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Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.

Ephesians 4:30 (The Message)

Dailey & Vincent

…and the Horst Brothers

Sunday Evening, April 25

Dailey & Vincent doing a sound check before the program started

On Sunday afternoon Cerwin’s brother called to ask if we knew that Dailey & Vincent were at the Horst Auction Barn near Ephrata. We did not, and were so glad he took time to call.

The Horst Brothers (local musicians) hosted the event and opened with an excellent gospel bluegrass program.

We heard that Dailey & Vincent are a superior bluegrass/gospel band – and superior they were!

I could have listened to them for hours.

Performing an acapella number with perfect harmony.

They are also great comedians – at one point walking through aisles in the audience trying to stop Jeff Parker (right) from making a fool of himself.

Parker added to the comedy with great timing in his comments and actions.

Darrin Vincent is a brother to Rhonda Vincent and just as musically skilled.

~~~

I told someone I was teary-eyed during some of their fabulous gospel songs, and later was wiping my eyes from laughing.

~~~

Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.

2 Timothy 2:22 (The Message)

Field Work

Friday & Saturday, April 23 & 24

Friday morning was warm and beautiful – a perfect morning for preparing the ground for planting corn.

As I watched, I thought, “A certain brother of mine who lives in a foreign land would like to see some closeup pictures.”

The man that my brothers hired to work and plant the land probably wondered why I was taking pictures of him.

He was back in the field at daylight on Saturday morning – planting corn.

It won’t take many days before we see signs of corn coming up in neat rows.

Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we’ll never comprehend what he knows and does.

 Psalm 147:5 (The Message)

New Kitchen Floor

Tuesday, April 27

The laminate flooring boxes were in our kitchen when we arrived home from manicures and pedicures on Friday evening. As I mentioned earlier, these needed to be in our kitchen to adjust to the temperature of our house for two or three days.

The installers came early yesterday morning, and had already begun by the time I got home from taking Abigail and Lydia to Manada Hill (Harrisburg) to meet their ride back to Maine.

By Monday evening they were finished except for some of the trim.

It was finished by late morning. Cerwin called Josh this afternoon to see if he could come to help carry the heavy things back into the dining area of our kitchen. I love it.

After having light green linoleum for forty-three years, I feel like I am in somebody else’s house.

The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life. [Jesus]

John 4:14 (The Message)

Harbor Freight & Outback Steakhouse

…still celebrating Cerwin’s birthday

Saturday, April 24

When Roy and Deb were discussing what to do for Cerwin’s birthday, Roy discovered that Harbor Freight was having a sale, so the guys decided this was the place to meet!

After taking the grandchildren home, and leaving Lydia with Jeff and Chris’ family for the evening, we headed to York to meet Roy and Deb. Deb and I aren’t very tool oriented, so went to Dollar General next door. Then when we could not find another thing we needed, we located the guys in Harbor Freight.

They weren’t anywhere near finished, so after walking up and down every tool aisle, Deb and I decided to go to Outback Steakhouse (in the same mall) and enjoy coffee or tea while waiting for the shoppers.

Because we thought it may take awhile, we shared a wedge salad – a wedge of lettuce topped with blue cheese dressing, bacon, tomato, and red onions. It was yummy.

Deb was on her second glass of tea, and I was finishing my second cup of coffee when the men finally showed up. Of course we did lots of talking and catching up on each others lives.   I treasure that, as we both lead busy lives, and she lives an hour away from us.

Both men bought jack stands and some tools. However, Cerwin’s favorite purchase was this 20-60 x 60MM spotting scope.

Roy’s rib dinner

Deb and Cerwin got steak and a baked sweet potato – as well as salad.

Because of eating out the past few nights, I decided to go light and choose an appetizer – coconut shrimp.

Deb and Roy

This restaurant served a dessert sampler, which worked very well for the four of us.

After tasting some of the dessert, I saved a bite of raspberry cheesecake so it would be my last taste after finishing my coffee. It was fabulous.

After picking up Lydia at Jeff & Chris’ – we were pleased to see the deer that hangs around the wetland area about two miles from our house.

I never tire of seeing wildlife.

Now instead of nine grandchildren, there was only one – Lydia. Abigail is still in the area, but was at a youth conference with Nathaniel and lots of other young people.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

Proverbs 3:5 (The Message)

Nine Grandchildren in the House

Saturday, April 24

Early Saturday morning I took Lydia to Curves so she could see some of the ladies she met last summer. She and Abigail arrived (from Maine) late Friday night.

Jere and Kristen needed a place for the three little boys for a few hours on Saturday morning. They and Gloria make a great foursome.

The nine grandchildren who are here. Ian, Diana, Gloria, Abigail and Jenna holding Jesse, Jared center front, Jana, and Lydia. These included: the four girls who had manicures/pedicures the evening before, Abigail and Lydia from Maine, and the three little boys.

Our son Jere and Cerwin checking the map for Jere’s drive to Vermont on Sunday.

These four decided to go for a walk

Diana wanted me to take a picture of the t-shirt she was wearing – a gift from Roy the night before.

By the time they returned, they had worked up a silly routine. I think it was called “Pull it Up.”

After that they asked Lydia and Gloria to join them for a pyramid.

 Gloria, Ian, Jared, and Jesse spent a lot of time in the “sandbox” under the pine tree.

Afterwards Gloria took them on a walk through our woods. 

 They love exploring. It was a great morning and early afternoon.