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Jared and Andi’s

Love for the Lord Was Evident

As They Committed Their Marriage to Him

on

Saturday, April 29

The bride and groom

The scent and beauty of lilacs was everywhere.

The weather was so beautiful…

…that the punch table could be on the porch.

Andi

My favorite picture of the day.

Groomsmen – Nate and Rodney

Grandpa and Grandson – Jesse and Blaine

Taking a break during the photo session

My brother Steve – The bride’s father

M

Andi and Jared with their nieces and nephew

There were monogrammed cookies for everyone at the reception – made by the bride’s mother and sisters

More lilacs

As I was taking the photo prior to this, I noticed other photography going on just outside the window.

It’s time for the reception.

Prayer before the meal

The wedding party

Our twin nephews Neil and Kevin giving me a thumbs-up!

One of Jared’s nieces sang Jesus Loves Me in Spanish

The bridesmaids shared one piece of ice cream cake.

We cannot

keep our children

from making bad or ungodly choices

but we can

raise them

with

consistent training

godly example

deep love

and

great respect

so that making bad choices

especially ungodly choices

will be extremely difficult for them.

REMEMBER:  No parent does everything right – we are human!  But, we can apologize for mistakes, and it is never too late to love, set a good example, or respect our children – even when they make bad choices.

If you are a young person (or older) who wants to make wise choices, but struggle in that area because you were not raised with godly training, love, example, or respect.  I challenge you to reverse the last three principles by showing godly love, example, and respect (or the one that applies) to the parents or guardians who were responsible for raising you. 

My Favorite Pictures from Last Night

We went to see a granddaughter participate in our local school’s Spring Art’s Festival.

 The Opening Song.

They did a super job – thanks to the school’s music department.  Jenna is in the third row – first person on the left.

I loved her expression when she saw her parents as the chorus walked down the aisle.

I suppose the highlight for the children was when we took them, their parents (our oldest son and his wife), and their other grandma to a local restaurant for ice cream.

Jordan chose a chocolate milk shake.

Can you tell that one of Nathan’s favorite foods is ice cream?

Our family’s “celebrity” of the evening chose a cookie sundae.

Diana’s missing front teeth did not hinder her ice cream consumption.

Since Cerwin was sitting at Gloria’s table, he asked for my camera and captured a few cute photos of her enjoying an ice cream cone.

I’m sure you can tell which flavor of ice cream she chose! 

Progress Report on Exterior of TFC Chapel Under Construction.

February 2006

Removing the back doors of the trailer is one of the first jobs in converting an ordinary freight trailer into a chapel. 

This is the first chapel being built in the new Transport For Christ shop, Marietta, PA.  The office and shop were built in 2005.  Cerwin is delighted to have enough room for two trailers.

Early March 2006 – A solid wall has replaced the back doors…

…and openings have been made for two others.  The one above is the entrance door, and the one on the other side is basically used as an emergency exit.

There are openings for two air conditioners – one at each end.

April 12, 2006 – Before sandblasting

 April 19, 2006 – After sandblasting and primer paint.

April 26 – The paint job is complete and lettering has begun.

Cerwin had to take something to the sign shop yesterday and was pleased to have his camera along and capture a photo of a workman in the early stages of lettering.  

We Are All Faced With a Series of

Great Opportunities

Brilliantly Disguised as Impossible Situations.

Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26  NKJV

~~~

He [Jesus] said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Luke 18:27 KJV

Conformed – Follow standard; behave acceptably; be similar.

Transformed – Change dramatically; undergo total change.

A Big Day at Our House on Sunday

The Hershey Easter Dinner

Setting up for fifty-plus people, means removing cars from our garage, putting carpet on the floor, preparing the room in back of the garage, and setting up tables for forty-eight people.

We added ten more seats at our kitchen table.  I was not sure if we needed them this year, because the teenagers were at a youth conference, and the three college students were not coming because they will be home for a family wedding on Saturday.

I kept Cerwin’s 65th Birthday theme going for one more day!

I

Part of our responsibility was making the ham.

By 12:30 PM the garage tables were full.

Some of the preteen and early teen cousins had fun being on their own at the kitchen table.

Above are three of our grandsons – Nathan, Josh, and Jordan.

Cousins Tristan and Chelsey

Just before dessert we took time to celebrate Cerwin’s birthday.

Since it was rainy and wet outside, the children got their Easter eggs in bags instead of having to hunt them in the yard.

By the middle of the afternoon we were able to open the garage door and enjoy the outdoors.

I talked my brothers and sister into posing for a picture.  

(Left to Right):  My sister Nancy Becker and I are in back of our brothers Dale, Steve, and Clair Hershey.  Our brothers own and operate the nearby dairy farm.  The five of us enjoy the privilege of living within a quarter mile of each other.

Four of our granddaughters talked our son-in-law Ivan into taking them for a ride in his Mini Cooper.

Grandson Jared made sure he found the mud puddles.  I was surprised when he made a splash just as I took this photo.  Notice the muddy splash just in front of him in the grass!

TFC Ministry Activities in Our Lives Last Week

For those who are following the chapel construction that Cerwin is supervising for Transport for Christ, the next two photos are for you. 

Earlier in the week, Cerwin was pleased to have the chapel ready for the paint shop.

The interior is getting closer to completion.  The paneling and cabinets have been installed.

I had fun surprising Cerwin last night!

Since we were attending a ministry banquet at Spring Grove Fire Hall, Spring Grove, PA, on Cerwin’s birthday…

…I had a PowerPoint slide prepared to put on screen when Paul Schildt introduced him to share a ministry update.  The music group was also prepared to lead Happy Birthday. 

Since Cerwin also uses PowerPoint when sharing his update, he later asked how I sneaked that picture into his set of slides.   Actually, I had a separate slide that was not in his PowerPoint.

A Pair of Cardinals

I enjoyed watching this pair of cardinals outside my window the other day, and just missed catching a photo of them feeding each other. 

 Don’t Settle for a Small View of God

We serve the God who created the universe!

…I pray that you being rooted and established in love may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV

Happy

65th Birthday

Cerwin!

He didn’t want any special parties, just dinner with our children, so we made plans to go to one of his favorite places – a steakhouse.  Our choice this time was Longhorn Steakhouse.

Just us.

Nobody really wanted their picture taken.

Our daughter Deb (youngest of our four children) and her husband Ivan are on the right, with a friend’s son, Zachary, between them.  We chose this particular restaurant because it is half way between our homes.  They live one hour south of the rest of us.

Our two sons.  Jeff (oldest child) on the left.  Jere (number three in birth order) is on the right.

Jeff and his wife Chris check out the menu.

Jere and his wife Kristen mug for the camera.

Another view of our table of nine.

Our oldest daughter Diane and her husband Mark would have enjoyed the evening too, but since they live ten hours away (Maine) it was not workable this time.  I enclosed this photo so you get to meet all four of our children in this post.  (We missed you guys!)

Zachary put up with all adults by resorting to coloring and playing games on the book the restaurant provided.

 The desserts looked so-o-o good that, even though we were full, we opted to share just to taste these tempting sweets.

Four of us chose Key Lime Cake

Jeff and Chris shared this chocolate delight.

Jere took care of this Fried Ice Cream all by himself!

It was a wonderful evening.  Cerwin enjoyed a very loud birthday song performed by the waiters and waitresses and a sundae on the house.

Cerwin is a fabulous husband, father, and grandfather.

I wish him another sixty-five years!