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Truckers’ Weekend

Family Worship Center, Lansdale, PA

Sunday, October 4

After a good night’s sleep, our Sunday morning began with breakfast at Sam and Alice Rittenhouse’s home.  I am not a pancake person, but can never turn down Sam’s delicious cranberry/pecan pancakes. 

I forgot to take a picture of them (and Alice wasn’t feeling well), so I pulled this one from my 2008 file.

Sam noticed that I was checking out this cactus next to where I was sitting at the table, and told me to look at its blooms on the floor.

 I am not aware that I ever saw this kind of cactus flower.

My view from the breakfast table. 

Their backyard consists of almost two acres, and is an amazing assortment of birdfeeders, gardens, a small greenhouse, and a large orchard of seventy-five trees – all kept by Sam.  His sister Betty, who lives next door, helps with the garden.

 Peanut butter for the birds

All birds are welcome – and each one eats well.

 A young cardinal

After breakfast, I walked out back to see what was left in his end-of-season botanical paradise.

 There were a few figs.

Lots of pretty flowers and end-of-season greenery

 Apples are the crop of the moment.

 He sells some, and with the rest makes the best cider in the country.

 Dew drops were glistening in the morning sun.

 Then it was time to go back to Family Worship for the morning service – where TFC was featured and truckers were honored.  In this photo TFC Vice President Dwayne Johnson is sharing a few highlights about our ministry to truck drivers.

Afterward, we welcomed visitors into the chapel, answered many questions, then enjoyed lunch at a local buffet.

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Tomorrow night:  The Manheim Farmshow.

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Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

James 4:10 (The Message)

Truckers’ Weekend

Family Worship Center, Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Saturday, October 3

 It was our responsibility to take the International Chapel to this event. 

Many people think that all of TFC’s North American chapels are always on the move, but this is the only one that does not have a permanent spot at a truck stop. 

There is another chapel in Ohio that can be used for promotional work, but it is currently placed at a truck stop near Indianapolis.

While several men helped Cerwin set up the chapel steps, I put the display board and literature on a table in the church’s entrance area. 

Saturday is also a time when some local drivers and salesmen bring their trucks.

 I told this driver that he must have gotten too much fertilizer on his truck!

 The pig roast is a highlight of this day.  A roasted pig is not very attractive, but it is a fabulous way to prepare pork.

This caterer also stuffs the pig with bread filling – which is delicious.

Rolls, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, green beans, and a salad complete this meal.

 Everyone went to the activity center to enjoy their meal.

Eunice Landis and her dad, Sam Rittenhouse, decorated the tables with pretty centerpieces. 

 From there we moved to the church sanctuary for the evening concert.

 The Paul Fehr Family opened the evening with beautiful music. 

Paul is a local driver, and sings with his daughter (wheel chair) and two of his grandchildren.

 Dwayne Johnson, TFC Vice President, gave an informative update on what is happening around the world in TFC.

 The headliner for the evening was gospel music by Angelina McKeithen and Route 77.

 She is amazing on the harmonica.

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Tomorrow evening:  Truckers’ Weekend – Part 2

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Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. 

Romans 12:1 (The Message)

Grandparent’s Day

Friday, October 2

A yearly highlight for us, with this set of grandchildren, is going to Grandparent’s Day at LAMS.  In this photo:  Cerwin watches Ian complete a drawing.  His other grandma, Grandma Buch, watches from his left.

Ian telling me about his crayons.

A gift to us from Ian.

He was asked to write something about his grandparents.  His memory is sleeping in our garage. 

He told us that his favorite books to read are the alphabet books.

Grandma Buch and Jana – our next (and last) visit was to Jana’s room.

Jana and her teacher

Showing us the rocks she decorated.

Asking questions and recording answers about our school days.

When 10:15 a.m. arrived, it was time to go to the gym for a program – kindergarten and first grade were first.

Their songs:  Do You Love Jesus Like You Really Ought To?  and Be Glorified

Jana quickly recognized us.

Fourth and fifth grades sang Hosanna and Trust In the Lord.

They performed a cute skit which was written by fifth grade.  The boys were gleefully rowing a boat – after praying for safety and a good day.  However, they were shipwrecked on an island.  They prayed for wisdom and help, put a note in a bottle, and threw it into the ocean.

It eventually washed on shore, and was found by the fifth grade girls.  When they discovered that the boys were shipwrecked – they decided to let them there! 

However, a LAMS ship rescued them.

After the program, all students are dismissed – many go out to lunch with their grandparents. 

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Tomorrow night:  Truckers’ Weekend at Family Worship Center, Lansdale, Pennsylvania

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Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

Psalm 34:14 (New Living Translation)

New Generators

For Three Mile Island

September 28 & 29

You know something big is going on when children are excused from school to watch it going by.

It was two “somethings big” – as in new steam generators for Three Mile Island.

The 510-ton generators, which are 70 feet high and 12.5 feet in diameter, were transported over land on a huge carrier that moves 2.5 mph.

The generators were built in Chalon-sur-Saone, France, and after arriving in Port Deposit, Maryland, they traveled a seventy-five mile course (over land) passing through multiple municipalities. The anticipated length of the journey was twenty days.

 Closed roads were routine in our area for the last leg of the journey.  Cerwin took these pictures as the generators approached and passed the Transport For Office on Route 441 near Marietta, Pennsylvania.

 With only two days left to go before arriving at TMI, they parked for the night at a business near the TFC Office.

 Cerwin arrived at the office early Tuesday, September 29, and was ready when the behemoths began to move.

 Steam generators are like giant double boilers.  Pressurized hot water from the reactor enters the stem generator and passes through thousands of small tubes, similar to hot water passing through a car radiator.

 The heat from inside the tubes is transferred to a second supply of water outside the tubes, which flashes into steam.  The steam is then sent through large pipes to spin the turbines and generator.  The two supplies of water – inside and outside of the steam generator tubes never mix.

 The steam generators are replacement components, and contain no radioactive materials.

There was quite an entourage following it.  Between 100 and 200 people travel with the convoy at any given time.

 Lowering the wires to their normal height was one of the last things to be done when restoring the road to normal.

These generators will give Three Mile island Unit 1 another twenty-five years of service.

~~~

Tomorrow night:  Grandparents’ Day at LAMS

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God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds.

Psalm 19:10 (The Message)

Picnic in Our Garage

Birthday Party for Cerwin’s Sister

Sunday, September 27

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Posting early today – because I have time – and don’t expect to have Internet access tonight.

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 September 27 was a chilly, wet morning.

  We met several Amish families when we were going to Sunday School, so I expect there was Amish church in our area.

 My stepmother’s family was supposed to have a picnic/reunion at the pavilion, but we knew they would be more comfortable in our garage.  It rained or drizzled off and on all afternoon.

 A benefit of hosting this, is that we get to taste their delicious food – and visit with a great family.

 We left the “picnic in our garage” a bit early to attend a birthday party for Cerwin’s sister Velda.

 I offered to bring the cake.  No, I did not bake or decorate it.  For the locals, I ordered it at Lititz Family Cupboard Bakery.

 This party was for Velda’s immediate family – children and siblings.  We were at their son, Donald, and his wife, Gabi’s, house.  Donald is in the burgundy shirt.

 The cake was raspberry swirl with a coconut cream filling.  Yum!

 I noticed this tiny fawn, in their den, and didn’t realize that it was real.  Sometime ago a pregnant doe ran into the car Gabi was driving.  The accident killed the doe and both fullterm babies.  Donald received a permit from the game warden to take this one to a taxidermist.  It is so pretty and tiny.

 The evening sky as we were preparing to leave Donald and Gabi’s house.

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Tomorrow:  Watching huge generators being moved through our area.

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He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul. 

Psalm 62:2 (The Message)