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God’s Heart For You

Is Full Of Hope, Love, And Peace

“I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord.

“I have good plans for you.  I don’t plan to hurt you.

I plan to give you hope and a good future.

Jeremiah 29:11 CEV

Celebrate Spring

Earlier this week, when I received an invitation to a “Celebrate Spring Drop-in Party” at my TFC friend Janis’ house, I thought, “I don’t have time to do that.” 

Then I immediately decided, “I will take time to do that.”

Beautiful tulips on Janis’ kitchen table

We talked about many things, including local church events, favorite books, and spring.  Janis took notes on things we talked about – so she would remember to attend an event or read a certain book.

I only spent hour at Janis and Tom’s house this afternoon, but it refreshed my soul in the midst of an incredibly busy week. 

She looks serious in these pictures, however that was certainly not the demeanor of her spring party.

Part of the reason for the celebration was the opportunity to meet her mother, Betty, who is visiting from Maryland.

Betty always blesses my heart with encouraging words.

The other person who was there at the same time as me, was Jeanne.  Her energy and love for life always invigorates me!  We live only two miles apart, but rarely see each other.

Signing Janis and Tom’s guest book.

The pretty napkins

Spring is finally springing!

One of the prettiest towns in our area is Lititz – especially in spring.

Trees are bursting with blossoms on every street.

Back at home – tulips are preparing to bloom.  There are some beautiful photos in-waiting.

~~~

This evening our sons and their families were here for supper, and to move things back into the rooms that were vacated for painting and carpet.  I didn’t take pictures because I was ready to post something different.  

~~~

It was a beautiful day in our neighborhood – definitely a day to celebrate spring!

New Carpet – New Waterbed

The carpet installers arrived at 8:00 this morning and finished at 3:00 in the afternoon.

After putting down the padding, they cut the carpet.

They did an awesome job.

We are so pleased.

I had two appointments at TFC’s International Office this afternoon, and when I got back at 5:00 PM, Cerwin had our new bed frame together.

Our next job was assembling and filling the waterbed.

I am ready for bed! 

Our Garage Just Went From Full of Stuff to Fuller of Stuff!

This morning our new, softside waterbed arrived – in boxes.

Because we had to empty our current hardside waterbed, we decided it was time to get a softside waterbed (because we are getting old, and softside are easier to get out of). 

Our new carpet is scheduled to be installed tomorrow, so maybe we can sleep in our new bed tomorrow night.

I’m glad Cerwin can figure out what to do with all these boxes!

~~~

Anybody want a FREE, kingsize, hardside waterbed and mattress?

We’ve had the frame for about twenty years, and replaced the ultrafirm, mattress about seven years ago.  Both are in good shape.

Chapel Under Construction for East St. Louis

The last time I posted an update on the TFC chapel construction,Cerwin and the crew had just finished the floor, and were beginning to set up wall frames.

Cerwin took most of these photos, with the exception of the few I took – when he is on the picture.

Bill Rumpf contemplating his next move.

Glenn Fahnestock prepares the rear wall – to replace the trailer doors.

 Bill finishing the back wall.

Entrance door and living quarters/office window installed.

Most of the wiring is done

Cerwin making sure there is insulation in some of the narrow areas.

Insulation installed

Paneling

Ted McCoy

 Cerwin

Howard Moses, Director for Chaplain Care, is also a skilled electrician and is shown here installing the electric panel.  (Photo by Inge Koenig.)

Ray Miller and Ted work on paneling

Today they finished the ceiling.

This is how the interior looked when the men left this evening.

Look at Our Garage Now!

Yesterday it was full of people – tonight it is full of “stuff”.

Jenna

We invited our sons and their families for supper today (leftovers from yesterday) and to help empty our bedroom, bathroom, grandchildren’s room, and hallway – in preparation for installing new carpet on Thursday.  Jana has a sore throat, so she and Kristen were not here.  (Our daughters live too far away for an evening of work.)

Jared

Gloria

Ian

Our sons had to do some fancy maneuvering to get the sofa out of the grandchildren’s playroom.

Jere and Jeff – removing carpet from the playroom

Diana, Jordan, and Jeff in our bedroom.

Jeff in the hallway

Jere & Jeff

Diana

Chris, Jared, and Jenna

The carpet in our bedroom was installed forty years ago – when we built the house.  There was a black backing that needed to be scraped off the floor.

Diana and Josh

Jenna

Diana and Cerwin

Cerwin, Jared, Diana, and Jenna

Jared told us when he arrived that he had his work shoes on – so he could work.

He did a good job.

Chris and I worked on scraping the hallway floor – between our bedroom and laundry.  The black backing and dust felt like we were working in a coal mine!

Jordan, Josh, and Nathan were glad when they were finished.  I’m not sure why they sat on the kitchen counter.

We are now down to bare floor in those rooms.

~~~

This is one reason it is good to have children and grandchildren! 

Family Easter Dinner

The house and tables were ready for up to fifty-eight guests by the time we left for Sunday School this morning. 

Ham was the meat of choice this year.

Our grandson Jared loves his Aunt Debi (our youngest daughter) – and wouldn’t leave her side for the first hour. 

She provided the eggs (plastic), candy, and gifts for the annual egg hunt – which had to be inside this year.

Table 1 – Kitchen Table

Left to right:  Kurt, Dani, Laura, David, Jared, Andi, Jessie, and Rob.  Laura and Andi brought some kid-friendly desserts – finger jello and rice krispie candy.

Table 2

Left to right:  Jenna, David and Zachary (hidden) Jared, Debi, Jana, Diana, Jeff, Chris, and Gloria.  Chris provided cupcakes & a delicious dessert.

Table 3

Left to right:  Uriah, Jessica, Cayden, David, Brenda (my brother Steve left the table to answer the phone), Tristan, Josh, and Nathan.  The empty seats were later occupied by my oldest brother, Dale, and his wife Dot.  They brought a fresh fruit salad.  Cerwn was sitting across the table from Uriah.  Brenda brought a sweet/sour green bean dish. 

Table 4

Left to right:  Clair (middle brother), Anne, our stepmother Velma, Jordan, Kevin, Amy, Kristen and Ian (partially hidden), Jere.  Clair brought baked corn.  Mother brought crackers and cheese.  Kristen brought cupcakes.

Table 5

Left to right:  Nancy (my sister), Marlin, Chelsey, Jaime (hidden), Larry, Ashlea, Karen, Travis (hidden), Reagan, Melissa, and Jason.  Nancy provided half of the ham and homemade dinner rolls.  Karen and Melissa brought pickles and olives.

It was a dreary, rainy day.  The white van (Dave & Laura’s) even got stuck in the field when Dave got off the edge of Clair’s driveway.  In this picture a few of the guys were trying to get it out.  Pushing was not successful, so Jason pulled it out with his pickup truck.

~~~

I’m weary tonight, but a tired body is worth every minute of having so many family members under one roof.

An Evening at LCBC

Last night we went to Lancaster County Bible Church where our youngest son, Jere, graduated from his first year of training with “Men’s Fraternity”, an intense, Christian leadership course he has been taking since September.  It is held every Wednesday morning at 6:00 AM.

We were blessed when the leader brought individuals to the stage as success examples of the four Christian leadership qualities of men:  Becoming a King, Warrior, Lover, Friend.   King – a story of conquering alcoholism; Warrior – a man who is fighting for his family due to the recent death of his wife; Lover – a wife told how her husband has changed since taking this course; Friend – how friends kept him committed to this study.

Four-hundred-twenty-six men were “knighted” for completing the course.  Jere (beige shirt) awaits his turn.  The split screen showed two knightings at a time  – on the left and right of the stage.  (I just happened to take pictures when there wasn’t a simultaneous knighting.)

Jere being knighted.  You can see a faint image of the sword close to his right shoulder.

When we arrived, we went to the front of the large auditorium to see where Jere would be sitting, and noticed available seats 2nd row center stage.  Consequently everyone came down the steps right in front of us.

He plans to continue the study by taking the course again next season.

Afterwards we celebrated by going to a local restaurant.

Jere & Kristen’s oldest son, Josh

Their daughter, Jana

I told Kristen to smile, because she was on camera!  Jere decided to do his part in making her smile!

~~~

The course may have given Jere some good pointers on being a good lover

but his best teacher was, and is, his dad!

This morning when I woke up at 5:15, there was a hot pot of coffee.  (Cerwin was already out of the house, and didn’t have to make coffee.)  He and Jere were going out for breakfast – before picking up some construction supplies for Jere and Kristen’s barn.

I am so blessed with a wonderful husband

and the worlds best children, in-laws, and grandchildren.

Backup!

This morning I was up early, so began entering names to the database in my desktop – by using my laptop (via wireless).  I enjoy doing that in the early morning (relaxing in my La-Z-Boy) while listening to praise music on DayStar.  After awhile it seemed like my database froze.  That is cause for alarm, because I have 14,400 + names and addresses entered! 

I went downstairs to my desktop (the computer where the database is stored), but alas the same thing! 

I shut everything down, and rebooted.  Still nothing.  I have been using this database for seven years, and have never had a problem.

I called my trusty computer tech after business hours began.  He suggested something that didn’t change anything.  He then suggested that I call my software provider.  He is on the west coast, so I had to wait another hour.

He figured that I caused a corrupted file by using the wireless.  He said that happens sometimes.  He asked when I last did a backup?  I said, “Yesterday after I finished adding a chaplains mailing list.”  He suggested that I restore that. 

It worked!

I will never take backup forgranted again!

 ~~~

Make sure you back up important files!

Yesterday God Helped Me

Today He Did The Same

How Long Will This Continue?

Forever, Praise His Name!

~~~

The beautiful Calla Lily was an Easter gift to Cerwin’s mother from Crystal – one of her granddaughters.