On May 31, 2010 the first graduating class from Brashier Middle College Charter High School began their commencement ceremony just after 10:00 AM. Cherith was one of the graduates in that very first graduating class. We are so proud of her.

Congratulations Cherith

Cherith’s senior project was a collection of thirty-six Bible lessons for five year olds that she wrote herself. Each senior had a mentor for their project. Cherith’s was Pastor Ben Ice of Calvary Baptist Church in Simpsonville, SC. The senior project grade was the overall graduating grade. She with sixty-eight others made their passing grades and are now the first graduated class of Brashier Middle College Charter High School. We are thankful for her testimony in the two years she has been at BMCCHS and for the difference she has made. Again, for graduating from BMCCHS we congratulate you.

This is the time of year when we remember the dearly departed. With Memorial Day we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the United States of America. They went into battle knowing full well there was the greatest likelihood of not ever returning. To these we hold in the highest regard and appreciation.

But for the living I refer to a different dearly departed. Starting this week we have the dearly departed having departed to the lake, to the mountains, to other states or countries. to the beach, to the campground… Strange that a thing called ‘the school year’ brings many of these dearly departed back to a somewhat stable living place and routine.

Addressing the second part of the title first I had my complete post Saved (several times) and pressed Publish and in less than a second the text and pictures COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED!!! Just remember: Inanimate and non-human items can never and will never apologize for anything. They don’t care. They don’t have to. They are like Democrats and Socialists (it is hard to tell the difference anymore!!! Why do they even call themselves Democrats? They aren’t democratic. ). So that is what can happen in a second.

We had the great blessing of having Josh & Han and Ricky & Karlyn get married in the time span of just the last four weeks. Josh and Han had their wedding on the shore of Lake Robinson just north of Greer, SC. The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner was wonderful time. We found out that Josh should have raise at least one if not two goats for the dowry, but, oh well. Live and learn. But there was also the testament of God’s work in both Josh and Hannah’s lives and where they are right now. Many Blaha’s arrived from Michigan on Friday. Some including Grandpa and Grandma Blaha (Dad & Mom to me) were there for the rehearsal dinner. The wedding was wonderful and went well. Josh and Han had a great time as their honeymoon was a cruise to the Bahamas.

Josh and Hannah all married and ready for the rest of their lives.

Fortunately Josh and Han’s wedding was local. God provide for local travel. God’s provision to and from Ricky and Karlyn’s was totally different and came from unexpected sources for which we are very grateful. For those who had a part, THANK YOU. Ricky had to get to Michigan anyway and so paid for the fuel to get there. God provided also through significantly reduced fuel prices. That made little go much longer. We traveled up on Wednesday night to Dad & Mom’s. Jesse and I took the opportunity to walk, as best we could, the perimeter of the farm. We had discussions of days long past and dreams and the future. After a great night’s rest at Karla’s Bed and Breakfast (not officially that, but may as well be for family and friends from all over the world) we headed NORTH. Yes, we were already NORTH of Mr. Mason and Mr. Dixon’s geopolitical line, but this was further NORTH in Michigan.

The rehearsal dinner was at the Chee Peng Chinese Restaurant (had fun decorating there). After the rehearsal at Faith Baptist in Fremont, MI we also enjoy a story and testimony about Ricky and Karlyn’s lives. (Ricky didn’t have to worry about goats at all!)

Lois and I, Josh and Han stayed in a cottage on Pickerel Lake. The morning of fog and swans swimming and flying in and out of it were accented by one lone fisherman on the the lake (Rick Blair – We were staying at Rick’s father and step-mother’s cottage while Rick and Ruth (my sister) stayed in their house). Rick and Ruth then took us (Josh, Han, Lois, and I) to the North Star Cafe for breakfast which was very good. Then on to the wedding.

Ricky and Karlyn’s wedding was, like Josh & Han’s, a great witness of God’s grace. A special memorial part of the wedding was the acknowledgment of Karlyn’s father, Steven Tipmore, who had been pastor at the church until his unexpected death in April 2007. Their wedding was as unique to them as Josh & Han’s was. As you can see the conveyance away to begin their trip to their honeymoon in Colorado with a side trip to New Mexico. (No, they didn’t take the wagon all the way to Colorado, but it was a great start.)

Ricky and Karly on their first means of transport along with their wedding party.

Our return trip was provided for in several special ways. Eunice was driving Karlyn’s car back to SC and so between that car and Josh and Han driving back and Ricky away on his honeymoon, Lois and I were to stay awhile longer in Michigan and travel back alone. On the way back a very special friend offered to have us stay at her place in Kentucky. Since I had an appointment in Greenville, SC Monday afternoon we had to be closer to Greenville if we were to stay anywhere overnight. She still wanted to see us so she paid for us to eat together a an Olive Garden. She also paid for us to take a hotel much further on our way. To each who had a part in anyway in helping us on our trip we praise God for you and for the blessing of it all.

Wow! I haven’t posted on here a major post since April 24th (this year). Two thoughts may have just gone through your brain. One: Where in the world have you been? Two: Oh no! This will be another long post.

To answer the first and to ignore the second (did I say that?) let me summarize.

Summary of the first four months
January – Cameron spends time with us from Wisconsin, Andrea and Cameron return to Wisconsin – Andrea to her last semester of college
January – February – Ricky and Karlyn go on a missions trip to Trinidad
March – Ricky proposes to Karlyn in Watertown, WI
March – Eunice and her roommate Joanna Engross in a discussion about the Sovereignty of God have a blow out of a tire and after the car rolls ends up in the emergency room for the night – the worst being a cut on Eunice’s hand from cutting her hair that was trapped under the roof of the car through the broken out window

Now, what has happened since May 1st. (I know I missed some wedding anniversaries in here, maybe a birthday or two. Let me know and I will add them in.)
May 5th – Angie Blaha’s birthday (Rick’s brother’s wife)
May 7th – Lois, Cherith, and Jesse helped Rose move out of her apartment.
May 8th – Eunice’s birthday, Rose, Lois, and I go to the airport in Charlotte, NC. Lois and I fly to Milwaukee, WI (YES!!!)
May 9th – Lois and I travel to Northland Baptist Bible College.
May 10th – Andrea graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College, It was also my birthday, after graduation we went to Plainfield, WI (where we believe God is preparing us to go)
May 11th – Spent the day with the Gaudet family and the family of the First Baptist Church in Plainfield.
May 12th – Back to Milwaukee, Charlotte, and Simpsonville, SC.
May 13th – Keith Blair’s birthday (Rick’s nephew)
May 15th – Andrea’s birthday
May 16th – Ruth Blair’s birthday (Rick’s sister)
May 17th – Stephanie Homontowski’s graduation from Athens Christian School
May 19th – Len & Angie’s Anniversary (Rick’s brother & sister-in-law)
May 24th – Hannah Blaha’s birthday (Rick’s niece)
May 25th – Karla Blaha’s birthday (Rick’s sister), Cameron Gaudet proposes to Andrea in Crivitz, WI
May 31st – Andrea home from college – for good; Elizabeth Homontowski’s wedding
June 6th – Andrea’s college graduation reception
June 16th – Rick has his 11th year anniversary at his work
June 24th – Cherith’s birthday
June 29th – Ricky’s birthday
June 30th – Jesse leaves for camp at Southland in Louisiana
July 1st – Lois leaves for North Dakota (her sister’s husband’s 60th birthday party)
July 4th – United States of America Independence Day
July 5th – Jesse home from camp
July 8th – Lois home from North Dakota
July 10th – Jesse gets his driving permit.
July 11th – Eunice and Jesse leave for Texas with a Mission Work Team from Grace Bible.
July 21st – Eunice and Jesse return from Texas (for those of you with Facebook check out the group ‘Texas Work Team’).
July 23rd – Lois’ birthday, Keturah Lake’s birthday (Rick’s niece)
July 24th – Hannah Gfeller hosts a Pampered Chef party for Andrea
July 30th – Rick & Lois’ 31st Anniversary
July 31st – Dan & Claudia’s 32nd Anniversary
August 5th – Dad Blaha’s birthday, Rick Blair’s birthday (Rick’s sister’s husband)
August 12th – Dad & Mom Blaha’s 58th Wedding Anniversary
August 14th – Rick & Ruth Blair, Karla Blaha, and Naomi Blaha leave for Mexico on a Missions Trip
August 15th – Lois & Jesse leave for Georgia to help out Bruce and Deirdra Homontowski for a week (praise the Lord Deirdra is doing much better)
August 18th – 20th – Rick is at home alone for 2-1/2 days (instead of bigfamilyinasmallhouse it has felt like onepersoninabighouse); Jesse starts school
August 23rd – Lois & Jesse return from Georgia (I hope)
August 25th – Rick & Ruth Blair, Karla Blaha, and Naomi Blaha return from Mexico from their Missions Trip
August 26th – Cherith and Jesse start school at Brashier Middle College Charter High School.

Future (currently planned)
October 4th – Josh Blaha and Hannah Gfeller united in marriage
October 18th – Ricky Blaha and Karlyn Tipmore united in marriage
November 28th – Cameron Gaudet and Andrea Blaha united in marriage

That is what has been going on and tentative in the future.

See, not too long… But wait there’s more!!!! Where are we now? See the previous post.

Happy birthday Frick!