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A Few Happenings From Our Workweek

January 18-22

 There were beautiful sunrises.

Hot, fresh coffee was ready when I woke up, because of this newfangled apparatus that arrived on Tuesday afternoon.

 There was another afternoon delivery on Tuesday – this one to TFC’s International Office…

…fifty-four chapel chairs – eighteen for each of the two Elkton, Maryland, chapels, and the other eighteen for the new chapel Cerwin is building for Indianapolis.

Jesse is choosing his snack on Tuesday evening when he and his siblings were here for a few hours – while their parents had a LAMS Benefit Auction meeting.

A fun thing happened shortly after I took this picture.

Jesse usually calls me “a ma”, but while I was working on my blog, and he was playing and chattering on the floor nearby, I must not have replied when he wanted, so he said very loud, “GRANDMA!”

That got my attention, and I asked him to repeat it several time throughout the evening.

 A few days later, a new photo book arrived. What fun to have these memories in book form. Thanks to our daughter Deb.

 There was a heavy, beautiful frost on Thursday morning. It covered anything it could cling to…

 …including this sofa set that was waiting for the garbage man.

 Now that’s a cool seating arrangement.

 Friday seemed to be a busy day for the birds, and it was fun to watch these two (Carolina Wren and Downy Woodpecker) who were not particularly pleased that the other was there.

 Look closely at this picture. He is not looking away from me.

 Then there was the sunny afternoon when these two finches kept an eye on me from the edge of the bush.

 How is that for a nice, fairly, uneventful week.

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Allow God to bless you this week.

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He orders the snow, ‘Blanket the earth!’ and the rain, ‘Soak the whole countryside!’ No one can escape the weather—it’s there. 

And no one can escape from God.

Job 37:6-7 (The Message)

Rain

Sunday, January 16

It was a gray, rainy afternoon.

This Black-capped Chickadee stayed close to a feeder that was under the roof.

While standing in the dry – under the garage roof – to take pictures, I noticed a smart, female House Sparrow who was scratching for birdseed on the dry ground under the house roof.

A wet female House Finch

The rain did not deter this female Downy Woodpecker from getting a supper of suet.

I love a quiet, rainy Sunday!

Yes, indeed—God is my salvation. I trust, I won’t be afraid. God—yes God!—is my strength and song, best of all, my salvation!

Isaiah 12:2 (The Message)

My Sibling’s Christmas Celebration

…continued

 Saturday, January 16

Left to right: Deb, Kristen, Velma (our stepmother), Dot (standing – back to camera), Anne, Chris (sitting – back to camera) Nancy, and Katie, visiting in Dale and Dot’s kitchen.

The big, old farmhouse has lots of places to visit, as two families live here, meaning there was room for all sixty-five people who were there.

Dani and Kevin, Kevin and Becca, Rob, and Clair visiting in the dining area of Dale and Dot’s family room.

 Jere (left) joined the group in the kitchen.

 Jesse came up the steps with me to take a picture of Steve and Brenda’s kitchen.

 Brenda, Kevin, Mary, her friend, Jessie, Dani, David, Laura, Andi, Kate, Vince, Kurt.

 Watching a football game in Dale and Dot’s family room: Marlin (couch), Clair (behind couch), Jordan, Cerwin. Nate, and Roy (backs to camera).

Jared in disguise.  

 Dale and Jacob (grandfather/grandson) conversation.

I am sitting on the floor (for lack of extra chairs in that area) with Caleb – Laura (my niece) and Dave’s son – to watch a video my brother Dale was showing of his and Dot’s recent trip to Italy (Rome and Venice). 

Like all celebrations, there is always a time to say goodbye – and I thought Caleb looked so cute all bundled up for their trip home.

He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal. He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

Psalm 103:4-5 (The Message)

My Sibling’s Christmas Celebration

Saturday, January 16

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Our Hershey clan looks forward to being together at the old farm house where many of us grew up, and the others visited lots of times when growing up.

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Our dinner was a bit late this year, because my brother Clair was in Rome – and only coming home on January 9 – plus another brother, Dale, and his wife Dot were visiting him in Rome during Christmas.

This meal is one of the most fun (and delicious) we have all year, because everything is hors d’oeuvres or finger food.

At the table: Chelsey, Katie, and Tristan. In the background: Gloria, Josh, and Kristen.

Jere, Jamie, Kevin, and Jordan

Jeff looks like he giving advice to newlyweds, Kate and Vince.

Melissa, Kelci, Dani, and Kevin

This ice cream mocha drink is a yearly favorite at this dinner.

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Recipe for Mocha Punch

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1-1/2 Quarts Water

1/2 Cup Instant Chocolate Mix (my sister-in-law used Nestle Quik)

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Instant Coffee

1/2 gallon Vanilla Ice Cream

1/2 Gallon Chocolate Ice Cream

Optional: 1 Cup Whipped Cream and Chocolate Curls

Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add chocolate mix, sugar, and coffee; stir until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for four hours or overnight.

Thirty minutes before serving, pour mixture into a punch bowl, and add ice cream by scoopfuls. Stir until partially melted.

Optional: Garnish with dollops of whipped cream and chocolate curls.

Yields 20 to 25 servings.

Variation:

 For Strawberry Punch, substitute Strawberry Nestle Quick, omit the coffee, use vanilla strawberry ice cream. Garnish with whipped cream and strawberries.

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For locals, this recipe is in our church’s newest cookbook: Recipes to Remember – White Oak Church of the Brethren. The recipe is Theda Ebersole’s on Page 13

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It’s quickly becoming a favorite of the young ones as well. This is my brother Steve’s granddaughter, Molly.

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Oh, I didn’t get to tell you about last night’s picture, and why I was sitting on the floor. I guess it will have to wait until tomorrow night.

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May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

Galatians 6:18 (The Message)

TFC Prayer Breakfast

…and a cute little boy

Saturday, January 16

When searching for the room where this early morning prayer breakfast will be held at Yoder’s Restaurant, we look for the door with the TFC sign, as there are several other prayer breakfasts going on in rooms partitioned off in the usually large banquet room.

Alvin, Anna Mae, Mike, David and David

Ed, Marian, Ella (Cerwin’s mother), and Cerwin

The new issue of the Highway News is ready for pickup and distribution.

While waiting for breakfast to be served, Chaplain David read the Gehman article in the latest Peterbilt magazine. (See my post from a few days ago here.)

My egg and bacon muffin was delicious.

Cerwin shared a TFC update and devotional challenge.

He chose “garbage” as his subject, reminding the group that other people’s “garbage” does not have to become ours – that with Christ we can live above sin, jealously, complaining, trash-talking, and other tricks of the devil that drag us to the gutter level.

He received complimentary comments – and I thought he did a great job.

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Tomorrow Night: A late Christmas Celebration

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You will find out why I am sitting on the floor holding this cute little guy – who is not one of our grandchildren, but looks like he could be.

Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

James 1:27 (The Message)