Jeni - The Birthday Girl

Tuesday – January 6, 2009

The Birthday Girl!

(No these are not her birthday balloons -they are her OSU balloons!)

Today is Jeni's birthday. She is the beloved daughter of Carol and Rick Reynolds, sister to Ruthie Abrusci, aunt to Sophia and Riley, our lovely daughter-in-law, and the loving wife of David Hardin. She is also going to be the mother of our first granddaughter! She joined our family on January 28, 2006 when she and David were married. She has become David’s best friend as well as his loving and supportive wife. She is very devoted to doing God's will, and we are so very proud of her! Bill and I would like to say Happy Birthday Jeni, and we love you very much. (Toby says Happy Birthday too!)

At the present time she works at Hillsdale College and supports David in his quest to do the Lord’s work. She is also the proud “master” of “Molly the Wonder Dog.” She and Molly love to take Sunday afternoon naps together after church. Jeni is a very proud aunt to Sophia and Riley Abrusci. They are adorable and will capture the heart of all around them. They love their Aunt Jeni and Uncle David very much!!

Jeni was not raised here in the states her entire life. Her parents worked in the missionary fields. With the help of the technique of “copy and paste,” I would like to share with you, using Jeni’s own words, a little information about who she is and where she was raised.

“ . . . I have lived 10 years of my life in Africa. Eight of those years were as a child in Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and two years as an adult in Cameroon. I visited several other countries in Africa during those 10 years: Kenya, Uganda, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea. I have seen poverty and beauty in every part. I have seen children running around with bloated bellies due to malnutrition, and I have seen babies who were perfectly healthy. I have seen the beauty of God's creation in plants, animals, birds. I have tasted MANY foods I loved and miss dreadfully and some I'm OK with never having again! I miss mangoes, papaya, and apple bananas. I miss the simpler way of life, I miss seeing millions of stars every night and hearing rain on the tin roof. . . .”

Some of the pictures I will be posting will show the beauty Jeni saw, as well as some extraordinary pictures of the wild life. Also included will be some pictures of those who are native to Cameroon. The simpler life Jeni referred to are depicted in the photos.

Jeni is not only David’s soul mate, she has life experiences of ministering to those who have not heard God’s word, and has become a great supporter and helper for David in his daily mission to do God’s will. As she and David await their first child, she is relishing in the warmth of becoming a mother. Her first trimester was a rough one, but thankfully the second was better, and so far the third trimester is going to be even better – at the end of this one she will be holding her precious baby girl! We are all just as anxious as she and David.

Again, with “modern technology,” I want to share some pictures with you– many taken by Jeni herself – so you can see a little of what Jeni saw when in Africa and her life since coming back to the States.. Other pictures were taken by many of her family members at family gatherings. Thanks to the ability to copy and paste we have some great pictures to share! Thanks to all the photographers!

Jeni and friends in Cameroon. Jeni's on the left!

Another picture of Jeni and her friends - Jeni's second from the right!

David and Jeni's first face to face meeting.

First trip to Huntington!!!!

Wedding Day - January 28, 2006

I love this picture!

Bill and David are trying to convert her to a Cincinnati Reds' fan!

Out side Tiger Stadium in Detroit - Jeni getting into the spirit of the game -grrrrrrrr!

Jeni and David enjoying a game in Detroit!

David, Jeni and Molly - Hillsdale, MI

Jeni and Molly taking a Sunday afternoon nap!

David and Jeni - Akron, OH
Her first picture showing off her "Baby" bump!The baby's growing! Jeni has that "Mommy" glow! Beautiful!!!!

Getting some practice in on holding a tiny baby - this is her nephew Riley! She looks like a natural!

Jeni's parents - Carol and Rick Reynolds
Jeni and her sister - Ruthie Abrusci

The Abruscis and the Hardins- Sophia, Jamie, Ruthie, Jeni, and David

Jeni's niece and nephew - Sophia and Riley

Jeni is the rose between two thorns!! :)
Red is her favorite color, so Bill picked out all by himself - a red scarf, gloves and toboggan just for Jeni!
David and Jeni - Christmas 2008 - Wayne, WV

The beauty of Cameroon as caught through the lens of Jeni's camera - awesome!

Kribi - according to the caption on the picture "I borrowed" from Jeni's facebook pics - is a place she loved - I can see why!! WOW

Beautiful sunsets!

The beauty of the wild life!
Birds flying among - elephants - not sure!!! Jeni will be able to tell us!!!

Giraffes
A herd of elephants.



This looks like s BIG elephant!

Living the simple life in Cameroon

They look happy in doing what they are doing. It looks like they are preparing some type of food! Are those fried corn cakes?? I love the bright colors they are wearing!