The gas shortage continues in our little town. Bill is able to get gas in Asheville, however, so we are okay. If any station has gas, there are usually long lines. You just hope that the station doesn't run out of gas just before you get there after waiting in line for maybe an hour. I saw an interesting sight the other day. The poor "smuck" waited a little too long. He and a buddy had to push his vehicle through the line . At least he made it into line.
Bill's truck let him down. He got to work, but couldn't turn off the key. Since he just filled it up with gas, he really didn't want to leave it running until it got empty. So he drove another hour home, disconnected a wire, and then took the van to work.
Have a blessed day!!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Gas Shortage
On Bill's way home from work, he noticed only a couple of gas stations with gas. Those stations had long lines of people waiting to fuel up. He didn't see any stations with gas in our town of Brevard. He told me not to go anywhere unless it is necessary. They hope the fuel shortage will be alleviated by the weekend. We need to save our gas so Bill has enough to get back and forth to work--a one hour drive each way.
I guess the pansies I was going to buy today and the gallon of milk we need can wait until we need to go out for something else. It feels kind of weird, this is the first I can remember a fuel shortage. I think it is good for us, but if it keeps up indefinitely, people won't be able to get to work, and transporting goods will come to a halt. I'm glad that God is ultimately in control!!
I guess the pansies I was going to buy today and the gallon of milk we need can wait until we need to go out for something else. It feels kind of weird, this is the first I can remember a fuel shortage. I think it is good for us, but if it keeps up indefinitely, people won't be able to get to work, and transporting goods will come to a halt. I'm glad that God is ultimately in control!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Idyllic Camping
UCMC--the church we are attending, went camping this weekend. The weather could not have been more perfect. It was cool enough that you could enjoy sitting around the fire, but warm enough that a light jacket could keep you warm in the evening and early morning.
We stayed in a cute little cabin--basic but clean. Wonder of wonders--the showers were relatively clean and private.
Backs rubs and foot rubs by Ada, paddle boating, fishing, canoeing, wading in the creek, and just a lot of shooting the breeze took place. A talent show provided us with fun evening entertainment. A "gorilla" suddenly appeared--much to the terror of some of the children. Even when the head piece was removed, and they saw Paul's smiling face, it didn't calm them down much. They begged him not to put it on again. "Henrietta"--a very tall midwife showed up, with her medical bag under her arm, inquiring if Cindy was around. Cindy was there--that day was her due date. In "her" real life he goes by Henry--(also Cindy's father).
We came home by way of a folk art festival. It was fun to see folk artisans at work--carvers, weavers, spinners, etc.
The mess of getting ready to go and coming home and unpacking is always the least favorite part of the whole experience, but it too must be done. I spent most of the morning putting things away and doing laundry. It was, however, well worth the effort.
We stayed in a cute little cabin--basic but clean. Wonder of wonders--the showers were relatively clean and private.
Backs rubs and foot rubs by Ada, paddle boating, fishing, canoeing, wading in the creek, and just a lot of shooting the breeze took place. A talent show provided us with fun evening entertainment. A "gorilla" suddenly appeared--much to the terror of some of the children. Even when the head piece was removed, and they saw Paul's smiling face, it didn't calm them down much. They begged him not to put it on again. "Henrietta"--a very tall midwife showed up, with her medical bag under her arm, inquiring if Cindy was around. Cindy was there--that day was her due date. In "her" real life he goes by Henry--(also Cindy's father).
We came home by way of a folk art festival. It was fun to see folk artisans at work--carvers, weavers, spinners, etc.
The mess of getting ready to go and coming home and unpacking is always the least favorite part of the whole experience, but it too must be done. I spent most of the morning putting things away and doing laundry. It was, however, well worth the effort.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
THINGS THAT MADE ME SMILE
I haven't posted in awhile. Nothing weighty enough to post. Let me give you a few things that made me smile the last while.
I had to smile when I invited a 79 year old lady for brunch. She is no ordinary 79 nine year old. Last Sunday in church she taught a ladies' SS class and in the evening gave her life story. She decided she could come for brunch because it had rained and it was to wet to mow her yard. That made me smile.:)
I was not smiling this morning when I discovered that two credit card bills that I was waiting to pay until the due date, (I like to pay online) were due yesterday. After breathing a prayer for mercy (I knew I deserved judgement)--I called and very sweetly asked if they could ignore any finance charges or late fees. They both assured me that if I paid today, everything would be okay. That made me smile.:) Thank you, Lord!!
Yesterday one of my neighbors came over and we had tea and a wonderful gab session. That made me smile.:)
My brother, Lowell, and his family came to visit us. Judy's parents--Sanford and Martha--were travelling with them. Other then that the visit was way too short, it was hard to improve on it. That made us all smile for a long time.:)
I had to smile when I invited a 79 year old lady for brunch. She is no ordinary 79 nine year old. Last Sunday in church she taught a ladies' SS class and in the evening gave her life story. She decided she could come for brunch because it had rained and it was to wet to mow her yard. That made me smile.:)
I was not smiling this morning when I discovered that two credit card bills that I was waiting to pay until the due date, (I like to pay online) were due yesterday. After breathing a prayer for mercy (I knew I deserved judgement)--I called and very sweetly asked if they could ignore any finance charges or late fees. They both assured me that if I paid today, everything would be okay. That made me smile.:) Thank you, Lord!!
Yesterday one of my neighbors came over and we had tea and a wonderful gab session. That made me smile.:)
My brother, Lowell, and his family came to visit us. Judy's parents--Sanford and Martha--were travelling with them. Other then that the visit was way too short, it was hard to improve on it. That made us all smile for a long time.:)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Things
Excuse me while I rant for a bit. I have said many times that things are to be our servants, not our masters. For the past several months, I feel like I am a servant to my things. Maybe, largely, because we moved this summer. This was our third move in three years. Two of those moves were from one state to another. You may think we enjoy I the process. I confess--I never do very well with this sort of thing.
We left a bunch of stuff in storage in SC three years ago. We were planning to be in VA only one year, so we decided not to move everything. Well, it ended up being three years. We finally traipsed down there last weekend with both our van and pickup to bring the stuff back. While it was wonderful to see all the folks, I am still dealing with the stuff we brought back. It had been in a storage shed. Anyone from the South knows those big roaches love boxes. So the boxes had to be emptied before being brought into the house. A lot of the stuff had to be cleaned up and packed back up in clean boxes until I get a china closet.
I get overwhelmed with lots of stuff. There are some things that just have to go. I came across this ugly green bowl someone gave me thirteen years ago. I felt obligated to keep it because it was a gift. We have moved eight times since I got it. I have not used it one time. Do I need to keep it? I have decided--quite awhile to late--that I do not keep it. I have seen the lady maybe two or three times since she gave it to me. I am sure she does not remember she gave it to me. There are too many things in my life like that.
How many times do you regret getting rid of stuff? Most times, I feel so great after dropping a box off at the thrift store. I do remember one baby dress of Maria's I regretted giving away. It was sooo cute. That is a pretty good track record--and worth taking the risk again.
You may think I am not sentimental. I am a paradox. Certain things are very difficult for me to part with. When I opened some of the boxes, the things inside made me smile--There was a box with some of the drawings and cards Maria made for me over the past number of years. I would have an awfully hard time pitching those. I found all my old report cards. I also found my grade school and high school diplomas. I was actually looking for my high school diploma. I need a copy of it to legally homeschool Maria. I also found a bunch of papers from my school days.
I guess I feel like I need balance--It would be so easy to get pitch happy because I am so tired of dealing with things. On the other hand, we aren't to be wasteful. I often think, however, of what God told us is going to happen to this stuff when He returns. So if we don't need it, we won't miss it, and it won't give me or anyone in my household pleasure, it needs to go to someone who will use it or enjoy it!!
We left a bunch of stuff in storage in SC three years ago. We were planning to be in VA only one year, so we decided not to move everything. Well, it ended up being three years. We finally traipsed down there last weekend with both our van and pickup to bring the stuff back. While it was wonderful to see all the folks, I am still dealing with the stuff we brought back. It had been in a storage shed. Anyone from the South knows those big roaches love boxes. So the boxes had to be emptied before being brought into the house. A lot of the stuff had to be cleaned up and packed back up in clean boxes until I get a china closet.
I get overwhelmed with lots of stuff. There are some things that just have to go. I came across this ugly green bowl someone gave me thirteen years ago. I felt obligated to keep it because it was a gift. We have moved eight times since I got it. I have not used it one time. Do I need to keep it? I have decided--quite awhile to late--that I do not keep it. I have seen the lady maybe two or three times since she gave it to me. I am sure she does not remember she gave it to me. There are too many things in my life like that.
How many times do you regret getting rid of stuff? Most times, I feel so great after dropping a box off at the thrift store. I do remember one baby dress of Maria's I regretted giving away. It was sooo cute. That is a pretty good track record--and worth taking the risk again.
You may think I am not sentimental. I am a paradox. Certain things are very difficult for me to part with. When I opened some of the boxes, the things inside made me smile--There was a box with some of the drawings and cards Maria made for me over the past number of years. I would have an awfully hard time pitching those. I found all my old report cards. I also found my grade school and high school diplomas. I was actually looking for my high school diploma. I need a copy of it to legally homeschool Maria. I also found a bunch of papers from my school days.
I guess I feel like I need balance--It would be so easy to get pitch happy because I am so tired of dealing with things. On the other hand, we aren't to be wasteful. I often think, however, of what God told us is going to happen to this stuff when He returns. So if we don't need it, we won't miss it, and it won't give me or anyone in my household pleasure, it needs to go to someone who will use it or enjoy it!!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
BMA Convention
We are slowly, but surely getting settled in. We finally have living room furniture, and Maria has bed to sleep in. She actually had a queen-sized mattress on her floor before, but it took up most of the room. A single bed fits much better.
The church we are attending is a part of BMA. BMA had its annual convention in Due West, SC--actually about 2 hours "Due South" from where we live. We decided this was too good an opportunity to pass up. The preaching was so full of "meat". The singing made you wonder how the singing in heaven could be better. Imagine close to a thousand people putting there whole hearts into singing "606"--It was enough to send chills up and down my spine--even in a very warm building. Lyle did an awesome job of leading the singing. They had a children's choir. In only two practices, Wendy did an amazing job with the children. It was beautiful!!
The ladies' sessions were a real treat for me, personally. Dorcas Smucker spoke on relationships. She is one of my heroes. I've been trying to analyze why I like her so much. I have both of her books, and I faithfully read her blog, and I always read her articles. I think one big reason I admire her so much is that she is so Godly and yet so human. She struggles with a lot of the nitty-gritty things I suspect a lot of us struggle with. Then she deals with those things--telling us exactly how she is processing them, often with a lot of humor, but always with honesty. In short--I can relate, even though our lives are very different in many ways.
In a workshop, two ladies from the mission field--one from Mexico and one from Bangladesh shared the hearts as they talked about the joys and struggles of being in missions with their families. There were few dry eyes in the audience as they talked about--not only the proper missionary stuff, but the times when they really struggled with being where they were--the loneliness at Christmas time--how the children their children were associating with were affecting their lives--We need to pray for these families...
One of the huge blessings of the event was all the people I knew. I wasn't expecting to know so many people. Bill's cousin--Bill and Mae (she went through the treatment for breast cancer about the same time I did. Our hairdos were about the same:) ), Lisa, Lorie, and Darlene--three little girls I went to church with as a child, have now grown up, married and have children. I hadn't seen them probably in over 15 years. It was so easy to connect with them. Cousin Joyce and her family of six girls and one boy--Maria and two of her daughters took up right where they left off when we moved away from SC three years ago, Phil--a minister and leader in the conference--I hadn't seen him in about 20 years. Simon, a former pastor, preached a great sermon on Friday evening. It was nice catching up with someone from Catlett. Harry and Arlene, a family I had lived with for a year when teaching school in In PA, and their daughter Cathy and her family were there. Talk about trips down memory lane. Three of Bill's former students were there--William, Daniel, and Jennifer. It was great connecting with them. We got to meet Daniel's fiance', and we got to see where Jennifer and her new husband, Ellis live. Danny and Benita were there on Sunday to enable his mother to catch a ride to PA. It was mighty good to see them as well. I believe I am especially homesick for the Barnwell folks since we have moved further South again. I could go on and on...the Mungs, Dustin, Joyce, Nadene's sister, the man that knew Uncle Jesse and Aunt Ruth, and whose parents grew up in KS and who knew so many people we knew, Pat and Patty...You get the picture--the Mennonite game.
I think one of the reasons these connections meant so much is that they were connecting me to my past. Since we have just moved, we really don't have a history here yet--that all takes time.
We have now gotten back into continuing the settling in process. There is still much to do, but as I said, it is coming.
The things we do today are making our history or story for the future. Live it well!!
The church we are attending is a part of BMA. BMA had its annual convention in Due West, SC--actually about 2 hours "Due South" from where we live. We decided this was too good an opportunity to pass up. The preaching was so full of "meat". The singing made you wonder how the singing in heaven could be better. Imagine close to a thousand people putting there whole hearts into singing "606"--It was enough to send chills up and down my spine--even in a very warm building. Lyle did an awesome job of leading the singing. They had a children's choir. In only two practices, Wendy did an amazing job with the children. It was beautiful!!
The ladies' sessions were a real treat for me, personally. Dorcas Smucker spoke on relationships. She is one of my heroes. I've been trying to analyze why I like her so much. I have both of her books, and I faithfully read her blog, and I always read her articles. I think one big reason I admire her so much is that she is so Godly and yet so human. She struggles with a lot of the nitty-gritty things I suspect a lot of us struggle with. Then she deals with those things--telling us exactly how she is processing them, often with a lot of humor, but always with honesty. In short--I can relate, even though our lives are very different in many ways.
In a workshop, two ladies from the mission field--one from Mexico and one from Bangladesh shared the hearts as they talked about the joys and struggles of being in missions with their families. There were few dry eyes in the audience as they talked about--not only the proper missionary stuff, but the times when they really struggled with being where they were--the loneliness at Christmas time--how the children their children were associating with were affecting their lives--We need to pray for these families...
One of the huge blessings of the event was all the people I knew. I wasn't expecting to know so many people. Bill's cousin--Bill and Mae (she went through the treatment for breast cancer about the same time I did. Our hairdos were about the same:) ), Lisa, Lorie, and Darlene--three little girls I went to church with as a child, have now grown up, married and have children. I hadn't seen them probably in over 15 years. It was so easy to connect with them. Cousin Joyce and her family of six girls and one boy--Maria and two of her daughters took up right where they left off when we moved away from SC three years ago, Phil--a minister and leader in the conference--I hadn't seen him in about 20 years. Simon, a former pastor, preached a great sermon on Friday evening. It was nice catching up with someone from Catlett. Harry and Arlene, a family I had lived with for a year when teaching school in In PA, and their daughter Cathy and her family were there. Talk about trips down memory lane. Three of Bill's former students were there--William, Daniel, and Jennifer. It was great connecting with them. We got to meet Daniel's fiance', and we got to see where Jennifer and her new husband, Ellis live. Danny and Benita were there on Sunday to enable his mother to catch a ride to PA. It was mighty good to see them as well. I believe I am especially homesick for the Barnwell folks since we have moved further South again. I could go on and on...the Mungs, Dustin, Joyce, Nadene's sister, the man that knew Uncle Jesse and Aunt Ruth, and whose parents grew up in KS and who knew so many people we knew, Pat and Patty...You get the picture--the Mennonite game.
I think one of the reasons these connections meant so much is that they were connecting me to my past. Since we have just moved, we really don't have a history here yet--that all takes time.
We have now gotten back into continuing the settling in process. There is still much to do, but as I said, it is coming.
The things we do today are making our history or story for the future. Live it well!!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Moving
Well, it is official--We now live in WNC (Western North Carolina). Early Tuesday morning the caravan started south. Tony drove Steve's truck and trailer laden with our earthly belongings. Bill drove the pickup. Maria, Elsie, and I got the best ride in the van. Elsie surprised me at the last minute, adjusted her work schedule and rode along. Wonderful!! It made the hours fly by. We could visit for eight hours straight without any guilt!
We got everything unloaded by Wednesday noon. Tony and Elsie left shortly after that. It was sad to see them go, but it had to be. The living room is still full of boxes. There is still soo much to do, but it feels really good to be settling in rather then pulling up stakes.
We already had two sets of visitors. Our next door neighbors--the former owners of the house stopped in last night. They are a wonderful Christian couple, and already have blessed our lives. Our new pastor and his wife stopped in today. They arrived in a convertible sports car. Almost the first sentence out of his mouth was that this was not his car. A patient of his wanted him to borrow it so he and his wife could go on an anniversary outing. I wish I would have gotten out the camera. It looked like a blast!
A friend of ours who has also moved a lot, summed up my sentiments very well. He said that moving is way over-rated. In spite of everything, things went smoothly. We appreciate all the good help we got!!
We got everything unloaded by Wednesday noon. Tony and Elsie left shortly after that. It was sad to see them go, but it had to be. The living room is still full of boxes. There is still soo much to do, but it feels really good to be settling in rather then pulling up stakes.
We already had two sets of visitors. Our next door neighbors--the former owners of the house stopped in last night. They are a wonderful Christian couple, and already have blessed our lives. Our new pastor and his wife stopped in today. They arrived in a convertible sports car. Almost the first sentence out of his mouth was that this was not his car. A patient of his wanted him to borrow it so he and his wife could go on an anniversary outing. I wish I would have gotten out the camera. It looked like a blast!
A friend of ours who has also moved a lot, summed up my sentiments very well. He said that moving is way over-rated. In spite of everything, things went smoothly. We appreciate all the good help we got!!
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