JEAN TELLS ABOUT FATHER'S DAY

First, I would like to thank you all for your condolences on the passing of our Bishop. They were very kind of you and are appreciated. It is very kind of all of you.

As some of you asked to know about our Father's Day, I thought that I would tell you.  A few days before, after we got back from Penn Yan, Elmer came over one day when Susan, Katie and David Jr. were playing in the yard.  I thought he would pull in and visit, but he gave Susan a box, spoke with her and left.  Susan bought the box to the house.  She said Elmer gave her a gift for David Sr. on Father's Day to be from the children.  When I saw Elmer and Anna, Elmer said it was something that David needed in slaughtering.  I offered to pay them for it, but he said it was from the children.  So that's the note I put on it.

On Father's Day, it was the first gift he opened.  Inside were some special knives that are used when slaughtering animals.  The ones that David used were old and really needed replacing but are expensive and he thought after this years harvest he would buy a new set.  When Elmer used the old ones while we were in Penn Yan, he decided we needed a new set now.  We thanked Elmer and Anna very much at Father's Day dinner and again offered to pay.  Elmer said the gift was from the children.  Anna agreed.

David had a desk that was his grandfather's.  It was in the attic in are old house, Kevin and Bridget's house and this house.  He said he was going to refinish it and use it in our little office area, but he never did.  Michael and Edward decided to do it for him for Father's Day.  We got it out of the house and over to Joseph's when David wasn't home.  Wouldn't David go looking for it while it was gone.  He thought I got rid of it.  Michael and Edward worked on it whenever they got a chance.  Any questions they had, they asked Bishop Joseph. They put a finish on the top in case someone spilled coffee or water on the top, it wouldn't damage the desk.  When it was finished, they brought it back on Saturday before Father's Day when David was out.  They took the desk we had been using and put that in the attic.  We tried not to let David in the office to see it, but finally the boys said they had to. So all of us went with David when he went into the room.  David was in shock when he saw that desk.  He was so proud of Michael and Edward for doing all that work.  David always said he would do it, but never got around to it.  Now it was done and he was so happy.  They did the chair that went with it over, too.  He also thanked Bishop Joseph for his advice and help with it.

This may sound  bit unusual to you, but I got David a winter coat for Father's Day.  He had wanted it during the winter, but the price was more than he would pay.  So did his Father want one.  I went through the store after Christmas and the coat was on sale for less than half of the original price.  So I bought one for David and one for his Father.  We gave his Father his, but David was surprised on Father's Day that I got one for him, too.

We got my Father a spring coat that he wanted and needed.  For Grandfather Albert, I made him a new suit of clothes.  Grandmother Olive has trouble doing hand sewing sometimes, she has arthritis in her hands.

After leaving meeting house, we went to the dinner at Elmer's friends farm.  Elmer's friend had church service at his house again.  The men had set up the tables and seats when we got there.  The two seating wagons and dishes wagons were there.  Two people - one Old Order Mennonite and the other Amish, had slaughtered one of their cows so we would have enough steaks.  Last year we donated one and I think Elmer donated the other.

When we arrived all the men received a flower.  We gave each of them a tulip.  We also laid out the dishes to pass and cooked the steaks.  The men sat and chatted while we got set up.  When dinner was ready, both Bishop Joseph and Bishop Eli said grace and welcomed us. The men ate first.  Then the boys.  Then us ladies and the girls.

After we ate, the men chatted while we ladies cleaned up.  The children enjoyed games.  We ladies chatted.  Later in the afternoon, we had cookies, cake and pie with lemonaide, iced tea, soft drinks, etc.

Before we left Bishop Joseph said that every year it is on the Amish to arrange where this will be.  He thought it was time one of us Old Order Mennonite had Mother's Day or Father's Day next year.  So we offered to have one of them at our house.

The men packed up the seats and tables while we ladies cleaned up the dishes and packed our things for home.  Both Bishop Eli and Bishop Joseph said a parting prayer and thanked us all for coming.  Bishop Eli ended by saying that the ladies do better on Father's Day anytime over the men's Mother's Day.  The men clapped for us ladies.

So that is how we had Father's Day.  When we got home, we had to milk the cows.  We had sandwiches for supper after all we had eaten today.

Be With God,
Jean

MARTHA WILL BE ON NEXT MONDAY WITH FAMILY NEWS.