Xanga

Pizza and Birthday Cake

For Jenna

Friday Evening, April 6

Jenna’s Family Birthday Supper

Gifts & Cards

The Cake

Smita (friend) and Diana (sister)

I decided to play with some new features on Picasa for this photo and the next two.

Someone just read a survey which showed that age seventeen is the best year of our lives, so Jenna should have a very good year.

I guess that works for me, because that is the year I met Cerwin.

It’s my opinion that we should try to make each year our best year as we grow deeper in understanding Christ’s love for us.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.

 And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don’t be troubled or afraid. [Jesus]

John 14:27 (New Living Translation)

Haydn Zug’s Restaurant

Jenna’s Choice for a Birthday Meal

Wednesday, April 4

We were glad she chose this restaurant, as we had never been here.

We had a nice corner table.

We asked her to prepare six questions that she would like to ask us – and we prepared six to ask her. That helped to create interesting conversation.

Two of the questions she asked us…

How long did you date before getting married?

Did you have a name chosen if you would have had a fifth child?

Two questions we asked…

If you could train for any job in the world what would it be?

How do you want to be serving the Lord when you are forty? That was when she gave my favorite answer. She thought a bit, then said, “I want to be serving the Lord just like my parents – going to church and being good neighbors.”

I loved the table settings.

I chose this delicious salad which included goat cheese.

When I saw this Brown Butter Lobster Pappardelle (Lobster tail meat sauteed in brown butter, tossed with Pappardelle noodles and lobster cream sauce) on the appetizer menu, I knew this is what I wanted for my main course. It was perfect for me – in size and taste.

Cerwin and Jenna each chose a six-ounce filet – which were still sizzling when they arrived.

They also chose the same vegetables – asparagus and potatoes.

Jenna chose this yummy chocolate dessert.

Cerwin and I shared a Crème brûlée which came with a fabulous strawberry topping.

~~~

I am sure this won’t be our last visit to Haydn Zug’s.

That is what happened in baptism.

When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!

Romans 6:2-5 (The Message)

Baptism Service

For

Will Stoner

We were honored to be invited to our friend Will Stoner’s baptism.

Prelude by Crystal High

Will’s parents and grandparents

Will’s wife, Sherry, welcomed everyone and shared a bit of the process on how Will came to the place of accepting Christ into his life.

Pastor Brian shared a challenging meditation.

Trent was fascinated by the pool.

Sherry and Will shared a scripture reading.

Their friends met in the original sanctuary of Manheim Brethren in Christ church.

Sherry’s parents were in front of me – taking care of Will and Sherry’s youngest son, Jack.

Will shared his struggle to understand that salvation was for him. During that struggle, Sherry prayed for the right words or verse that would help him understand, but nothing “turned the light on” for Will.

Then she thought about the ABC’s to salvation that are listed in every edition of TFC’s Highway News and Good News. Will and Sherry are familiar with TFC because he is a trucker.

That did it! The words made it clear to Will that salvation was indeed for him. Before long he wanted to be baptized. Though he grew up in a Christian home, he had never chosen to commit his life to Christ and follow Him in baptism.

It was a special service – knowing that TFC played a part in his salvation.

Following Pastor Brian’s baptismal prayer, Will’s dad Geff closed the service with prayer.

There were lots of smiles, hugs, and tears.

Will with his grandparents (his father’s parents).

After Pastor Greg and Bev greeted him, it was Cerwin’s turn. 

Jay was one of the last to share encouraging words with Will before we went to the fellowship hall.

Refreshments included two cakes that were decorated with a copy of Will’s truck.

There was a lot of good fellowship. Will’s grandparents saying goodbye to him before going home.

Sherry’s parents were entertaining Jack and Trent in a hallway when we left for home.

Trent loved when grandpa slid him back and forth on the table – pretending that he was a truck.

Sometimes he acted like Trent was going to go off the back edge. As we walked by, I heard grandpa tell him that he will have to change gears if he wanted to go forward.  So Trent shifted gears, and grandpa moved him toward his brother.

~~~

Thanks Will and Sherry for including us in the evening.

Pile your troubles on God‘s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.

Psalm 55:22 (The Message)

TFC Lancaster Chapter Dinner Concert

Saturday Evening, March 31

How do you photograph 706 people enjoying a meal at Yoder’s Restaurant, New Holland, Pennsylvania?

It takes three photos!

We were overwhelmed at the good response to this dinner concert.

We are always pleased with the service when holding this banquet at Yoder’s.

This was the 40th Annual Dinner Concert for the Lancaster Chapter of TFC.

The food is always delicious and served quickly and efficiently.

Peach and blueberry pie and ice cream for dessert.

This years concert featured a local group called Mountain Gospel Harmony.

Retired truck driver Jim Frankenfield shared his testimony of surviving a tornado in a Virginia truck stop.

He had everyone’s attention as he shared photos of the event that threw big rigs over. In addition to surviving this, he was in Haiti during the big earthquake!

Following the tornado, Jim decided it was time to retire and spend more time with his family and continue their passion for helping Haiti.

TFC’s President and CEO, Scot Weidner, shared a ministry update, as did Bunny O’Hare and Cerwin (I forgot to take pictures of Bunny and Cerwin).

TFC is blessed to have wonderful, godly leadership who continually strive to make wise decisions concerning sharing Christ in the world of trucking.

We thank the audience for graciously helping us do that with their generous financial support at the concert.

He is not here!

He has risen from the dead as He said He would.

Matthew 28:6 (New Life Version)

Around Here

Some things that have been going on around here lately.

Jared playing a computer game.

Jere & Kristen’s three youngest boys were here last Friday night when they took Jana to a Casting Crowns concert for her birthday.

Grandpa and Ian playing Othello.

Jesse and I played Chinese Checkers and…

Uno.

On Monday evening Jordan grilled sausage for some of his friends who were coming here to watch the championship basketball game.

The filet was for Jordan.

The other week I bought this suet holder at the Penryn Mud Sale.

It has been a hit with the Downy Woodpeckers…

…and Nuthatches.

The male Goldfinch’s feathers are changing from winter grey to summer yellow.

Robins are loving the worms that crawl through the topsoil under the grass.

I enjoyed seeing a Northern Mocking bird the other day.

They are not a frequent presence in the tree outside our kitchen window.

I would have liked to see this Northern Flicker a bit closer, but had to be satisfied to watch it looking for ants and insects in the middle of our yard.

Cerwin bought this pretty birdhouse at the Mud Sale. I’m anxious to see if a bird will use it this spring.

Our yard is beginning to look pretty with forsythia, dogwood, cherry trees and tulips blooming.

Last year we had tulips in abundance, but this year only a few of them bloomed. The others have only foliage.

We have one white and two red dogwood trees.

I’m not sure what this is, but it has multiplied since last year and is beautifying the flower bed on the south side of our house.

Our garden tea is getting green and lush. This is peppermint flavored.

We also have fuzzy leaf mint.

Our yellow daffodils are finished blooming, but the white ones are pretty. The bleeding hearts are also in full-bloom.

The early morning moon is even pretty these days.

If I had to choose a favorite season, it would be springtime.

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin,

to cleanse us,

and to make us his very own people,

totally committed to doing good deeds.

Titus 2:14 (New Living Translation)