Hi friends, sorry I haven’t posted much lately. March was a tough month with lots going on, including the final edits for my next book,
My Sister’s Prayer, and two out-of-state funerals. Now that we’re back home and the edits are done, I finally have some time to catch up.
Since today is Selfie Saturday, I thought I’d share a bit about my husband’s aunt, Arline Feste King, who passed away on March 3rd.
Arline was a huge part of my husband's world, almost like a second mother, and though she will be missed, she lived a long, full life, loved the Lord, and died peacefully at the age of 90.
Born in 1925, Arline grew up near the New Jersey shore. At the age of 20, she met and married Robert King, with whom she would go on to have three children. In 1963, the family moved to upstate New York, where they bought an apple orchard. As a captain for U.S. Lines Steamship Co., Robert spent a lot of time at sea, but Arline always saw to it that home and business ran smoothly in his absence.
In addition to the lovely King Orchard, Arline and Robert had a second home on the shore of Lake Champlain known as the camp, where they hosted many a guest including my husband and his family each summer. Not only did John grow up enjoying both farm and lake, but as an adult he was able to share them with me and our girls. To our children, a trip to Keeseville was always a wonderful adventure.
Arline and Robert were happily married for 66 years, until his death in 2012. Now that she has passed away as well, it feels as if an entire chapter of our lives has come to an end. But she will live on in our memories, a gracious and beautiful woman who will be missed.
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| King Orchard in Keeseville, NY |
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| The farmhouse |
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On the front porch at the orchard, from L to R: my daughter Lauren, my wonderful
mother-in-law Alice Clark, my daughter Emily, Arline, and Robert. |
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| Lauren, Alice, and Emily sprucing up the front porch. |
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| Lauren inspecting the apple trees |
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| My niece Gabriella in the orchard at springtime. |
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Me on a winter visit to the orchard.
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| The camp on Lake Champlain |
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| Mindy and John relaxing at the lake |
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| Arline and her beloved little sister, Alice |
