Shower Time

Really, it has not been showers here in Central WI but baby shower time. Our granddaughter is having a baby sometime this month (his name is Milo) which will make 6 great grand kids. They really need to slow down or we will loose track of them all. It was a very informal baby shower at a local bowling alley - instead of games all were invited to bowl free for 2 hours. Lots of fun for those who participated (I didn't - years since I had bowled) but it was fun to watch. It was the first time for our 4-1/2 year old great grandson Avery - he was so very excited!!! We often forget how excited we become about seeing or doing something for the first time. For toddlers it is walking, seeing a butterfly, or a baby rabbit, for the older ones, bowling, riding a bike, for the tweens going to the movies with a group of friends - teens get really excited about getting their driving license, then it is on to college for the first time for the older teens (a scary situation), serious dating, marriage, parents for the first time then on to empty nesters, becoming grandparents for the first time, and so on. Remember the first time you accepted Jesus into your life?? How exciting was that!!!! The euphoric feeling of salvation, freedom from bondage of sin through the God's grace of forgiveness. Try to start every day with those feelings. One of the features of the shower was a door prize for anyone bringing diapers. The soon to be father's mother won a $50.00 gift card!! Awesome gift.

grand daughter Dela'von, husband Zach, and son Avery

Zach teaching Avery how to bowl

Wausau is a pretty city, especially in the summer time. The downtown area is decorated with umbrellas - really neat to walk under as you shop. And truly beautiful when lit up at night.

shopping under the umbrellas (we used to call them bumbershoots)

We spent most of one day visiting various cheese factories - family members sent their lists for items to bring back to Arkansas. Cheese is so very reasonable if you purchase it directly from the cheese factory with many, many varieties. Family favorites - cheese curds (which taste best when put in the microwave for a few seconds) and all types of cheddar. Curds are better at one factory, aged cheddar at another, etc.

It was an experience driving around the city where we spent most of our married life and marvel at the changes. We used to zip around, knowing exactly where we were going and how to get there No more! Lots of change. We did find time to visit friends, enjoy another Friday night fish fry, Italian fries and sun cookies from the food co-op. Soon time to tighten up and get back to eating the way we should.

We again attended church at Highland Community Church where all of the graduates were honored. There are many high schools in the area, as well as some home schooled kids so there were quite a few honorees. Most of the were going on to college - so graduation is not an end but truly a beginning to a new life. Just as baptism is an end to the old life, the old person, and the beginning of a new life and new person!! Pastor Jeff Hinds had a 10 point message for the graduates, but I was surprised to realize that some of the items relate to life in general.

1) Seize life - sing in the shower like no one is around, embrace life always

2) Be yourself, everyone else is taken!

3) If you want to be a great learner, be a great listener (How true!!).

4) What would Jesus do in any situation you are faced with?? Don't follow fools.

5) Credit cards are NOT free money. Work for what you want and can afford.

6) Whatever you at doing right now is your job (as writing this blog is my present job). Make it your prime objective.

7) Call your parents or relatives often - another day is not promised.

8) Guard your sexual purity, which today seems to be almost a lost virtue.

9) Picture yourself 5 or 10 years from today - what will you be doing?? (For those in our age group -  praising the Lord in heaven tops the list.)

10) Take care of yourself physically - eat from the 5 food groups.

These are the secular rules - the Biblical rules are Roman 12:1-2. Read it - keep it close to your heart

We e asking prayers for our nephew and his wife, Chris and Janna Janke, as they and a group of others from Highland Community Church travel to South Africa on June 25th to prepare to take the gospel into the schools there. Pray for safety, and souls saved.