On Saturday, Julie and her father went to the annual picnic and meeting at the cemetery where we will be buried.  It has a name I can never remember and is a private cemetery.  It is located in a clearing back off of County Road BB near Colfax.  The setting is wonderful – thus the reason we chose it.   The other interesting fact is that there is a large contingency of Mathews and Mittlestadts buried there who were relatives of my dad’s via his first marriage.   Anyway,  Julie has been wanting to go to this for years and finally made it fit into her schedule.  So, Saturday noon after having attended the local annual farm breakfast on a farm of approximately 1000 cows, they gathered with  about 20 people at the cemetery.   When I asked her about the food, she said it was great.   I was curious as  I mean what kind of food do you make for a picnic at the cemetery or what kind of beverage?!   (by the way, I made the food that julie brought, apple crisp) Or, where do you sit or set up the table for the food?!  Well, Julie had a great time.  As is usually the case, whenever my father-in-law goes someplace, he knows someone.   The matters of importance were needing some trees cut on the adjoining  property (Myrtle wasn’t happy at the prospect of trees falling on her after she is dead) which meant having to hire an attorney to get the guy to do it or give them approval to do it.   They discussed who is cutting the grass this year, since for awhile there has not always been enough money to have it done.   And, how to get more members involved (how do you do that when so many of them are dead) – sounds like the church, the volunteer part, not the dead people.  I think I better stop here in regard to any more comments about that topic.  

The group was thrilled that Julie was there (by far the youngest) and made a special note at the end as to how grateful they were for her presence.  I believe, she will go again and will enjoy the whole event.  By the time she got home she was saying “we” did this or that.

God gives the events of life to enjoy, so let’s make sure we do – even in the dead spots of life….Till next week   - H

You can reach Pastor Howard at: hhintzman@wisconsinumc.org.

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