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TFC Chapel to York Chapter Prayer Breakfast

Saturday, September 8

We were up early (4:30 a.m.) to be ready to leave the house at 5:30 so we could be at the International Office by 6:00 to pick up International Chapel #2 and be at Cross Keys Village (Brethren Home), New Oxford, PA, by 7:15.

The sky looked like rain, and we did drive through a few light showers, but by the time we got there the weather had cleared.

York Chapter Contact Person, Jim Wardrop, helped Cerwin set up the chapel steps.

While they did that I took a few pictures.

This one had a small caterpillar-kind of critter on it.

The chapel was set up and we were ready to walk over to Ensemble Room (far right) in the Campus Inn section of Cross Keys Village where we would have breakfast.

Scrambled eggs and potatoes were at the first table of the buffet-style breakfast. 

At this section of the buffet you can choose a small dish and create the ingredients for a made-to-order omelet. This was my choice.

After breakfast we went to the chapel for the program.

(Normally they stay in Ensemble Room.)

Every chair was full…

…with more in the living quarters.

Cerwin was the morning speaker and shared the value of chapels in truck stops by highlighting several recent stories.

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It was a fabulous morning.

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Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.

Psalm 119:165 (New Living Translation)

Grandchildren & Animals

Because Jere and Kristen went to Portland, Maine, for a NALMA (North American Lab Managers Association) meeting, I went to their house to get Jared and Ian after school on Friday.

They each wanted a computer so I set them up in my office and added my laptop for Jesse.

Then it was time to go back to their house so I was there when Jana’s bus arrived.

Josh came after school and work and took Jana on a sibling date.

On Sunday after church we went to Roy and Deb’s for lunch. I had some things for them from Mark and Diane in Maine, and this seemed like the best time to get them there.

Josh wanted Roy to check on something with his Jeep.

Meanwhile on the inside of the house we were taking care of baby squirrels that had been orphaned and given to Deb. I think she is feeding Miracle.

I think she is the cutest squirrel I have ever seen.

Jesse loved having her crawl on his shoulders and head.

Handing her off to Ian.

At one point we got her brother Twinkie out of the cage. I think this is him on Jared’s back.

Then Deb took Presley out of her cage. Deb got her earlier this summer when someone found her along a road not many hours from death.  

Ian loved when she hugged his neck.

Deb put these two nose to nose to see what they would do. The raccoon just kind of batted at it.

Then there is Keebler the skunk who thinks he is master of the house.

Because he is descented, they will keep him as a pet. He could not live in the wild without his “protection.”

Deb said he is eating a lot and getting ready for hibernation, and will soon spend most of his time sleeping.

He has a cage in their living room.

All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense,
but God made the cosmos!
Splendor and majesty flow out of him,
strength and joy fill his place.

1 Chronicles 16:26-27 (The Message)

Late Summer

Last cutting of Alfalfa

The nuthatches are back.

Crepe myrtle

This small tree is growing nicely and adds beauty to our late summer yard.

Even the seed pods are pretty.

A late daylily

Our dogwood leaves are usually the first to turn colors.

Some others are also beginning to show signs of the certain arrival of autumn.

There must be grubs in our bird feeding area, because we are seeing so many skunks.

This praying mantis kept an eye on me as I got closer.

Isn’t that an interesting face?

On the evening of September 5, I heard a sound that told me our landscape would be changed by morning.

We had become accustomed to the sight of tall corn.

It always makes me a bit nervous when I watch my brothers and nephews driving on the silage to pack it down because they do it all night and through much of the next day.

Just before dark they began working in the field next to our yard.

Notice the wheels of the tractor are still below the sides of the bunk storage.

The last picture I took on Wednesday evening.

Thursday morning landscape.

The tractor is now much higher on the silage.

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Thank you Lord for another year of safety!

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If a man does things to please his sinful old self, his soul will be lost.

If a man does things to please the Holy Spirit, he will have life that lasts forever.

Galatians 6:8 (New Life Version)

Bluegrass Festival

Day #2

The first day – Friday, September 1 – was cloudy, warm, and comfortable. It was an easy day to relax and listen to music.

Saturday was so hot and sunny that we had to occasionally move to a shady spot.

We heard about about Sleepy Man Banjo Boys – who were a Youtube sensation – and were anxious to see them. They are certainly talented boys and young men.

The boys are brothers – ages nine, thirteen, and fourteen, and are accompanied by a friend and an uncle.

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We listened to some of the same groups we heard the day before, so I will just include photos of the new ones.

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Evergreen – was from Maine.

I enjoyed Larry Stephenson Band  – especially their fabulous singing.

Rhonda Vincent and the Rage have been a headliner at this festival for many years.

Rhonda is a sister to Darrin Vincent of Dailey and Vincent who where on the stage the day before.

This was my lobster dinner from Saturday evening’s lobster bake. I ate the clams and lobster (delicious!), and Cerwin ate the corn, potatoes, and blueberry muffin. He also added a bowl of chili – from the camp store right next to where we were sitting – to complete his meal.

Sleepy Man Banjo Boys were back for the evening show.

Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys have been a favorite of ours for many years – especially when he sang with his brother Jim, who is now deceased. If I remember correctly, Jesse is almost 83 years old.

The tall man in the dark suit is Jesse’s grandson.

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We didn’t stay very late because the weather was turning damp and cool, and both of us were in the beginning stages of getting a cold.

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We were glad that we didn’t miss watching these men release sky lanterns.

It was interesting that a shooting star went sailing across the sky about the same time we were watching a sky lantern go up. I did not capture the shooting star.

It has been a long time since I saw a shooting star.

When we woke up on Sunday morning, clouds had moved in and it rained the entire time we were in church with Mark and Diane. We had packed a lunch for the festival, and Mark and Diane were going to go with us, but we decided to eat at home and play table games.

We were glad we did, because it was a cloudy, drizzly day. A few of the children went to the festival in the evening and brought our lawn chairs home.

The three of us – Cerwin, Josiah, and I left for home at 7:00 on Monday morning.

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We had a delightful time in Maine.

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Be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other.

Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (The Message)

Breakfast at Myers

&

Canned Gift

Cerwin brought venison sausage from our freezer and grilled it on Saturday morning for breakfast.

Hezekiah watching

We had juice, fruit, and pancakes to go with the sausage.

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Canned Gift

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This was a gift from Diane for our 49th Wedding Anniversary which is coming up in a few days.

Blueberry butter, blueberry syrup, and four jars of tomato soup. I love to have tomato soup in a coffee cup – especially on cold days. I doubt that this is going to last until there are cold days.

You can’t find firm footing in a swamp,
but life rooted in God stands firm.

Proverbs 12:3 (The Message)