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Surely your goodness

and unfailing love

will pursue me all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

forever.

Psalm 23:6 NLT

Benefit Auction

This is our favorite way to spend the first weekend of June – at Lititz Area Mennonite School Auction.

Theme Baskets

Beautiful Quilts

Lots of Other Beautiful Stuff

Cerwin buying bread and a pie from our friend Sharon at the bakery.

It’s been a busy week for Kristen and Jere (our youngest son),  as they coordinate the auction.

An orange shirt indicates an auction staff person.

The Friday evening auction featured antiques.

It was fun to watch the auction last night, and we look forward to doing the same today.

You

prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You

honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Psalm 23:5 NLT

Thursday

After a busy day in the office – working on Truck Rally stuff and mailing a staff couple’s newsletter – I had a meeting to attend near Lancaster.

TFC Communications meetings are usually held at the International Office, but since we didn’t have any heavy issues to deal with this month, one of the ladies suggested that we meet here today. 

I love working with smart women!

After getting a coffee or latte, we began discussing information concerning our area of responsibility in TFC. 

The purpose of meeting once a month is to assist each other and coordinate information – which is important since JJ and I serve with TFC out of our home offices, while Inge and Lynn work on location at the International Office.

Clockwise from right front:  Inge (Executive Assistant to the President), JJ (Highway News Editor), Lynn (Technology Coordinator), and me (Director of Communications). 

There are a lot more men on staff than women, but the Communications team happens to be female.  Several men usually join us, but chose to stay at the office today.  Someone had to work!

Special thanks to the lady from the next table who I roped into taking these photos.

We are a diverse group, but each with a desire to use our talents in promoting the gospel through Transport For Christ.  Inge is single.  JJ is a young mother with three small children.  Lynn is married without children.  And I am married with married children and lots of grandchildren. 

I praise God for teaming me with these wonderful ladies. 

~~~

After an easy supper of leftover ham, green beans, and potatoes, we went to visit Cerwin’s mother.

~~~

I could not get by the vase of peonies – just inside the door of the retirement community where she lives – without getting my camera out of its case.

Mother and Josiah

Since Daddy’s death in 2000, she appreciates that I reconcile her bank statement each month, and that Cerwin helps with mail and reports that confuse her. 

This cute bunny was loitering in the grass when we left the building.

It moved to a new location when I got too close.

“Lady, you are causing me great stress.”

The end.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me. 

Psalm 23:4 NLT

Update on the Snake in My Earlier Post

  Jack Hubley (our local expert on wildlife) says it is a Northern Water Snake.

This was his second response, which I thought may be helpful to others reading this:

Countless northern water snakes are beheaded every year because they were incorrectly identified as copperheads. On the picture that you sent you can see the most obvious difference. The bands on a water snake are shaped exactly the opposite as the bands on a copperhead.

The copperhead’s bands (aside from normally being more distinct than those on an adult water snake) pinch tight at the top and get wider as they go down toward the belly.

The water snake’s bands are widest where they cross over the back.

My favorite saying: stay away from the snake that wears bow ties! (Or, if you prefer, hourglasses.)

Jack

Jack

~~~

Thanks raycindy93 for suggesting that I ask him.

~~~

He restores

my soul.

He guides me

in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake. 

Psalm 23:3  NIV

Morning to Evening

Our day began when our son, Jere, arrived at 5:00 a.m to spray our yard – to fertilize and keep unwanted things from growing.

Our daughter-in-law, Chris, came to help me enter names in the database, since I am overwhelmed with work this week.

Diana has pink eye, so did not go to school today, and came here with her mom.  She unpacked some boxes of envelopes and put them on the shelf for me, and also added labels to outdated addresses on a box of envelopes.

~~~

Our family has a question for those who know snakes.

~~~

Can anyone identify this snake that was hit by a car in our neighborhood today?  It is larger than snakes we usually see in our area.  We are used to small garden snakes.

This evening we finally got to a church ball game to watch our grandsons (Jordan and Nathan) and their teammates play.

When I can’t see his face, I always know that #9 is Jordan.

This is the first year Nathan is playing on the team – so now I also get to watch out for #3.

Very few of the following photos need captions.

Home run!  Great job, Phil.

Blue congratulating Red on their win.

Coach Ken preparing the team for the next game.

Our favorite members of the Red team – Jordan and Nathan.

He lets me rest in green meadows

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

Psalm 23:2 NLT

I Got My “Grandma Fix” Today

 I saw ten of our sixteen grandchildren!

This morning I heard voices in our garage, and discovered four grandsons.  School is out for Josh, so he took his younger brothers for a one-mile walk to our house.

The boys asked for a drink, but gladly accepted popsicles.

Jesse wasn’t sure what to think about his first taste…

…but it didn’t take long to bring a smile to his face.

Then they were gone.

~~~

Later in the day our daughter-in-law, Chris, called to ask if we could come for supper.  They needed help in eating leftovers from the weekend camp-out – especially hamburgers that they did not want to refreeze.

She didn’t have to ask twice.

When we arrived at 5:30 p.m., Jeff was taking the hamburgers off the grill.

It was a beautiful evening for a picnic

Hope would have enjoyed being there too, but Gloria waited until the meal was over and the food had been put away to get her out of the pen.

Jordan and Nathan (above) played frisbee to get warmed up for a church baseball game.

Jordan

Nate

I always enjoy visiting their animals…

…and had not yet seen the Fainting Goats

Gloria wanted to show me how they faint when they are surprised or frightened…

…but the only critter she frightened was the rooster. 

After that she decided to build a pool in the sandbox.

A flock of Canada Geese flew over as we were preparing to leave.

Chris keeps beautiful flower beds, and her Johnny-Jump-Ups are in full-bloom.

~~~

I just got a call from Jordan.  They won the ball game.  Good job White Oak Red.

~~~