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Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.

1 Peter 1:18 (The Message)

 

 

 

Jordan’s High School Graduation

From Manheim Central

Friday, June 5

 

 

The auditorium of Lancaster County Bible Church is a great place for a large graduating class of 260+ students, as there are large screens which make it possible for the audience to see speakers, musicians, and students.

 

 

Prior to the opening ceremony, there was a PowerPoint presentation on the side screens.  All of a sudden, there was a picture of Jordan with his senior project – a gun cabinet.  If you follow my blog, you will remember that Cerwin was his mentor for this project.

I was surprised and pleased that I captured this picture, as they didn’t stay on the screen very long – and because there were so many students, we didn’t see it a second time.

 

 

Jordan (left) and his walking partner entering the auditorium to Pomp and Circumstance. 

He probably won’t like this picture, but it was one of those times when there wasn’t a second chance to take a picture.

 

 

Walking onto the stage.

 

 

A screen photo during the Star Spangled Banner. 

 

 

Welcome by Mr. Arlen W. Mummau, High School Principal

 

 

A few of the graduates on stage.

 

 

There were several musical performances, which were all excellent.  However, Xylophonia, a duet on the marimba and piano, was my favorite.  

We were glad for the auditorium screen, because the girls were on the opposite side of the stage from where we were sitting, and hidden by the graduates.

 

 

The seniors whose responsibility it was to speak, did great jobs on their orations.

 

 

The Challenge to the Class of 2009 was by Mr. Jospeh Wells – a Manheim Central teacher for thirty-two years. 

He has been the “voice” of Baron Football for the past thirty years, and the locals will also recognize him from Strasburg Railroad and WDAC Christian radio.

“Risk going out on a limb, because that is where the fruit is.”

“If you want to make the best choices, make choices that meet your core values.”

His main thrust to the graduates was on finances…

1. Savings Matter

2. Find the fine print

3. Focus on the total cost

4. Debt is the great divide

5. There is a permanent record

 

 

I love this picture I captured of Jordan looking toward us just after his row stood, prior to receiving their diplomas.

 

 

Receiving his diploma

 

 

I was disappointed that I wasn’t prepared to take a picture when everyone threw their caps in the air, but I did get this of someone throwing his a second time.

 

 

Jordan and his walking partner leaving the same door they entered two hours earlier.

 

 

He and his parents agreed on a meeting place – which was important because there were close to 2,000 people in the audience.

 

 

A hug from Mom

 

 

A bear hug from Dad

 

 

With his dad and mom – our son Jeff and daughter-in-law Chris.

 

 

With his other grandma, Lois.

 

 

With his adopted grandma and neighbor, Mary Jane

 

 

His brother, Nate, tried to be cool with a turned up collar – and tall by standing on tiptoes.  Jordan pretended he didn’t know him!

 

 

Since I missed the cap throwing, I asked Jordan to throw his in the air.

 

 

  

High school graduation is now behind him. 

He is checking on the requirements and possibilities of beginning a career in the financial field. 

 

~~~ 

Congratulations, Jordan!

We love you and are proud of you.

~~~

 

 

 

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth.

Ephesians 3:14 (The Message)

 

 

 

A Grandparent’s Kind of Day

 

Lydia and Abigail just arrived from Maine.

Abigail is here for a bit more than a week.  She has a wedding to attend this Saturday and another one next Saturday.  Lydia is staying for the summer – just like her brothers and sisters before her did when they were twelve.

 

 

Tonight we attended Jordan’s graduation from Manheim Central High School.  When did he get so tall? 

We just got home, and I have too many pictures to sort through tonight.  I’ll post others tomorrow.

 

 

 

We are watching the President and other speakers at the moment with new interest, as we visited Buchenwald, Germany, last summer.  here

 

For the Lord your God is living among you.

He is a mighty savior.

Zephaniah 3:17 (New Living Translation)

 

 

 

Bad Day for the Birds

 

This poor nuthatch lay stunned for almost one hour after flying into one of our new windows.

 

 

 A female downy woodpecker wasn’t so lucky when it crashed into a window.

 

 

I saw this Carolina chickadee during the morning rain, and wondered why it didn’t either go inside or leave the birdhouse.  Later in the day I noticed he was still there – and stuck.  I quickly went to investigate, and discovered he was dead.

When I gently removed it from the hole, I thought, “There is almost nothing but feathers to a small bird”, and was reminded that not one of these birds went unnoticed by God today.

 

~~~

 

On the Brighter Side

 

Cerwin called me out of the office this afternoon.  “Doris, come with your camera, there is a baby robin learning to fly.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

He tried again and again as I would get close to him, and I smiled each time he made an awkward landing 

 

 

He’s not very graceful yet – but by tomorrow he will have this flying thing mastered.

 

 

 

You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand to build up and strengthen all.

1 Chronicles 29:12 (The Message)

 

 

 

A Two-Mile Walk Around the Block

 

Tuesday Evening, June 2

 

We’ll turn left at the end of our driveway.

 

 

On the right are neat rows of newly-planted corn.

 

 

On the left is the alfalfa field that was cut the other week.  It is already getting tall.

 

 

I love seeing patches of clover.

 

 

 

 

These weeds are pretty against the sky.

http://myhopeisinjesus.xanga.com/ and her husband along on this walk (via cyberspace).  He said my “weed” is orchard grass.  I love when people know this kind of stuff.

 

 

There are several cows in the meadow, but this is the only one I can see from this point of view.

 

 

It’s good I don’t have any little boys along, as there are lots of mud puddles – a result of the afternoon rain.

 

 

The scenery following my first right turn.

 

 

Facing south.  Notice the pigeons in the foreground?

 

 

I zoomed in a bit so you can see them better.

 

 

Heading toward Denny and Karen’s farm.

 

 

Another broad view of the area

 

 

Water tastes good on a warm evening.

 

 

Denny and Karen (and dog) are relaxing on the porch. 

I stopped to talk, and learned that Karen had rotator cuff surgery last summer – by the same surgeon Cerwin will have.  They gave me an idea of what to expect.

 

 

We don’t see barn swallows at our house, so it’s fun to see them when I get close to neighboring barns.

 

 

The burrows are having an evening snack.

 

 

The third section of my walk around the block.

 

 

I’m about halfway home, and can see our house through the trees.

 

 

Nevin and Theda’s yard rocker.

 

 

Farra’s horses look pretty in the evening sun.

 

 

At the next place the Canada geese couples keep a sharp eye on me and their babies.

 

 

The miniature goats on the next property think I am going to feed them, and are quite noisy.

 

 

We’re at the end of this half-mile part of the block, and turn right again.

 

 

Approaching Eli and Sadie’s farm

 

 

I’m not sure what this is, but it has pretty white flowers. 

Next day:  I checked “spring wildflowers of Pennsylvania” and decided that it may be multiflora rose, a roadside wildflower.

 

 

Sadie’s clothesline

 

 

I could smell the honeysuckle as I got close to these blooms.

 

 

Wild strawberries bring back childhood memories of walks around this neighborhood. 

 

 

A pretty entrance to a neighbor’s driveway.

 

 

It’s  time to turn right one more time, and before long I am in our own yard.

 

~ ~ ~

 

We’ll do this again before long.  I love to walk on warm, spring evenings.

 

 

 

God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.

Psalm 18:20 (The Message)