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All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3 (New Living Translation)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3 (Easy-to-Read Version)

Christmas Buffet

Saturday, December 17

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I’ll back up now to a few days ago – before the car accident took over my blog.

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This breakfast buffet is usually the day that kicks our Christmas celebrations into gear.

We arrived early, and because everything connected quickly when we hooked my computer up to the monitor in our meeting room, I walked around taking pictures to give you an idea of what Henning’s looks like. (The computer was for showing Truck Rally 2011 pictures.)

Hennings is a large grocery store with a mezzanine terrace that includes a meeting room and open space for eating any meal of the day.

I took this photo from the steps leading to the buffet area and grocery store.

The meeting room.

Christmas decorations

Decorations near the ground level buffet

Our friend Sam Rittenhouse was pictured in the local newspaper’s advertisement of the buffet.

As 8:00 a.m. approached, employees set up a delicious buffet in our room.

The breakfast choices of the young man across the table from me.

Donna Godshall is a favorite singer for TFC meetings.

I love when she sings, “Hope Has a Face” at Christmastime

In search of a child they travel so far
Led by a star to a place of joy
Now the wise men tell a beautiful story
Describing the glory of a baby boy

Bunny O’Hare gave a ministry update and introduced several chaplains and the leadership of the local fellowship.

Recognizing the local leadership.

Cerwin shared a story from Chaplain Jay LeRette’s latest newsletter. He is lead chaplain at Rochelle Petro Stopping Center, Rochelle, Illinois.

One Tuesday at about 6:00 p.m., before the evening service, it was dark, cold, and wet in the parking lot as I went from truck to truck passing out gospel tracts, ministering to drivers, and inviting them to come to the service. Five drivers showed up and at the end of the service I put out a challenge for repentance from sin and a slothful Christian lifestyle. Ashley began crying, came forward, repented, and said, “Just before you walked up to my truck tonight I was crying and praying, ‘Lord, I’ve wandered away. My life is far from You. Please, God, speak to me, I’m hurting. Please knock on the door of my heart.’ Just then you knocked on the door of my truck and said, ‘Hey, driver, is your life glorifying to God? Come join us tonight for the chapel service.’”

Cerwin also shared his plans for building a new chapel in 2012 – probably one that will replace an old chapel. The placement location is not completely set.

While traveling home we noticed and liked this Christmas decoration on this CRV

We were about halfway home when we noticed this plane towing a glider. Someone was going to have a nice time gliding in just a few minutes.

Pretty wreaths line the streets of Ephrata.

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I think I am now in the mood for Christmas!

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Thank you for the many prayers and loving thoughts.

The doctors, nurses, and friends who told me I would feel worse today were correct.

I did sleep well – even went beyond the time I could have taken a Tylenol with codeine pill. After getting out of bed at 4:30 a.m., the pain almost put me down. I had to lie down so I wouldn’t pass out. My wonderful nurse (Cerwin) got me a pain pill, ginger ale, and a few crackers. Before the pain and nausea settled, I began feeling like I might throw up. Oh, my, I don’t think I could have handled that. Thankfully that feeling went away after a minute or two.

I am resting comfortably now – as long as I don’t move too much.

I found a few new bruises, and have a light black and blue seat belt mark on my chest.

The Lord is my rock, and my safe place, and the One Who takes me out of trouble. My God is my rock, in Whom I am safe. He is my safe-covering, my saving strength, and my strong tower.

Psalm 18:2 (New Life Version)

I Was In An Accident This Morning

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Of course I had my camera in the car.   After the accident, I retrieved it from between the steering wheel and dash!

Cerwin took most of these pictures. The first four pictures are from Lancaster Online.

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I was not careful enough when going through a very dangerous crossroad (Elizabethtown Road and Route 72).

The first thing I remember doing is opening the car door because of the airbag odor. About that time a black man with a greying beard walked up to my door and asked if I was okay. I said, “I think so.” Then he asked if I needed a cell phone to call anyone. I replied that I had one. He then left me by saying, “God be with you.” He was a very spiritual presence – either an angel or a godly Christian.

Then I looked for my cell phone to call Cerwin, but couldn’t find it, so asked a man standing nearby if I could use his. (Jere later found my cell phone on the driver’s side UNDER the floor mat!)

About the time I discovered that I was missing my glasses, an EMT walked up to the car. She found them in the trash pocket on the driver’s door.

The accident tied up traffic on Rt 72 for quite awhile.

I pulled out right into the black car. I don’t know why I didn’t see him. I am usually incredibly cautious at this crossroad because of other accidents that have happened there.

I often take a different route just to avoid this crossroad.

The jeep was heading south, and also got tangled up in the mess just because she was there. The man in the black car was taken to the hospital in an ambulance because of leg pain. Lancaster Online said that his was also a minor injury. The lady and her two children in the jeep were not hurt.

I went to the hospital in an ambulance because of having a lot of chest pain from the airbag and seatbelt. I learned that the airbags cracked our front window in both places. No wonder I feel like an elephant sat on my chest. 

I was released from the hospital after xrays revealed no broken bones. I have a black and blue ‘goose egg’ inside my left ankle that was wrapped to prevent unnecessary swelling. After getting home, I discovered another black and blue spot on the inside of my left leg just below my knee.

This is the CRV I was driving. Our son Jere is on the right. (Thanks for coming Jere, it meant a lot to me and Daddy.)

I am more thankful than ever for EMTs. People seemed to come almost immediately.

Our CRV being loaded by a local garage.

There were three accidents within a short stretch of road today. When Cerwin went to the garage to get our personal items this afternoon, an employee told Cerwin that he picked up seven wrecked cars from RT 72 accidents today.

Watching our vehicle being loaded on the truck.

The real damage was on the driver’s side. Imagine what would have happened if the accident was a few seconds later, and he hit the driver’s door. I would probably not be sitting here entering a blog post.

I wasn’t home very long before Jesse and his mom came with a dozen red roses. Thanks!

My sister Nancy was shopping shortly after hearing about the accident, so bought some soup and added four of her delicious homemade rolls.

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Lord, I lift my hands in praise to You. Apparently this was not my day to meet You face-to-face.

And thanks to everyone for praying. I feel surrounded by love and prayers tonight.

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All life came from You. In Your light we see light.

Psalm 36:9 (New Life Version)

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You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Psalm 36:9 (New Living Translation)

Gloria’s Birthday Party

Thursday, December 15

Gloria invited her friends from the farm where she is learning to ride horse. Here they are playing a computer game.

She received many nice gifts.

Her big sister Jenna enjoying a piece of ribbon from a package and a head piece.

We’re not sure what Diana was doing with masking tape on her eyes.

Every time Diana picks up Bubba, he hugs her, then rubs her face.

Maybe it’s because Diana is so good to him.

Jordan just enjoyed the food and sat around looking quite handsome.

(We missed Nathan, but it seems that he had another special party to attend.)

Diana and her parents looking at some pictures they had taken.

Time for the delicious birthday cake – made by Gloria and her mom.

Eleven candles for an eleven-year-old.

I love having grandchildren and birthday parties.

“I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” [Jesus]

John 8:12 (The Message)

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“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.”

John 8:12 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

Pretty Things, Delicious Things, and Good News

December 10-12

Saturday morning, December 10

On Sunday morning, December 11, we went to church with Cerwin’s mother, then had lunch with her in the senior center where she lives. She was anxious to show us this new floor decoration near the dining room that a friend of ours designed.

Monday morning (December 12) dawned cold and frosty.

The ground was covered with a heavy frost.

Frost is so beautiful.

A sunflower seed for a tufted titmouse.

The delicious part!

We received these incredibly pretty and delicious cookies from our granddaughter, Jenna.

The good news

That same evening we received news from Hezekiah’s mom that he passed his driver’s test. That means nine of our grandchildren are now driving.

Keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

1 John 5:21 (New Living Translation)

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Be on guard against all clever facsimiles.

1 John 5:21 (The Message)