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Jenna’s Fifteenth Birthday

Wednesday, March 31

 Opening presents

 Money, a note, and a picture from her sister Gloria

 I will take her for a manicure/pedicure in a few weeks, but for tonight she got a small bag of gummies and gum.

 These were fun. I had never seen Muddy Bears.

 Jenna with her grandmas

 Trying to figure out a treasure hunt from her grandma Lois

 She was told to go to the little shed in the yard

 After opening the bag and getting beyond the afgan, she discovered a suitcase.

She was very happy with this pretty dress from her parents.

 The birthday cake was made by a local bakery – according to Jenna’s design on paper.

 It was filled with cookie and cream mousse. Yum!

 She was anxious to try on her new dress.

 She looks so grownup and pretty.

 Gloria eating something chocolate.

Diana was trying a self-protrait, so I suggested that I take it so her arm is not in the way.

~~~

Tomorrow night: Pictures from Jeff and Chris’ little farm. A cute baby goat had been born the day before the birthday party.

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I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel.

Ephesians 4:1 (The Message)

TFC Lancaster Chapter

Dinner Concert

Saturday, March 27

We and the Lancaster Committee arrived at Yoder’s about 4:00 p.m. to begin putting TFC literature on the tables, set up the PowerPoint, ticket table, and ministry display table.

By 5:15 we and the waitresses were ready for the doors to open. Assigned ushers escorted the 510 guests to their seats.

Shortly after 6:00 everyone was seated and the meal began, following prayer by Chaplain Jake Wise.

Our family’s table was to the right. You may recognize some of our children and grandchildren.

Bunny O’Hare (Director of Chaplain Wellness) introduced Tammy Stauffer (Administrative Assistant to the Office of Chaplains).

She shared how the Lord led her to TFC.

Chaplain Jay Schock shared how the Lord worked in his life – eventually opening the door for him to serve with TFC. (I forgot to take a picture when he was on stage, so used one from my file.)

The Skyline Boys, Purcellville, Virginia, blessed us with a fabulous concert.

~~~

This is a yearly event (38th annual), and raised $13,360.99 for TFC.  It also pleased us to see twenty-five new names on the list of those who attended – because introducing new people to the ministry is another purpose of the evening.

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Thanks to everyone who attended. We felt blessed.

Thomas said, “My Master! My God!” Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.

John 20:28-29 (The Message)

A Piano Recital

by the students of Mrs. Jennifer Groff

Friday, March 26, 2010 – 7:00 p.m.

This group of pianists is of particular interest to us because our granddaughter Jana (back center in turquoise shirt) will participate in the recital.

 Jen, their very talented teacher

Jana’s friend Ciara looked so grownup, and did a great job playing Song of the Prairie.

Acknowledging the applause with a curtsy.

Jana played The Entertainer by Joplin.

She continues to grow in her piano skills – and did an excellent job.

From the back of the room.

Thanking the audience with a curtsy.

Afterward we went to Twin Kiss for ice cream with her family and Deb and Roy. That is Deb’s hair behind Roy. He does not have a new hairdo.

Jesse enjoying his chocolate ice cream.

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It was a great evening.

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 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he [Jesus] plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:3 (The Message)

Odds and Ends

…From the Last Week of March

I was delighted that this chipmunk was filling its cheeks with sunflower seeds, because it was the end of a fifty-pound bag, and the seeds were dusty and dirty. The birds even seemed to notice that they weren’t fresh. 

Notice its split ear. I wonder what kind of fight it was in – or was it born this way?

I spotted my first robin for 2010.

There is a train track in our town, but this is the first time in many, many years that I had to wait for a train at this crossing. That’s because this track doesn’t go anywhere. It is only used to deliver propane to Ferrellgas (to the right of the picture).

On the way home I was delighted to see a deer. I know, I know, some of you see deer all the time, but there aren’t many in our area, so it is a treat to see one. When I was a girl, this was a dam. After it was drained, it became a wetland where we sometimes see waterfowl, but it’s the first time I saw a deer.

I hadn’t gone far, before I saw a hawk. I love seeing hawks.

As I came up the road, I noticed that our apricot tree was blooming. It was a cool, rainy morning, but I thought it might be a good time to get a few pictures.

I love seeing rain drops on spider webs.

A few days later it was almost too sunny to take pictures.

 The bumblebees were busy this week.

The weather has been beautiful the past two days. Today was a perfect day to work in our large flowerbed, as the ground was soft and damp.

So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.

John 19:1-3 (The Message)

New Life Community Church

Huntington Valley, PA

Sunday, March 21

We were up early to take the chapel to a missions conference near Philadelphia. I chose the sleeper for the two-hour drive so Bunny O’Hare did not have to drive separately. I think I had the most comfortable seat in the truck – and on the way home it made a great bed.

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 We arrived in plenty of time to set up the chapel before Sunday School.

 Several on the missions committee are in the same Sunday School class. After Bunny had been scheduled to speak during morning worship, and Cerwin was asked to bring the chapel, our friend Bill Rumpf asked if we would show his class some photos and tell a bit about our work in the ministry – especially chapel construction.

We had a wonderful morning with this group.

In morning worship the children presented “Jesus Loves the Little Children.”

 The pastor welcomed us and invited Bunny to the pulpit.

 Bunny telling the congregation about TFC and our ministry to the trucking industry.

Following the service the pastor encouraged everyone to visit the chapel.

 I think almost everyone came to visit. We had a full chapel for half an hour or more, as people came through.

After everyone had time to see the chapel and ask questions, the missions committee took us out for lunch.

 Bill, sitting next to Cerwin, was the one who coordinated the day. He was one of Cerwin’s helpers in chapel construction until his health prevented him from making the two-hour drive.

 On the way back to the church (to get the chapel), we asked Bill about the large estate we had seen on the way to the restaurant.

He explained what he knew, and took us on a short tour of the exterior of Cairnwood Estate.

This was built by Pitcairn Family

The Pitcairns are among America’s wealthiest families. Corporate patriarch, John Pitcairn, was president of Pittsburgh Plate Glass from 1896 to 1906. In 1900, his company produced 65% of the plate glass made in America. 

 There are many details concerning this place where the Pitcairn family lived (which you can google if you wish).

 Much of their life revolved around “The New Church” which was founded by Emanuel Swedenborg in the early seventeen hundreds. I had never heard of any of these names so checked it out a bit on the internet, and was interested to discover that Johnny Appleseed, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Helen Keller were followers of his teachings.

The college across the street is also linked to Swedenborg’s teachings.

 The estate and the grounds are beautiful.

Pitcarins still live in the area, as do those who attend the large cathedral.

 On the day we were there, these blossoms were beautiful.

 It was a fabulous day for ministering at the church, visiting the estate, and traveling with the chapel.

Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick.

1 Peter 3:16 (The Message)