Winding Down

It is hard to believe that in only 1-1/2 weeks we will be back in Texas. These last 2 months have really flown by. This has been a busy week as usual with family and friends. We were also in the process of changing health insurance, so that meant meetings with agents, etc. Trying to tie up loose ends before we leave.

The weekend was truly busy. The men started on Friday as they mixed and stuffed the sausage (70+#) - what amazing smells all around. This seems to be  yearly ritual - making sausage and brats to last until next year. This year they also made Polish sausage with cheese. The best part is that we all get to taste it - the left over meat is fried and passed around to sample. Saturday was the brat stuffing and sausage smoking day. As this is a man thing, two of our daughters and myself went to town shopping and doing town chores (Rx's, Wal-Mart stop, etc.). Hill City Popcorn was on the go to list. Great new flavor (at least for me) blackberry flavored  with white chocolate. That store is really dangerous. Downtown Fayetteville was flowing with folks, some attending the Farmer's Market, some just coming from a Pride parade, and lots of visitors. We did manage to find a parking spot near Cask and Grove - the specialty oil and vinegar store tucked away on a side street. Fabulous pace to taste different infused oils and vinegars - especially if a person is a creative cook. The wild mushroom and sage is perfect for baking asparagus - just cover the asparagus with the oil, place on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt, and bake about 25 minutes. Don't worry if you bake it too long - the crispy asparagus is out of this world. Back home to find the men just waiting for the smoker to do it's work.

Todd getting ready to stuff sausage

                                                

serious work stuffing sausage

Scott is an expert at tying

                                                

ready for the smoker

enough for 3+ families

happily smoking - it took about 9 hours

the pork, which was ground last week ready to be made into brats

shaping and twisting the brats

all done

while the brat making was going on the Polish sausage was quietly smoking

                                              

cheese filled Polish sausage - delicious

now the all day job of packaging and sealing

lots of good eating for the winter

Saturday Brenda (#3 daughter) and I drove to Fort Smith for the 1st birthday party of one of our great grand daughters, Harper while Christine (#4 daughter) stayed and helped the men package all the meat. The drive from Fayetteville to Fort Smith is so beautiful, although we took  short-cut through Hog Eye (yep, really a pace called Hog Eye). A really winding road, but so peaceful as we enjoyed the untamed Arkansas woods. A few homes, but mostly untouched and wild. The party was enjoyable as we met a few new people sa well as family members.  Harper is a sweet natured child and for the most part always smiling. She still is not too sure bout me  but then she has not been around me much. Granddaughter Casey was also there along with two other great grandchildren, Brielle and Jaylen. It always amazes me what God can do with just two people - from our marriage 56 years ago, we are now an immediate family of 18 - guess we really took God at His word and went forth and multiplied.

 Harper was not too sure about the cake until Grandpa Darrell gave her a taste

 then she got the idea and got right into it

 opening presents with Mama Sydney

singing Happy Birthday - by then she wanted no part of cake

Sunday was another glorious day in the House of the Lord at PGCC. Pastor Vance gave another powerful sermon relating to caring for your neighbors based on the story of the good Samaritan. Who is our neighbor??  Can we decide who is really our neighbor - those who we can love and share with??  Is it your co-workers, your friends, those folks on your block, your church friends, or the person on the street corner asking for a handout??? When you help your neighbor, give from your heart, not worrying about what that person is going to do with your gift -after it leaves your heart it becomes theirs. Let God be your guide - let Him lay it on your heart to give and to whom to give and help. Don't miss out on the opportunity to help others, no matter the situation or how "religious" we think we are.

Along with helping your neighbor, remember to help yourselves - help your family relationships by making amends. It doesn't matter whose "fault" it is that you are not speaking to family members or close friends - take the first step and bridge that gap. 

Continue to pray for those lost in the world of addictions.

                             

Better Late Than Never

Yes, there is blog this week - just  day late. We were gone for  a few days and I did not have my computer with me. Perhaps the most important event this week was the birth of our 6th great grand child, Milo Kenneth Raymond Zoromski safely born on June 14th. Another one of God's greatest miracles.

Baby Milo

The decorating of our daughter's pergola on the patio is under way. the old farm tools/equipment that we brought back from Wisconsin (some were in the family for years) have been put up. It looks really nice - am still looking for a few more to add to the collection.

 these were used to haul logs from the woods, actually used up to a few yers ago by my brother-in-law

imagine cutting down a tree with this

an old tractor seat - John Deere I am sure

It is so relaxing to just sit and enjoy the beautiful weather and watch all the critters flitting all over. The birds come right up to the patio and don't seem to mind us being there. Even the small gecko's run across the outdoor carpet while we watch. As we were looking out the back door, a road runner sat on the rock ledge, staring at the ground. Zap - just like that he grabbed a snake, bit off it's head, and flew away with the capture. So many happenings in nature if a person just sits and watches.

 the rod runner with dinner to go

the ever colorful cardinl

 he sat on the rocks right next to me

if you look closely you can see the gecko

On Friday evening we drove to Fort Smith to visit our daughter, husband, and grand and great grand daughter. It is a beautiful drive of about 1 hour - many, many bridges, over valleys and rivers. Perhaps one of the most  beautiful drives I have ever been on. Our great daughter will be 1 year old soon (her party is next Sunday) and surprisingly, she was not really afraid of us (she has not seen us since  last year when she was  tiny baby then).

 granddaughter Sydney and Harper

she loves her toes and always seems to be smiling

On Saturday we drove to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, an artsy town which also boasts of a Passion Play, a visit to the Holy Land, A Bible museum as well as ,,at other Biblical things to visit. We went to the Holy Land - a trip through the life of Jesus. It was very interesting, but wish we could have walked the area instead of riding a bus (with no air conditioning).

 
a very friendly donkey, perhaps the same as ridden by Mary  and and Jesus on Palm Sunday

the temple built according to Bible specifications

the priest in the temple

 the Ark of the Covenant

 brick making in process

 a cave, used for sheltering animals, and perhaps similar to where Jesus was born

early micro wave

the Sea of Galilee - the daughter of the official who was raised from the dead telling her story

 Jesus walking on water - powerful

 a depiction of a well where the women went to get their water

the Upper Room

We spent the night in Eureka, being entertained by the Ozark Country Hoedown, a really funny, great show, comparable to those in Branson, and certainly much less expensive. Sunday morning we went to church at Thorncrown Chapel, a beautiful chapel in the woods designed by E. Fay Jones, a popular Southern architect  who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. The chapel rises 48 feet high, with 425 windows and 6000 sq. feet of glass. A wonderfully peaceful setting as the thunder rolled quietly and the rain fell softly while we attended worship service.

 it look small, but it is magnificent

from the inside looking out

We drove back to Fort Smith on Suunday, after a few stops at various shop. Our son-in-law prepared a wonderful meal while our daughter treated visitors to rides on their horses. Everyone was tired by the end of a very fun week-end.

son-in-law Darrell getting ready to let every ride

Sydney and Harper - Harper was not too sure about being in the saddle

The sermon in beautiful Thorncrown Chapel related to the fact that we often have trouble seeing the love of God. How do we see it?? God always gives us good things, but we focus on the bad things. Why is that? Good things can't hurt us, but the bad things can, so we focus on  the "what if"? We have to look beyond on the finite and look toward the infinite which is the measure of the love of Christ. God had to  make Paul weak in order to make him strong in Him. And so it is in our lives - God assures it through His love.

Remember this week to practice Agappe love - love beyond human love.

Warm at Last

We are back again in Arkansas after a couple of weeks in Wisconsin, where it was indeed chilly. Shortly after we got there, our daughter and I were in the car and saw a patch of snow on the ski hill. After a short trip to our sister-in-law Susan's (still in WI) last Sunday, we spent a few days just relaxing in the sort of warmth.

I attended Susan's quilting club meeting and received a great prize for being  a guest. It was fun seeing different quilting ideas from different areas - we had 2 short demonstrations on how to sew curves -  one with pins and one without. Most of the ladies had a show and tell time - showing items they had started or finished since the last meeting. So many very talented ladies. They also had a fat quarter drawing (quilters will know what that is). For every fat quarter a person donated, they had a  chance to win all the fat quarters. This month it was polka dots - I was flabbergasted with the many different patterns of polka dots there are!!!! Next meeting is tone on tone (sorry this is boring for non-sewers, I know). Another great idea - the chairman chose various paint swatches from Menards (the Northern version of Home Depot) and handed them to members. They have a few months to create a project using 4 or more  of the colors on her own paint swatch, plus a neutral, and 5" of  pop color, like red. One of the ladies had already finished hers - it was fabulous. Halfway through the meeting, one of the ladies asked me what my maiden name was - she recognized me from girl scout camp years ago!!!!

We visited a few other friends and relatives during our stay -  so many changes yet so many things things were unchanged. As we were on our way to visit a long time friend, we saw  huge rainbow over the barn and fields - so beautiful.

Wednesday we met with two other couples in my hometown, Waupaca for a brunch. One couple from Waupun, is in the park in the winter with us - Dean helps Fred with the food ministry. The other couple, from N Dakota, were in the park only one time 6 years ago. We had a great visit, a few laughs, and wonderful food.

We arrived back in Arkansas on Saturday afternoon, after taking our time and 2 days to get there (usually we drive it straight through, but we are getting a bit tired of that!). Susan had given us a few old farm tools, etc. for our daughter here to hang on their patio. We unloaded them, as well as a cooler of cheese, and other items and relaxed before  delicious meal of smoked ribs, cob corn with mayo, Parmesan cheese, and hot sauce (the Mexican way). Our son-in-law was smoking a ham and chicken for  family cook-out on the July 4th week-end - it looks so pretty!!! Can hardly wait to try it.

ham and chicken, ready to be frozen and served in a couple of weeks. Yum.

We attended services back at Prairie Grove Christian Church this morning - a place where I feel so connected to our Lord. Pastor Vance asked the question of us, "What are some of the challenges of living as a disciple of Jesus?". Staying closely connected to God is so important. Losing prospective and lacking faith are ways which we feel that disconnection. We need to keep praying. When we are disconnected we are like HALT: hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. It is truly hard to stay connected when things are going good. We also need to maintain a humble, teaching spirit. Be a servant - there is great freedom in it. The third challenge is loving those who don't love you back. John, one of the Sons of Thunder because of his quick temper, became John, the love apostle. He went from anger to love - and loved everyone around him and encouraged us to do so also. Let his love life be your guide. The last challenge is keeping Jesus at the center of your life. Too many things get in the way today of our Christianity - let some of them go and concentrate on Jesus.

Your life will be so much better if you don't have comfort over the cross, or commitment over convenience. Keep your eye on the goal (glory in heaven) and don't look back.


 

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.

   

On the Road Again

After a few weeks in Arkansas, visiting with family and friends, attending church at our home church, making arrangements for 30,000 pkg. of lentils and rice to be delivered to Texas for the colonias, packing the vehicle again, we leave tomorrow for Wisconsin, to visit friends in Oxford, WI and then on later in the week to our daughter's home in Wausau, hopefully to be there when our great grandson, Milo, will be born. It has been cool and rainy most of the time we were here, including a few days of flooding and severe thunderstorms, but luckily no tornadoes.

One day our daughter and I went exploring - exploring to unique stores. Hill City Popcorn - popcorn in many flavors, colors, and mixtures. Red Hot Hog - the best - a red popcorn that tastes like red hots. We then searched out and found a vinegar and oil shop. Many different flavors of vinegars and olive oil. Wild mushroom and sage oil, a garlic infused oil, blackberry infused vinegar, mission fig vinegar, even a hot, spicy oil. We had the garlic oil over asparagus with salt and pepper, baked in the oven - yummy. The blackberry balsamic vinegar was awesome over a salad. Have you ever seen a Pieology eatery?? Like a subway, only for pizza. You choose your crust, sauce, and many toppings to add, with pesto added after baking. All for the same price. Christine and I enjoyed it outside on the patio of the restaurant in the Arkansas sun. I love unique, quaint places to explore. We also went to the admin building of the Fayetteville School District where I had worked before retiring. There were a few loyal, mature folks  that worked when I did. So nice to see them and also all the changes to the building, which had just been built when I worked there almost 13 years go. .

Church services this morning were very different - instead of a sermon we had a special guest, Sheriff Tim Helder of our Washington County. As this past week was Law Enforcement Memorial week, it seemed appropriate for him to give his testimony and explain law enforcement. Sheriff Helder has been in law enforcement for 38 years, and sheriff for 13 years  . It is our duty as Christians to respect authority. Authority was established to maintain order in our world.  For most people law enforcement is a calling, just as ministry is a calling. "As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Ephesians 4:1. We are so lucky and proud to have Sheriff Helder serving in our community, a Christian man called by the Lord to serve us.

Remember to thank a law enforcement office, even if you have been pulled over for any reason. Thank him for helping you to understand that perhaps your actions put others in danger. "For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free of fear from the one in authority? Then do what I right and you will be commended. Romans 3:3.". Respect the authority

Farmer's Market and Cowboy Cookout

A pretty much beautiful week in NW Arkansas, despite the rain and cooler weather. Lots of gardens producing small shoots of veggies and flowers, farmer's markets in full force, and cook-outs all over. Saturday our youngest daughter and I went to the Farmer's Market on the Fayetteville Square - I have mentioned it before as absolutely amazing. Not only a farmer's market but a place for folks to display their talents in wood working, spinning, soap making, wooden utensil crafting, as well as fresh bakery of all kinds. I bought some lovely fresh asparagus, radishes, a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and patchouli soap (for myself) A wonderful pace to just get out and enjoy the day, although it was very crowded. Everyone and their dogs were there. I was strolling along when this huge dog was behind me and started growing and snarling. I was startled - the owner apologized saying her dog did no like other dogs. Hmm, why was she there with any other dogs and their owners?

Gorgeous sunflowers

a spinner spinning some beautiful soft wool - I keep practicing and maybe I can perfect it

lots of veggies - many different colors of cauliflower

a local banjo player playing "Old McDonald's Farm" for the kids

strolling the square - the site of the old post office

making wooden utensil's from logs!

Saturday evening we went with friends to a relatives home where there was an afternoon trail ride (we did not indulge in that) after which was a cowboy cookout with bar-be-que brisket, ribs, (sooo good), hot dogs, cornbread, onions, beans, and many other side dishes. The dessert table was groaning with cakes, cobbler's,  cookies, and other calorie free items (ya right).  Afterwards we were treated to some very talented guys playing and singing country music. It was amazing to see the men just decide on a song and play it without music. If you check my face book page, I posted a video of one of the songs, but the highlight of it all was a tiny guy (about 18 mo old) dancing and "Swinging" to the beat of the music. It was a beautiful evening in NW Arkansas in the early dusk with the sun shining on the hay fields and mountains

pickin and singin on the porch of the cook shack

Our daughter and her husband are so crafty - they have made their patio chairs, benches, tables, etc, as well as doormats - you name it, Anyway, Christine panted her herbs in an old step ladder - so cool.

 a great idea

This morning found us back in Prairie Grove Christian Church I love Pastor Vance's sermons - cannot explain it but they keep me mesmerized. His sermon this morning, taken from Luke 8:40-56 talks about two desperate people: a synagogue leader, Jarirus, with a dying daughter and a women shunned by society because of her bleeding problem. The leader's daughter was 12 years old, the woman has had this problem for 12 years. Jairus knew Jesus had returned to preach and heal others  and perhaps heard Him preaching in the synagogue, while the woman should not have even been in the crowd as she was deemed unclean. Both needed Jesus to perform a miracle for them: both had faith. No one is to powerful to need Jesus, no one is to bad that Jesus cannot change their lives. As in the woman's case, we also cannot let anyone keep us away from Jesus. Many people are casual about Jesus, but not intentional. The woman took the risk of being in a place where she was unwanted to be able to ask Jesus to heal her. She was intentional. Jesus is more interested in  relationship with you than just fixing your problem. We need to expose all of our sins to Him and we will be free. He wants us to tell others what He has done in our lives When something unclean touches something clean, it becomes unclean. But when Jesus touches our unclean humanity, we become clean. Come to Jesus in your desperation. Let your desperate situation turn you toward Him - build that relationship. Read the verses to see all of the story.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers, Grandmothers, etc. And Happy Mother's Day to all those puppy mothers, and those who have no children of their own but are indeed mothers to all.

Arkansas Summer

We arrived safely in Arkansas after another day's delay in Joshua, Texas, as a result of the flooding in Arkansas. We left Joshua early Tuesday morning and made a stop in Checotah, Oklahoma, to visit former Chaplain Dennis and Sally Maloney, who minister to those in that area. Quite a surprise when we saw Dennis with a mustache and full beard!!! I kept looking at him as if he were a stranger because he looked so different.  Sally was as beautiful  ever - it was so good to see them both. We had a great visit, threw around a few ministry ideas, thoughts to pray on, and promised to keep in touch. When we arrived in Arkansas late afternoon, the wet was almost all dried up and things looked fairly normal. It was a bit cool the first couple of days but now I think I am acclimated and it is gorgeous. We visited with a few friends upon arriving (we always make our first stop at the CARQUEST store in Prairie Grove to visit friends, then church, then Life Ministries resale store to say Hi to everyone).

We enjoyed a great Saturday afternoon with our two daughters, Brenda and Christine, just enjoying the day on the patio and having a delicious pizza made with a cauliflower crust - hey - don't knock it until you try it. It was awesome. Our son-in-law, Scott was smoking meat, as usual. He made venison jerky, beef roast, an unbelievably delicious venison ham, and some small birds. We also sampled his smoked bacon, which again was wonderful. Scott loves doing this and does such a good job. wW plan on making sausage and brats again on our return from Wisconsin in June.

Sunday brought a warm, cozy feeling as we attended church back at our home church, Prairie Grove Christian Church. It was as if we had never left! Our JOY Sunday School class was a lively as ever with lots of discussion. After church we visited with our grandson Seth, Page, and their girls. Remember the twins we all prayed for 4 years go??? They are healthy and beautiful - a true miracle from God.  

After just relaxing on the patio for the rest of the afternoon, I decided I had better write this blog, although just vegging out was so tempting.

We do not have to worry about the folks in the colonias, as Cy has everything under control. There was an abundance of fresh produce last week, so we know that they are being well taken care of. This is the time of year that they need the most food supplements, as the kiddos are home from school and need extra meals. Thank God for His provision, both for the abundance of produce and the commitment of Cy to continue on while we are gone.

No pictures this week as we have just jumped into the 21st century and gotten rid of our old flip phones! Lots of learning to be done, how to take pictures and send them to the computer to be posted. Be patient, geezers are slow learners.

A very dear friend of ours passed away this week. Margie a beautiful lady on fire for the Lord, who was involved in our church, and our personal small group studies. If some of you ladies may remember one of our past GWW conference, we has Stacy Smith as a presenter - a chaplain in the same prison in which she was incarcerated. It was Margie who first introduced me to Stacy and got me interested in prison ministry.  Margie's husband, David, is an excellent carpenter, and fashioned the most beautiful casket for her out of red cedar as a final gift to his wife who has fought a courageous fight with cancer for many years. I would post a picture of it, but out of respect for the family, I choose not to do so.

As I said, coming home to PGCC this morning felt so very comfortable and normal! As usual, Pastor Vance presented a stirring sermon as only Vance can do.  Based on Luke 8:26-39 it is the story of
the man possessed by many demons. I still believe he was the first disciple, as Jesus told him to go and tell others about what happened (previously He told those who healed to tell no one). Your personal testimony is the best way to tell others about Jesus. Before you met Jesus, your life was a mess. The demon possessed man (we will call him Legion) was an extreme example. We do not have the same quantity of sin, but we have the same quality of sin. We are surrounded by folks with no hope at all. We have hope. When we met Jesus, He changed everything! Just as He changed Legion from a wild demon possessed man into a normal person, He has the power to change our lives. After we meet Jesus, our life will never be the same. You need to go out and tell others what Jesus has done in your life in order to show them who you are now. There are those who will believe you, and perhaps many will not. But don't give up. You need a vision in your life to continue in God's way. He can take our mess and make a message out of it. After Vance's sermon, a young man presented his testimony - how his life was such a mess, even though he was married and thought everything was OK. The change in his life did not happen overnight - it took a long time and lots of hard work on his part, but God changed his life and his marriage.

Pleas pray for all of those who have lost loved ones this past week - especially the mother in Arkansas whose two small children were washed away in the flood. Her grief must be immense.