Caleb's Baptism

Baptism is a gift from God...an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are in God's family! So exciting to have Caleb's baptism! While our two families come from different baptism traditions, one of the reasons we chose to baptize Caleb now was because of sponsors. In my family, sponsors have meant a great deal! My sponsors have played a significant role in my life and I have known they are people I could go to for help and encouragement. They were the ones that made sure they made it to milestones, events, and birthdays. They cheered me on and I know they prayed for me my entire life! While other families made it to concerts and milestones, there was a special relationship between my sponsors and myself.

The service started at 10:30 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church - Butternut. Gene, my step-dad, is the pastor there. Gene's tradition with baptism is that after Caleb was baptized, Gene took and showed him off to the children in front and the congregation down the aisles. Then he gave Caleb to a member, John and Donna, in the pews to hold until he fusses:) But he didn't fuss. He slept through the whole thing. But John gave him back to us during the offering about 20 minutes later. I love that Gene does this. It is a really cool moment. It emphasizes the importance of the Christian Family and how it takes a Village!

Which Caleb had a village there to celebrate his baptism! Here they all are...

Here he is during the service. His sponsors are Ryan and Britta Fisher & Jason and Carrie Miller.

Ryan, Britta, Briana, Josh, Caleb, Carrie, Jason

Up front

Baptism

Blessing

Showing Caleb off to the congregation

Our family

Great Grandparents: Melvin, Bill, Dorothea

Grandparents: Bob & Ruthan, Denise & Gene

Aunts and Uncles

Great-great Uncle Roger and Aunt Holly (my sponsors)

Britta and Ryan (sponsors) with Caleb

Carrie and Jason (Sponsors) with Caleb

July 2, 2011 Barn dance

My great-grandma's sister married an Oelfke. My grandpa and his cousins, especially the Oelfkes, have lots of fun. Every year the Oelfke's host a barn dance five miles from the Thalmann/Harjes farm. From the 100 year celebration we traveled over to the barn dance. We have lots of fun:)

The barn loft

Caleb peeking over Daddy's shoulder

Caleb's tail

Caleb's monkey

Caleb and Auntie Britta

LOVE this poster!

Caleb's Great-great-aunt Kathy

Doing the twist

The barn

Miller family

My great-great aunt Betty with her daughter-in-law Denise

Swing dancing with Krista

Exhausted

Our slow dance

The Russian dance that defies balance and 40 year old knees

The classic YMCA

July 2, 2011 Century Farm

I am proud of my farming roots and consider myself a country girl. My mother's family has had the same for 100 years. My great uncle and aunt, Roger and Holly Harjes, live on my great-grandmother's family (Thalmann) farm. It is a registered Century Farm! I don't know who will take it over after my great aunt and uncle, but for now it is a family farm that hold many memories. My sister and brother-in-law got married at the pond on the farm even.
Below are some pictures of family and reminiscing.

Great Aunt Holly and Great Uncle Roger Harjes...finalizing set up.

Remembrance service down at the pond.

Having fun at the pond with Caleb.

The Miller Green Family

The summer kitchen and addition at the pond.

On the bed is a horse hair blanket that they wore in the sleigh to church in the winter.

Butter churn

Someone help me. My great-great-great grandparents? I know it is Dietrich Harjes

The original farm site before the barn burned down in 1950.

The current farm site, the bond, Uncle Bob's farm site, and then my grandpa's place behind that. All three brothers in one aerial picture.

The farm house

My mom remembering the planter. Riding behind and filling the planter and making sure it didn't jam up.

The first tractor my mom drove

Mom modeling the corn planter. Farmers are hard workers!

My mom and her siblings, Tom and Tina, sharing memories

The traditional front step picture

The summer kitchen full of antiques

My grandpa, William Harjes Jr. His one year picture and his high school graduation.

Thanks for some of the pictures Britta!

July 1, 2011

July already! I know everyone says that kids grow up fast, but now I have personally witnessed it. Caleb is growing faster than I can get him in all his outfits! And he has become quite a reader!

His aunts from Colorado think so too! Friday Britta, Ryan, and Krista drove into town for the weekend. We had supper together and enjoyed a Friday night together!

There was a bad storm after supper so we spent some time in the basement. Caleb didn't have time to be scared of the storm because aunts and uncles kept him smiling!

Lots of Caleb love!

Ohio State

Our little buckeye has no choice but to be a buckeye fan! His daddy has buckeye blood coursing through his veins at all times. Here is the process of osmosis Caleb is currently going through to make sure he follows in daddy's footsteps and shouts O-H .... I-O!

Ohio State Slippers

One of many Buckeye outfits!