Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.
James 3:17 (The Message)
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The secret to being wiser today than yesterday is studying the One who is wise.
A Busy Day at Our Pavilion
Sunday, July 17
Following church we enjoyed the Hershey Family Reunion – my dad’s siblings, their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren.
I love the hot dog with both ends bitten off. I forget whose it was – I think maybe it was our grandson Jared’s.
I decided to stand at the dessert end of the table to take pictures, that way I was able to photograph most of those who were there.
Jessica (left) and Jeff (right) are grandchildren of my dad.
Caleb, David, and Laura arriving. I don’t see Benny, but he has to be there somewhere.
The five closest to the camera – Rob, Gloria, Jere, Galen, and Jolie choosing their food.
Everyone brought two covered dishes – giving us a nice variety of food.
We had a great time visiting during the afternoon.
Kristen, Chris, Jere, Dot, and Jenna represent three generations.
Ian, Molly, Benny, Rosalyn, and Caleb – the young children all represented the fourth generation.
Ian and Jesse
Benny
Molly
Facing the camera – Kate, Vince, Jessica, Rob, and Laura represent the third generation. Back to the camera Brenda (in red – my brother Steve’s wife) and their daughter Andi.
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Many stayed until 4:00 p.m., with some still visiting at 5:00. When they left we straightened up a bit, cleaned the plastic table cloths and changed one or two in preparation for our Sunday school picnic for supper
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It was a beautiful day for picnics, which created an atmosphere of relaxation.
John, right gathered everyone together for prayer before the meal.
We enjoyed a great meal and good conversation.
Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
Psalm 71:18 (New Living Translation)
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Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Steve Green
Too Late to Do a Regular Post Because…
…we just got home from Morris and Audrey’s (Cerwin’s cousin) house where we had a fabulous evening visiting with them and several of their prayer and financial supporters.
They spent several years in England sharing the gospel (mostly via radio) to families in the United Kingdom and beyond. Now they are back in the States doing Christ-centered family and personal counseling – some in their home office, other times via Skype.
I knew only a few people who were at their house tonight, but quickly connected with several: one knew our son Jere through DHIA, another couple’s daughter is married to one of my cousins, several knew our friends Jesse and Martha because they live in the same area. It’s a small world.
Back to normal blogging tomorrow night.
I’m in the very presence of God—oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!
Psalm 73:28 (The Message)
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The presence of God is the ultimate refreshment.
Cousin’s Days at Our House
Tuesday evening, July 12, to Saturday morning, July 16
Part 3 – Friday – DJ’s Spa
The idea of a Spa Day began with Jana (left) who found recipes for scrubs and facials. Soon she and Jenna asked if it is something they could do during Cousin’s Days. It sounded fun to me.
This looks like the yogurt, oatmeal, and honey facial.
Diana preparing the strawberry scrub.
Jenna invited three of the Clapper sisters, so Gloria thought there should be a sign on the black top.
We also designed a sign for the door. DJ’s stands for Diana, Jenna and Jana.
Jenna, Diana, and Jana
We needed eleven tubs, eleven towels, and eleven washcloths.
The scrub and facials are ready.
Snacks have been prepared.
The back part of the garage was filled with tables of crafts, so the girls wanted to hang a sheet to hide the tables, and I went outside to gather ferns and calla lilies.
Serving snacks
The Clapper sisters – Jasmine, Victoria, Natalie
Gloria and Hannah
Relaxing
The first scrub was made with baby oil, kosher salt, and a few other ingredients. It felt wonderful. 
The strawberry scrub was cooling and refreshing, but looked like we had bloody feet. 
What fun. I love having creative granddaughters.
Beginning our oatmeal and honey facials.
Abigail (who is just back from her honeymoon)
Hannah
Jasmine
Gloria
That evening I asked Nate (teenage grandson) if I looked lovelier than usual. 
He asked why. When I told him, he said, “Was it supposed to make a difference?”
APPARENTLY NOT! 
The Clapper sisters returned the favor on Diana, Jenna, and Jana, and gave them leg and foot scrubs.
Diana
Jana
Jenna
The “spa area” when everyone was finished. I found traces of oatmeal for several days. 
The girls finished their facials with a mask the Clappers brought.
They look like a mime troupe.
Then it was back to the “spa room” to do manicures and pedicures.
What a fun afternoon!
It was nice to spend the afternoon with the Clapper girls, as this was one of their last days in the states, before flying to Indonesia with their missionary parents. If you want to see more about their lives, go here and keep clicking previous at the bottom of the page until the last post.
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This ends our Cousin’s Days as everyone went home on Saturday.
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Get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.
Ephesians 4:1-2 (The Message)
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It is a daily challenge to stay on God’s road because life offers so many paths that go nowhere – like anger, bitterness, jealousy, and unforgiveness.
Cousin’s Days at Our House
Tuesday evening, July 12, to Saturday morning, July 16
Part 2 – Thursday – Walking to Nate & Abby’s House
The biggest challenge for these eight cousins and siblings this week was walking 1.6 miles to Nate and Abby’s house.
Every so often Jana stopped to recite the verses she was learning for Bible school.
This is a beautiful time of year to go for a walk on our country roads.
We’re almost at Abby’s house – and ready for something cold and refreshing.
Abby was at the door to welcome us. Someone picked wild flowers for her.
She had thawed Italian ice that was left over from their wedding.
It was delicious and refreshing with or without whipped cream.
Then, before we knew it, it was time to head northwest. One of Abby’s gifts to the children was tiny bubble containers – also from their wedding.
Looking back on the road over which we had just walked, as Abby’s house is beyond those trees. These cows ran toward us when they saw us walking by their field.
By this time it was the middle of the afternoon, so we were glad to be walking on the shaded side of the road.
Jenna planned to use this for a walking stick, but by this time she was ready to get rid of it. However, there wasn’t a good place to put it. She eventually threw it on a burn pile at my brothers’ farm.
I always love this view of the farm. Our house is just a short distance beyond the buildings on the right.
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More of Cousin’s Days in my next post.
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Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (The Message)
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Steadily. Unswervingly. Extravagantly.
Cousin’s Days at Our House
Tuesday evening, July 12, to Saturday morning, July 16
Part 1
Jared was serious about learning his Bible verse for the week so he could win a prize at Bible school.
He even studied on my Air Stepper
Ian had three verses to learn, and also spent a bit of time each morning reading a book – one that he is supposed to finish this summer.
We had purchased several crafts at Michael’s the other week so the children would have creative things to do during Cousin’s Days.
These four chose bobble head animals, and it was the first thing they wanted to do after our morning walk on Wednesday. They often went back to the bobble heads during the week and added special touches.
Gloria
Ian
You may notice the boy’s unique hairdos. I think their stylist on this day was Gloria.
Jesse painting his bobble head cat
Jared focusing on his dog
Diana painted a birdhouse
Hannah oversaw the next project – creating glow-in-the-dark designs.
The darkest place was under the table in the boy’s “three-air-mattress-bedroom” in the back part of the garage.
Most afternoons were quite warm, so playing with water guns was fun and refreshing.
Another project during the week was molding clay.
I was interested in seeing how these “noodles” worked. They came in a large bag.
The children made creative designs by making the tips wet, then sticking them together.
They are made from corn.
It was difficult to pull them apart after they had been glued together with water. When you get tired of your design, you can put it in water, where it will dissolve.
Spin Art was also a favorite.
There will be more Cousin’s Days activities in the next post.
