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October 17th, 2005
It is an absolutely beautiful day here in Central Oklahoma. Of course, autumn is my favorite season, and October is my favorite month, I think. The leaves are beginning to color and fall, the air has a crisp, clean feel to it, especially in the evening, but the days are sunny and warmed just enough. Such a nice change from summer's stickiness. The zinnias and salvia and marigolds are going wild in the garden, and the moon has been bright and almost full the last couple of nights. So, October 17th, and all is well at the Naylors!!!
Now, to tell about our latest adventures!!! Here's what we've been up to the past month and a half...
Tera and I did finally go to Europe!!! To find out more about our adventures click here.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Some dear friends of ours lost their father/husband in a plane crash just before Labor Day. Instead of the Harsches coming down here to spend the weekend, Sarah, Jeremy and Jesse ended up going up there to help with anything they could. They were really glad they went and were blessed by their time with the family. After being home for a bit, Jesse headed back up to help with the farm and cattle. I hear he really likes that area of MO, and I know he loved his time there, riding horses, working cattle, and doing whatever else he could to help out. Then at the end of the month, our friends Elissa B. and Hannah M. came through on their way home from a cross-country road trip. They spent almost a week, and from what I've heard of their time here, they kept busy working. I do know that the Jeep Tera and I share was VERY clean when we got home!!! Thanks, girls!!!!
Sounds like the most exciting event we missed was the super day at Grand Lake with Elissa, Hannah, John and Hannah from Arkansas, and the Harsches. There was a sailboat involved and jet skies and diving off of tall structures and lots of laughter and fellowship. No one got permanently injured, though I gather some of them were extremely sore the next day. They had a blast!!!!
Tera and I came home October 6th. On the 7th we went to the Lazy E Arena to hear Lew Sterrett (www.sermononthemount.org), a horse trainer/preacher from Pennsylvania. He does a great job comparing the rider's relationship to his horse with God towards us. That night he talked about how we must yield to God's will, and not be stiff necked like the stubborn horse he was riding. Once the horse learned to respond to his gentle pressure, things went much smoother - for the horse and rider! We had no idea how that night would impact our lives forever though. I "happened" to run into an old friend of mine (not that she is old, she's only a couple years older than I am...married with EIGHT CHILDREN!!!). As we were visiting, and waiting for our opportunity to meet Mr. Sterrett, she pointed out the family standing behind us - a nice, small family with FOURTEEN children!!!- and mentioned that they can sing. We visited just a bit and then "traded" songs...boy, was I glad we went first! They are really good!!! !!! We jotted down their contact information and went home, very impressed, and very blessed. The Dortignacs are actually from California and only in Oklahoma for a building project (you can "meet" them at their website...http://home.earthlink.net/~4of14/index.html. We are so thankful their project is taking longer than they thought, and that God saw fit for our paths to cross, in such an amazing way at just the right time. A couple of days later, our friend Jim Garling called to say that a family band from Massachusetts was in Guthrie for a concert the following night and would like to meet us. We were so excited, and I headed to town knowing a greyhound bus in Guthrie would not be hard to find...and it wasn't! The MacDonald family -with EIGHT children- (www.macdonaldfamilysingers.com) ended up spending a couple of days with us, and we so enjoyed their music and the fellowship we shared in their short time here. To make it extra special, the Dortignacs came to their concert on Wednesday, and you should have seen our house with only the Barnes, Dortignacs, MacDonalds and us for root beer floats afterwards! WOW!!!!! It was SO fun! We thought that was a big crowd, but you should have seen the Dortignacs house when all of us, plus a few other families showed up for their open house pizza night last Friday. I can't imagine what their neighbors thought (the ones who weren't enjoying the fantastic homemade pizza with us) when they heard first our music, then the brass ensemble - complete with tuba, trumpets and trombone - from the MacDonalds, then the Dortignacs , Kris Barnes, and then a hodgepodge of whoever wanted to sing or play. What an amazing night!!!!
Poor Jesse missed most of the above since he was gone yet again...this time south of the Red River for a couple of days for a horse sale. He used such self control in only buying one for himself, and a couple for a friend. Pretty little things, don't you think?
Tomorrow we are having our "Almost Yearly" Autumn Campfire, Sing-a-Long, Volleyball, Fellowship evening, and are looking forward to having the Dortignacs among many of our local friends, and to top our overflowing cup of happiness, the Wolkings (www.sonsandbrothersband.com) will be coming in late tomorrow night and spending a couple of days with us!!!! Then our other brother, Israel, and some of his family and friends will be coming through for Sunday night.
When Tera and I were in Wales, we met this couple and they asked if we had many friends in our area. "Yes, some... but our friends and family seem to be scattered across the nation, from coast to coast." It amazes me that we are able to see dear ones from so far away...we are indeed a blessed family!!! May our Father bless all of you as well.
Love,
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