Xanga

My Baby Brother is Fifty Today

Happy Birthday, Steve

(If you care to read the small print:  I was fifteen when he was born.)

Glenn and Rachel, and Cerwin and me before we headed toward Middlebury, Indiana, where Glenn’s sister Sue Ann, and her husband, Mervin, live.

Mervin showing Glenn and Cerwin the Shopsmith he used to make this table for a grandson’s upcoming wedding.  Notice the table boards on the table to the left.

Sue Ann putting ice cubes in the glasses.

Little Bear was aware that there were visitors in the house.

Sue Ann had prepared delicious homemade vegetable soup.

Their son Tom, his wife, Sonya, and youngest son, Ben joined us for supper.

Glenn and Sue Ann grew up on a farm about a mile from the farm where I grew up – and our parents were best friends. 

It was delightful to spend an evening with the Millers.  Following our visit, we went to Tom and Sonya’s home (one mile away) where beds were awaiting us.

~~~

Tomorrow night:  The final leg of our trip.

~~~

If you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. 

James 2:13 (The Message)

 We had to make a Wal-mart stop before heading to Racine.  This morning Glenn discovered that he forgot to pack socks. 

 Many of you will recognize this Chicago skyline.

 We made good time – despite the Chicago traffic, and arrived at the Racine chapel before lunch.

 It was a FRIGID day – and these people were my heros.

 There were about sixty-five people there when it was time to begin the dedication.  Doug Kraus (speaking) and Chaplain Mike Touhy thought they could fit inside for the service.

The cold and wind would have made it difficult to concentrate while standing or sitting outside. 

 The living quarters was also full.

 Vice President of TFC, Dwayne Johnson, shared a dedication challenge.  Gary Nussbaum (standing, blue shirt, second from left) TFC Office of Chaplains, and his wife, Pearl, (seated, center left – green coat) came from Dalton, Ohio.

 Cerwin (right) read “The Act of Dedication” as the audience responded – while Bunny O’Hare (Office of Chaplains) anointed the chapel, and then each staff and volunteer chaplain who will serve at Racine.

 Chaplain Mike Touhy closed in prayer.

 When someone saw this picture, they said, “Now you know how animals feel when they travel in a trailer.”  Our staff will recognize Chaplain Jay LeRette (bottom left corner) and his wife Karen (bottom center).  They came from Rochelle, Illinois.

Coffee was a hit, but I think Doug and Ellen took most of the cold drinks home.

 Several Christian Motorcycle (CMA) riders visited during the open house.  Doug thought that about thirty-five people stopped in during the open house – making the total visitors for the day about one-hundred.

 The staff enjoyed supper at a local restaurant.  These onion rings were our appetizer.

 After the meal, Glenn wanted to go back to the chapel.  He designs the crosses, and was interested in seeing one at night.

 Beautiful!

~~~

Tomorrow Night – Heading toward home:  Racine, Wisconsin, to Middlebury, Indiana.

~~~

Tell everyone on this earth to sing happy songs in praise of the LORD.

Psalm 98:4 (Contemporary English Version)

Happy Birthday

To Our Favorite Hannah

We Love You!

Chapel Dedication

Racine, Wisconsin

Friday, October 9

~~~

Day One of Four

The guys decided that we would leave home at 6:30 in the morning, and stop for breakfast.

We saw some pretty Pennsylvania scenery.

Breakfast with Rachel and Glenn – our friends and traveling companions. 

Glenn spends a lot of time helping Cerwin with chapel construction, so this was a great time for them to see the “launching of a new truck stop chapel.”

Colored leaves can be seen through the rain drops on the window.

Soup at Panera Bread was a good choice for a cold, rainy day lunch.

Our only stop today – other than meals and fuel – was the chapel near Toledo, Ohio.

Glenn, Cerwin, Rachel, and Chaplain Wayne Dunlap.

Prayer with a driver

We weren’t there very long, before a driver (orange trimmed coat) stopped in to talk to Wayne.  Because I spend most of my days in the office, it was challenging to listen to the struggles of being on the road for four months at a time – a good reminder of why we have chapels and chaplains in truck stops.

We weren’t very hungry a the end of the day, needing only a light meal.  Cerwin, Glenn, and Rachel chose this Applebee’s salad.  Each one proclaimed it delicious.

I felt like something warm on this cold evening and ordered a baked potato.

We had reservations at this motel near Elkhart, Indiana. 

By morning, all four of us declared it a wonderful place to stay.  It was reasonably priced, fairly new – with a very comfortable bed and continental breakfast.  It is rare that I crawl into a motel bed and feel like “I’m home.”  It was comfortable and the sheets smelled heavenly.

~~~

Tomorrow Night – Elkhart to Racine & the Chapel Dedication.

~~~

If I keep my eyes on God, I won’t trip over my own feet.

Psalm 25:14-15 (The Message)

Manheim Farmshow

Family Fun Night

Thursday, October 8

  I’m not a crowd person, but my desires are overruled when I know some of our grandchildren are entering contests.

~~~

To my local readers:  Look closely, you may see some relatives!

Cerwin and our son Jere are in the center-left.  Kristen is just behind Jere and Jana is to the left of Cerwin.  Oh, and there is Ian just to the left of the man talking to Jere.

 Jana and Ian enjoying funnel cake.

 Cerwin’s apple dumpling

Jared, Jesse, and Ian – our three youngest grandchildren playing in the sand.

Let the competition begin!

This was a race where three children at a time jumped over a barricade, gathered a potato, then an egg, and avoided “cow patties”, while staying in their specific lane and racing to the finish line.

 Our granddaughter Jenna (grey shirt) entered the water balloon throwing contest.

 Her friend Smita was the receiver on the other end.

 Granddaughters Jana (yellow) and Diana entered in their age category.

 It didn’t seem to take long for the balloons to break.

 Diana and Jenna took a tumble during the three-legged race.

 Our grandnieces Ashlea and Jamie (closest girls to the camera) won in their age category, and are now in the winner’s runoff.

They didn’t do so well this time.

Teens and adults entered the egg-throwing contest.

 We left after the guinea hen chase, because we had a big trip ahead of us the next day.

~~~

I guess you will have to wait until tomorrow night to see where we went.

~~~

Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work.

Psalm 19:12 (The Message)