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Saying Goodbye to a Friend

Thursday, December 9

On Thursday morning, December 9, David Smucker (youngest son of our longtime Amish friends) called to say that his dad had died during the night.

We were not surprised because Amos wasn’t doing well when we visited them in September. Amos told us then that he was so ready to see Jesus. Also, David had called earlier in the week to let us know that Hospice told them he did not have many more days left here one earth.

We went to their place just after lunch so we would have time to visit with Linda, their children, and grandchildren. Amish usually bury soon after death, and have the visitation/viewing in their house. His body was already back in the house from the undertaker.

We also enjoyed meeting many of Amos’ brothers and sisters as well as Linda’s siblings.

We chose this day, because Linda said the next day would be much busier as by then the news would have reached the Amish community. We were invited to the funeral, but chose this day when we had more time to visit. Also the two-hour service was in German, so we wouldn’t understand anything.

Shortly after leaving their home, we met this Amishman and his team of mules.

Cerwin and Amos knew each other since they were teenagers. Then a few years after we were married (when making a fuel delivery in their area), Cerwin recognized Amos’ name on a mail box and stopped in to visit. Linda immediately invited us for lunch, which is when our friendship developed.

If I remember correctly, our daughter Diane was two at the time, so that was forty-two years ago. We have many wonderful memories of our friendship with the Smucker family.

Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!

Psalm 90:12 (The Message)

Lititz Area Mennonite School

2010 Christmas Program ~ Wednesday, December 8

Kindergarten: Jared (grandson) is fourth from the right in the front row.

Singing Mary Had a Baby Boy & Sing We Now of Christmas

Jared (center) just discovered where we were sitting.

We went to the program on Wednesday afternoon when students attended the program. These are a few of the younger classes.

Christina Patches (daughter of friends from church) played Hark the Herald Angels Sing while second grade took their places on the stage.

Second Grade: Ian (grandson) is second from the right in the front row.

Ian (second from right) kept an eye on the director as they sang Let’s Light a Candle with Away in a Manger.

Singing Silent Night

3rd, 4th, and 5th grades presented The MK Christmas Special by Kathie Hill

I loved “The Band”

The play featured students portraying Missionary Kids (MKs) from various countries. The MC (left) asked each MK about Christmas in the country where they lived with their missionary parents.

The King James Players did a variety of performances during songs that featured the MK’s country. My favorite song was G-day when Australia was featured.

Two shepherds with a “sheep”

We always knew when it was time for the applause.

The King James Players enjoying a “meal” during a performance.

We were impressed and blessed, as many of the students (especially the MKs) had a lot of lines to memorize.

All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense, but God made the cosmos! Splendor and majesty flow out of him, strength and joy fill his place.

1 Chronicles 16:26-27 (The Message)

Car, Visitors, Cookies

Saturday, December 4

Our grandson Nate and his dad stopped in to show me Nate’s latest purchase. If you read about Nates car saga here you know why he needed another car. (Cerwin was in West Virginia hunting whitetail.)

He thinks the tail lights are cool.

While I photographed Nate and the car, his dad (our son Jeff) visited with Abigail (granddaughter) who just arrived from Maine.

We love that her boyfriend lives in our neighborhood, because we get to see her more than usual.

Toward evening my sister, Nancy, and her youngest daughter Chelsey stopped in with a plate of cookies. They look a bit serious on this picture, so I tried again.

Now they’re smiling, but have their eyes shut.

Okay then – I’ll focus on the cookies.

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.

Matthew 7:13-14 (The Message)

A Beautiful Gift from Dawn

Friday, December 3

I was surprised when Dawn Bollinger came to our house with this beautiful fruit arrangement.

A few days earlier I helped her set up their Christmas letter, and told her I didn’t want any money when she offered to pay me.

She then asked if I would be home on Friday, because she wanted to bring me something.

It was as delicious as pretty, because the fruit was perfectly ripened.

Thanks, Dawn. I love beautiful, edible arrangements. 

God’s Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

1 Peter 1:25 (The Message)

Happy Birthday

To Our Favorite Gloria

We Love You

Grandpa & Grandma

Growing Old Gracefully

My topic for Wednesday evening, December 1

How does one go from a child to old age gracefully?

On the evening of Wednesday, December 1, I was asked to share about that subject for about ten minutes. One of our deacons (Jesse Copenhaver) was in charge of a Bible study (one of three) at our church that evening, and asked if I would close the session with some thoughts especially for the ladies in the room. I had about a month to prepare.

I was challenged by my study on the subject and thought you might be challenged as well.

Growing old gracefully does not happen by accident – it takes discipline – day after day – after day – after day – after day. The kind of discipline that says to others that your life is about serving God.

 

~~~

 

One of my favorite replies from advice columnist Ann Landers was when she responded to a question from an older woman who was frustrated at having her husband around the house all the time following his retirement.

Ann replied: The quality of life is only as good as the materials used by the builders. The lumber of life is caring, sharing, patience, forgiveness, and understanding. You cannot expect to spend your twilight years in a cathedral if you have accumulated only enough lumber for a shack.

Likewise, I cannot expect to spend my twilight years in the cathedral of God’s grace if I have accumulated only enough lumber for a spiritual shack.

~~~

My Outline

Everything I Need to Know About Growing Old Gracefully I Learned When I Was Young

• Jesus Loves Me, This I Know
  • Learn to be comfortable in my own skin
  • The sooner I accept and develop my gifts and talents, the sooner I will begin growing old gracefully
• Love the Lord With My Entire Heart, and Soul, and Mind
  • Realize early that life is about Him – and not about me
  • Allow the guidelines of the Bible to affect everything I do – NO MATTER WHAT
• Respect Others – Especially Authority
  • Honor my parents
  • Be courteous to everyone – street people up to world leaders

In the process of growing old gracefully, I will sometimes do ungraceful things. I will not always get it right! That is why I can never, ever forget…

• Jesus Loves Me, This I Know
• Love the Lord With My Entire Heart, and Soul, and Mind
• Respect Others – Especially Authority

~~~

The scripture I was given for the evening was Titus 2:3-5.

This is my paraphrase

• Be reverent – behave as a woman who loves the Lord – NO MATTER WHAT
• Do not gossip – NO MATTER HOW TEMPTING
• Do not be a slave to wine – NO MATTER HOW PAINFUL MY LIFE 
• Teach what is good and proper – EVERY TIME I HAVE OPPORTUNITY
• Love my husband – EVERY DAY
• Love my children – NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO
• Be self-controlled and sensible – ESPECIALLY WHEN MY LIFE FEELS OUT OF CONTROL
• Be pure – NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPTATION
• Take good care of our home – EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY
• Be kind – EVEN IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN UNKIND TO ME
• Respect my husband – IN EVERY SITUATION

Then – no one can say insulting things about God’s message.

Ladies, we are either an example of God’s grace or Satan’s stubbornness.

~~~

The power of God in our lives is displayed in an amazing way when we make His Word a priority in our lives.

I closed with this quote by Roy Lessin

When we look back and wonder how we ever made it this far

We realize it is not because we have been clever

• But because God has been wise.

Not because we have been strong

• But because God has been mighty.

Not because we have been consistent

• But because God has been faithful.