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A Few Photos From Three Busy Days

Wednesday to Friday, December 16 to 18

Last week included some of the busiest days of my year, as I prepared nine bulk mailings for the TFC staff. That is one of the reasons our daughter asked our niece to prepare and deliver meals last week.

The second meal to be delivered was a hamburger/cheese pie – Cerwin’s favorite of the three meals.

There were two containers of the third meal – this oriental chicken dish. Our niece Crystal intended for this to make one meal. However, one container was enough so we acturally had four meals from this wonderful gift of meals. Actually there were leftovers with each one, giving me or Cerwin lunch the next day.

It would be difficult for me to choose a favorite of the meals, but if I had to choose, the oriental chicken would be the one.  Thanks Deb and Crystal. 

On Friday our morning began with a deep orange dawn…

…and changed to pink.

Baron football signs were back in our town by Thursday – for the big game on Friday night – the State final.

It was an exciting, low-scoring, evenly-matched game, with the Barons in the lead for the entire game 7-0 then 7-3 — until the very end when Selinsgrove took the lead 10-7 and won. Congratulations Selinsgrove, and Barons you are still our favorite high school team. You had a great season.

Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

Luke 1:30-31 (The Message)

After Gloria’s Party

Tuesday, December 15

Jenna and Diana wanted me to take their pictures.

Gloria enjoyed her remote control car – and even ran it out of power.

I thought his siblings may enjoy seeing how dignified Jeff looks with glasses. He only wears them when it is absolutely necessary.

Grandpa tuning Jenna’s guitar.

The grey cat got a welcome invitation into the house after the ice cream and cake.

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Jeff and Chris’ house.

I love birthday parties and celebrations.

Blessed be the Lord—day after day he carries us along. He’s our Savior, our God, oh yes! He’s God-for-us, he’s God-who-saves-us.

Psalm 68:19-20 (The Message)

Gloria’s Birthday Party

Tuesday, December 15

Gifts

Boots – just what she wanted.

Money and Candy

Mon

Horses

Reading Light

Remote Control Vehicle

Gloria and Diana watch as Dad gets it ready to run.

The box became a great ramp.

The Cake

Blowing Out the Candles

Removing icing from a candle.

For us, the best part was the delicious, rich, chocolate cake.

~~~

Tomorrow night – a few more pictures from her birthday celebrations.

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Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents.

Ephesians 5:1 (The Message)

Fog & A Birthday Party

Tuesday, December 15

It was a foggy morning.

This poster always startles me at first glance – and I’ve seen it several times when I park at Curves.

The fog had begun to lift when I headed home half-an-hour later.

A great blue heron flew overhead just before I got to our driveway.

Drying her feathers after a quick bath.

The star of our evening was Gloria – who celebrated her ninth birthday on Tuesday.

She wanted to pose with a decoration she created.

Diana wanted a photo with her similar creation.

Diana thought she was clever by hiding under the table. I could not find her until someone lifted the tablecloth.

Our daughter-in-law Chris prepared a delicious supper of soup and sandwiches. It was  a cheesy-cauliflower-carrot-soup.

I didn’t think to take a picture of the hot ham and cheese sandwiches.

Mary Jane (a neighbor and adopted grandma) brought Amish-made bread. Yum! 

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Tomorrow night – The Birthday Party.

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God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface.

1 Corinthians 2:7 (The Message)

Highway News

…and two surprises

Monday, December 14

We had new volunteer helpers for labeling the almost 3,000 individual Highway News – Kathy Diffenderfer (right) and her two youngest boys, Jason (left), and Joshua (next to Kathy). Harold and Lois Keller have been regular helpers since we began mailing these in January.

If you care to read this issue, go to www.transportforchrist.org/highway and click on the January 2010 issue. The cover photo is one I took in April 2008 when we were in a snow blizzard in Mitchell, South Dakota.

After we finished at 11:00 a.m., they went home and I processed a newsletter for mailing.

In the late afternoon we were surprised by a visit from our niece Crystal and their daughter Peyton. Crystal is the daughter of Cerwin’s brother Elvin.

I was puzzled that she was carrying a container of food.

She loves cooking, and is trying to get a home business (preparing meals) started, so our daughter Deb ordered three meals for us this week – knowing that this was an extra busy time for me.  (Wasn’t that nice?) This meal was a delicious green bean and chicken dish. The other two meals will arrive on Wednesday.

Peyton slept through our short visit.

About half-an-hour later, our nephew Jon, his wife, Jen, and their three children (from Minnesota) stopped in for a visit. Jon is the youngest son of Cerwin’s sister Doris. Jen’s family is from this area, so we are blessed with visits from them about once a year.  Andre is with Jon, Jen is holding Dietrich, and Alisha is sleeping in the car.

They gave us a family photo, which I decided to post so you can see Alisha.

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I love productive days that are full of pleasant surprises.

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 You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me.

Psalm 119:114 (The Message)