Cool Wisconsin

We arrived in Wisconsin on Friday after a stop Thursday night in Altoona, Iowa to visit friends who are fellow CRM chaplains. We had been with Jack and Karen Gregory in Texas, but had not seen Bob and Karen Johnson in over a year. It was so good to visit  and pray with and for each other. Our lives all had some major changes, so it was amazing to see where we all were headed. We all need prayer in some areas of our lives and it is such a blessing to know that fellow Christians come along side of us in prayer. Bob asked to share where God was in our lives. It seems that all of us seemed to realize that God shows up in the most unlikely places - we always need to be ready to speak out for him. God wants all of us to become involved in serving him and His ministry because He specializes in commissioning and using imperfect vessels to further His Word - we are those vessels.

Karen G and Karen J

Bob and Jack hamming it up

great Mexican cusine

After another beautiful day of travel, we arrived in Wausau, Wisconsin, where we spent a lot of our married life. Wausau is really a very beautiful city (in the summertime). We are so very used to the warmth of South Texas that I cannot imagine living in the cold anymore. The weather right now feels cool to me, but the natives love it!!! Our first stop was at daughter Connie's house to see our great grandson Avery. Oh my goodness, to feel a baby in my arms again is such a pleasure. Avery is such a good baby at 4 months - he wakes up smiling and laughing all the time. The love and pleasure we find in our children, grand children, and even great grandchildren is by far less than the love God has for His children - and I am so  glad to be called a child of God. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God". I John 3:1

 

 a heartwarming sight

 

the stately pines of North Central Wisconsin

 

 

 

great grandson Avery - smiling as he always does

 

Father David - Avery coos to him constantly

 snuggled up and snoozing

granddaughter Dela'von and Avery



 Avery is wondering what the fuss is all about

It was time for our annual trip with Connie to the farmer's market for flowers. The market is not nearly as crowded or flambouyant as the one in Arkansas, but this is just the beginning of the summer season here. "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven". Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

 

 part of the market selling everything from bakery items, sausages, cheese, plants and flowers

notice the jackets - it was a cool morning

an array of baskets

so many to choose from

veggie, herb, and flower plants

this lady proudly posed for me 

one of Connie's purchases

a porch full of flowers

 

 

 

Sunday we attended Highland Community Church with friends from many years ago. We try to visit with them every year but this year was extra special as we we able to worship together with them. Pastor Jeff Hinds spoke on Luke 8:26-39, which we had been studying in our Bible Study class in Texas. Pastor Hinds is an excellant teacher, delving into historical background. Did you know that the Roman symbol of a legion (the name of the many demons in the demon possessed man) is a boar? How ironic that the demons asked to be sent into a herd of pigs. Ironic -- I think not. Certainly a

God plan. 

 

 

one of many hundreds of lilacs in bloom