Celebrating 65 Great Years Together

                                         Lloyd and Orpha Gingrich

We just returned this evening from celebrating the 65th anniversary of Alma Jean's oldest sister Orpha (Wert) and her husband, Lloyd Gingrich, at the Lauver's Mennonite Church in Juniata County, Pennsylvania.

What a great time of reminiscing and remembering! Each of their four sons and three daughters were present, along with dozens of friends and relatives, including, of course, their own grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Orpha's influence as a mother, grandmother, teacher, Sunday School teacher, and role model, is legendary, as is Lloyd's wry sense of humor and his keen interest in genealogy and church history.

Our family always loved visiting the ever hospitable Gingrich home and farm, and once when we were about to leave, our second oldest son hid in a bedroom in their home, wanting to stay longer. We all shared those feelings.
 

Today their family sang the following Bill Gaither song together that brought tears to my eyes, the chorus of which goes:

We have this moment to hold in our hands,

And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;

Yesterday's gone, And tomorrow may never come, 

But we have this moment today.

Congratulations, Orpha and Lloyd. May you be blessed with many more good moments and years together!

Thanks to Lloyd Wert for forwarding me the above photos.