Special Times

Josh's grandparents, Elmer and Elizabeth, are in the mid-90s, still relatively healthy and still living together!  During the course of a Bible study on health and healing, I discovered through a number of verses that health through old age is a blessing from God for obedience of His word.  What a great testimony Great Grandma and Great Papa continue to share with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that God holds true to His word even to this day!

The grandparents and Caleb have a very special connection and always have.  I think it goes back to when Caleb was born and they were still living in their own home on the farm.  Even when Caleb was just a wee baby, we would often be on their yard "working" with Josh and Loren, sometimes stopping in to visit or sometimes they would just watch him run around from the kitchen window.  I know its also a very special thought to them that Caleb will one day be the one that keeps the Van Zante legacy of the "home place" going.  Josh's grandfather (and his father before him) has put much, much hard work, sweat and his life into developing what has become the farm.  I can't imagine what it must have been like to strive with physical labor and emotional toil for such a dream.  Now, all the life that Elmer has put into his farm will one day be passed to Loren, then Josh and eventually Caleb and all his effort to make it thrive will not be in vain as it continues to be cared for and thrive in the hands of his offspring. 

Okay, so I kinda got off on a rabbit trail there... back to the special times.  The grandparents (especially Grandma) aren't the fondest of pictures, so I rarely bother them with the camera.  But on a recent trip, I requested permission to take a  couple.  Permission was granted and here they are:

(Sarah's going through a "don't take my picture" phase.)

This four generation picture was taken in 2007 and is among our family's favorites!