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Kevin & Amy’s Wedding Shower

 

 

Truck Rally and several other ministry activities have kept me very busy during the past few weeks, so it was nice to move on to something where I had no responsibility – but take pictures. 

 

 

 

 

Amy is our niece – my sister’s daughter.

 

 

Left to right:  Karen and Melissa (Amy’s sisters), and Amy’s friend Keri planned the surprise at Karen and Larry’s “barn.” 

I know, it does not look like a barn, but previous owners transformed the second floor of the barn into this beautiful room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When they opened this present – with an old teddy bear enclosed…

 

 

…Kevin’s sister explained that it was his teddy bear when he was a little boy. 

 

 

 

 

Amy and Kevin’s mom, Christine, discuss something amusing.

 

 

When they opened this hoe, I asked them to pose like the old farmer and his wife – the ones we often see on pictures holding a pitch fork.

 

 

But I liked this one better – when they were no longer posing.

 

 

 

 

Christine (right) and Amy’s friend, Faith, kept the gift records, and were enjoying this card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks like Amy’s brother-in-law, Jason, is giving them some advice. 

 

 

My sister Nancy (mother of the bride) helping her granddaughter Kelci with a dish of ice cream.

 

 

The ice cream came from this machine – manned by Jon.

 

 

The baby section:  My sister-in-law Brenda (left) with a little girl she was babysitting and her daughters’ new babies.  My sister-in-law Dot (right) is holding Laura’s (black shirt) baby Caleb, and Andi is holding her new daughter Molly.

 

 

The father of the groom (second from left) and the father of the bride (right) visited on the deck.

 

 

I like how the evening sun lighted this photo.

 

 

Husbands of two of Amy’s friends.

 

 

Most of the daddys were watching their children while the mothers were watching the gifts being opened.

 

 

 

 

Kelci

 

 

 

I don’t know this cute little girl’s name, but I know her grandparents, John and Judy, and Bill and Suzie.

 

 

 

 

The older children were playing baseball in the backyard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing he was old enough to play.

 

 

Watching

 

 

The chickens seemed unfazed by all the people.

 

 

 

 

As I was walking to the car, I noticed that Ashlea and Jamie were playing with kittens, and asked them to pose for a picture.

 

 

 

The LORD looks at the world

from his throne in heaven,

and he watches us all.

The LORD gave us each a mind,

and nothing we do can be hidden from him.

Psalm 33-13-15 CEV

 

 

 

Rally Celebration

Sunday

Closing event for the Truck Rally – June 29

 

 

The atmosphere is more relaxed on Sunday, as about two hundred gather for worship in North Hall.

 

 

Good News was back on the flatbed stage to provide morning worship.  Their musical talents blessed and reached our hearts.

After they were finished, Cerwin asked me to do a few introductions.  Since there was plenty of time before lunch, I asked if anyone had a testimony.  We were blessed to hear from Dean Diller, from Ohio, whose son and wife died in recent months – his son (married with young children) from a heart attack, and his wife from cancer.

 

 

Lunch was catered by Country Home Caterers.  I tried to get a picture of Dean and Carole Ziegler in one spot – but they were too busy catering to us.

 

 

 

 

Lunch and the afternoon is a great time to visit old and new friends.

 

 

Many linger after lunch, while the committee has a short wrap-up meeting where Gene Gehman asks each member to evaluate their area of responsibility.  His wife Rose takes notes, many that will be discussed at our next meeting in January.

 

 

Because Gene Gehman is one of my “very favorite” truck drivers and his was one of the few trucks still there on Sunday morning, I waited until now to feature his beautiful Peterbilt.  (I bet he thought I forgot him!  )

 

 

He received the honor of being the only one featured today because he and Rose are Rally Coordinators.

 

 

Thanks Gene and Rose for everything you do to make the Truck Rally the kind of event where we continually hear words and receive notes like this:

 

“Excellent Day!”

 

“We and our grandson attended the rally on Saturday, and enjoyed it very much.  What a great ministry you have.  Keep up the good news of Jesus.”

 

“I have never been to a truck show with such a great atmosphere.”

 

“I loved it.  We will be back next year.”

 

 

~~~

 

 

2009 Rally

Mark your calendar:  June 27 and 28

Gospel music will feature The Dixie Melody Boys and The Gabriels.

 

 

 

 

Truck Rally

Afternoon Activities

 

 

A popular place on a hot, humid afternoon.

 

 

 Our daughter-in-law Kristen and our son Jeff prepare for the beginning of the benefit auction.  Theme baskets were a hit this year.

 

 

 Dave White auctions a road atlas.  I somehow missed getting a picture of our lead auctioneer – Joel Heisey.

 

 

The Farmer & The Farmer’s Wife

 2:00 p.m. – Time for Trist’n Shout’s balloon story.  What fun for the children – especially those who volunteered to help. 

 

 

 The Wise Man

 

 

A Chicken

 

 

 Trist’n and more animals – chicken, cow, pig, goat.

 

 

 The farmer’s wife decided to cook noodles, which created a huge problem – a house full of noodles.

 

 

 

 

Each time there was a problem, the Farmer visited the Wise Man.  It looks like all the animals are in the house this time – creating another problem.

 

 

 Our granddaughter Gloria was the cow.

 

 

 Thanks Trist’nShout and mom rosederv for doing a great job of entertaining and blessing our Truck Rally children.  I know you will be placed in the lineup of activites for this timeslot for future years.  We have many local things we want to try:  reptiles, music, comedy, etc.

 

 

Some of our children are older than others!

 

 

 To close the program she kept the children’s attention by sculpting an ice cream sundae.  This is the dish. 

 

 

 She nicely timed her part to end at 2:30 p.m. – just in time for the Children’s Auction to begin.  As you can see, this was a popular item (I think Gloria is holding up a Webkinz Elephant).  Auctioneer Donald Groff adapted this sale to the children, and asked them to keep their hands or bidding number in the air until they were finished bidding.

Donald has been our main auctioneer for many years, and recently retired, so asked to become an assistant at the Rally.

 

 

 Our granddaughter, Jana, bidding – while her dad watches.

 

 

 The train – engineered by Nevin Ebersole was busy all afternoon.

 

 

 Nelson and Wendi Sauder gave out trophies for The Garden Tractor Roadeo (competition course) at 4:00 p.m.  They had a busy day.

 

 

 The Winners

 

 

 The Wet Sponge throw is always one of the most popular games.

 

 

 Mini Golf on the left and Chicken Throw on the right.

 

 

 It looks like that bean bag will hit its target.

 

 

 The most popular spot in West Hall was the race car simulator.

 

 

 It looks like Josiah Sauder visited the Balloon and Candy Table.

 

 

 Suppertime!

 

 

Pork Barbecue Meal

 

 

 Chicken Barbecue Meal

 

 

 Remember those four empty rows of tables from my entry a few days ago.  They aren’t empty anymore!

 

 

 Granddaughter Jenna with her chicken barbecue meal.

 

 

 Those still waiting to get their meal, however, if this was a video, you would see that everyone was walking at a fairly good pace.  Eleven hundred people are served in fifteen to eighteen minutes.

 

 

It was so much fun to meet Amy christiangirl20, although when she wanted a picture, I thought, “Oh, no.  I just spent two hours in the sun (taking pictures of trucks) and got rained on for about ten minutes – this should look good.”

  

 

Then it was 6:30 p.m. – time for Good News to bring us good news in song.  I was blessed!

 

 

 

 

 Following their songs, awards and trophies were given.  Since the Garden Tractor and Pedal Pull awards are given on site, we just take pictures and recognize these winners during the evening program.

 

 

 I am not going to attempt names to any of the trophy winners.

 

 

 Most of these were competition trophies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This is the one the drivers wait for – the truck trophies!

 

 

 Following the awards, TFC President Scott Weidner shared about some exciting things that are happening in the ministry.

 

 

 ATA Road Team Representative Chris Serviss told us how Transport For Christ has blessed his life.  He is a driver for Wal-Mart.

 

 

 Karen Peck and New River presented a wonderful program of Southern Gospel Music.

 

 

 The light show brought the day to a beautiful close.

 

 

 It was difficult to capture the beauty of walking through the center of the thirty trucks that formed a lighted horseshoe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 God truly blessed the day.

 

 

 

Godliness makes a nation great,

but sin is a disgrace to any people. 

Proverbs 13:34  NLT

 

 

 

Parade of Trucks

 Lots, and Lots, and Lots of Pictures.  Very Few Words

 

 

~~~

If you see your truck, or a truck you recognize – let me know.  I will identify it by putting a caption under the photo.

Just leave a comment, message me, or send an email to tfcner@dejazzd.com.

~~~

 

 

 Horns are blowing ~ and they are on their way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last rigs to leave the fairgrounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The clowns always signify the end of the parade.

 

 

Returning to the fairgrounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is for you, Jesse – your Dad’s truck.

 

 

 

 This one is from the beginning of the parade.

 

 

My favorite truck driver-turned TFC Chaplain – Jake Wise – owns this pretty rig. 

 

 

 I understand that Jesse is in the passenger seat, and my favorite driver, Mike Groff, is behind the wheel.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It didn’t take long, before drivers began touching up their truck – in preparation for the judges.

 

 

 

 

The last truck off the road signifies the beginning of the benefit auction, children’s activities, and roadeo competitions.

 

More about that tomorrow.

  

 

 

You will be treated as you treat others. 

Matthew 7:2 NLT

 

 

 

Big, Beautiful Rigs

Arriving at the Rally

 

 

 Upon arrival, every truck traveled under the “Welcome Banner.”

I am having to make difficult choices as I put Truck Rally photos on my blog.  How do I choose from 723 photos?  If you came to my site hoping to see your rig, and do not, let me know what it looks like.  I probably have a picture of it.    I would love to post it.

 

 

After finding a place for my lawn chair, I crossed the road to take the earliest pictures of arriving trucks – due to the position of the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every truck turned toward me when making the wide turn into the fairground driveway.

 

 

Oh, yes!  There’s one of my favorite truck drivers – Glenn Myer, and his wife Betty, from Ontario, Canada.

 

 

Now I’m comfortably seated in my lawn chair as rig after rig slows down to enter the driveway.

 

 

A truck in this position was coming from the west.

 

 

Rigidply trucks came from the east…

 

 

…as did Dutch Valley rigs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love those old trucks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On occasion I turned my eyes to the north, looking for the first Lanita truck to make its appearance on Cornwall Road – then they came.  One beautiful red truck after another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 About 10:30 I picked up my lawn chair and moved to the driveway – in front of the rigs – as I worked my way to the building where I would place my chair in North Hall and pick up a new camera card and battery.

 

 

I knew I could stand right in the middle of the driveway, and my favorite driver, John Rissler, would not drive over me!  Also in the rig is his wife Karen and their four boys – one of them only two weeks old – from California, Missouri.

 

 

They have one beautiful Kenworth!

   

 

Jim Frankenfield (yes, he is one of my favorite drivers) touches up his truck after a short, light rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of these rigs may be driven by one of my favorite drivers – but I may not be familiar with their rig.

 

 

 If you are one of my favorite drivers (you are if you were at the rally!), and I don’t place your name with a truck, let me know.    My email address is under my profile photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Jeff Brown will always be one of my favorite drivers.  He’s been to almost every Rally – and has many trophies to prove it.

 

 

 

 

 Bethel Truck Service has beautiful tow trucks.

 

 

 

 

 Mark Zimmerman (Paul B. Zimmerman’s, Ephrata) will always be one of our favorite drivers.

 

 

I’m not sure I can classify Vince Weaver as one of my favorite drivers, because he is usually in the office of Weaver Nut Company, Inc…

 

 

…but he is definitely a favorite driver of the day – partly because he is dating my niece Kate.

 

 

 

 

After 10:00, the driveway is often full of trucks, as they wait their turn to be placed in the parking lot.

 

 

 As 11:00 a.m. approached, people moved toward the road to find a place to watch the parade.

 

 

Drivers were in their rigs – waiting for the word to move.

 

 

 

 Waiting for 11:00 a.m. and the blaring of air horns. 

Notice Cerwin checking his watch as truck parker, Mark Leatherman (one of my favorite truck drivers) and he wait for the right time to begin.  You can also see granddaughters Diana and Jana on the passenger side.  Jana also had a friend with her.

 

 

 

 Keep your eyes on Jesus,

who both began and finished this race we’re in.

Study how he did it.

Hebrews 12:2 MSG

 

 

 

Okay, I Think I’ve Recovered!

To say I was exhausted this evening by 5:00 is an understatement.  (After supper, I slept for two hours!) 

It’s not only from several busy days in a row, but today is the end of TFC’s fiscal year, and I knew the International Office would appreciate having all the deposits in the bank before the close of the banking day – so I purposed to do it – and had them ready for Cerwin to take to Marietta by 9:00 a.m.  That meant a short night last night.  Special thanks to Cerwin for helping, and to Angie Moses for doing the auction report and deposit.

That feels so good.  I’ve never had every deposit ready the day after the Rally weekend.

 

~~~

 

Now on to Saturday’s Rally

 

An Early Morning Walk-around

 

After distributing cash boxes and taking care of a few last-minute details, I walked around the fairgrounds to see what was going on.  By this point my job is basically over and everyone else’s begins.

 

 

 

The main entrance.  I love the fairground’s new Holstein trash cans.

 

 

This will be a busy day for Rose Gehman (left) as she mans the evening meal ticket and information table.  She answers a lot of questions and sells many tickets.  She and her husband, Gene, are Rally Coordinators.

The others in the photo are, left to right:  Earl Eby (Evening Cleanup Coordinator – along with his wife Joyce), Chaplain Jake Wise, and his son Jesse.

 

 

Just as I was ready to leave this area when I heard some good-natured teasing.  Earl Eby (left) and Jesse Wise (right) just watched and laughed as Randy Sauder (center left) “scolded” Jake for “messing up” his registration system.  I think Jake must have chosen a registration form that was out of order.    You could tell that these guys are good friends. 

Notice Rally Coordinator Gene Gehman, in the background, scanning the fairgrounds.

 

 

I expected to find some hardworking guys in North Hall (where the auction and evening concert would be held), however, they were playing a game!  This is our son Jere (Auction Coordinator) with helpers Matthew Patches and our grandson Nathan.

 

 

Our grandson Josh (foreground), Jere, and Nathan.

 

 

They were rolling masking tape rolls down the center aisle!  Cousins Josh and Jordan in the foreground and Jere and Nathan in the back.

 

 

Now they are competing to see whose roll touches Josh first! 

They were waiting for the stage (flatbed truck) to arrive before they could finish taping the aisles, which help everyone know where to place their lawn chairs.

 

 

Randy and Karen Sauder (Truck Judging Coordinators) always choose beautiful trophies for contestants and drivers.

 

 

 

 

There was already a good supply of Theme Baskets waiting for the auction.

 

 

Southeast Hall was quiet – with four rows of empty tables – waiting for the evening meal when 1,100 people will pick up their meal in a matter of fifteen minutes.

 

 

East Hall was also quiet, as toys waited for eager young buyers at the 2:30 p.m. Childrens’ Auction.

 

 

Nancy Martin (wife of Parade Coordinator, Nelson Martin) looking through the many flowers donated by Esbenshade’s Greenhouses, Lititz, PA.

 

 

Vendors were busy setting up in West Hall.  The race car simulator was ready for an occupant – so I took a seat – however, it was not quite ready for racing.  We understand this was a popular place during the day.

 

 

Gene Gehman (front right) needed some young helpers and found willing workers in our grandsons and Matthew Patches (friend of our grandson, Josh).

 

 

Randy Sauder’s Freightliner.  He’s another one of my favorite truck drivers. 

His parking spot sets the pattern for the next drivers – as they pull into line next to him.

 

 

Cerwin (right) and a driver from Rigidply assemble the banner before hoisting it above the entrance driveway.

 

 

 

As I approached the end of the driveway – to find a good picture-taking spot – another of my favorite drivers, Will Stoner, was arriving.

 

 

 

I located more pictures of Will’s truck  – 1984 GMC General – taken during the parade.

 

 

 

 

 

Another of my favorite drivers, Will’s dad Geff, was right behind him in his 1960 B-61 Mack.

 

~~~

 

I finally located a spot for my lawn chair – with the sun on my back and my camera aimed toward Evergreen Road – waiting for early arrivals.