Xanga

 

You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. 

Matthew 5:5 (The Message)

 

 

 

Routine & Something Special

 Tuesday, July 28

 

 

Abigail and Lydia at Curves

Going to Curves has become routine for me this summer.  Cerwin gets therapy for his shoulder in the room next door (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), and even though he can now drive, Lydia and I decided to continue taking advantage of Curves during her summer-long visit.  

Her seventeen-year-old sister, Abigail, is going along this week – while staying at our house.  We go early so I can be back in my office before anyone knows I am missing. 

 

 

The trainer offered to take a photo to verify that I also go through this routine.

 

 

By the time we are finished, Cerwin is in the final part of his therapy.  In this photo he is being hooked up to some kind of electrotherapy.

 

 

Ice Pack Therapy

It is only in recent days that he has enough strength to turn on the car ignition.

 

 

The special part of our day was meeting Xanga friend d-n-s-80 (Diane) and her husband, Steve, for breakfast.  We had not met previously, but immediately recognized each other.

 

 

They are from the southeast, and are vacationing in our area of the northeast.

 

 

We visited for three hours, and never ran out of conversation!  They are a couple after our own hearts.

 

 

 

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 

Psalm 119:105 (New Living Translation)

 

 

 

Fergus Truck Show

Cerwin and Chaplain Jake returned from Fergus, Ontario, Canada, on Monday afternoon.

 

 

 Chaplain Len (right), lead chaplain at Woodstock, Ontario, was there to welcome them.

 

 

 Jake finishing the steps assembly.

 

~~~

Cerwin continues to recover from his shoulder surgery in mid-June, but is very limited in what he can do.  Jake had to do all the driving and most of the chapel set up.

Yesterday was the first day of therapy where Cerwin was given a weight to lift.  He is now able to lift a three-pound weight.

~~~

   

 

 

 

 Relaxing

 

 

 Sue and Len had their display in a nearby tent.

 

 

One of the 300 beautiful rigs.

 

 

The back of his sleeper says it all.

 

 

This trucker obviously travels in the USA and Canada.

 

 

 Antiques

 

 

 A “serious” milk hauler

 

 

 

 

 Long wheelbase and extra-long custom-made hood

 

 

 Lots of chrome, stainless steel, and polished aluminum

 

 

 Thousands of people enjoyed the trucks and many activities.

 

  

 Jake and Cerwin had many visitors.  They laughed and shared stories with some, and prayed with others.  One visitor was from Croatia, and another from Holland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Cerwin took this picture of “Mater” from Cars for our grandchildren.

 

 

 A large visitor

 

 

 Light show on Saturday night.

 

 

 The Chapelaires sang at the Sunday morning worship service next to the chapel.

 

 

Chaplain Len shared a short meditation.  Cerwin said each of the thirty chairs that were set up were filled, many were standing nearby, and others listened to the service from their campsites.

 

 

 It was a rather rainy weekend, which created lots of mud.

 

 

 

 

 The guys came home with great memories.

 

 

 This Peterbilt pickup was one of Cerwin’s favorites.

 

 

  He thinks he would like a truck like this to go for parts and supplies when building chapels.

 

 

 

I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

Philippians 1:2 (Contemporary English Version)

 

 

 

Noisy Woodpecker

Visiting Great-Grandma

Pretty Flowers

 

 

One week ago we heard a loud, strange, pounding sound, and when I looked out the window, this Hairy woodpecker was pecking on our porch railing.  He was just ready to fly away when I took this photo.

 

 

Later in the evening we took Elizabeth and Lydia to Landis Homes to visit their great-grandma High – before Elizabeth went back to Maine in the morning.

 

 

The girls enjoyed seeing her sewing projects.

 

 

She sews and knots lots of small comforters for needy mothers, children, and babies.

 

 

Lydia liked this one.

 

 

Elizabeth thought this one was pretty.

 

 

When walking to the car, we noticed some pretty sunflowers and thought it would be a good place to take pictures of the girls.  (I posted one of Elizabeth last week.)

 

 

This lady was sitting inside the screen door, so I asked if we could take pictures.  She was delighted, and came outside.  In this picture she is looking for seeds from one of her flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think she called this a moon flower.

 

 

 

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 (New Living Translation)

 

 

 

Jess’ Bridal Shower

Our niece Jess did not want the usual-style bridal shower, and told her attendants that she wanted her family and friends to design the plates, bowls, and other tableware items she had chosen.

I should have divided this into two entries, but could not decide where to separate it.

 

 

We arrived at Jen’s Pottery Den about noon on Saturday.

 

 

Jess

 

 

 

 

Jess’ Grandma Bomberger and Grandma Hershey, her mother Anne, and aunt Dot.

 

 

Gifts for those who attended.

 

 

 

 

Each attendee was asked to sign this dish – then it will be glazed and fired with the other items.

 

 

This is where we chose and purchased the item we wanted to paint and design.

 

 

Our inspiration was these finished pieces – painted earlier in the week by those who could not attend the party today.

 

 

I’m not real creative in this area, so the green and pink dishes in the middle were my inspiration.  Splatter looked like something I could do.

 

 

Waiting for the instructors to give us direction.

 

 

Myrtle and Anne have chosen their pieces.

 

 

Jess’ basic colors were yellow, green, and pink.  Water lightened the item, and painting several layers darkened it.

 

 

Dot and Mother Hershey begin painting their items.

 

 

Dot designing a vine.

 

 

 

 

Darker colors were available for decorating the items.

 

 

Mother Hershey chose a stencil.  Notice the instructor is holding the stencil.

 

 

Jess’ mother painting her bowl.

 

 

She finished it by sponging the outside and keeping the inside plain.

 

 

My splattered plate.  I did this by dipping a toothbrush in paint and splattering it with one of my fingers.

 

 

Jolie joined our table, and began working on a freehand vine.

 

 

 

 

I loved the finished product.

 

 

My nieces Laura and Katie deciding what to do with their plate.  Caleb just hung out with whomever held him – in this case it is his mom.

 

 

Sisters Katie and Andi

 

 

Their mother, Brenda, chose charcoal for the back of the plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laura wrote a cute quote on her plate – something about it being fun to hear from friends, especially when they say, “Let’s do lunch.”

 

 

I don’t know most of Jess’ friends, or Rob’s family, so will not be able identify many of the other women.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a room reserved for food, which we took advantage of while our basic color dried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the games involved guessing the number of rose petals in this vase.  The hostess said to choose between 100 and 300, so I thought 200 sounded good – but because I don’t like even numbers, I went with 201.  The correct number was 204

 

 

I won this pretty heart-shaped dish.

 

 

Rob’s (groom) mother.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I loved Hillary’s coasters – especially the top one.  The leaves were Jess’ thumb prints and the flower was Hillary’s.

 

 

Each person signed their piece.  I didn’t think of taking a picture of a signature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one made me smile.

 

 

What a fun party.

 

~~~

I decided to have a “girl party” there on Wednesday – with our Pennsylvania girls and the two Maine granddaughters who are currently with us, so you will see more pottery later in the week.

~~~

 

 

 

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,

do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (New Living Translation)

 

 

 

Cousins’ Week

Friday & Saturday

 

 

 As in the previous two days, Jordan was the first one up in the morning – because he has to leave for work.  After breakfast, he packed his lunch, and will be gone until late afternoon or evening.

 

 

 After he left, the house slowly came alive.  Nate and Josh began the day watching a funny video. 

 

 

 It looks like Lydia and Jenna are also watching something on the humorous side.

 

 

 Ian, Gloria, and Jared are usually a threesome, and Friday morning was no different.

 

 

 Jesse can be found anywhere, as his interests vary.

  

 

When I’m not at my desk this week – someone else is usually there playing a computer game. 

 

 

 It’s also rare to not find someone at my second desk.

 

 

 It’s one of Lydia’s favorite places in the morning – sending emails to friends, listening to Odyssey, or playing a game – sometimes listening to Odyssey and playing a game.

 

 

I also use the children as “slaves” on occasion.     Seriously, they beg to do this job.

 

 

 Diana happened to be in the office when I did a mailing, and was happy to help.

 

 

 Then someone decided to become a hair stylist.   

 

 

 

 

 When Ian heard that Abigail was coming today – following her week at BBI (Brethren Bible Institute) – he wanted to decorate a piece of paper for her.

That means we are again up to twelve grandchildren in house.  However, our door was kind of like a revolving one today:  Jordan out, Abigail in; Jesse and Josh out for a doctor appointment concerning Jesse’s cast, then drop Josh off with a friend for a few hours; and Nathan out to go to work. 

 

 

 Jesse “in” – without a cast!

 

 

 After supper – and another good rain – the children chose to go outside.

 

 

 Diana picked up a large branch that came down when wind brought in the last rain shower.

 

 

Throwing the “whistling nerf ball.” 

  

 

 Diana

 

 

 Jana

 

 

 Jenna

 

 

 Lydia

 

 

 Jana and Jenna competing for the catch.

 

 

 Diana and Lydia on the other end.

 

 

 Abigail waiting for a message from Nathaniel.

 

 

 Oh, goodie, the boys noticed the mud puddles!

 

 

 It looks like others are going to join them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jesse learned that it is fun to hit the water with a stick.

 

 

 Oops, Gloria was too close to Jesse.

 

 

 

 

 Mud is so much fun.

 

 

 

 

 He didn’t like the result of the latest splash, but was okay when I told him that he would be fine…

 

 

 …and went back to splashing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenna asked for the camera.  This photo shows me staying at a safe distance from splashing mud.

 

 

 Jenna and Jana having fun with my camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Love the sun in her hair.

 

 

 Stopping traffic.

 

 

 Capturing the sun.

 

 

“Here’s the camera grandma, take a picture of us.”

 

 

 

 

 Some alert child (I think Jared) noticed this cicada emerging from its shell.

 

 

 Jesse is getting even muddier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 They needed to be cleaned with a hose before their real bath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Now Abigail is happy – Nathaniel and his dog have arrived for an evening hike.

The revolving door continued:  Abigail out; Jordan in; Jordan out to get Nathan; Jordan and Nathan in; Josh in; Abigail in. 

At the end of the day there were thirteen people in our house.

 

~~~

Cerwin called to say they had a good day at the Fergus Truck Show (Fergus, Ontario, Canada.). 

~~~

 

 

 Saturday morning roll-call.  Abigail, Gloria, and Jana in the livingroom

 

 

 Jordan, Josh, Nathan, Jared, and Ian in the garage.

 

 

 Lydia is in her own bed in the guest room.

 

 

Jenna and Diana in my bed.  It’s a good thing we have a kingsized bed.  Grandpa is usually here, so taking turns sleeping in our waterbed was a real treat this week.  Yes, there was still room for me, but I will probably sleep better tonight.   

 

  

 Jesse in the crib, which was at the foot of my bed.  It was the only quiet room for afternoon naps.

  

 

 The last day of Cousin’s Week has begun.  Their parents came between 9:30 and 10:00 this morning – and suddenly the house was quiet.  (Only Lydia, Abigail, and I are here.) 

Next project:  empty air mattresses, wash sheets (lots of them), put things in their usual place, and sweep floors.  Tonight our house is back to normal, and only Lydia and I are “in.”  Abigail is “out’ with that handsome Nathaniel guy.

 

~~~

I should have entered this large number of pictures in two or three entries.  However, I have lots more photos from an interesting bridal shower I attended this afternoon, and every day looks to be busy and interesting next week, so there is no time to stretch out my photos.

~~~

 

This grandma is feeling blessed.