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Psalm 118:6

Amish Neighbors

This morning the weather was just too perfect to go directly to my office, so I decided to spend some time in the small flower bed in the middle of our driveway.  It needed some loving care.

To my delight, Eli, our Amish neighbor, and their oldest son and daughter were baling hay.

I enjoy the sound of their equipment and watching the mules.

I During one of their last trips through the field, I determined to ask Eli if I could take a closeup photo of the mules.

As they got closer, I motioned toward my camera and pointed to the mules.  He smiled and nodded favorably.

~~~

I printed the photos, then took the prints along on my evening walk.   The children loved them, then asked if I would take pictures of them with their new bunnies.  I asked Sadie if it was okay.  She said it was.

 The girl in the middle was the one guiding the mules this morning.

Their little brother wanted to get in on the pictures too!

~~~

I didn’t see the mules, so asked about them.  They pointed toward the barn.

They were getting a well-deserved rest inside tonight.

These obviously belong to working animals!

~~~

“This is our pony ~ take a picture of him too!”, the girls said.

~~~

This was a glorious day!

Sunday

Sharing Our Passion

For the Heart and Soul of Truck Drivers

After getting back from the truck stop on Saturday, we made sure everything was secure with the chapel before walking across the yard to enjoy the hospitality of Pastor Wayne and his wife, Jean, in the parsonage.

We enjoyed getting acquainted and spending time together.  Jean and I discovered that I am only one week older than she.  Cerwin and I were exhausted and went to bed fairly early.

~~~

Sunday Morning

Wayne and Jean have a cozy enclosed porch-style room where they spend a lot of time ~ because the many windows give them a beautiful view.

Breakfast was ready at 8:00 AM

B

Jean pouring my coffee

We had an awesome time together.  It felt like we have known them forever. 

Delicious Fruit

A tasty egg casserole

Friendship bread and pastry

This was our view from the front door of the parsonage.

Members and visitors enjoyed seeing a big rig in their parking lot.

~~~

We were blessed to share the ministry of TFC and how our staff makes a strong effort to introduce Christ and godly principles to the trucking industry.   We were encouraged by the interest and questions of those in attendance.

~~~

A group of us (about fifteen) enjoyed lunch at a local steak house, then came back to the church where we visited, and enjoyed watching Howard fly a kite.

Howard told the children’s story at the opening of the worship service, sharing how valuable a string is to a kite ~ similar to biblical guidelines for christians.  Without a string – a kite will soon come crashing down. 

This young boy (I don’t remember his name) was interested in learning how to fly a kite.

He watched intently as Howard’s kite swooped…

…then rose higher

…and higher.

Before long Howard brought it down so he could show him how to make it fly.

Holding it properly is the first lesson.

He was so pleased with himself!

When it started coming down, he ran toward it…

…but that was the wrong thing to do

…and Howard showed him how to tighten the string ~ and up it went again.

The  audience:  His grandma (I think), Janis and Chaplain Tom Kemp (who shared the morning service with us), Pastor Wayne, Cerwin, and our friend Don Goss (who coordinated our visit).

Our visit ended when we closed the chapel and prepared for the two-hour trip back home.

~~~

I thought you may enjoy seeing some of the flowers and other things I observed around the church and parsonage.

~~~

The sound of chirping told me there were baby bluebirds in this birdhouse.

I don’t remember ever seeing white azaleas before noticing this beautiful bush near the front door of the church.

The first day of the week was a good one for us.

Early Morning Prayer Breakfast

Saturday

We were awake early on Saturday morning to make a two-hour trip ~ with the chapel ~ for a 7:30 AM Prayer Breakfast, near Northumberland, PA.

After parking the chapel in front of the restaurant ~ we went inside for breakfast.

It is always a blessing to meet with this group of drivers and retired drivers who are committed to sharing Christ to the trucking industry.

Before Cerwin gave them a ministry update, he asked Dan to share his vision for having a truckers’ weekend at the retreat center he and his wife oversee ~ about an hour and a half away from this area.

Afterward, everyone came out to see the chapel, plus a few restaurant patrons asked what we are about.

~~~

From there we took the chapel to Shamokin Dam CMA Church, where we would participate in providing the morning service.

After parking it and putting everything in place, our friend, Don Goss took us to see the Buck Horn Truck Stop, where one of our staff chaplains is beginning to hold Sunday services.

Cerwin, Don, Steve

Just after sitting down, we were surprised to see our friend, and former staff chaplain, Steve Pearson and his wife, Patty.

What fun to spend some time with them.  They are now overseeing a truck stop ministry through their home church, and were on their way to a Sunday morning church service to represent the ministry.

Catching up on Our Weekend 

It’s good to be home again after a busy and wonderful weekend.

Going to Cabela’s on Thursday Evening

We had “needs” at Cabela’s ~ so took time to go there on Thursday evening. 

I thought we “needed” a port-a-potty for the chapel truck for our long, upcoming trips to East St. Louis, IL, and Ontario, Canada, and Cerwin “needed” a Garmin GPS unit for a fall hunt in new territory. 

 We were successful in both purchases.  Cerwin was especially pleased to get the GPS unit free – with points he had on his Cabella’s credit card.

~~~

I enjoy a trip to Cabela’s now and then to get a “wildlife fix”.

This bear reminds me of our trip to Alaska in 2003, and our incredible flight to Katmai National Park where we saw about fifteen grizzly bears at close range ~ not quite this close, however.

The moose reminds me of our sightings of these magnificat animals during several trips to Red Lake, Ontario, Canada.

This is probably my favorite animal setting at this Cabella’s.

  It reminds me of a story I read – how oxen protect themselves by all facing the enemy with their horns – many times in a full circle so everyone’s back is protected.  That’s team work!

The next three remind me of my desire to go on an African safari.

A Minnesota Memory

This bird ~ I think it is some kind of grouse  ~ reminds me of a walk Cerwin and I took in a northern Minnesota woods, one beautiful spring afternoon, with our brother-in-law, Bob.  We were enjoying the sounds of the forest when all of a sudden we heard a grouse drumming.  What an awesome sound.  At first I thought it was a hit-and-miss engine!

~~~

Free supper at Cracker Barrel

Afterwards we enjoyed supper on one of our children – a gift card for Cracker Barrel.

~~~

This trip on I-78 always turns my heart and prayers to our country’s truckers ~ because we meet so many.

This rig was hauling a dozen fir trees!

Shamokin Dam CMA Church

Stetler Avenue, Selinsgrove, PA 

If you live in that area, you are welcome to the morning service at 10:30 this morning.

You will know you are at the right church when you see the TFC chapel in the parking lot!

(Photo taken at the TFC Headquarters, Marietta, PA)

We will be sharing the service with Chaplain Tom Kemp

The chapel will also be open for viewing between 2 & 3 PM.

When I Am Still ~ God Gives Me

 Rest

That has nothing to do with sleep

~~~

 Joy

That has nothing to do with happiness

Peace

That has nothing to do with environment

~~~

 Love

That has nothing to do with performance

Hope

That has nothing to do with circumstances

~~~

Power

That has nothing to do with physical strength

Knowledge

That has nothing to do with education

~~~

Nourishment

That has nothing to do with eating and drinking.

With

God

Impossible

Is

Nothing!

I saw that quote on a church signboard tonight.

Isn’t that an awesome thought?

With God

Impossible is Nothing.

~~~

I like those words either way you arrange them!

~~~

With God

Impossible is Nothing

or

Nothing is Impossible!

IG

Breakfast with Beth

On Tuesday morning my stepmother had a farewell breakfast for our friend, Beth, who is returning to the mission field in Sentani, Papua, Indonesia, in a few weeks ~ along with her husband, Dave, and their five children.

Marian, Brenda, Uriah, Mildred, Beth, Mary Kathryn, Mother

The fellowship was wonderful and the food delicious.

Egg Casserole

Rhubarb Crisp

It was a beautiful morning, so we went outside to see Mother’s flowerbeds.

Uriah and Brenda

Beth (right) and her mother, Mary Kathryn

Enjoy our garden tour!

A fabulous morning indeed!

Pavilion Cleanup

Last evening was my family’s annual pavilion cleanup.  This pavilion is used by each family (my brothers and sister) throughout the summer – the reason each family helps. 

I’m not sure how so many of the men managed to be away on “business”. 

The children have taken over cleaning the picnic tables. 

They love it because it involves lots of water!

Gloria

Katie

Andrew

Nathan is now doing my old job of weed-eating.

Nancy

Dot

Nathan, Cerwin, Jeff, and Chris

Jenna

Jeff relaxing in a wheelbarrow before supper.

Roasting Hot Dogs

Cerwin, Tristan, Gloria

Cerwin, David, Tristan

Supper included some delicious, fresh, vegetables