Monday June 2, 2008

 

The Lord is my shepherd

I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1 KJV

 

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Sunday June 1, 2008

 

 

A Relaxing Weekend

 

After getting suitcases unpacked and Josiah settled in his room on Friday evening, we relaxed before going to bed at a reasonable hour.

 

 

Saturday 

I did a few loads of laundry while Cerwin went to town to get the wheels aligned on the CRV, and Josiah helped Jere and Kristen with some landscaping in their yard.  In the afternoon I began tackling a large “elephant” in my office – adding a thousand-plus names to my database for a mailing I want to do next week.  

 

Then about 9:30 – at NIGHT! – one of Josiah’s friends called and said several of the guys decided to go to Camp Swatara (following a baseball game) to join our church’s camp-out.  Did he want to go along?  Of course he did. 

 

  

Sunday

 

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It was a beautiful Sunday.  

I feel like I missed springtime this year since we spent so much time in northern Minnesota, Quebec, and Maine the past few weeks, so I am enjoying our incredibly green yard.

Church seemed empty this morning, with about a quarter to a third of the congregation at Camp Swatara.  After church we went to Pizza Hut with Jere and Kristen’s family, then to their house to see the landscaping they did yesterday.

 

 

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Shortly after 5:30 p.m. I heard the familiar rumble of an old pickup truck and figured that our grandson Jordan had brought Josiah home.

 

 

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It sounds like the guys had a great time – not a lot of sleep, but a great time.

 

 

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Sunday June 1, 2008

 

I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.  

With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

~God~

Jeremiah 31:3 NLT

 

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Saturday May 31, 2008

 

 

Graduation Party

Thursday Evening

 

 

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Lydia grating white chocolate while preparing a Blueberry Trifle.

 

We spent most of the day getting ready for the evening graduation party for Josiah and Abigail. 

 

 

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Diane putting the finishing touches on a Strawberry Trifle.

 

 

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It was a beautiful evening, and we were pleased to surprise Josiah and Abigail by inviting some friends and their employers.

 

 

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After supper Mark and Diane presented Myers’ Homeschool diplomas to them.

 

 

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Due to diligent studying, Abigail was able to graduate a year early – the reason there are two graduates this year.

 

 

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Then it was time for gifts. 

 

 

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Josiah loves Moxie, and Hezekiah was pleased to find this old bottle at a flea market.

 

 

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Lydia stitched these ’08 plastic canvas pieces.

 

 

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George (Josiah’s employer), Andrew, and Josiah reading graduation cards.  Josiah loved working in George’s masonry business, but is hoping to find employment in post and beam construction.

 

  

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Frank and Kurt playing horseshoes.

 

 

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My nephew Kurt is serving with the Brethren Volunteer Unit in Lewiston, Maine, so it was good to see him at the party. 

 

 

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Because Josiah was traveling to Pennsylvania with us, the children decided to give Mark his Father’s Day gift – a set of grilling tools from Pampered Chef.

 

 

Traveling Home

Friday

 

 

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Josiah recently purchased a cycle, and planned to follow us to Pennsylvania.

 

 

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We were a bit nervous about him making the 500-mile trip – but I don’t think he was.  We kept an eye on him via the rearview mirror.

His plans changed about two hours later, when the cycle would not start after Josiah filled it up with fuel. 

About that time, his dad (driving motorcoach toward Baltimore) called Josiah to say he had just passed his friend Quintin in Massachusetts.  A few seconds later, Quintin, texted Josiah to say that he had just seen his dad!

Josiah called Quintin to ask where he was headed.  He had just finished his contacts for Choice Books, and was heading back to Maine.  He was about an hour and a half away, and graciously agreed to stop at the exit where we were waiting at the gas station. 

After checking out the cycle and concluding it needed to go back to his dad’s garage, the guys loaded it into the van.  God was good in providing Quintin for our need. 

We were more comfortable with Josiah in our CRV, but felt bad for him, knowing he was disappointed.   

 

 

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I was in the back seat working on my computer when Cerwin said, “Look at those Dunkin’ Donut cars.  Get your camera.”

 

 

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We stopped at the TFC chapel near Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, to clean the air conditioners.  In this photo Josiah and Cerwin are putting one back into position. 

We enjoyed visiting with Bunny O’Hare (Director of Chaplains) and his wife, Peg, who were in Massachusetts for the graduation of two  grandchildren, as well as volunteer chaplain Warren Harthan.

~~~

Seven hours later, we were pulling into our driveway.  It is good to be home .  Our next trip is two months away, so we should be here for awhile.

 

 

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Friday May 30, 2008

 

 

A Photo Shoot With Coolmomofeight

 

 

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Fwren this photo is of me saying, “Hello” to coolmomofeight from you.   

 

 

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Michelle took us to a beautiful park in her town.

 

 

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I took more than four hundred photos today, but this is one of my favorites ~ coolmomofeight with our daughter, Diane.  They had just sighted a woodpecker.

 

 

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The Bridge

 

 

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The Lake

 

 

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The Ducks

Michelle was disappointed that the mother and babies were not here today.

 

 

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Lake-edge Beauty

 

 

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A woman with her boys and dog, heading home after walking her husband to work. 

 

 

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The dog stopped for a visit…

 

 

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…then had to hurry to catch up to its owners.

 

 

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Morning dew drops

 

 

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Flowers in the park

 

 

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~~~

Our next stop was a small park next to a boatyard where huge ships are built.

~~~

 

 

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The Harbor

 

 

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The park recently added these handcrafted benches.

 

 

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They are designed from an entire tree stump.

 

 

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While we were trying to determine if the osprey was in residence, we noticed movement, and both of us captured it leaving it’s nest.

 

 

~~~

Following this venture, Michelle showed us some of the beauty in her hometown.  I became so immersed in the beauty of the lilac-lined streets, and her description of several old houses and sea captains’ mansions that I forgot to take pictures until she stopped to photograph some flowers at the following house.

~~~

 

 

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A beautiful sitting area.

 

 

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This place won an award for their beautiful gardens.

 

~~~

God blessed us with a beautiful morning.  Thanks Michelle for taking time out of your day to show us some of your local beauty.

~~~

 

 

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Thursday May 29, 2008

 

The grass withers and the flowers fall

but the word of the Lord stands forever.

1 Peter 1:24-25  NIV

 

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Thursday May 29, 2008

 

 

Springtime in Maine

 

 

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A welcome sign at the Myers’ house.

 

 

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Lupines

 

 

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Dandelion

 

 

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Blackberries

 

 

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Deep burgundy tulip

 

 

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Lily of the Valley

 

 

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Suppertime

 

 

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Lydia ~ Our youngest Maine grandaughter

 

 

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Emma ~ a friend’s daughter who was here for a few hours last night.

 

 

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Emma and our thirteen-year-old grandson, Hezekiah.

 

~~~

 

It’s 6:00 a.m. Thursday, the house is beginning to come alive with people, and I must get ready to go on a photoshoot with coolmomofeight!

 

 

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Wednesday May 28, 2008

 

Kindness is rewarded

   but if you are cruel

   you hurt yourself.

Proverbs 11:17 CEV

 

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Wednesday May 28, 2008

 

 

Quebec to Maine

 Tuesday

 

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It’s Wednesday morning as I sit at our daughter’s kitchen table, drinking coffee from a Pampered Chef coffee cup and reviewing our day yesterday.

 

 

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We left the motel in St-Hyacinthe about 7:30 a.m. and headed east on the TransCanada Highway – going by the exit to the truck stop a few minutes later.

 

 

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We had an uneventful crossing of the border into Vermont, after which this was the kind of scenery we saw most of the day – beautiful mountains. 

 

 

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The first thing I noticed when we pulled into Mark and Diane’s drive was the lilacs.  They are a deep purple, compared to our much lighter ones.

 

 

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The Narcissus are also in full-bloom.

 

~~~

 

Mark and Diane were loading the car with Pampered Chef items for an early evening show, so I quickly unpacked my suitcase and went along.  Cerwin stayed at the house and played games with the kids.

 

 

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Mark and Diane in their Pampered Chef aprons.  Mark enjoyes helping with the parties when he’s not driving coach for Custom Coach, South Portland, Maine.  Their Web site is www.pamperedchef.biz/markdiane.

 

 

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Today they were showing Pamperd Chef to two women who are interested in purchasing items and possibly becoming consultants.  Left to right:  Jen (whose home we were visiting), Emily, and Jeannie (Emily’s mom).

 

 

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Jeannie prepared hamburger for a taco salad…

 

 

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…using a Pampered Chef 10″ Skillet and Mix ‘N Chop.

 

 

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Mark got Jen’s husband, Troy, involved in the taco salad preparation.

 

 

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Troy using the Salad & Berry Spinner to remove excess water from the lettuce.

 

 

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Jen and Diane

 

 

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It was a fun, delicious evening.

 

 

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Tuesday May 27, 2008

 

I commend you to God

and to the word of His grace

which is able to build you up

and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Acts 20:32  NIV

 

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