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If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

1 Corinthians 13:1 (The Message)

Road Trip to Maine

With Three Granddaughters

Thursday, July 29

Gloria playing a game on Jana’s Picto-Chat.

Diana in the back seat. The girls exchanged seats every two hours.

Jana playing Skip-Bo on my computer. This game entertained them the whole way to Maine.

It was about lunchtime when we arrived at the chapel in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

Some of the lights were out on the old cross, and the new LED crosses are much brighter, so Cerwin (with the help of volunteer chaplain Warren Harthan) installed a new one.

Warren making sure the ladder is steady.

Diana making double sure it is steady.

The girls did a variety of things to entertain themselves while Cerwin worked on the cross. They took lots of pictures…

…played the chapel guitar

…tried somersaults

…walked around the exterior of the chapel 

…and rejoiced when the cross was installed and we were on our way again – continually checking the GPS to see how much longer it was until we would arrive at their cousin’s house.

Chaplain George Freeman called the other day to say he was very pleased with the new cross.

When we arrived at the Myers’, Lydia was picking blackberries and babysitting Colten.

Helping Diane (our daughter) make supper.

A delicious stir-fry

A refreshing dip in the pool before going to bed.

Abigail (left) joining them.

Lydia stepping carefully into the cold water.

Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

Matthew 5:48 (The Message)

Diana’s 12th Birthday Party

Wednesday, July 28

Her birthday party was a few days early, because we were taking her, Gloria, and Jana along to Maine in the morning – and she would be there on her birthdate.

Animal rubber band bracelets – the kind many kids like to wear and trade these days.

This was a trick gift – a shirt from her closet – to sidetrack her from the real gift from her parents.

Now she knows what her real gift is because this is a clip of bullets for a Remington rifle.

She has wanted to be a hunter since she was quite small, and has never given up on that goal – so she was one happy twelve-year-old.

She has completed her hunter safety course, and is ready for the opening of deer season this fall.

Lighting her twelve candles

Gloria also wanted her picture taken through the window.

~~~

When our belles were full of cake and ice cream, we took Diana and Gloria home with us (after picking up their cousin Jana) in preparation for getting up early the next morning to begin a road trip to Maine.

~~~

Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 (The Message)

A Busy Day

Wednesday, July 28

After returning from the Fergus Truck Show, I had one day (Tuesday) to unpack, do laundry, and catch up on six days worth of mail and office work. Wednesday was full of activities from beginning to end.

Some of you will remember that I already posted pictures of the day (because it was in the local news) of about twenty men from our church repairing the tombstones that had been vandalized. If you missed that post, go to here

When talking to Eileen (who brought her sons to help at the cemetery) I told her that I was disappointed to miss the Lebanon Fair’s Tough Truck Competition, which was coming up in a few days, because I wanted to see Abigail’s (our granddaughter) friend Nathaniel race his “red neck” truck.

Also, he and several other guys had prepared our friend’s (Gerald & Joanne) old camper for the race, expecting that it would fall apart when Eileen’s son-in-law, Tyler, drove it over the large “bumps” in the course.

She told me where I could find the vehicles if I wanted to take pictures – which I obviously did.

If you want to see the race of the camper, go to Youtube and click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O4E9Sl_R0o&feature=related or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXkCc3Wbhwk

The videos were taken from opposite sides of the field.

On the way home I was surprised to see so many geese on the farm pond. We are used to seeing one pair that comes every year, but usually do not see so many.

Our next appointment was lunch with Cerwin’s family – his mother’s siblings and their children.

This lunch was started a few years ago so Mother and her siblings could see each other on a regular basis. The older ones are in their nineties, and Uncle Luke (youngest brother – left) is the only one who drives. Some of the older/retired cousins drove their parents to the restaurant, and before long we were all invited – especially those who are retired or have flexable schedules. 

Three of four generations: Cerwin’s sister Velda (left), her granddaughter Megan, and Mother. Megan was on summer break from college where she is in culinary training. She is one of the cooks at the restaurant when she is not in college.

~~~

…and the day wasn’t over yet, because we had a birthday party for our granddaughter Diana after supper. (Pictures tomorrow night.)

~~~

Happy Birthday

(yesterday)

To Our Favorite Jordan

We Love You

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.

Matthew 5:14 (The Message)

Heading Home from Fergus

Sunday, July 25 & Monday, July 26

Hamilton, Ontario, in the distance.

These waterfowl were too far away to tell exactly what they were, but they appeared to be cormorants. There were hundreds on every small island, peninsula, or piece of land near the edge of this lake.

We were glad that we were heading southeast – rather than northwest because of this traffic jam.

About the same time, we saw this barge leaving the lock and ready to head through the drawbridge.

The traffic jam lasted for miles.

Our final destination on Sunday evening

After supper in The Bordertown Grill we relaxed in the living quarters of the chapel – then set up the comfortable sofa bed air mattress where we slept well until morning.

Cerwin preparing his log for Monday morning.

‘

The view in front of us

It was a pretty Monday morning as we got back on the road. Before long we were at the USA/Canadian border – which went smoothly.

We enjoy this small, country restaurant (on Route 63) between Batavia and Genesee, New York, and stopped here for brunch.

If I had captured this painting at the correct angle, I could have fooled you into thinking that the back doors of this truck were open.

I enjoy this trip in late July/early August, as the trees are heavy with leaves, and the roadside has lots of blooming wild flowers.

We almost always take a break at this roadside rest when driving south on Route 15.

On a clear day you can see for miles and miles.

We saw grazing deer several times throughout the day.

This country town has a creative way of encouraging you to keep plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. There are lots of signs that say, “Keep two white dots between you and the vehicle in front of you.”

And by mid-afternoon we were back at TFC’s International Office – where we started six days earlier.

Let me tell you why you are here.

You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?

Matthew 5:13 (The Message)