with keys or rocking Malachi to sleep. I am learning with my children to slow down and cancel my "agenda" to just be with them--never a waste of time.

Now with Yancey's challenge I want to learn to do the same with God--to stop hurrying through my "devotions" and reading the Bible like it is an assignment to just sitting in His presence and learning to wait for Him, learning to listen to Him. I want to value my quiet time with God as some of the best, most enjoyable parts of my life--not as a waste of time or as "unproductive" time that accomplished nothing. I want to abide in Jesus and let that time with him bear fruit for him and that is not a wasted life.

Lord, teach me to say: "Speak Lord, your servant is listening" rather than "Listen, Lord, your servant is speaking" (Pamela Gray). Teach me to enjoy the spaces in life as an opportunity to pray and be with you rather than to make use of it planning or being anxious about something. Teach me to pray. Let me set aside my tasks, my agendas, and just be with you.

Tribute to Grandpa Maynard

This was the last picture taken with Grandpa just before we drove away to New York. It was a sad good-bye.

I jumped out of the car July 9, 2008 to get one last picture with Grandma and Grandpa Maynard. I wasn't sure if it would be the last time...My eyes are teary.

This is my favorite picture with Grandpa M. Elijah is 2 months. What a treasure to see him holding his great-grandson! I am so glad they met. I treasure this time they had together.

I think they are smitten with one another! May Grandpa's faith be passed to this little guy.

"Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord....may you live to see your children's children" Ps. 128.4, 6

Nate wrote a beautiful tribute to Grandpa and sent the audio file to be heard during the funeral. Here it is in his words:

Nate’s Reflections about Grandpa

This is Nathan, Grandpa’s eighth grandchild and third child of Bob and Vicki Becker.

I have so many fond memories of my beloved grandpa. When I was very little, I remember my family members always saying that I was just like Grandpa, or as they would put it, I was “the spittin’ image of grandpa”. I guess I took that as a compliment since I considered Grandpa good in math, having a good firm personality, and good-looking.

One time, when my family lived in Virginia and my grandparents were driving down to visit us, I remember standing near the mailbox at the end of our long driveway for a couple of hours, anxiously awaiting their arrival; I just couldn’t wait to see them!

I also remember the joy I had when I gave Grandpa back-rubs in their living room, especially when he would pull out a nice green George Washington out of his wallet after I had finished.

Many of the memories are from when my brother Stephen and I visited Grandma and Grandpa for three consecutive summers during my middle school years. I remember that we: played lots of Skipbo games, and we also helped grandpa tear down that old barn; we then transported all of the logs and beams for his next project, which was to build the future Maynard gazebo. The following summer, we actually helped construct that pavilion, or at least we thought we were helping. Grandpa had Stephen up in the tree while I was frantically trying to follow all of his instructions of where and how to hold the beams.

During those years, we also helped him mow Grandma Ingricks’s large yard as well as kill all the annoying woodchucks. Looking back at it all, it’s amazing that Grandpa put up with all of our mistakes and accidents as much as he did. He did get pretty upset with me, though, during the several mishaps of me almost wrecking his tractor mower.

But, one of my fondest recollections, no matter what age I was, was being able to sit or stand next to Grandpa outside on the front porch as he smoked his pipe, and smelling the glorious scent, that, to me, was uniquely Grandpa. For me, that was a special and intimate way of connecting with him, sort of like male bonding, I suppose.

Things I admire about Grandpa, there are many:

-that he was always good at working with his hands
-that he had a strong work ethic and dedication
-that he was really smart yet also down to earth and personal
-that he had conviction and a back-bone
-that he said what he meant and meant what he said
-that when he was serious, you knew it and you’d be straighten up and get your act together in a hurry.
-but also, that there were other times when he was a real jokester and just fun to be around
-that he loved his kids and grandkids, and he displayed that love and devotion in so many tangible ways
-that he consistently wrote letters and birthday cards, as well as included nice checks within many of those cards
-that he was devoted to his family more than about anything

But, probably the greatest thing I admire about Grandpa is the heritage and legacy he has left among his family and descendents, particularly the heritage of his faith and godly example. As Psalm 61:5 states,
“For you have heard my vows, O God; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.”

I am so thankful that both my Grandma and Grandpa turned to the Lord in the early years of their marriage. Because of that, their faith and Christ-like living has passed on to my mother, and now also to my siblings and me. It is indeed a heritage to treasure, and it inspires us to pass it on even to the next generations.
So many families today are broken, with no heritage, no legacy, no moral examples or standards, no Christ, no foundation. They are lost and full of grief, bitterness, and guilt. My heart deeply goes out to them. Even more so, I’m so thankful for the blessing of such a wonderful heritage I’ve received, which stems greatly from Grandpa’s faithfulness, convictions, dedication, and love. It truly is a legacy to celebrate and continue.

We love you so much, Grandpa! Thank you for more than I could ever express. To God be the glory!

Grandpa Maynard--With the Lord

Nate's grandfather (pictured right) passed away this past May 13th in PA, USA. He went to be with the Lord Jesus and left a great legacy of Christian heratige. This was our last visit to see them, along with Nate's parents, in July 2008. It is hard to miss being there this weekend with all the relatives and family members. This picture is special to me--four generations of men--the faith is passed from Grandpa Maynard, to his daughter, (and her husband), then to my husband and I pray to my son, Elijah (pictured here at 2 months). What a wonderful blessing!

Good-bye, Grandpa. I love you!

"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thessalonians 4.13-14

The obituary in the newspaper:

MAYNARD, Robert S.Robert S. Maynard, 83, of Round Top Road, Wellsboro, PA, passed away May 13, 2010 at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre. He was the husband of Anne Ingerick Maynard whom he married December 9, 1944. Bob was born September 5, 1926 at his home in Charleston Township, the son of the late Howard and Lepha Plumley Maynard. He was a graduate of Charleston High School and retired mechanic and engineer for Corning Glass Works. Bob was a faithful servant to His Lord, was a member of the Independent Bible Church, Wellsboro, and loved working on his house, especially landscaping. He was an avid sports fan, especially the Pittsbugh teams, the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and Penn State and Kentucky's college teams. Bob was an Army Air Corps veteran serving during World War II. Surviving are his wife, Anne; son, Robert E. (Catherine) Maynard, N. Myrtle Beach, SC; daughters, Linda (Jim) Manning, Riverside, CA, Vicki (Bob) Becker, Shelby, OH and Susan (Walter) Beabout, Lockport, NY; 12 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren. He also had a close relationship with the Tsao family in Wellsboro, Gary, YuChih and their daughter, Andrea. Friends and family are invited to Bob's Life Celebration on Sunday, May 16, 2010 from 4:00-6:00 PM at Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home, a "Life Celebration Home", 139 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA. Funeral service Monday, May 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the Independent Bible Church, 45 East Avenue, Wellsboro, PA, with Pastor Rick Herrlin officiating. Burial in Wellsboro Cemetery. If desired, memorials may be made in his memory to the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Tioga County. www.lifecelebration.com.
Published in Star-Gazette on May 15, 2010

Davao Youth Orchestra

Nate did a great job co-conducting the Davao Youth Orchestra this year along with his Filipino colleague. What a great mix of students from our school, Filipino youth and even some community members.

This was the dress-rehearsal for the big performance at a local mall. I wish I could have been there, but I was home with the boys. I was glad to get to see and hear them all together as a group. What a great full sound with additions such as violins, cello and french horn. We could still use a Bassoon! (Elijah loves to say that word).

Diverse trumpet section...

Lovely clarinets.

Nate's Video to Grandpa M