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An Honor

  

 Cerwin and I were pleased that our youngest son Jere invited us to the Pennsylvania Dairy Summit, where he would be receiving an award for Lancaster DHIA – Dairy Herd Improvement Association – where he is General Manager.

 

 

 Jana and Kristen entering the Exhibit Hall.  Josh is ahead of Kristen (blue shirt).

 

 

 Everything was related to dairy farming.

 

 

 My youngest brother, Steve (center), talking to exhibit visitors.

 

 

Hors d’oeuvres

 

  

 

 

 Lancaster DHIA’s Exhibit

 

 

 

 

 Opening statements prior to the banquet.

 

 

 The 2009 Dairy Princess and her court preparing for the “milk toast.”

 

 

 

 

Our table included – Josh, Jana, Kristen, Jere (talking to a visitor).

 

 

Part of the audience.

 

 

 Our delicious meal – salmon, chicken, potatoes, green beams.

 

 

 There were several awards, but this is the one we were waiting for.

 

 

 The moderator, presenter, Jere, and John Harnish (Lancaster DHIA President).

 

 

 

 

 A photo of some of Lancaster DHIA’s team was put on the screen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jere received lots of congratulations.

 

 

 

 

 Kar-Dale-Acres & Lancaster DHIA won the Pacesetter Awards.

Pacesetter Awards are presented each year to an individual, company, or organization which has worked to build a positive image of the Pennsylvania dairy industry, and to create a prosperous future for the industry.

 

 

 Dessert was in the Exhibit Hall – a chocolate fountain, pound cake, and fruit.  Yum!

  

 

 A beautiful flower in the foyer.

~~~

We were pleased to see Lancaster DHIA and Jere being honored.

 

 

 

 

 He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.  

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.  

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

Psalm 103:10-12 (New Living Translation)

 

 

~~~

 

 

Thank You, Lord that I am justified

by Your blood

by Your righteousness

just as if I had not sinned

because Jesus died on the cross

for my sins.

 

What amazing grace!

 

You crossed out the entire debt

against me

and closed the book

so that

no sin hangs over my head.

 

What undeserved acceptance

and favor

that I don’t have to measure up

or do deeds of penance.

 

I rejoice that you don’t hold up a pair of scales

and ask me to pile up

enough good works

to outweigh my sins

failures

unworthiness.

 

I don’t have to walk over hot coals

or sleep on a bed of nails

to earn Your righteousness

and forgiveness.

 

I praise You

my soul exults in You

for clothing me in the garments of salvation

and wrapping me with a robe

of righteousness.

 

What amazing grace!

 

 Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 12 of my Prayer & Praise Journal

 

 

 

 

Meeting Daisy

and a few other critters in Jeff & Chris’ barn

 

 

I’d been hearing about Daisy – a lamb who was born to one of Jeff and Chris’ ewes – and needing to be bottle-fed if she was going to live.  So on our way home from bowling, we stopped in. 

 

 

Daisy was ready to see Gloria and her bottle!

 

 

There was lots of noise when we walked in the barn.

The goat and sheep were baaing – also looking for food.

 

 

The chickens were squalking, thinking maybe we had come to feed them.

 

 

However, the “feeder of the animals” on this day was Nathan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I liked how the sun reflected on the straw and the steps.

 

 

 

 

Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (Amplified Bible)

 

~~~

 

Thank You for the difficult times

and making something beautiful

out of hurt

disappointment

and pain.

 

Thank You for understanding

my pain

and struggles.

  

Thank You for incredible strength and love

through the heartache

of death

divorce

and rejection.

 

Thank You for the things of my past that were hurtful

things others have done

that were hurtful to my emotions

and for the opportunities for growth

those situations provided.

 

Thank You for permitting struggle

and pain

to draw me close to you

and prepare my heart

to receive Your Word

teaching me

to fix my eyes on You.

  

Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 11 of my Prayer & Praise Journal

 

 

 

 

Birthday Bowling

 

 

 We had so much fun bowling as a family on Sunday afternoon – after my birthday lunch at Cactus Willies.

 

 

 I have lots of pictures, but they won’t need many words.

 

 

 

 

 Cerwin

 

 

 Diana

 

 

 

 

 Gloria

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jana

 

 

 Jesse playing peekaboo with Jana

 

 

 Jared

 

 

Deb, Cerwin, and Jared

 

 

 Jared

 

 

 Chris

 

 

 

 

 

 Jenna

 

 

 Jesse

 

 

 

 

Where is my ball?

 

 

 That’s not mine.

 

 

 There it is!

 

 

 Gloria and Jordan

 

 

 Jordan

 

 

 Jordan and Josh

 

 

Diana, Ian, Josh, and Davy

 

 

 Kristen and Jere

 

 

 Who could that be?

 

 

 Nate

 

 

 

 

 Looks like a strike to me.

 

 

 Roy

 

 

 Roy, Jesse, and Gloria

 

 

 Zach

 

 

 

 

And the winner is —

Jeff.

 He won both games.

 

 

 Afterward I received a few neat gifts.  Deb emailed this photo to me.

 

~~~

 

I am blessed with a wonderful family.

 

 

 

 

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness. 

Once I heard that…I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.

1 Corinthians 12:9-10 (The Message).

 

 

~~~

 

I choose to thank You for my weaknesses

infirmities

inadequacies

physical, mental, emotional, and relational.

 

Many times I fall short of what people view as ideal

of what I view as ideal

because

there are times I feel helpless

inferior

insecure.

 

What a comfort it is to know that You understand

emotions

pain

lack of strength

and allow these in my life

so they may contribute to Your

high purpose for me.

 

Many times these handicaps

and weaknesses

cut through my pride

and cause me to walk more humbly with You.

 

It is then that Your power

and promises

give me more grace

and bless and strengthen me.

 

Thank You that inadequacies prod me to trust You

the all-sufficient God

who is always

enough.

  

Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 10 of my Prayer & Praise Journal

 

 

 

 

Saturday

50th Anniversary

Sunday School Dinner

 

 

 We were honored to be invited to the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration for Paul & Shirley.

 

 

Paul & Shirley greeting friends

 

 

A video told about their lives and family.

 

 

 This table was filled with family portraits and interesting items.

 

 

A pretty display of Shirley’s canning.

 

 

 The buffet

 

 

 A granddaughter writing special memories on a card.  These cards were provided for each of us.

 

 

 Pretty decorations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~~

After leaving their celebration, we went to our church’s fellowship hall to set up the PowerPoint of our trip to Germany and Switzerland.

~~~

 

 

This was our Sunday School Class Winter Banquet.

 

 

 Jim did a great job as MC for the evening.

 

 

 We enjoyed his jokes and other readings.

 

 

 Ruthclaudene and Ira (seated left) enjoyed watching their grandsons help by removing used plates and utensils following the main course. 

 

 

 Joanne (right) and Janice (boy’s mother) cutting pies. 

 

 

 Janice, Dave, and Joanne preparing to serve pie.  Notice the feet on the right. 

 

 

 Now isn’t that a comfortable place to sit and eat a meal after all the hard work of serving us.

 

 

 Pretty flowers on our tables.

 

 

 It was a great evening of fellowship.  We enjoyed showing our pictures and having our friends John and Arlene (who were along on the trip) fill in with interesting tidbits that we asked them to share – or things we forgot.

 

 

 

When I consider your heavens, 
the work of your fingers, 
the moon and the stars, 
which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him, 
the son of man that you care for him?

Psalm 8:3-5 (New International Version)

 

~~~

 

I praise and worship You

the all-wise Creator

the One who made heaven and earth

and the One who created each tiny baby

boy and girl.

 

Many times I look at the moon

the planets

the stars

and wonder how You did it

how You designed them to stay in place

and light the night sky.

 

When the sun comes up in the morning

I marvel at the daylight

and wonder how You decided to create

day and night

and contain it within twenty-four hours.

 

But

the biggest wonder of all

is that you know each person on earth

and You know me.

 

I worship You

I love and thank You

that Your mind is always on

each person You created

and that Your mind is on me today.

 

Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 9 of my Prayer & Praise Journal

 

 

 

 

A Day That Cerwin Planned

To Celebrate My 65th Birthday

 

 

It’s always fun to share my birthday with Josh, who is fifty-one years younger than me!

The picture was taken at Cactus Wilies, the restaurant where Cerwin took our Pennsylvania children and grandchildren – after church.

We missed our Maine family – but I got to hear from all eight of them when they sang happy birthday to me tonight.

 

 

After lunch Cerwin had reservations at a bowling alley not far from the restaurant.

~~~

What a great way to spend the day.

It included delicious food for everyone, and an activity that each person could enjoy – even Jesse.  Just wait until you see Jesse bowling.

~~~

It was another full day, with lots and lots of pictures, so I will catch up as I go through the week.

 

 

 

 

I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me.  

Everything you do is marvelous! 

Of this I have no doubt.

Psalm 139:14 (Contemporary English Version)

 

~~~

 

Thank you God that You are the creator of the universe

and that You are the creator of me

designed exactly to Your specifications.

 

Thank You for bringing me into this world

sixty-five years ago today

and giving me life

a spirit

a soul

and a body.

 

Thank You for making me in Your image

personally forming me

with the same care and precision You used in creating the universe

exactly to your specifications

gifted physically and spiritually just as it pleased You

for Your glory.

 

Thank You for my parents

who were designed specifically by You

to be the ones who cared for me

trained me

and taught me about life

and You.

  

Thank you for my strengths and weaknesses

that I can enjoy

and develop

without pride or false modesty

praising You.

 

Everything I am

is from You

and kept by You

surely You have been good to me.

 

 I stand in awe of You.

  

Inspired by 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers

Posted in Day 8 of my Prayer & Praise Journal