Thursday January 25, 2007

 

 

Squirrels!

 

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I love watching these critters.

 

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They are so creative and funny.

 

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But they sure frustrate me when they eat the bird’s sunflower seeds.

(Maybe I need Lucy’s BB gun to convince them to stay away from the feeders!)

 

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Lord, sometimes I need to be reminded that You created these pesty guys!

~~~

And God said,

“Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds:

livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals,

each according to its kind.”

and it was so…

And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:24, 25 NIV

 

 

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Wednesday January 24, 2007

 

 

“I Guess I Don’t Know What Retired Means”

 

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The other day our daughter-in-law Kristen had their little boys, Ian and Jared, with her in the Suburban when they drove by Ferrellgas – where Cerwin worked until his retirement at the end of December.

Ian said, “There’s grandpa’s truck.”

Kristen replied that grandpa no longer drives that truck because he is retired, explaining that he was now building chapels for Transport For Christ.

 

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“How can he do that if he is so tired,” asked Ian.

Kristen tried to explain retired, but Ian still seemed confused and said, “I guess I don’t know what retired means.”

 

 

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Tuesday January 23, 2007

 

 

Things Made Pretty By Snow

 

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Yesterday we had just enough snow to give our landscape a wintry look.

 

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 With our poor record for snowfall this year, I figured I better take pictures before it melted – just encase this is all we get.

 

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Our faithful, stone turtle looked like he had a comfortable spot in the bird bath.

 

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My bird friends left tiny foot prints on our patio.

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This morning, as I was preparing to take the newsletter to the printer, it began to snow again!

 

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It was so pretty to drive through this short snow flurry.

 

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If I had been at my usual spot – our basement office – I would have missed this beautiful scene of my brothers’ farm.

 

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I love the pretty scenery made by this white stuff!

 

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Monday January 22, 2007

 

 

Getting Ready for a Chapel Exchange

Photos by Cerwin

Cerwin spent several days last week preparing the Encourager Chapel to be moved to Elkton, MD.

 

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Mike (a hunting buddy) spent a day helping Cerwin wax the exterior.

Grandsons Jordan and Nathan also spent a day waxing and polishing – but Cerwin forgot to take pictures. 

 

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Cerwin wanted to make sure it looked good when Chaplain Sam and Margaret Houchins came to check it out today.  They are going to be beneficiaries of this newer chapel.  (They currently serve on one of the oldest chapels in the ministry.)

 

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Margaret is pleased with the extra desk space and Sam thought the recliner was comfortable.

 

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Sam, Scott Weidner (TFC President and CEO), and Margaret. 

This chapel had been in the Poconos until the Bartonsville truck stop was sold and turned into a food/shopping mall.  We kept praying for another opening in the area, but that has not happened to date.

The Life-Saver Chapel (Elkton, MD) will be brought back to the shop for refurbishing.  Cerwin is expecting the exchange to happen in early March.

 

 

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Sunday January 21, 2007

 

 

Blessed Are The Meek:  For They Shall Inherit The Earth.

Matthew 5:5

 

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The 3rd Beatitude

Notes from our church’s Winter Bible study on the Beatitudes

Sermon by Pastor Luther Patches

 

 ~~~

 

THE BEATITUDES ARE FOR LIVING – NOW.

 

A Meek Person IS NOT:  spineless or easily imposed upon.

A Meek Person ISa person who has every passon under control of the Holy Spirit.

 

Many great men have been undone by lack of control.

Your attitude toward God and sin is a test of your meekness.

 

INHERIT THE EARTH

those that wait upon the LORD shall inherit the earth.  (Psa 37:9 KJV) 

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  (Mat 5:5 KJV) 

 ~~~

According to this beatitude

The Way Up Is Down

   

 

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Sunday January 21, 2007

 

 

A Great Time in Prison!

Cerwin and I were part of a group of 15 who left our church parking lot yesterday at 10:00 AM – in a fifteen-passenger van – to give an afternoon worship service in a State prison in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

A group from church makes this trip twice a year, mainly because of a prisoner from our community who was sentenced to life after killing his wife – about 20 years ago.  Because he has friends and neighbors in our church, he chose to become one of our members when he accepted the Lord into his life eighteen years ago. 

 

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During the drive we practiced songs and prepared final details for the program.

 

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Kevin, Nathaniel, and Craig

I was in the back, lefthand corner so it was difficult to get good pictures – but I tried.  You knew I would!

 

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Snow!  Real Snow!

The farther north we went, the more it looked like snow, then, FINALLY we drove into falling snow.  By the time we stopped for a rest break, we were in an area of Luzerne County where there was several inches of snow on the ground. 

 

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Our group during a break at a rest stop.

 

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Back to the van.

 

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This is the last picture I took before leaving my camera behind.

 

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We had an awesome visit with Kirby.

He has a church photo directory, and because he knew who was coming, could name every person in our group.

Because of these bi-annual trips, he has met about 300 of our 600 church members.

After the prison choir sang, Kirby introduced Cerwin and told the group about Transport For Christ – we send our literature to him.  Cerwin was moderator, two young men (Micah and Craig) conducted opening devotions, Kevin and I shared testimonies, and Ron (one of our pastors) shared the message “God Wants You on His Team”. 

Afterward we stood at designated places so the men could greet us.  Two stopped long enough to tell us they were truck drivers and knew about TFC.  The one said he was familiar with our chapel at the TCA, Elkton, MD.

I wish we could follow up with them, but could not ask for their names or addresses.  We did ask Kirby to pass TFC information on to them if possible.

~~~

We enjoyed great fellowship during the drive and at the Cracker Barrel where we ate supper. 

  

 

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Saturday January 20, 2007

 

 

Jenna

Granddaughter Jenna was here yesterday as part of her 12th birthday gift.  Her birthday is not until March, but she was anxious to use one of her days. 

(She did not have school today.  Her brothers were at the TFC shop with Cerwin – helping to wax and polish a chapel – but he forgot to take pictures. )

After age 12, our Pennsylvania grandchildren get to spend seven days at our house each year – days of their choice, that fit into my schedule.  (The Maine grandchildren get a few months in their 12th year.) 

 

Jenna and Chocolate Ugly

 

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After breakfast, she asked if she could bake something.  I showed her my cupboard full of Tastefully Simple products – a Christmas gift from our children – and left her choose.

 

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“Just add water” looked like something she and I could handle today!

 

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After mixing water with Packet 1, she needed to sprinkle Packet 2 over the top of the batter.

 

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Then pour water over that.

 

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I did not take a picture of the finished product, but if you like chocolate, this is definitely something you want to try.  It is fabulous! 

When this cake was about ready to take out of the oven, she made a Tastefully Simple Almond Pound Cake.  Another delicious result!

 

Jenna with her Counted Cross-Stitch Picture

 

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One of my goals this year is to take a picture of each grandchild holding the picture I stitched of them at a preschool age.

 

The Evening Sky

 

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When it was time to take Jenna home, the evening sky looked like a mountain was moving in.

 

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I just wish it was a snowstorm.

 

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The sky was just as interesting at Jenna’s house – six miles later.

 

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 The final rays of the sun reminded me that I had a wonderful day with a wonderful granddaughter.

 ~~~

By the way, if you have been following my week – the newsletter is finished – proofed one time – and at my proofreaders for the final reading. 

If you read my posts, you know I need proofreaders – maybe I should consider hiring them for my Xanga site!

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Friday January 19, 2007

 

 

I Am Getting Desperate For Snow Pictures!

 

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This is it folks!

 

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It’s all we got.

 

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A few snow pellets

And they were gone by noon!

 

 

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Thursday January 18, 2007

 

 

Another Day Embedded in Newsletter and Communications

This morning I finished the spring issue of The Extra Mile with the exception of editing a chaplain’s story.

 

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Later in the day I had a meeting with other staff at the International Office on some communication challenges.  Left to right:  JJ, Bunny, Scott, and Inge.

 

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JJ and Bunny discuss a Highway News and Good News article.

~~~

I love the challenge of writing and editing, but after several days of being surrounded with newsletter challenges, I am ready to “free my brain”.

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Wednesday January 17, 2007

 

 

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Today I have been busy writing/editing a sixteen-page newsletter,

so my brain is “fried”.

 

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I’m off to bed! 

 

 

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