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While He Waited

&

Three Little Boys

Cerwin stayed home from TFC’s International Office today to help me with two chaplain’s mailings.  Because I wasn’t ready for him until the newsletters were printed, he asked if there was anything else he could do. 

Hmmm, I’m sure I can think of something. 

Yes!  I do have an idea. 

The ceiling lights in the kitchen need to be cleaned before our Christmas company arrives. 

That sounded like a good idea to him – and he was removing the globes for cleaning even before I went downstairs to the office.

The next time I came upstairs, the two sets of lights were finished, and he had pulled the refrigerator away from the wall to clean under and behind it!

Now I have clean kitchen lights and the area behind and under the refrigerator is clean!  Where did I find this wonderful husband? 

After lunch he went to the post office four times – once for the 2 p.m. mail pickup, then to get more empty trays, then to take another mailing for the 4 p.m. pickup, then again to get more mailing sleeves and trays that the delivery truck brought at 4 p.m.  After the fourth trip, Cerwin said, “It’s good we only live one mile from the post office.”

Guess who is here tonight.

Our little boys are back – this time to celebrate Jared’s half birthday.  Jared (left) and Jesse (right) are watching Ian play a hunting game on the kids computer.

Jared’s half birthday was a week or two ago, but this was a date that fit Jere and Kristen’s schedule for Christmas shopping. 

We will take the boys home tomorrow afternoon.

You’re here to be light,

bringing out the God-colors in the world.

God is not a secret to be kept.

Matthew 5:14 (The Message)

A Warrant for His Arrest!

Jere (our son) finalizes a donation report for MDA before showing us around the lab where he works as general manager.

Milk samples give interesting information about each cow – and are a great benefit to us and the farmers.

Then, before we finished our tour,  he arrived – the MDA representative – with the warrant for Jere’s arrest.

Then he took him away. 

Jere and the others who were under arrest were delivered to a location… 

where their mug shots were taken.

They were then given instructions as to how they would be spending their time of “incarceration” – raising funds for Muscular Dystrophy Association.

It was fun to record this event for him.

~~~

A Christmas Concert

~~~

Cerwin and I were pleased to attend another Christmas Concert – this time at our local middle school – where our granddaughter Jenna played violin.

Jenna is third from left.

Our niece Chelsey (wearing antlers) reading her part of “The Night Before Christmas.”

Chelsey (center front) and a friend’s daughter Sophie (in back of Chelsey) were part of the school chorus.

They did a fabulous job.

The evening was a combination of Christmas and winter songs. 

It was delightful.

Don’t burn out;

keep yourselves fueled and aflame.

Be alert servants of the Master,

cheerfully expectant.

Don’t quit in hard times;

pray all the harder.

Help needy Christians;

be inventive in hospitality.

Romans 12:11-13 (The Message)

A Full, Busy Day!

(The reason I am posting so late.)

I finished processing one newsletter, and started another before lunch.  By that time Cerwin was home, and we headed to the Christian school where two of our grandchildren were participating in a Christmas program.

It was fun watching Ian looking for us after getting situated on the stage – and then seeing us.  (It looks like the little girl to his left also discovered her family.)  Look at their eyes – everyone is looking for a familiar face.

I enjoy watching kindergarten students in their first Christmas concert.

Ian is in the front row – fourth from the left.

Students and their piano teacher, Jen, presented short “concerts” while other students exited and entered the stage.

Our granddaughter Jana was part of the choir as third, fourth, and fifth grade presented the play, “Gettin’ Ready for the Miracle.”

It was so nice to take a break during my busy day.

~~~

I had just gotten back in my office when the phone rang – it was our Maine granddaughter Hannah, who was riding a train from Georgia to Boston, then taking a bus to Portland where her older sister was picking her up late tonight.  She had accompanied a military wife and her five children (in a van) to the area where they will be living.  I’m not sure if I would have been brave enough to ride a train by myself – that distance – when I was twenty.  I love hearing when our children and grandchildren allow God to stretch their lives.

I was still on the phone with Hannah when Melita came into my office with this box of goodies.  I recently helped her by printing some things for our church’s food/grocery boxes which were distributed today.  I was surprised to receive one myself!

This was one of the things we printed.

~~~

After she left I finished another newsletter for a TFC staff person, then prepared to mail 5500+ newsletters for the International Office.  It was the first time I did it for them, so I was a bit “nervous”, as I had to learn a new process for printing addresses.  Imagine my delight when everything went well, and we were finished in one hour.  Cerwin helped by keeping me supplied with newsletters – and removing the mail trays when they were full.

~~~

By then it was 7:00 p.m., but there was still one more appointment…

 Monika (left) had previously made an appointment to come to my office and set up a prayer card for when she and Liz (right) go to Guatemala in January.  She had several creative ideas, and I think we came up with a nice card, which has been sent to Winkflash for processing.

It was a fulfilling, busy day!

The Fear-of-God expands your life;
   a wicked life is a puny life.

Proverbs 10:27 (The Message)

My Sister, Nancy

Some of the comments on yesterday’s post caused me to follow up with an entry about my sister – from my point of view.

We treasure the opportunity to spend time together, and when we do, we talk and laugh nonstop.

I don’t think we ever had a serious disagreement – part of that is because we are ten years apart in age.  She was ten when I got married.

We are so different – yet so much alike.

She enjoys cooking – I don’t

I love office work – she doesn’t

She’s short – I’m tall

She has three brothers – and so do I.

We treasure time with our children and grandchildren.  (The cutie in this picture is her granddaughter Kelci.)

She has four daughters – I have two sons and two daughters

She has five grandchildren – I have sixteen.

She hosts our family’s annual pavilion cleanup in May – I host our family’s Easter Dinner.

She started wearing glasses this year – so I am still getting used to that look.

She and her husband, Marlin, have a home in the same woodlot as we do.  Our houses are back-to-back – with a path between us.  Their house faces northeast – ours faces southwest.   

She is definitely my favorite sister – I love you Nancy

Yesterday when I saw one of these raisin-filled cookies on the plate of cookies she brought, I was tempted to eat it right away, but decided to share it with Cerwin (there was only one), as I knew he likes them too.

This morning I noticed it was missing.  He had eaten it!    When I told him that I planned to share it because there was only one, he felt bad.

Cerwin secretly called her to see if he could buy one – and proceeded to tell her his sad story.  Tonight she brought three, and of course would not take any money. 

Now you know why I’m keeping my husband, and my sister. 

~~~

Her reply to this entry:

“I would have loved to be able to post a wise and clever response to your blog, but since this is one of our differences, I must use the fax – because I don’t know how to email.” 

~~~

In the fax, she included the cookie recipe, at the request of fwren. 

~~~

Mom’s Filled Raisin Cookies

2 Cups – Brown Sugar

3/4 Cup – Butter or Margarine

3 – Eggs

Cream together, then add:

4 cups – Flour

1 Teaspoon – Baking Soda

Mix well and chill one hour. 

Raisin Filling

3 Cups – Raisins

1/2 Cup – Brown Sugar

1-1/2 Cups – Water

1 Tablespoon – Cornstarch

Cook everything together until thick.

Roll out dough to desired thickness, and cut with preferred shape of cookie cutter.  Place 1 tablespoon of filling on one cookie, place another cookie on top and pinch edges to seal. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Let yourselves be pulled into a way of life

shaped by God’s life,

a life energetic and blazing with holiness.

God said,

“I am holy; you be holy.”

I Peter 1:14-16 (The Message)

Everyone Needs a Sister Like Mine

My niece Chelsey and her mom, my sister, Nancy, with their gift of cookies.  Nancy and her four daughters baked these last week, then froze them for delivery today. 

(Nancy is my only sister – for those who are wondering.)

Chelsey, since that was the only picture where your mom had her eyes open, I decided to post a better one of you!

The delicious plate of cookies they delivered for our enjoyment.

Oh, yum!

Don’t look for shortcuts to God.

The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time.

Don’t fall for that stuff,

even though crowds of people do.

The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.  

Matthew 7:13 (The Message)