Last Sunday was a special day for My Joy and her younger daughter, Jill who is also my daughter-in-law. Exactly 50 years ago on November 6, Jill was born, and My Joyce became a mother for the second time. Her mother who is now 86 years old wanted to give her younger daughter a party as she had done for her first born daughter’s fiftieth birthday.
Jill Buschert Lehman
Responsibility for the party sometimes weighed heavily on Joyce. Her only sister lives in North Carolina, her only other daughter lives in California, and her special friend (that’s me) is a weak-kneed 90 yr. old and my daughter Rachel was on her way Leesburg, Virginia to attend the “We Have the power” conference on theology from a woman’s perspective. But with Jill’s collaboration in sending invitations, and with her husband’s (my son Conrad) and my grandson’s (Zach) strong, willing muscles the Oak Court Social Room was decorated and arranged for the occasion at 4:00 p.m. Snacks were catered by Conrad’s friend who manages the deli at the local Martin’s Super Market.
Zach Lehman, my grandson, Joyce’s step-grandson
A birthday party is a time for bonding of family and friends. It may be that our family needs more bonding than others because some parts of it are so new. I don’t know if I need to explain that Joyce and I parent two families. While we love each other, Joyce and I are not married and that’s the difference that makes a difference. Joyce’s daughter and my son are married which adds bonding to the relationship of Joyce and me. We join in family celebrations.
Scott Hochstetler and Diana in conversation. The Little girl is Leah, Scott’s daughter.
Members of Jill’s family and friends from past and present work places attended. It is not possible in this short post to note all who came to the party. However the picture of my granddaughter Diana Lehman’s animated conversation with Scott Hochstetler, Goshen College’s choral director, seems to me to be worthy of note.
(To see pictures of Diana and Zack as children with their Grandmother, Rhoda, see the previous post.)
Celebrate fifty
It comes but once in a life
The best is ahead.
