Saturday October 24, 2009

 

 

 

Sunrise ~ Sunset

~ and a gift in-between ~

 

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We’ve had a few beautiful sunrises and sunsets this week.

 

 

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As I look back, I think how quickly each day went – and here we are in the middle of another weekend already.

 

 

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Sunrise

 

 

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Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
 

 

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Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze.

 

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and a gift in-between

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I cropped these as tightly as possible so you can almost taste and smell them.

Because there are so many family members and friends in our area, I never know who may be walking into my home/office during the day.  Wednesday, when I heard foot steps, it was my niece, Amy, and her daughter, Heidi, with this pair of coffee-flavored sweet rolls.  They were DELICIOUS – and I’m not a fan of coffee – other than hot and in a cup.

 

 

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 I asked her to pose for a picture, but she just smiled and kept walking to her car – because she knew the picture would end up on my blog. 

 

 

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 So I did it this way instead!   

 

 

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Sunset

 

 

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Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears .

From Fiddler on the Roof

 

 

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Saturday October 24, 2009

 

True wisdom and real power belong to God; from him we learn how to live, and also what to live for. 

Job 12:13 (The Message)

 

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Friday October 23, 2009

 

 

Catching Up With Myself

Tuesday & Wednesday – October 20 & 21

 

It seems like a long time since I posted pictures of things that only happened a few days ago. 

I guess I am finally “catching up with myself.” 

 

 

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Tuesday:  Theda, Julia, Arlene, and John helped with labeling and packaging November’s individual Highway News and Good News.

 

 

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Six of us can finish this job in two hours – and that includes a coffee break. 

To read it online – click here.

 

 

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Wednesday morning

 After having some cold, rainy weather, it was nice to wake up to a beautiful, warm morning.

 

 

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 Notice the progression of the rising sun in the next few pictures.

 

 

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 I love walking around our yard on warm, fall mornings.

 

 

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 It was a beautiful morning to drive to town.

 

  

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To add to my enjoyment – I spotted a heron (I think it’s a Great Blue). 

I keep my old camera in the car for moments like this. 

 

 

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Friday October 23, 2009

 

The Law of the LORD is perfect; it gives us new life. His teachings last forever, and they give wisdom to ordinary people.

Psalm 19:7 (Contemporary English Version)

 

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Thursday October 22, 2009

 

 

A Busy Weekend

Saturday, October 17

 

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Internet Photo

Cerwin and I were up early (4:30) Saturday morning, so we would be ready to leave the house at 5:30 – in preparation for a two-hour drive to Henning’s Market.  No, we weren’t grocery shopping – but sharing a TFC PowerPoint with ministry friends. 

They asked to see the process of building and delivering the last few chapels – especially the one that was recently delivered to Racine, Wisconsin.

 

 

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The prayer breakfast is held in the market’s beautiful mezzanine – above the grocery store.  There is an open area where you can eat and look over the store, or you can reserve this pretty room.

 

 

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Internet Photo

Henning’s has a fabulous buffet (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) on the main floor.

 

 

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My choice of food:  egg, bacon, creamed drybeef on a quarter piece of biscuit (Cerwin had the rest), two small sausages, fresh pineapple, and a bit of baked apples.  I love this buffet, because I like small portions – and you pay by the weight of the food you chose .  If you like to eat larger portions, you can buy the all-you-can eat buffet.

 

 

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 Then it was time for the meeting.  We had a great time showing our pictures and reliving some of the wonderful memories of delivering the last two chapels, the people, and the variety of experiences.

 

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On Saturday evening we enjoyed Love Feast and Communion at our home church.  It was wonderful to have a time of refreshing – between the weekend’s busyness.  I did not take any photos this time.  If you are new to my blog, and want to see pictures from our last Love Feast and Communion, click here.

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Sunday, October 18

 

I can’t believe that I forgot to take photos of Sunday lunch and the afternoon meeting with our TFC Prayer and Advisory Team.  We invited Bunny O’Hare (Office of Chaplains) and his wife, Peg, to come, and give a ministry update, and answer questions.  It was a very encouraging afternoon for Cerwin and me.

~~~

Our supper guests began arriving a few minutes after the afternoon guests left.

 

 

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 Roy’s (third from right) mom and sister (second and third from left) live in Florida, and were in this area for a few days.  He wanted them to meet us (and us to meet them), so we set up this meal.

 

 

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 Deb (bright pink) is holding her cell phone while we sing “Happy Birthday” to Hannah (a Maine granddaughter).

 

 

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 Roy’s mother wanted a picture with her, Roy, and our son Jere – to show how much the guys look alike.  They often refer to each other as “my brother with a different mother.”    

 

 

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 Some of our family had not seen Josh’s deer mount from last year – so Kristen brought it along.  Josh is on the right.

 

 

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We also celebrated Jeff’s upcoming forty-fifth birthday.  It was a delicious chocolate cake, filled with raspberry mousse – from Lititz Family Cupboard Bakery. 

 

 

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Thursday October 22, 2009

 

Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good.

Romans 12:9 (Contemporary English Version)

 

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Wednesday October 21, 2009

 

 

Working Students

Wednesday, October 14

Kraybill Mennonite School – Workday

  

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 The twelve students who worked for TFC.  (There were three supervising teachers.)

 

 

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Waxing and polishing the International Chapel – the one we take to churches, fairs, and truck shows.

 

 

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Mulching

 

 

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They did a great job of beautifying the grounds.

 

 

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Thank You!

 

 

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You are welcome anytime.

 

~~~

 

Thursday, October 15

Lititz Area Mennonite School – Trash-a-Thon

 

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When driving home from Curves, I met this group of four students (including our granddaughter Jana), one teacher, and the neighbor’s dog.

 

 

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It was a miserably cold, rainy day to be gathering roadside trash. 

The students (kindergarten through eighth grade) raised just over $115,000 in pledges to clean trash from local roadways.

 

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Yeah, for these teachers and students!

~~~

 

 

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Wednesday October 21, 2009

 

Work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. 

Ephesians 6:7 (The Message)

 

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Tuesday October 20, 2009

 

 

Chapel Dedication

Racine, Wisconsin – Traveling Home – Indiana to Pennsylvania

Monday, October 12

Day Four of Four

 

 

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Monday morning breakfast with Tom and Sonya, and their son Ben – who were gracious hosts.  

 

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I was particularly interested in their greenhouses – Country Comfort Greenhouse – and learned that she is the official grower of almost 80,000 annuals for the Quilt Gardens

I found this interesting information about her and the gardens: 

 

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http://www.amishcountry.org/images/fck/File/Quilt%20Garden/2009_MasterGardenerGuidebook%204.pdf

~~~

 

2009 Quilt Gardens Tour – Master Gardener Guide

It’s the first and only known Quilt Gardens Tour in the country. Beginning Memorial Day weekend through the first hard frost of fall, visitors can tour the gardens, which stretch across seven northern Indiana communities. In addition, 16 large-format murals – also painted in quilt patterns – will be on display throughout Elkhart County, about 110 miles east of Chicago, 150 miles north of Indianapolis and 140 miles south of Lansing, Michigan.

Sonya Miller, Official Grower, and her husband Tom are the main forces behind Country Comfort Greenhouse, a home based business that’s been functioning for 21 years. Country Comfort is the Official Grower of almost 80,000 annuals each year for the Quilt Gardens Tour. Sonya is instrumental in plant selection and provides advice for each official site to assist in determining pattern definition to enhance the quality visual experience of the Quilt Gardens Tour. Country Comfort also supplies town pots for four local communities.

 

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I wish we had more time to spend with them, but we had to head home, and they had work to do – she is still selling mums and Tom owns a franchise with Mr. Appliance.

 

 

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 We enjoyed a country drive through the Shipshewanna Amish area before getting back on I-80/I-90 and heading east.

 

 

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 Rachel and I enjoyed visiting and checking out the countryside from the backseat of their Buick – consequently all these photos are “drive-by shootings.”

 

 

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 After getting on I-80 in western Pennsylvania, we began seeing beautiful fall leaves.

 

 

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  I love car trips – and it was especially satisfying to see another chapel placed in service for TFC, spend time with the staff in that area, visit the Toledo chapel, see Merv and Sue Ann, learn to know Tom and Sonya, and most of all spend four relaxing days with Glenn and Rachel. 

 

 

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I feel blessed!

 

 

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Tuesday October 20, 2009

 

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. 

James 1:27 (New Living Translation)

 

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