Our “big” little helpers

Thanks to our children who are our biggest fans (usually). They get tired of the trips sometimes, but have a fun time with friends they meet and with each other.  They also “help” along the way with some setup, and always help us to be anxious to get home!

Molly (Jason's) reads to the children before the service after practicing with them for some singing later on during the program

Dallas helps us all by sharing his smile with everyone!

All the children would be glad to test the sound system.

All ready for church Sunday morning; Chrissy (Daryl's), Marshall (Brian's), and Jake (Daryl's)

Jake in Wooster square helping direct traffic?

Jake did help out his mother by sleeping through all the programs but one!

Bryce (Brian's) and Guy (Daryl's) digging out CD's from under the bus bed to restock the CD stand.

Recording

The Petersheim family enjoyed trying their hand at recording in their own “studio”.  Daryl has a small recorder that he uses for some of his songs he’s written.  He sings the melody, then adds  additional parts with his own voice; this helps Garment of Praise in learning one of his new songs.

Daryl recording down in the basement of his house.

Daryl, Renita, and children decided to lay down a track of them singing their “family” songs that they’ve sung at a few programs.  When “God makes a yot of a yitto” (instead of a “lot of a little”), you’ve got to preserve that!

Whitney listening back to "Father to Me".

This singer, Jake, (3) is the one who sings the last line, "God makes a yot of a yittle".

Jason’s family “Caitlin and Molly”

Please pray for Caitlin and Molly (Jason’s) as they mourn the loss of their mother. She passed away January 18th.

Diane Bigger Passed Away

Brian and Jason’s oldest sister, Diane, went peacefully on to her eternal home Wednesday afternoon, November 4, 2009.

Please continue to remember the family in your prayers. Funeral and viewing arrangements are as follows:

Viewings:

• Saturday, Nov. 7 from 5-8 pm at East District Mennonite Church
• Sunday, Nov. 8 from 2-6 pm at Martindale Mennonite Church

Funeral:

Monday, Nov. 9 at 2:00 pm at

Revival Tabernacle Church
960 Susquehanna Trail
Watsontown, PA 17777
(East District Area)

Burial will be at East District that evening

A New Baby Arrived!

New Baby Arrives! Jason and Denise were happy to welcome Dallas Grant Fox into their family on September 1st, 2009 at 7:28 am.

He weighed in at 8lbs 12oz and looks like his Daddy! Mom and baby came home from the hospital the next day, and are doing fine!

Jason stayed home an extra 2 days while the GOP went out to Holmes County for the Haiti Relief Auction, but then drove out for the Sunday programs.

Thank God for a healthy baby boy!

Pictures will follow….

Brian Straining For The High Note

Looks like Brian is Straining For the High Note Again....well, at least it looks like him.

The guys couldn’t resist taking a picture with this gentleman outside one of the little Berlin shops.  Brian tries hard for those high endings… here he wasn’t making a sound though.

The Last Ride Home

This was to be her last ride home-almost.

We left Harrisburg via Interstate 81, headed west on 322, north on 11/15 and than snaked our way through some back roads, and finally to the dirt lane that would take us into the “Bigger Plantation.” My oldest sister, Diane Bigger, 4 years my elder, was diagnosed with cancer merely 6 months ago.

I can hardly have it or believe it. This was a lady who knew how to love and to care. As a younger brother, I would watch her carefully remove glass from hands bloodied by a friend’s drunken stupor. Her compassion seemed to know few limits; at times I would question the sanity of some of her efforts. Fear did not seem to handicap her in any way. She would personally canvass East Reading with tracts each month, passing them at any hour of the day or night.

At 19 she fell in love with and married my teacher, Jeff Bigger. After several years of life in the city, they decided to move to the little farmette near Milton, PA, to be closer to Jeff’s family. At first it was a real adjustment for this life-long city slicker, but it didn’t take long for her to find ways to become active for God and bloom where planted. 12 years later, 5 children, and a grand child on the way, Diane has been given about a month to live.

Cancer has robbed her of some of her outer beauty, but has not touched her spirit or inner beauty. She has been incredibly strong through it all. I can only hope to have half of her dying grace when my time comes to go. So many memories flooded my mind as I followed that van home, and often I would find myself sobbing out loud wondering why it has to come to this.

The final turn into that dirt lane drew one more splash of emotion knowing this would be her last ride in that dirt lane. So many Thanksgivings before we had made that same turn and been treated to a royal feast-Oh the memories. I watched Jeff gently lead Diane out of the van and across the thresh hold of the house where he tenderly hugged and kissed her as if it was their honeymoon night.

The hospice nurses arrived 30 minutes later, and I watched Diane sign her life away-literally. She will die soon, and then she will take her final ride home-eternally. Before leaving, she thanked me and my father for escorting her safely home. I told her that I expect her to return the favor someday; she promised me she would.

I love you Diane.

ROAD TRIP: Motel & Breakfast

We stayed in a motel Friday evening, and used this opportunity to take a few snapshots with Danny in the quartet.  OK,… so the guys got a little funny.  When we were out on the motel porch, we got visiting with some other people and sang a song for them.  They wanted to go in and get their elderly mother and have us sing to her too!  Then out for breakfast at Knepp’s Family Restaurant with Jason’s family and his father.  Jason Knepp’s sister runs the restaurant.  Great buffet!

Serenading other motel customers

Brian and his coffee

Hank Knepp, Rachel, Joanna, and Jason Knepp

On The Road To Indiana

On the road to Indiana,

We were on the road to Indiana (stopping first for a program in Ohio) at 4:00 am.  It was a good trip, no bus problems.  Denise stayed back since she’s expecting in two weeks, and Sheryl stayed back to take care of Andrea, recovering from a ruptured appendix.  Accompanying the quartet were Brian’s two older boys, Daryl’s family, and Caitlin, Jason’s oldest daughter.

We hit the top three this weekend: Burger King, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell.  All were great (a little slow)…

Thank you to the quartet from the Gipe family. A big thank you in return for the meals and home for the night.

Gipe family's dog, CJ with Chrissy

Jacob with a nebulizer for his wheezing

Great McDonalds' hashbrowns for breakfast served up with coffee and devotions

3 Burger Kings

Update on Andrea Fox

Andrea Fox

Andrea is recovering slowly and is hoping to be home soon.

Sheryl, Brian’s wife (Andrea’s mom) will be staying back to take care of Andrea and some of the other children.

Denise, Jason’s wife, will also be staying home since she is due with their little one this month.  But the rest of us are ready to load up and head out at 4:00 am Thursday morning.

Pray for travelling mercies!

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