Spirit River, Alberta, Canada

Good Morning, another beautiful day.... 27 below this morning.
but beautiful sunshine! We are having a wonderful time here
with Calvin and his family (Loren's nephew) Marsha left us know that Chase made it safely to Alaska. Jaylene and Marsha and their families were all home with Craig for his birthday last saturday! For all our friends at home, we will be thinking of you all sunday enjoying the pork and sauerkraut dinner on sunday! Again, thanks to all for keeping in touch with us. And it was sooooo good to talk with Arla and our sunday school class on sunday morning! Until next time....
Happy New Year to all!
J.Loren and Wanda

Hi from Alberta

Just a few photos of the beautiful time we are having here in LacLaBiche, Alberta.

These photos were taken walking in their drive (at -30 degrees (F.)

and the deer was taken from their kitchen window

Having Christmas dinner with Harv and Ellie and their family today.

and she made these delicious half moon pies for us!

again, thanks for keeping in touch!

until next time....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

A special greeting from LacLaBiche, Alberta, Canada
Loren and I had a chilly walk this morning, it is 30 below, but the sun is shining
and it is beautiful! We are having a wonderful time here with Loren's brother
and family. We left the 5th wheel in Cantril, Iowa and left there Tuesday morning.,
drove 30 hours and arrived here at Harv's Wed. afternoon. sure happy to be here!
Will try to get back on schedule again with blogging, but do not have access to
internet too often, but keeping busy on the canner which is just great.
so wishing all our family and friends at home and many, many, many friends
that we made in the past 3 months. love you all, and
Happy New Year!
In Service for Him, Together we Can....
J.Loren and Wanda

sorry....

Hi, again, I will try again to add the photos that I wanted to put with these blogs
my ride came to take me back for lunch
and you know... i can't miss that!!!!
love to you all
until next time.....
Wanda

backing up a bit...

our trip from Nebraska to Oklahoma we stopped in Kansas.
We had a great evening and delicious meal at the home of John and Joyce Yoder. Also,
Mo Yoder, and Raymond and Mary Yoder were there. A fun time of sharing many memories. We all had breakfast in Hutchinson before leaving for Oklahoma.

on the job....in Hydro, OK

If you think stirring turkey is easy, all you "Big Valley" friends....
see you at Peachey Meats in February :)
(i can think of a quite a few strong men (cousins in particular)!!! :)
It was 70 degrees here yesterday, but today in the low 30's and windy
and getting colder
I hear it is quite cold at home also.
We still continue to thank God for dry roads.
Our plans are to leave here and head for Fairview, OK on wed. morning.
until next time
In Service for Him.... together we can
J.Loren and Wanda

Henderson, Nebraska

Nov. 30 - Dec. 4 was not "just" another week... what wonderful people, again!!!! Was privileged to work along side, and make so many more friends! They also set up wireless for us, which the canner guys and Loren and I really appreciated. So many there at the church went above and beyond to make us welcome there. When we arrived at the church and was welcomed by Brent Swartzendruber he showed us where to park the 5th wheel, in his father's back yard.... my high school typing teacher???? Larry and Rozella Swartzendruber, what a wonderful time of reminiscing. We enjoyed a wonderful meal and fellowship with them and their friends. They also
enjoyed showing us their treasured painting from the Big Valley. Thank you also, Royce and Carol for the super delicious sunday dinner and fellowship. Enjoyed so much visiting with your mother, Elva (and thanks again for the article and the cookbook, Elva). Also to Joyce, I am so happy with my haircut! You are the best!!! .... and Hi to Ron. Remember that trip to Big Valley!

Hosts

Our trip, from Nov. 12-30 we did not take our 5th wheel, so a very special thank you and a very Merry Christmas to our Hosts and their families in
Mountain Lake, MN - Jim and Diane Dick
Winkler, Manitoba, Canada - John and Agatha Redakop
Freeman, South Dakota - Delmar (Bud) and Verda Saner
thank you again to each of you for opening your home and hearts
to us as we were in your communities. We have many wonderful memories
and hoping to see each of you in PA sometime!
In Service for Him.... together we can!
J.Loren and Wanda

Thanksgiving Day

A special thank you to Gib and Joyce for telling their friends in Freeman, that we would be in the area over Thanksgiving. Enjoyed a delicious dinner with Burt, Eileen and daughter, and Ray and Anita Neufeld and daughter. The Kaufmans also have recently sold their dairy cows, so an afternoon of farming stories was very interesting and made for a fun afternoon!
A Very Merry Christmas to you and your families!

Nov. 26th

We were so blessed to visit in the home of Maynard and Barb Yoder. Maynard worked on the canner in 1985-87. Unfortunately, a few years ago, he was involved in a devastating farm accident, followed with a stroke. He is a true inspirations, he and his wife and two children. The children were helping at the canner in the morning with their school classes. Loren and I feel so very truly blessed to have had the opportunity to be in their home. Another "unexpected blessing" on that visit was (after an accident in 1987 with the MCC truck hauling cans out west) find the fly wheel that was signed by many MCC workers in Akron. Also, Maynard said to send greetings to his great uncle Paul Bender. Thank you, Maynard and Barb, for a wonderful visit!
Christmas Greetings to you and your family!

Freeman, South Dakota

Back Again!!! sorry about the delay! Just being overwhelmed by so many friends, memories, and "food"......
The canner guys also get involved with other jobs on the site,.... and they also get to snack!!
Had the opportunity to visit with a former canner, Stan Hofer 1991-93. And I want to send
a very special Christmas Greeting to my new friend, Preston and his family!
have been trying to get some photos on this, but not working,
will try later!!!
love to all,
wanda and loren

Freeman, S.D.

Back again, sorry about the delay. Nov. 25th. Canner guys also get involved with other jobs on the site, and... they also get to snack!!! Had the opportunity to visit with a former canner, Stan Hofer 1991-93. And I also want to send a special Christmas Greeting to my new friend,

Preston and his family. :)

Freeman, South Dakota

Our visit in Freeman was great. Meeting so many new people again! The food is wonderful!!!

We have been so blessed with our host family, Bud and Verda Saner, we were treated like family there! They took us to the Museum there in town, a wonderful tour. Thanks for the cookies, we sure enjoyed them on our drive to Kansas. And we are still enjoying the games you made! Thank you Bud and Verda!