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You can’t come up with something

that God can’t handle.

Matthew 19:26 (My Version)

 

 

 

A Sunday for Eating

 

Guess Who’s Coming for Dinner 

 

We attend a fairly large church – 600+ members – and are pleased to participate in a variety of activities that encourage us to meet other members.  Yesterday was “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

 

This year we chose to be guests, and were assigned the home of our good friends, John and Arlene (seated at the end of the table).  It was fun to get better acquainted with James, Jen, and their family.  Their children – left to right:  Jackson, Caitlyn, Amber, and Natalie.

 

 

Jen brought this delicious chocolate cake.

 

 

A beautiful centerpiece from John and Arlene’s flower beds.

 

~~~

 

A Birthday Supper with Friends

 

We left John and Arlene’s with just enough time to take our leftover salad home, freshen up a bit, pick up my three gifts, and go to good friends Gerald and Joanne for supper – just five minutes away.

 

 

A beautiful supper table surrounded by birthday friends:  Clockwise from the far end – Mark and Marcy, Cerwin, Cookie and Gene, Joanne and Gerald.

This celebration started many years ago – just to stay in touch – and to celebrate the ladies’ February birthdays.  This year the party was in May because Joanne wanted to wait until they had moved into their new house.  Joanne, Marcy, and I have been friends since school days.  Cookie completed our circle shortly after we were married.  We take turns hosting the meal – by age.  Joanne is the oldest, so next year will be my turn. 

 

 

We enjoy giving each other small gifts.  This was my gift from Cookie.

 

 

The geranium was from Joanne

 

 

The daisies, lilac, and beautiful vase were from Marcy.

 

 

 

 

Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers.

Philippians 4:6  MSG

 

 

 

Happy 60th Birthday

Elvin & Pat

 

 

 

We were pleased to participate in surprising Cerwin’s brother and his wife on Saturday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

A pretty tree in the park.

 

 

 

 

Cerwin and Jakey (Elvin & Pat’s future son-in-law).

 

 

Making lunch – a friend of Elvin and Pat on the left and their son, Gary, on the right.

 

 

 

 

Their daughter, Crystal (left) talking to friends.  She is engaged to Jakey and had a lot to do with planning the party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A friend greeting Elvin.  Elvin and Pat’s son, Ted, is in the background.

 

 

Since Pat’s birthday is still a few months away, she did not at first realize that the party was also for her.  Her birthday is close to Jakey and Crystal’s wedding, so Crystal planned both at once.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting in line for lunch.

 

 

Time for cake and ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A cute little one with Crystal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crystal and Cerwin’s sister, Velda.

 

 

Mother High and Elvin.  (Can you tell that it was a cold afternoon.)

 

 

Crystal, Mother, and Elvin

 

 

Siblings:  Cerwin, Velda, Mother, and Elvin

 

 

Mother, Pat, and Elvin

 

Our nephew, Gary, and Mother

 

 

Elvin, our brother-in-law Mel, and his son, Donald.

 

~~~

 

I somehow missed getting a picture of our nephew Bryan and his wife, Leslie.  Sorry guys.  I know that our grand-nephew Trenton is probably not disappointed that his Aunt “Paparazzi” did not track him down for a picture!

 

~~

 

 

Middle School Choir Festival

 

Last night we went to Lancaster Mennonite Fine Arts Center to see Josh (grandson) participate in the choir.

 

During the first part of the program, twelve middle schools performed a song chosen for them.  This school sang “Gonna Be a Great Day.”

 

 

 I’ll include a few of the best pictures.

 

 

 

 

 Every school did an outstanding job on their chosen song.

 

This is the one we were waiting for – Lititz Area Mennonite.  Josh is the one on the back left.

 

 

They did a great job on “I’ll Fly Away.”

 

 

I particularly wanted to get a picture of Manheim Mennonite for my blog friend, Jean – the music director.  This was my view of her at the piano! 

 

 

 The last school sang an old spiritual, “Shut De Do.”  The audience loved it.

 

 

Then it was time for the entire Festival Choir of four-hundred-plus students.

 

 

It was conducted fabulously by retiring director, and founder of this special evening, John J. Miller.  This was the 34th Annual Choir Festival.

 

 

John (second from left) was honored and recognized for his retirement at the end of the program.  I finally got a picture of my blog friend, Jean (in turquoise).  You can read more about the day on her blog http://musicaljean.blogspot.com.

 

 

 Our “star” of the evening, Josh, and our son Jere.  Jere, their three little boys, Cerwin, and I went to the program.  Kristen and Jana are on a Longaberger trip.

 

 

 

Be joyful in hope

patient in affliction

faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12  NIV

 

 

 

I’m Keeping Our Windows Closed Today!

 

 

The neighbors are hauling manure.

 

I didn’t think about explaining until www.xanga.com/tagalong14 asked.  The truck is spreading liquid manure from the pit at my brothers’ dairy farm.  The Amish neighbor is spreading regular manure from his farm.

It’s unusual to see both at the same time in adjoining fields.

 

 

 

 

I love living in the country – but I’m still keeping the windows closed. 

 

 

 

But Lord

you remain the same forever!

Your throne continues from generation to generation.

Lamentations 5:19 NLT

 

 

 

Happy Birthday

 

 

 

To our daughter-in-law and favorite Kristen in the whole world.

 

 

 

 

An Ordinary Day

 

 

I’ve had few ordinary days recently, so the prospect of a quiet day in my office was very appealing.

 

A rabbit in our yard is not ordinary, but I can deal with that kind of unusual happening today.

 

 

I finally took time to fill the bird feeders – since getting home from our cross-country drive.  Most birds who came to eat were ordinary house finches.

 

 

The thrill of my day was watching a wren move into the birdhouse we recently placed near our kitchen window. 

 

 

The Japanese Maple is as pretty as it gets – but that is normal for this time of year.

 

 

The hosta are lush and green as new leaves open – nothing unusual about that for May 1.

 

 

Ah, the beauty of an ordinary, spring day.

 

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On this very, ordinary day, one of my perpetual calendar pages displayed a profound thought:

 

To get where he is

every person had to begin where he was.