Malaysian Hammock Chair

Tim and Shauna gave us their Malaysian hammock chair so Jerry and Ted put it up this morning on our porch. It's very comfortable. Come on over and try it out!

Family Camp at Arlington Beach

During the family camp week we had to move off our lot 71 and lot 66 became our new site for the week. Someone had lot 71 already reserved so we sadly moved, but we moved back just as soon as they left! Lot 66 was nice but it didn't have all the hook-ups #71 had.

Shauna was glued to her computer for days! She was getting ready for a seminar of their year in Malaysia for each morning of family camp. We were so fortunate to get in on it so it was worth having her glued to her lap top all those days! She did an excellent job, Shauna is an excellent communicator.

Here she is explaining something very intensely. Tim had gone over just to help her get the computer and equipment set up, then he was leaving. Well, after a few minutes of standing there he sat down for the rest of the hour! She was so interesting! Thank you, Lord, for giving us this opportunity to hear first hand of their life in Malaysia.

Saskatchewan Sun Rise!

I will sing of Your Strength, in the morning I will sing of Your Love; for You are my Fortress, my Refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my Fortress, my Loving God. Psalm 59:16 & 17

Saskatchewan Sun Set

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets the name of the Lord is to be praised. Psalm 113:3

Here and there

Pancake breakfast! Annie still looks a little sleepy! In fact, no one looks too wide awake! But the pancakes were good!

Kaleb, Tim, Annie, & Shauna

Enjoying a camp fire at the end of the day. Thank you, Lord, for the wonderful time we've had here in Saskatchewan, with family and friends.

The Amazing Fiddlers!

I've mentioned the fiddlers in some of my other blogs so I'm going to show some pictures I took of them. They were simply amazing! There was a fiddlers camp going on at Arlington Beach and we got in on the tail end of it! This is a picture of Angus Lyon from Scotland. The best accordion player I have ever heard! Calvin Vollrath is the best fiddle player I've ever heard! They played on and on and we couldn't sit still!

Here is Calvin again and Trent Bruner on the keyboard. Trent is originally from Sask. now from Norway. Trent accompanied every tune for the entire evening! His fingers never stopped! Amazing!!! I would like to dare anyone to sit still while they are playing!

These two guys...I love! Rory Campbell and Angus Lyon, both from Scotland. Fun loving and extremely talented.

Rory and Angus were teaching these Canadians to dance a Scottish dance. It looked fun! I didn't join in!

Good Canadian Friends!

Here we are in a restaurant eating our supper, before going to a fiddler's concert again, with our good friends, Colleen and Art. In fact, they are Shauna's parents! We kind of celebrated our two anniversaries since they are exactly one month apart. We have a few more years behind us then they do but who cares about that! We had a really good time as we shared our joys and concerns about our children and grandchildren with each other. The best part is we both gave our children and grandchildren to God to use as His instruments.

These good friends are Arnold and Dorothy. We first got to know them 33 years ago! And now we found them camping right across from us! 33 years ago a group of us from our church went to Saskatchewan to help fix up the church for a congregation of Cree Indians. Arnold and Dorothy were the missionaries there at that time. We had a good time reminiscing with them. We had at least eight campers set up in their yard! We ate all our meals in their garage. We painted the outside of the church, built walls for classrooms in the basement, put up a cross on the top of the church, mended some bad roof shingles, held Bible School for the Indian kids as well as our own kids each day, and had services in the evenings. Arnold said we'll never know what that meant to the native people who lived there and to them as missionaries. Thank you, Lord, for opportunities that You bring our way. May we always be ready and willing to obey You and serve You as You put needs before us.

Meet Jeff and Arrow! Jeff is an artist and makes beautiful pottery. He was also the camp photographer and could always be seen with his camera at any and all action scenes. One morning as I was watching the sun rise I saw Arrow running around, then I saw Jeff setting up his camera to take pictures of the sun rise. He was making a movie of all the different activities, people, nature; you name it, he was there with his camera. The movie will be shown all over the conference and will be a good advertisement for family camp.

Kaleb

There is never a dull moment with Kaleb around! # 1 we see Kaleb balancing a croquet mallet! That's not really how you play Croquet! # 2 shows Kaleb interacting with Dad and Grandpa. # 3 is of Kaleb and his cousin, Cole. And # 4 shows Kaleb devouring bacon! He's a growing boy and in fact he grew five inches over the past year! Lord, as Kaleb grows physically, mentally and socially, help him to also grow spiritually. Help him to allow You to work out the plan that You already have for his life.

Dragon Flies!

Saskatchewan seemed to be having a plague of dragon flies! A few years ago we were in Sask. and there seemed to be a plague of grasshoppers! They were everywhere and I do mean everywhere! Now this year it was dragon flies! There were millions of them! They are harmless and we really didn't mind them. They don't bite and they really kept the mosquito population down...way down! I think the yellow and red are related and there was also a very large blue one, but I couldn't get a picture of him...I tried! I'm not sure what this blue and brown one is, I just thought he was fascinating! Who but our Creator God could have thought up such an interesting and helpful creature as a Dragon Fly!

Annie

It was so good to be with our grandchildren. Here's Annie looking pretty in red!
Annie came for breakfast! She's eating a McArcher egg muffin sandwich!
Annie on Uncle Brett's Quad with cousins Emma and Jayne.
Annie painting her bedroom walls with Grandma! Jerry and Tim also worked on this room. Thank you, Lord, for Annie's sweetness about her. She's a teenager now and entering a whole new phase of her life. Help her to come to you with her questions and to seek her answers in Your Word. Please keep Your Hand upon her body and upon her life. Help her to always live for Jesus.

More Friends

This is Shauna and Keith. They ran/walked the 5K event held at the camp along with a lot of other folks. If I'd known they were going to receive a nice medallion I'd have done it too! They're proudly holding them up.

Here are Marlene, Tim, and Keith. Marlene asked if we'd like to go to a fiddler concert with them so we said, "sure!" We had no idea what it would be like. We loved it! Keith and Marlene have been reading my blogs, unbeknown to me, for a few months and greeted me with, "How nice to meet you, freetobeme, and see what you look like!" I hope they weren't too terribly disappointed...I'm not young and slender like I used to be! Thank you, Lord, for new friends, for good friends. Friends are a blessing from God.

Prairie Dogs

These little Prairie Dogs were so cute and so active! There were hundreds of them around on the camp ground. It was so fun to watch them. Some folks called them gophers.
Then there were the prairie dog holes! Watch out! I'm surprised I didn't break a leg or atleast sprain an ankle! These holes are all over the camp ground! I got so I watched pretty carefully. I praise you, Lord, because You are our Creator.

Arlington Beach Camp

Here we are at Arlington Beach Camp! Lot #71 was a very good lot! We had full hook-ups...that was a plus! We were about a block, maybe a block and a half from Tim's and Shauna's cabin. Just a nice walk for us and a nice bike ride for them! Notice our American flag blowing in the wind!
The first morning we were there I woke up before 5:00 and the sky was all pink. I grabbed my robe and shoes and camera and out the door I went! The sun rise was so gorgeous. The Lord and I had a little praise fest right then and there!
This is Tim's and Shauna's cabin. It has a kitchen, dining area, living room, bedroom, store room and screened in porch. It's very comfortable and cozy and meets their needs for storage and temporarily living in. That's Jerry relaxing in the front yard. We helped with fixing up and painting while we were there.

Family & Friends

Kaleb, Tim, Shauna, and Annie came to visit us in our camper after we were set up. It was a little cramped but it was so good to be with them after a whole year!
Tim came for coffee almost every morning!
We enjoyed sharing our coffee with him.
This is my friend, Kathy, sitting in a hammock chair from Malaysia, in the cabin porch. We've been reading each other's blogs and commenting on them for several months now so when we met on our first weekend there it seemed like we were old friends!

You'll see lots more of Tim, Shauna, Annie, and Kaleb as I go through my pictures of our trip. Thank you, Lord, for such a wonderful and safe trip.

Home!

We're home! We've been gone for a month to Saskatchewan, Canada to be with Tim, Shauna, Annie, and Kaleb. We had a great time! I'll be talking about it for a long time because there's so much to tell! And pictures, oh my goodness, have I got pictures! I'll start out with the first day of our trip. We stopped at Agate Falls in Michigan. It's a wonderful short hike under the highway and along a paved trail in the woods to the falls. After sitting in the truck all day it was so good to get out and walk! The second picture is in Rugby, North Dakota. It's hard for me to believe that's the center of North America but I guess I'll take their word for it!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Jessica! You've had quite a year! Working, studying, and graduating, along with being a wife and mom! We're very proud of you. We wish for you a very happy, happy birthday!

T

I had a tooth break a day or two ago! It doesn't hurt and it doesn't show so next time I go to the dentist I'll bring it to his attention but I'm not going to make a special appointment for it. I detest going to the dentist! My Mom is having several teeth pulled today! Lord, please be with my mom. She's not young any more. Thank you for her and please be with her. I praise You, Lord, because You are our Healer.

Another day!

This morning I got up in time to go for a walk and view the sun rise! It was so beautiful! It was so quiet and peaceful. I simply stood there praising God for who He is. I praise you, Lord, because You are the Creator.

Another concert

This evening we went to a gospel concert outside on a hillside. It was really good. The weather was perfect. A wonderful evening. Thank you, Lord.

Good Morning!

Good morning! I'm still not able to e-mail anyone so please be patient with me. We're fine and hope you are too. We went to a fiddler concert and it was great! I didn't know I loved fiddling until this concert! I couldn't sit still! We got a CD so we're still listening to these great fiddlers! God loves all kinds of music because He created it all! Thank you, Lord, for fiddlers!

Frustration!

Computers are great...however, when a problem comes up with no way to remedy it, it is very frustrating. I have a problem!!! My mail will not open, nor can I write mail! So this is my only way to communicate to you all, that if I could write to you I would and as soon as I can I will. Thanks for your patience. God loves you all and so do I!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Gene! I hope you have a great day. I'm picturing you going out to play golf and then going out for supper at your favorite restaurant. How close am I? Wish we could join you! Well, have a wonderful, great day. Happy, Happy Birthday!!!

Here They Are!

Shauna, Kaleb, Tim, and Annie are back from Malaysia, just for a visit! Kaleb has grown five inches! It's so good to see them. They'll be going back the first of August. They love their work there. Thank you, Lord, for their safe travels.

What do you see?

Jerry and I were in the U. P. We always see wild life up there so we weren't too surprised to see cars stopped and folks looking off all in the same direction. Some folks were taking pictures. Jerry slowed down and we joined everyone looking to see what we could see. I was actually looking for a bear! But no, it wasn't a bear! There stood a moose! Were we excited! Sorry, I didn't get a picture but you can be sure I have a picture of that moose in my memory bank! What a wonderful, creative God we serve!

Anniversary Reception

Verna, Jerry, Larry, Harold, and Kirt, all friends from many years back. We've known Kirt his entire life! This was taken at the surprise anniversary reception for our good friends Bob and Judy. We saw many, many good old friends this afternoon.
Bob, Judy, Anita, and Jerry . Bob and Jerry are almost the same age and Judy and I are the same age. Jerry has known them since middle school years and I've known them since Jerry and I were first married. Our children grew up together and were good friends. Thank you, Lord, for good friends and good fellowship times over the years.

Old Easter Lily

My Easter Lily finally opened. It looks so different than what it was the first year I got it. It was white then and I think bigger. But it's still beautiful. I call it my old Easter lily.

I have several more to bloom soon. Every year we buy a new one at Easter time and then plant it after it finishes blooming so I'm getting quite a bed of Easter lilies even though they don't look like Easter lilies. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all the lilies.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Vel! I wish you a very happy day today. You really amaze me...you married my brother! (Just kidding, Bill!) ...you've stayed married to him! (Just kidding, Bill!) ...now you've agreed to take care of our mom, your mother-in-law! Yes, you are amazing! Enjoy today! I hope Bill treats you right!!! Happy, Happy Birthday! Love you lots. Your sister-in-law in Michigan.

July?

Where is the time going? This year is half over!!! I can't believe it. It's true...the older we get the faster time goes. Jerry just came in from getting the newspaper and said he saw a family of wild turkeys by our second driveway! I've been hearing turkeys but haven't seen any. I'm reminded of 9 years ago, our first year in our new house, we had 13 turkeys roosting in our trees right beside our house every night. There were three adults and 11 youngsters. We could almost set our clocks by them coming up our driveway every day at 5:30. They would wander around eating whatever and then about 7:00 they would fly up into the trees on the west side of our house and settle in for the night! It was so fun to watch them. My mom and dad came to visit that fall and they were delightfully entertained by the turkeys! They are very messy but thank goodness we live in the woods so we weren't bothered too much. I marvel at God's creation and praise Him because He is our Creator!