The Memorial Gathering for Grandpa Stauffer

 I'm finally getting back here to tell about our Sunday - a whole week ago!  But again, I will start with a picture I took this afternoon.  Did I ever say I love red?

Now, back to last Sunday.  Right after church we came home to pack up all of the things Destiny had brought along for her and baby Elizer.  We traveled, without stopping, all the way to Middle Creek Church of the Brethren near Lititz, a two-and-a-half hour drive.   Elizer is such a good traveler!

The memorial gathering for Dad Stauffer was held in the spacious pavilion at the church.  Dick's brother Bob and his wife Doris were there from Minnesota.  You can see them right at the front of this picture, seated at the table.  He was the moderator that kept things flowing.  

It was a WONDERFUL, informal time of sharing stories, laughing, shedding some tears, and singing some of his favorite songs. 

In addition to our immediate family, there were cousins, an aunt, and Grandma Arlene's siblings. 

 

There may have been a silly song or two by the Stauffer boys!  "How Does a Cow Make Milk?" and "There Was a Man Who Had a Goat."

It lasted for two hours and we did not get bored!  I managed to corral the five brothers afterward for a picture.  It was not easy, since there were so many relatives there they had not seen in years.  Here they are, youngest to oldest - Fred, Jim, Steve, Bob, and Dick.  Dick was seven years old when Fred was born!  That was a whole lot of little boys!

Dick took a video of the entire afternoon.  The stories were so great, some of them really funny.  And the four-part acapella singing was so good!

After making the slide show of Grandma Mary last week, I decided I would like to also make one of Grandpa Stauffer.  I did not take the time to go through all my photo albums, so there are gaps, but it gives a pretty good overview.  I love the ones where he has a twinkle in his eye.

When we finally had talked with as many people as we could, and many had a chance to meet little Elizer for the first time, we took him and Destiny home.  First of all though, we stopped at the Turkey Hill Minit Market where Alex works.  It was so cute seeing him walk around the store with Elizer in his arms.  

I think we were home by 8:30, very tired.  But a good tired. 

First thing Monday morning Destiny sent me a video of Elizer that just MELTED MY HEART!!  I took these screen shots from the video and have been looking at them all week long!

I have some good Fall pictures from this past week, but I'll do another post with those in a day or so.