Xanga

Ohio

Saturday, May 15 & Sunday, May 16

It has been a long time since we saw a Goodyear blimp.

This sighting was in Akron, Ohio.

TFC chapel in Lodi, Ohio.

Gary Nussbaum (right) asked us to stop here because he wanted to check with Cerwin for advice/confirmation on making chapel repairs. Gary serves in the Office of Chaplains as Director of Church and Community Development. He is also a chaplain here.

Chaplain Grant was on duty when we arrived.

Chaplain Jason (right), Gary’s son came to replace Grant partway through our visit.

While there, I also fulfilled a responsibility for Inge (photo for the Highway News) in finding a trucker who was working on his laptop. This driver gladly obliged my photo-taking.

Female Cardinal

After leaving the truckstop, we followed Gary to their house where we spent the evening. They are serious birders, and enjoy feeding and watching birds.

Male Cardinal

Dessert following supper

Left to right: Pearl, Gary, Dave (a friend of theirs) Cerwin, and Shannon (their daughter-in-law) who is the wife of Jason who you just met at the chapel. Their daughter Christianna was slouching in her highchair.

Christianna

Pearl makes the best pickled, cabbage-stuffed peppers.

Delicious rhubarb pie

We were delighted to see and indigo bunting on Sunday morning.

After breakfast Pearl put grape jelly in a few of her feeders. This draws the Baltimore orioles.

We saw a few orioles, but they didn’t stay long enough for a photo.

Other scenery in their backyard.

It was a delight to spend time with them.

~~~

You will have to wait until tomorrow night to see photos from our visit with ata-grandma on Sunday afternoon.

~~~

Ohio

Saturday, May 15 & Sunday, May 16

It has been a long time since we saw a Goodyear blimp.

This sighting was in Akron, Ohio.

TFC chapel in Lodi, Ohio.

Gary Nussbaum (right) asked us to stop here because he wanted to check with Cerwin for advice/confirmation on making chapel repairs. Gary serves in the Office of Chaplains as Director of Church and Community Development. He is also a chaplain here.

Chaplain Grant was on duty when we arrived.

Chaplain Jason (right), Gary’s son came to replace Grant partway through our visit.

While there, I also fulfilled a responsibility for Inge (photo for the Highway News) in finding a trucker who was working on his laptop. This driver gladly obliged my photo-taking.

Female Cardinal

After leaving the truckstop, we followed Gary to their house where we spent the evening. They are serious birders, and enjoy feeding and watching birds.

Male Cardinal

Dessert following supper

Left to right: Pearl, Gary, Dave (a friend of theirs) Cerwin, and Shannon (their daughter-in-law) who is the wife of Jason who you just met at the chapel. Their daughter Christianna was slouching in her highchair.

Christianna

Pearl makes the best pickled, cabbage-stuffed peppers.

Delicious rhubarb pie

We were delighted to see and indigo bunting on Sunday morning.

After breakfast Pearl put grape jelly in a few of her feeders. This draws the Baltimore orioles.

We saw a few orioles, but they didn’t stay long enough for a photo.

Other scenery in their backyard.

It was a delight to spend time with them.

~~~

You will have to wait until tomorrow night to see photos from our visit with ata-grandma on Sunday afternoon.

~~~

All the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.

Psalm 50:10 (New Living Translation)

All the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.

Psalm 50:10 (New Living Translation)

Completing Projects Before Our Trip to Michigan

~~~

Friday, May 14

~~~

Kathy Diffenderfer and her three youngest children (Jason, Janessa, and Josh) helped us with labeling the individual Highway News on Friday morning. Four pair of extra hands make this job go quickly.

Just before they left, our son Jere called to see if we could keep Jared and Jesse for a few hours while he and Kristen went shopping in preparation for an upcoming trip to Finland.

I wanted to get some yard work done before we left for Michigan, so the early afternoon seemed like a great time to do it – then after the boys went home, I finished my office projects.

While I worked in the flowerbed below them, they played in the tree. (This was the day I came upon the nest of baby rabbits.) I am anxious to get home and see how they are doing.)

~~~ 

Saturday, May 15

~~~

It had been a busy week. It took me a few hours to feel relaxed, which probably happened by the time we reached the first tunnel on the Pennsylvania turnpike.

Inside the tunnel.

I downloaded a fun game of Skip-Bo to play on this trip, and spent most of the morning playing that, enjoying the scenery, and talking to Cerwin.

I love road trips.

We stopped to visit Floyd and Lucy McLane (north of Pittsburgh) – longtime friends and supporters of TFC. They can no longer get to TFC functions, so we decided to go to them. Both are ninety-one and take care of their own house. She even baked the peach and cherry pie she served us.

This scene reminded us of the Bible verse – “The cattle on a thousand hills are mine.”

~~~

Our journey ended in Ohio on Saturday afternoon. More about that tomorrow night.

~~~

Completing Projects Before Our Trip to Michigan

~~~

Friday, May 14

~~~

Kathy Diffenderfer and her three youngest children (Jason, Janessa, and Josh) helped us with labeling the individual Highway News on Friday morning. Four pair of extra hands make this job go quickly.

Just before they left, our son Jere called to see if we could keep Jared and Jesse for a few hours while he and Kristen went shopping in preparation for an upcoming trip to Finland.

I wanted to get some yard work done before we left for Michigan, so the early afternoon seemed like a great time to do it – then after the boys went home, I finished my office projects.

While I worked in the flowerbed below them, they played in the tree. (This was the day I came upon the nest of baby rabbits.) I am anxious to get home and see how they are doing.)

~~~ 

Saturday, May 15

~~~

It had been a busy week. It took me a few hours to feel relaxed, which probably happened by the time we reached the first tunnel on the Pennsylvania turnpike.

Inside the tunnel.

I downloaded a fun game of Skip-Bo to play on this trip, and spent most of the morning playing that, enjoying the scenery, and talking to Cerwin.

I love road trips.

We stopped to visit Floyd and Lucy McLane (north of Pittsburgh) – longtime friends and supporters of TFC. They can no longer get to TFC functions, so we decided to go to them. Both are ninety-one and take care of their own house. She even baked the peach and cherry pie she served us.

This scene reminded us of the Bible verse – “The cattle on a thousand hills are mine.”

~~~

Our journey ended in Ohio on Saturday afternoon. More about that tomorrow night.

~~~

   Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?

Romans 11:34 (The Message)

   Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?

Romans 11:34 (The Message)

Finches, Mockingbird, and Friends

Thursday, May 13

I enjoy seeing the goldfinch males who have recently changed their dull winter feathers for brilliant, yellow, summer garb.

The mockingbird is also fun to watch.

I was pleased that it suited our friends Howard and Angie (left) to go to Gus’ for supper. They are in our area – from Knoxville, Tennessee – for their son’s graduation from Bible college and to help their daughter, Brandy (right), move to Knoxville.

We have a lot in common, because they also serve with a ministry to truckers – Truck Stop Ministries.

Thanks Howard and Angie for taking time to see us. We love you guys.

Finches, Mockingbird, and Friends

Thursday, May 13

I enjoy seeing the goldfinch males who have recently changed their dull winter feathers for brilliant, yellow, summer garb.

The mockingbird is also fun to watch.

I was pleased that it suited our friends Howard and Angie (left) to go to Gus’ for supper. They are in our area – from Knoxville, Tennessee – for their son’s graduation from Bible college and to help their daughter, Brandy (right), move to Knoxville.

We have a lot in common, because they also serve with a ministry to truckers – Truck Stop Ministries.

Thanks Howard and Angie for taking time to see us. We love you guys.