Cry me a River Festival

I just found out on my friend Angi's blog that it's river festival time in Wichita.

If I was in the states, I doubt I would attend many of the events (especially as the canoe races no longer exist), but I still don't like the idea of river festival happening while I am in Peru. Perhaps because I have so many memories of it as a kid.

I remember going to the river festival parade one or two years in this:


When all five of us siblings had been born, all three of us girls sat in it without seatbelts in all fearlessness. Paul would ride his small bike alongside us and mama would have baby Joel in a bike seat behind her. It made sense for all of us to go to the parade by bike because so many of the streets would be blocked off for vehicles. Daddy made (and still makes) the craziest inventions.

Below are canoe race pictures as well as Grace when she was tubby:

In Honor of Mama

One thing I appreciate about my mom is that she patiently writes emails filled with recipes and enjoyable facts to appease me as I live out my decision to be overseas.

June 28, 2005, my mother sent her very first email. It was to Dale and I. Dale was working at camp at the time while I was doing an internship in San Diego:

Eden and Dale
My first email of my very own. Dad and I met Robbie today for lunch .
She made it seem like Eden you are having a goood experience. Lots of
variety in things to see and do. Joels lone bird is lonely and sits at bottom of cage we need to get
another bird for it.
Dad may go to stafford sat.
Love mom

Mama’s emails are always interesting as they often have the following characteristics:

-          honest comments about life in general – so that I don’t miss a single thing while I am away

-          words misspelled or abbreviated to such an extent that even Aunt Anne, a lover of puzzles, is challenged in trying to decipher what they say.

-          other accidents revealing of her inability to understand technology.



Here are some email excerpts to show what I mean:

Eden/ I hope you got homework done. Grace was helping Joel with his math and I thot they would both end up crying.

love ma

(Note: It’s intriguing to me that she always signs her letters “ma.” Perhaps she is trying to save time by not typing an additional “m” and “a”?)




Dad has all 3 mowers working wow!
I missed pool ball monday night. I hear in midst of game Grandpa had boxer shorts fallen at his feet. Everyone loled. I guess they were stuck in a pant leg from washing and at that moment fell out.







The church pool party was good. tho at church we prayed that God would bless pools everywhere.
Why am I most tempted to laugh when we have casual sunday and are sitting in a semi circle.




Are you watching the
olympics? The swimming is fun. I am looking forward to trying some of the new moves.





We may go to a live enactment of a civil war battle. I think it will be fun just watching people who really love that sort of thing.
love ma




Dear Paul and Eden
I miss you guys when we do family projects. Dad has been nervous (I know its hard
to imagine) about burning the piles lately and has put it off but there was no wind so I initiated it. The big hole we will
save for when more people can help.
Joel is helping me with KFC now that cc is over. It is small yet but well liked.
Paul you should get involved with a ministry (that is very attractive to strong christian babes.)
Paul sorry to run ahead on the gifts but I would love frisbee golf frisbees or discs for x mas.
enough to bring a few friends and maybe loose a few.(discs not friends).






Dear Eden
Are you settled in this semester?  We are getting there.  I had a bsf mgt.
and start kfc today.

I could write more but
I prefer phone conv. hint hint.
love ma




Dear Family
We will have Easter Lunch here. Come and bring a friend. I will invite Hawkinsons as its really not easter w/o kids greedily looking for eggs. (sorry Eden May you have a wonderful peruvian Easter)
love ma

And now for the grand finale! One day I got an email in my inbox saying that I had got a voicemail from my mom...