Filling In!

I just received a comment asking some questions that I assumed everyone knew the answers to! However, if you have noticed I now have a hit counter and I'm averaging about 30 hits a day. I don't know who all is reading so maybe others have questions also. So let me answer them: How many family members are coming and when? June 13 is the arrival day for some. That weekend everyone will be here. Tim & Shauna, Annie, & Kaleb are coming from Malaysia via Canada and will be here for two weeks; Pam & Gene, (we hope Matthew & Andrew) from Chicago & S. Carolina; Ted, Sydney & Isabella from Holland, MI.; Christy & Sean, Max, Megan, Miller, Mason, & Maddie from Atlanta, Georgia; Rob & Jessica, Tyler & Haleigh from next door! There you have it! The next weekend most are coming back, however, the ones from Atlanta will have to leave about Tuesday or Wednesday. It's going to be a great family time. I'll take lots of pictures and will post what I can. It's been two years since we've all been together so you can imagine the excitment of anticipation and what a great time we'll have.

I'm edtor of Prime Time News, a bi-weekly newsletter for the seniors, age 50+, in our church. I have a front page feature called Getting To Know You. I interview folks and then write up their story. People seem to like that feature, and the entire newsletter. I love writing it and consider it a ministry given to me by the Lord. When I started it last September I had no idea what I was doing. My older brother has been writing a newsletter for 10 years, and I didn't even know it! He's been a big help to me the last month or so, giving me ideas and corrections. It's now a paper I can be proud of! I print out 50 copies to be handed out, and I send about 18-20 by e-mail. It keeps me busy and out of trouble! Jerry is my biggest critic and fan!

So there you have it...

Lord, thank you for family. Thank you for times when we can all get together. Please help everyone to arrive safely. Thank you for the privelege of writing Prime Time News. Thank you for the help Richard has given me.

This and that...

It's raining today. Yesterday afternoon we planted flowers, tomato and pepper plants...just in time for the rain today. Good timing! Is it my imagination or are the flats flowers come in smaller this year? Has anyone else noticed this? I'd like to get a few more to plant but we'll see. I planted Impatiens, Geraniums, Petunias, plus two hanging baskets of Petunias. Jerry planted the vegetables. We're both looking forward to BLT's! He told me to buy two tomato and two pepper plants. Well, I bought two of the containers of each! So we've got eight tomato plants and eight pepper plants! Oh boy, I hope you come to visit! We usually have friends and neighbors who give us bags of tomatoes too so we'll have plenty!

I've got the next Prime Time News ready for print. This afternoon I'm going for another interview...a highlight in my life as editor! This job, if it can be called a job, is a gift from God! If you take the newsletter and notice some improvements, thank my big brother! He's helping me, big time!

I'm doing some heavy house cleaning, because it's spring and because we've got company coming! Yea, all our kids and grandchildren are coming! I really can't wait. I still have lots to do to get ready but it's coming. Our new queen size bed arrived so we're all set up in our guest room. It looks good! I'll post pictures later.

Thank you, Lord, for rain and for flowers and veggies. Thank you for gifts from God and for brothers who see a need and risk helping. Thank you for company and incentives for cleaning!

Rob, Elmise, & Armon

Rob is home now and has lots of pictures. Stay tuned... Heavenly Father, thank you for the trip Rob was able to make to Haiti. Thank you for the answered prayer and for the bonding that was done between Rob and Elmise and Armon. He is Papa Rob and I thank You for Your plans for this family.

Social morning!

Jerry had to go to the lab first thing this morning after fasting for 16 hours. He made an offer I couldn't refuse! If I went with him he would take me out for breakfast after. It didn't take me long to shower and dress! As we walked into the waiting room there sat our friend, Joan! She and Penn were both having some lab work done. We decided to go for breakfast together! It was a very nice unexpected visit. On our way home we decided to go visit our friends, Lin and Maxine. Jerry usually goes almost every Thursday to see Lin. This might be Jerry's last chance for a while. We had a very nice visit with them. So there went our morning...very social and very nice! Lord, thank you for friends. Thank you for unexpected times of good fellowship.

A Summer Day in May!

Ted, Sydney, & Isabella were here. The weather was like summer! Here Sydney is helping Ted wash the car, in her swimming suit!


Thank you, Lord, for summer days, even in spring.

Brad

I posted this picture with the parade pictures. I only took it because the kids looked so colorful in the red, green, and blue jackets. They looked good and sounded good. I didn't recognize anyone...shame on me! The tall boy, second from left, green jacket, is Brad. He was one of my boys in Club 56! He was a good kid and I liked having him in my class of 5th/6th graders. Now look at him: tall, good looking, and talented! His mom reads my blog and saw this picture! She wrote a comment telling me I had taken a picture of Brad! Thanks Laura! Heavenly Father, thank you for Brad! Thank you for my privelege of teaching the 5th/6th graders for those years. Please keep Your Hand on Brad. These aren't easy years in the life of any boy in middle school. Help Brad to trust You to guide his life.

More Parade

Horses belong in a parade!

A colorful middle school band!

Kids belong in a parade!

Tuba's belong in a parade!

Drums belong in a parade!

This is Miss Michigan! I don't know who she is or where she is from, but she was in our parade!

Veterans were in the parade, lots of them!
Old classic cars like this '57 Pontiac were in the parade! (We used to have a '58 Pontiac)

Thank you, Lord, for the fun and excitment of a parade!

Answered Prayer!

Thank you so much for praying for Rob and Elmise. We've (they've) had an answer to our prayers. The mother of these children showed up today! She was very happy to meet Rob and know that he and his family would be adopting her children and bringing them to Michigan. She has absolutely no means of caring for them. She told Rob about Elmise being afraid of white men! A couple of years ago a white soldier held a gun in Elmise's face, then lifted it up and shot it into the air! It so traumatized her that she is afraid of all white men. All this was translated to Rob by our good friend, Magdala. This afternoon Elmise changed her attitude toward Rob and became a loving little girl, eager to play and talk with him! Tomorrow morning Rob will see the kids a couple of hours before he leaves for the airport to come home. Please pray for them that they'll have a good bonding time as they say good-bye. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for answered prayer! How I love You. Thank you for Elmise and Armon and for their mother going to the orphanage today so she and Rob had a chance to talk. What a difference it made! What an answer to prayer! Please be with Rob and the children tomorrow as they say good-bye. This will be hard. I know, I've been there. Help them to feel You there with them.

Memorial Day

I hope you had a good Memorial Day. I took Sydney and Isabella to see the parade. It was fun. We saw several folks we knew so I took their pictures. I'll post them here.
Kiddy corner across the street we found our friends Tim & Dee, about four of their nine kids plus Dee's parents and an aunt.

In the back window of this fire truck is my great nephew, Ryan! I think it dawned on him who this person was waving and taking a picture because all of a sudden he stuck his head out the window, smiling and waving. But I wasn't ready so I missed a good shot!
Here is Sally. They were pulling a wagon with folk music singers and players.
Duane is driving his John Deere tractor. Just ahead of him was his son and grandson driving another John Deere.
This is Marilyn giving a friendly wave.

Thank you, Lord, for friends. Thank you for parades. Today's parade was in honor of all the guys and girls who have given their lives for us in battle. Thank you for the USA where we are free.

For Ruthie!

I took this picture of Doyle and Margaret and Suzanne (right spelling?) for my friend, Ruth. It's not my best photography, but when I took it I said, "This is for Ruthie!" So here it is! Lord, bless these dear friends and thank you for them!

Prayer Request from Rob & Jessica

Jessica sent an e-mail to me this evening asking for prayer for Rob & Elmise. Then when I checked her blog I found this message so I copied and pasted it here for you all to read and pray.

DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL TONIGHT FROM ROB… HE ASKED THAT EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE PRAY FOR ELMISE. SHE IS STILL VERY SHY, AND WE DONT KNOW WHAT HAS GONE ON IN HER SHORT LIFE, BUT ROB WOULD SURE LIKE TO CONNECT WITH HER MORE IN THE LAST TWO DAYS THAT HE HAS WITH HER. ARMON IS VERY ATTACHED TO PAPA ROB ALREADY, SO I THINK HAVING ONE THAT WONT LET GO AND ONE THAT IS SO CAUTIOUS IS HARD FOR ROB… BUT HE IS THE MOST PATIENT MAN I KNOW, SO I KNOW WHEN ELMISE IS READY, ROB WILL BE RIGHT THERE FOR HER. IF YOU COULD ALL PRAY THAT THE NEXT FEW DAYS WOULD BE A TIME FOR THE WALL TO COME DOWN A BIT, THAT WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO US! WE DONT KNOW WHEN WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO HAITI AGAIN, SO WE ARE HOPING THAT A GOOD CONNECTION IS MADE DURING THIS TRIP. THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND PRAYING…

Thank you Lord, for Elmise and Armon. You have a plan for their lives just as You have for our kids here in the USA. You know all about Elmise and any problems she has with getting close to Rob and others. You know Rob's heart. Please help them both to bond. I love You, Lord.

Ted, Sydney, & Isabella visit!

Ted, Sydney, and Isabella came for the weekend. Jerry and Ted are going for a ride in the MG. They stopped at Damon's and bought a rack of ribs for our supper! This lifted Jerry's spirits a little. There's nothing strenuous about driving, thank goodness.
Here are the girls eating supper together. Going left: Isabella, Haleigh, Rachel, Sydney, Beth, and Abbey. Pigs-in-a-blanket and macaroni and cheese are a good birthday supper!
Here's the horse cake. It'll pass in the dark if it's dark enough! His bridal isn't quite right but we'll eat him before he gets away!
Sydney ready to blow the candles out of her horse cake. She thinks it's grand! That's all that matters! Thank you, Lord, for Sydney. Thank you for all the little girls that came to celebrate her birthday. Please keep them in Your Watchful Care.

More Flowers

Here are some more flowers blooming in my yard! My problem is: I don't know what they're called! The red one is on a bush. The blue is something that spreads like wild fire! They quite pretty (blue is my favorite color!) We planted just a shovel full a few years ago and now they are here and there all over! Lord, thank you for the variety of flowers and the colors. Oh my, the colors. Thank you, Lord.

Sun Rise/Sun Set

Last summer we were in Saskatchewan for the whole month of July. I would wake up at 5:00 a.m., because of the time change, and watch the sun rise in the east. Then in the evening I would watch the sun set in the west. Only in Saskatchewan is there such a view!

This picture one I took last summer over Last Mountain Lake. I love it. The sun rise and sun set were both beautiful and I sensed God with me as I marveled at the beauty. For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4

New bed

Wednesday I painted the guest room a very light green. Today we went to the furniture store and bought a new queen size bed. It'll be delivered on Tuesday. I can't wait! In the meantime I'm cleaning everything; windows, curtains, fan, closet, etc. I'll be ready! I bought the mattress pad, sheets, pillow cases, shams, and comforter last Tuesday so I'm more than ready. I'll take a picture when it's all done so you can see it. Lord, thank you for your blessings to us. Thank you for giving Jerry strength to go with me so I don't have to make decisions on my own. I love You, Father.

Car Wash

We had an interesting time at the car wash today! I felt a bump and even mentioned it, but we kept moving until...we stopped! Our windows were covered with soap suds so we couldn't see a thing but we knew we weren't moving! Then a knock came on Jerry's window. We were told our car had slipped off the track and we needed to back up to get back on track. I felt sorry for the folks behind us! Most people are in a hurry but no one honked at us so that was good. We all just sat while the men got things set again and we were able to move ahead. It's the first time we've ever had an experience like that. It was kind of a strange feeling sitting there not knowing what to do or what was going to happen. Lord, thank you that nothing serious happened today; the men were able to fix the problem; no one behind us got impatient or upset. Thank you for Your Ever Abiding Presence.

Proud Papa!

Rob and Armon meeting in person for the first time! This has been a long awaited for day! Elmise is quite shy so I'll post a picture of her later. She's happy too, just camera shy. Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing Rob this time to meet and be with Armon and Elmise. Be with them as the week goes by. Please be with Jessica, Tyler, and Haleigh at home. Bless them all as a family.

Humming Bird

This little humming bird sat on the feeder for a long time today. It's quite a cool, cloudy, rainy day. I kept trying to take his picture, but he would fly off. I finally took it through the glass in the sun room door. Lord, thank you for the tiny little humming birds. What a wonder in Your Creation.

Nature

I love nature! This morning as we were finishing reading our chapter from Who Stole My Church, actually we were finishing the questions at the back of the book, I looked out the window in deep thought, and saw movement. My mind was captured. It was a deer. As we walked to the sun room for a better look, we saw a doe and then we suddenly saw a tiny fawn...on very wobbly legs. I've never seen one quite so small! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for giving us this privelege of seeing Your Creation, so up-close and personal. I praise You because You are The Creator.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Sydney! Nine years old! Wow! How the years go by! I remember how you surprised us when you were born! We were on a trip out west but were on our way home. I think we were in a motel in Montana. I decided to call to see how your mom was feeling. Your daddy said, "Would you like to talk to the new mama?" You were already born! We didn't have cell phones back then (that was a long time ago!) and since we were traveling your daddy didn't know how or where to call us! So what a surprise to hear that you were already born and at home! We couldn't wait to see you. What a little sweetie! And...you're still sweet today, nine years later! You're also pretty and smart and...! Lord, thank you for Sydney! She's got a lot of promise with her personality, smartness, prettiness, love of live...oh my, I could go on and on! Please keep Your Hand on her as she grows. Help her to always love You and want to live for You.

This and That!

We're gotten word that Rob, Matt, Jon, and two ladies have arrived in Haiti. But that's all I know so far. It looks like maybe Jessica tried to reach me this evening on the computer but I was gone to a meeting so I missed it.

I was at a missions committee meeting this evening. It was one of the most profittable meetings I've been to in a while. I think we accomplished much. You'll hear about things happening in the near and far future.

We had a lonely turkey wonder through our yard this week! They're really messy but it's still fun to watch them.

Today we bought paint for the guest room! A very light green. I also bought a comforter, sheets, pillow cases, shams and a mattress pad for the new bed which we haven't bought yet! I'll paint the room tomorrow and hopefully Friday we can buy the bed. It's going to look like a whole new room! I'm quite excited about it.

Sydney called today to order her birthday cake for this weekend...a horse! I asked if it could be just a horse's head. She said no, a full horse, a white horse! White cake and white frosting. I told her I'm not an artist but I'll do the best I can. I hope all my friends out in blogger's world will pray for me!!! That's a big assignment!

Well, I guess that's enough chatting for this evening. Lord, thank you for being with us in the every day things of life. I love You and I want my life to tell of You.

Five Things That Make Me Smile!

The daughter of a friend and fellow blogger, Carole, gave a challenge to post 'five things that make me smile'. I think she meant for her family to pick up on this but as I thought about it I decided to join in too. Five things that make me smile...no way can I limit this to five! I've got 13 grandchildren and 2 more coming. So I'm going to make this an on-going project! Jerry makes me smile! He has put up with me for almost 49 years!

This is my mom being loved on by teddy bears! Mother is 94 years old and she still makes me smile!

I took this dahlia with a bee last summer on Dahlia Hill. I love it and smile every time I see it.

Bella and Syd with their bright smiles and bright wigs!

This Eastern Bluebird, along with three others, ate the tiny sour apples from our Flowering Crabb Tree in March. They visited us for about a week. I smile whenever I look at this picture.

So there you have my first installment of Five Things That Make Me Smile! Anyone else up to taking up the challenge?
Heavenly Father, I am so blessed! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Loading up!

No, Rob, don't close the tailgate yet!!!
Matt's feet and Rob.

Something is mighty interesting on the ground, or else Rob is doing his exercises! Look at all that luggage! I guess Rob better get in shape! Jessica, Rob, Tyler, & Haleigh. Lord, please go with these guys on this adventure to a third world country. I praise You because You are Omnipresent.

They're Off!

Rob, his friend, Matt, and Jon, Jessica's dad, left at 3:30 PM today to go to Haiti. Rob will be meeting Elmise and Armon for the first time! Here they're loading up all the gear. That was a job in itself. They had to take some stuff out to make room for more urgent things. Their bags all had to be weighed. Jon flies to Haiti tonight and Rob and Matt will fly early tomorrow morning. Jessica, Rob, & Matt.
A final family time... Tyler, Jessica, Haleigh, & Rob.


A tearful good-bye...

Finally...Jessica's turn!
Off they go...good-bye!
Lord, thank you for this opportunity for Rob to go to Haiti, especially to meet Elmise and Armon. Please help them to have a really good time of getting acquainted. Help their initial meeting to be all that it should be. Keep the guys safe in their travels. Give them good flights. Help Rob, Jon, and Matt to have a good bonding time with each other and to accomplish much good.

Carotid Arteries

Checking Jerry's carotid arteries is now history. I think the way they do this has changed drastically. I think they used to run a dye through but now, it's all done digitally. They ran a kind of machine up and down his neck while a reader punched out the results. The problem is we don't know a thing. Thursday we go to see the cardiologist for results of the tests. We're hoping, of course, that simply a change of medicine will take care of the problem. But what ever Dr. Lee says we'll go with and be thankful. Thank you, Lord, for modern technology. Thank you for giving us confidence in You. I praise You because You are our Healer.

Jerry

This has been an interesting week. Jerry is still not doing anything strenuous. He seems to know his limits. He did mow our back yard this week instead of having Rob. He said to me that he thought he could do it since he would just be sitting on the tractor. I was afraid the jiggling and vibration would be bad. He promised me he'd quit if he felt the least bit bad. So I stayed in the yard with him while he mowed. He gets very, very tired at the least little effort. That evening he said to me, "You'll never know how much good it did for me to mow the grass!" I guess it made him feel like he was worth something! He wasn't helpless. So I'm glad I didn't insist that he leave it for Rob. Then last evening we went to the concert about an hour away and didn't get home til after 11:00. It was tiring for him but we both enjoyed it so much. Sometimes it's just good to get away and do something enjoyable. Tomorrow morning, first thing, he has his carotid arteries checked to see if they're clogged. I praise You, Heavenly Father, because You are our Healer. Thank You for giving us such a calmness about Jerry and this problem. We praise You because You are Sovereign and In Control. I love You, Lord.

Small Group

This evening we had our small group again. It was a wonderful time of discussing our pastor's sermons from last Sunday and today. How they relate to us...and what we can learn from them. There were seven of us today, two were out of town. We really missed them and think they probably missed us too. That's how close we're becoming as a small group. We're not a clique, we'll guard against becoming that. Thank You, Lord, for our small group. Thank you for the love we feel from You and from each one of them. Help us keep from becoming an exclusive group, but to be open to new folks who need fellowship, love, and spiritual growth.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary, Rob and Jessica! Let's see...must be your 12th! I can't believe how the years are running by! Seems like only yesterday you were married and riding off on your motorcycle, still dressed in your tux and wedding dress! Lots of changes are happening in your family now! Tyler driving and soon to get his license! Jessica soon to be a registered nurse! Haleigh in her last year of elementary school. Rob getting braces and tomorrow, leaving for ten days in Haiti. And then the biggie...going through the adoption of Elmise and Armon. We're very proud of you and wish you a very happy anniversary. Heavenly Father, thank you for Rob & Jessica. Thank you for their faith in You. Please keep them very close to You with all these changes in their lives. Be with them in this very latest venture of huge responsibilities and love. Please give them a great day today.

The Royalaires

Last evening we drove down to our camp to a concert by the Royalaires. They were very good! It was worth the hour drive down to hear them. There were eleven of us from our town who braved the predicted storm, we're all so glad we did. The storm went elsewhere or nowhere! If you like southern gospel and you ever hear that the Royalaires are singing near you, go to hear them. You'll be glad you did!

Thank you, Lord, for folks with beautiful singing voices, who sing of Your Love. Thank you for helping us go down to hear them; for Jerry being able to go; for the predicted storm not materializing; for the wonderful fellowship we had with friends.

Apple Tree

We have an apple tree that was here when we moved here 11 years ago. It always surprises me with it's blossoms. If I remember to keep watch I'll just bet it has some interesting birds in it over the winter and spring! It's kind of out of the way but next year I'll try to remember. It's got quite a few flowers on it. Lord, thank you for the beautiful flowers that come before the fruit.

Flowers blooming in my yard

This Trillium, is in our yard because a friend planted it here! In fact, we have three! Sadly, our woods doesn't have any trillium's. Well, maybe a few but not many like some woods. Our friend, Julie, bought these plants to plant in her boyfriend's yard. Then they broke up! So she planted them in our yard! We were gone...when we came home we found a note telling us where they were planted! It was nice for us but sad for her. Since they don't multiply or spread I need to buy some more to plant.

These are apple blossoms in our flowering crabb tree. The tree that the ruffed grouse ate from on snowy days and that we discovered Eastern Bluebirds eating from for a week early in the spring! Sadly, the tree doesn't have very many flowers on it this year. I don't know what the birds will do next spring.
Pretty little violets. So tiny and delicate and pretty. Thank You, Lord, for the beautiful flowers of spring! Only a God of Love could and would create such beauty.

"Who Stole My Church?"

A few days ago I wrote about a book we heard about, on the radio, as we were driving across the country. I finally bought it and Jerry and I are reading it together, a chapter a day. We just read chapter four today. There are questions at the back of the book to go along with each chapter. I'm not going to go into the content of the book, here in my blog, but I am going to say this book is making an impact on both of us. I highly recommend Who Stole My Church? by Gordon MacDonald to every church going person who is 50 and above. Thank you, Lord, for authors who have the gift of writing and for books to help us in our spiritual walk.

Hemmed In!

Every spring I go through this! It's a feeling of being hemmed in. It only lasts a few days, thank goodness. It's when the leaves come out on the trees in spring. We're so used to seeing the road: cars, trucks, school buses, and motorcyles going by, people walking their dogs, or just getting their two miles in for the day. But now, we hear vehicles going by but can barely see them. It's getting harder to see Rob's house across the way. Soon we'll barely see it at all. Don't take me wrong, I love spring and summer with the trees all leafed out. I love living in the woods. This feeling of being hemmed in will pass. It just seems to be something I go through every spring. Heavenly Father, thank you for all four seasons. Each one is so different and I love living where we can enjoy each one. Thank You for spring, with the leaves, flowers, birds, and warm weather. I praise You because You are the Creator.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Monday

Monday morning...well, it's 12:30 now, but we were without electricity and phone for a full hour! I have no idea of the reason. Have you ever noticed how quiet it is when the electricity is off? It's almost an eerie silence! No refrigerator humming, no furnace blower coming on, Nada, nothing, nil. It got kind of cool in here too but now we're back on again. The furnace is running, the refrigerator humming. The dryer had shut off shortly before the electricity went off, thankfully. Maybe once in a while we need to lose power just so we'll have more appreciation for our modern conveniences. Lord, thank you for our modern way of living today. Help us to not be so impatient when we lose power but to be more appreciative of the blessings we have. Thank you for helping the men to get the problem fixed.

Skype!

Rob and Jessica gave me a Skype with a quickcam for Mother's Day. It took me a while to get it installed (I'm not very technology smart!) but I finally got it. Do any of you reader's have skype? I haven't even tried it yet but it's going to be fun. Now when Rob goes to Haiti we'll get to talk, face to face! We'll even get to meet Elmise and Armon face to face! Rob goes one week from today. He's very eager. Lord, I don't understand all this new technology. But I thank You for it. Thank You for all your blessings to us. Help me to not abuse it but to use it wisely.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mother's who read my blog! I hope you had a wonderful day with family. I was made to feel very special by my children and even by some friends! I got beautiful cards and phone calls and gifts. So Happy Mother's Day to each of you! Lord, thank you, for my children who make me feel special! Hearing from each one of them today made this day very, very special to me. And, Andrew even called me today! Thank you, for my grandchildren too. I praise You, because You are Omnipresent! That means You are with my children and grandchildren where ever they are in this whole wide world. I love You, Lord!

University

I've been asked what Jessica has to do with the university here in our town. It's a God thing! Jessica is just finishing her registered nurses training, at a different school. A young girl who works in a dress shop downtown saw the bags we're making and selling. She told her boss, who in turn asked to see them! They are now selling them in the dress shop. This young girl is also a student at the university and has scheduled parties for her fellow classmates. It's been just amazing how these bags have sold, and how the word about them has spread!

For everyone who asks, receives; he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:10

Coffee is ready!

This is cottonwood season! We've had cotton blowing in the air for several days now. But this morning I don't see any in the air...it's all on the ground! It looks like it snowed over night! I hope this is the end of it.

The robins built up the nest in the tree beside the front porch. When the mourning doves had it it was really quite flimsy! Now it's a sturdy well built nest! But, we haven't seen the robins since yesterday morning! They seem to have abandoned it! It's so strange! We haven't bothered them, watching mainly from inside the house.

We had a friend come yesterday afternoon to visit the sick!!! (Jerry) We invited her to stay for supper, which she did. It was very nice of her to come. We love company! Come again! And, the rest of you, come and visit! Coffee or tea, we're always ready! And...we just might invite you to stay for supper!

And let us conder how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrew 10:24-25.

Buttons

A friend asked if I would take a picture of the buttons Jerry has been making. So here it is. The buttons are made of oak, the grain is different on each one. These are for the bags we've been making to sell for the adoption fund for the Haitian children of Rob & Jessica. Lord, thank you for giving Jerry the ability and know how to make buttons. A lot of money was saved by not having to buy them.

Reading

Jerry and I are reading a book together...I'm reading, he's listening. When we were on our trip to Colorado we heard, on the radio, an interview with an author about his most recent book. Gordon MacDonald has written the book, Who Stole My Church? As we listened to him talk about the church today and where it has come from, we totally identified. I wanted to buy the book right away but were never at the right place at the right time! I finally bought the book this week so we can read it. We've only read the Preface and the Introduction so far but it's a book written about our church! I can hardly wait til tomorrow to read chapter one! If your church is undergoing change and you are fifty and above then this is a good book for you also to read. If you do read it, let me know what your thoughts and comments are... Thank you, Lord, for men like Gordon MacDonald who can see and write so clearly that we are able to identify with what he's written. Thank You for Jerry and me hearing his interview on the radio so we could buy and read the book. I praise You because You are All Understanding.

Comments

I love blogging! Can you tell? I love reading other folk's blogs and commenting on them. I feel like we're having a conversation. I especially love it when folks comment on my blog! It shows me people care about what I care about! It's like we're having a conversation. Every now and then I'll get a comment from someone I had no idea they were reading my blog! I hope you'll keep reading..and commenting! Thank You, Lord, for family and friends. I truly believe they are one of your greatest gifts to us. Thank You for the technology of computers and blogging!

Mourning Doves

We've had the strangest thing happening in the tree beside our front porch for a long time. I've thought of writing about it for weeks and now it's time. We had some mourning doves build a nest in the tree last year. The female sat in the nest for a long time. A male was always close by and sometimes in the tree too. Then one day they left and were gone for a few weeks. But they did come back. Once we found tiny broken eggs on the ground. We didn't see any baby birds...did some thing else get them? It's possible. The mourning doves disappeared again. But they came back for short visits! Well, that was last year...now they're in the tree again this morning. This is at least the second time we've seen them so active in this tree this spring! They were here a few weeks ago and then left! I can see them from where I'm sitting in the living room. They are so busy, like they're repairing the nest, making it livable! It's so strange.

Well, now, this is strange! The birds we're watching this morning aren't mourning doves! They're robins! They've taken over the nest and are remaking it! I hope the mourning doves don't come home soon!

Lord, thank you for the birds, all kinds! I praise You because You are Love. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31 (mourning doves, robins, etc.)

Success!

Wow! Jessica sold 37 bags last evening at the university in our town! When Rob & Jessica told us they need about $15,000 to adopt Elmise and Armon, I admit it seemed impossible to me. But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory. First was the chili supper, where about $2,000 came in, now these bags. I'm not sure how much has come in all together but the bags are selling for $25 a piece. And folks are buying! My sewing machine is back on the mend so I'm planning on sewing today. It's a rainy day so it's a good day for sewing. By the way, most of the material has been donated, Jerry made most of the buttons (some were bought), all the labor has been donated. It's been an amazing project. By the way, a lot of the bags last night that were sold were for Mother's Day gifts! If you'd like to read about it on Jessica's blog its: http://www.robshaitikids.wordpress.com/ Isn't it fun to be a part of such an exciting part of God's plan?
Lord, I'm amazed at your love, understanding, patience, plans, etc. for all of us, and for the adoption of Elmise and Armon. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jerry's day

Well, today is over. We were at the hospital before 7:30 am. He was taken back right away and was gone about an hour and a half. They did a MRI stress test on his heart. They put a dye in and the dye caused stress on his heart. He said a person who is claustrophobic could never do this! So he made it through the morning. We won't know anything until he has the doctor appointment on the 22nd. Thank you to those who prayed for Jerry. Thank you, Lord, for being with Jerry today. Continue to be with him as he goes through the rest of the tests. Help the doctors know how to take care of him.

Rose Breasted Grosbeaks

We've got Rose breasted Grosbeaks back again. They are so beautiful and unique. Of course the female isn't pretty at all. Just brown with some white strips on her head.

Lord, once again, I praise You because You are the Creator.

Making Bags

We've been helping with the bag making project for a few weeks now. It's a project for raising money for the adoption of Elmise and Armon, two darling siblings from Haiti. It's a project that really caught on, folks are buying bags left and right! Even Jerry has gotten into the act! I took this picture yesterday. He's made over 130 wooden buttons! Picture #1 shows Jerry cutting the round buttons on the drill press. Notice he's sitting down! Picture #2 he's drilling two holes in each button, sitting down again! Picture #3 he's sanding each button. He stands up for this! I've done some sewing but now my sewing machine is acting up. It might just need a good cleaning job. Lord, thank You for the privelege of helping out with this project. Thank You for giving Jerry strength and ingenuity for making these unique buttons. Please help me to get my sewing machine back on track so I can continue sewing. I've got bags waiting to be sewn together. Thank You for Elmise and Armon, and for Rob & Jessica, Tyler & Haleigh being willing and eager to adopt them.