Strange Star In the Sky

A strange star showed up in the sky yesterday - one not seen for a few weeks. It was bright, warm, and brought a smile to everyone's face. Yes - it was the sun!!! Today is just as beautiful and wonderful.

This last week hosted many of our seasoned chaplains as well as our new ones since chaplain's training was held in Harlingen, at Lakewood RV Park. The newbies attended Mon thru Wed morning, then the seasoned forks joined them for the rest of the week. We have a great group of new chaplains, eager and excited to begin their duties here in S. Texas as the minister to the residents of various parks. Our Friday session was led by Chaplain Jeff Hastings as he held our attention in the morning with a great teaching about grief, how to deal with in yourselves and others. The afternoon was spent discussing and learning about ways to deal with stress. All of us stress about something everyday - even if it is getting tangled up in a traffic snarl, or waiting in a long line at the grocery store after  long and busy day. A great afternoon of sharing ways of stress relief and how to deal with others who are stressed out. We were treated to a wonderful meal of bar-be-que ribs , thanks to a few of our chaplains who smoked them for us. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and getting to know the new members of our organization Caring Resources Ministries. If you are interested in becoming an RV resort chaplain go to crmintl.org and check us out.

 Chaplain Al Dickey leading us in prayer

 our amazing music ambassadors - Suzi ad Greg York

singing praises to the Lord

Even with all  the events concerning the border, we traveled in two vans to the refuge in Reynosa to celebrate the Oct thru Dec birthdays of the kids and adults there. What a huge group!! We met at Peter Piper Pizza for a fun time with the birthday kids (they all were allowed cards which had money loaded on them to play games, etc. ) We celebrated the kids who had birthdays and allowed them special pizzas and "first in line"privileges. We were dismayed to a certain extent as there are so many of these kiddos that we did not recognize _ but the other side of the situation is that more children are being saved. Many of the kids we have seen grow up are now employed, attending college, and graduated college with a career that they are pursuing. They are truly a role model for those kids at the refuge to work hard and a proof that they, too, can achieve their dreams.


examining her gifts - new sparkly shoes


some of these sweet children never received presents before, let alone had pizza and ice cream

Pati on the right - studying to be a lawyer - Jacklyn on the left , also in college



birthday kids


playing the games and winning tickets for prizes


everyone got in on the fun


It always amazes me how our Sunday School and Sunday Sermon always seem to compliment each other. The theme of both today was change- whether it be because of your own choosing or not. Sometimes a change is made because of a determined decision to do so, sometimes it is because of a job change, perhaps it is because of a financial or health issue. In all circumstances, change causes stress of some sort (same theme as our chaplain training!). The Israelites were forced to change when they were defeated by the Babylonians - forced to leave their homelands and be resettled in Babylonia.  They were forced to accept the strange ways, to build homes, plant crops, raise families in a foreign land with a foreign culture. What a shock that must have been! Learning to cope with change is a big part of our accepting Jesus as our Savior and leaning on Him in faith. Always remember that He will never leave you or desert you, no matter what the changes can be occurring in your life.

Please be in prayer for Maria Garza, a lady who works on our park. She is a loving, giving person who has just been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer on her tongue. Because she does not have insurance from her employer here at the park, she needs to raise $5500 in order to have the surgery that may save her life. She has a go fund me account. If the Lord so lays it on your heart to help her reach this goal. the link is: gf.me/u/m6979n

Rainy and Cool

It seems that we are having a bit of a cold front - 50's and 60's and rainy. It is about right now that I wish we were in front of fireplace just watching the flames. Although it does feel great when we come in from outside and feel the warmth and sweet smells of home. The perfect weather for a bowl of the tomato soup our daughter and I canned while in Arkansas - awesome with a toasted cheese sandwich (made with Wisconsin cheese,of course). We thank God for the simple pleasures that make us comfortable.

A busy week again - board meetings for CRMI (of which our RV Chaplain division is a part). It was a good two days with many issues discussed and decided upon. We met at Lakewood RV Park in Harlingen where the kitchen crew made sure we were well fed which always seems to be the norm. Those gals really went above and beyond with breakfast and noontime meals. The RV venue is changing - many younger families are now loving the RV lifestyle. We have noticed it in our park - those coming here for the winter are looking for different things than those a few years ago. The switch is from spending the winter at a park in S Texas to perhaps just staying a month or so and then moving on. We really have to just our ministry to accommodate the change.

Today the chaplains that have arrived for the annual chaplain training session started to arrive, so we all attended church services at Bob Ostermaier's park for morning service, then went on to a fellowship meal together. More of the chaplains will be arriving today in tie for the opening session tomorrow and more training for the rest of the week. The new chaplains will have 2 1/2 days of RV chaplain training, and then us seasoned chaplains will have the remaining 2 1/2 days in which we will join them in various training relating to a RV chaplain. We are only involved in the food ministry portion of CRMI so I will only go on Friday and Fred will join us after he finished the distribution in the colonias. Two of our master cooks will prepare an evening meal on Friday of bar-be-que ribs!!! Please pray for the training that all goes according to God's plan.

This coming week will be the first Tuesday distribution that I will be able to participate in as I was in meetings last week. I am anxious to see how God is working in this new venture - hopefully many will be blessed, both physically and spiritually.

The Winter Texans are beginning to trickle in - I expect a few more this coming week, as the early ones come in about this time. November will bring most of the rest of them - looking forward to seeing old fr ends, making new ones, and see how God will work in every one's lives here in the park. We look forward to seeing these folks return - but feel saddened for those who are unable to return because of ill health. We especially mourn those who have gone on to be with the Lord, but remember all the great times in fellowship with them.

Chaplain Bob had a very interesting message this morning - keys. Peter is not the only one with the key to the kingdom of God. . We often think of him standing at the pearly gates, waiting for someone to enter so he can open the gate (and many churches believe this).  Keys represent authority. If I give you the keys to my house, then I give you authority to enter it. The Kingdom of Heaven  is about Jesus finding lost sheep and taking them to His eternal kingdom. It is about unlocking things on earth through the teaching of the gospel. We have all been given the same keys by Jesus . We have the authority to preach the word of God. These keys give us the power over Satan. We, the church, are the tool God intended to use to take Satan down. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world, but the weapons of God. Jesus holds the keys to hell!!!

Please keep in prayer all of the folks still affected by the floods and fires  - many of the still cannot return to their homes to salvage whatever they can.

What is Normal?

As we try to get back to the normal routine of daily living, I wonder what is really normal? Normal for you is entirely different than my normal. Perhaps days of relaxation and reading, tending to your special hobbies, or even shopping are normal – while others may have a hectic, time-consuming normal. expected this week to be somewhat normal and back to a comfortable routine. No way!!!  Our “normal” Friday distribution to the colonias was cancelled, again due to rain and flooding in that area. The area is low lying and floods every time it rains, as well as turning into a real mudhole. One of our chaplains and regional manager arrived for the winter with a coach full of clothes, sheets, etc. for the colonias, so we drove to their park instead and filled our trailer and vehicle with tubs of much needed items. The rest of the week-end was sorting clothes and other items – wound up with 7 plastic tubs, 1 suitcase, and 15 boxes of wonderful donations. Most of it was children’s clothes, which we desperately need – some of them brand new with the tags still on. God certainly blessed those who donated, the chaplain who drove it all here to S Texas, and to Ida who will help distribute it! So many hands involved – even those who we do not know but thank so much.

On Tuesday, we delivered produce and many boxes of juice to the new area where another distribution point will begin this coming week. We will be distributing on Fridays as usual but then again on Tuesdays to those in need. We hope and pray that this will result in a hand up to the folks who often need an extra bit of food or clothes to wear so they can function – perhaps have decent clothing to apply for a job, or have bit of extra funds to pay the electric or water bill.

A few of our winter friends are returning – more will come soon as it has been snowing “up North”, making the warmth of S Texas beckon them. Some will be late due to the earlier rains – many are still farming and the wet fields have made it impossible to get into the fields. But they will come – along with the activity that will change our meaning of normal for abut 5 months. We do not mind – just need to change our own personal mind set.

I had enough tomatoes to make a batch of salsa to freeze. As I scalded the tomatoes my memories of our extra-large garden in Wisconsin came to mind – the year we had such an abundance of veggies that Fred went around the neighborhood with a wheelbarrow full of carrots, handing them out to whomever wanted them. I had canned and frozen enough for our family of 6! We also had enough raspberries that the neighbors picked 30 quarts for themselves. Tomatoes were at a premium that year as I canned tomatoes, tomato soup tomato juice, pasta sauce, pizza sauce, and even tomato paste. Don’t know how I did that and kept a full-time job as well while trying to keep track f our 4 daughters. “I can do all things through the God who strengthens me”.

A great message from our Sunday School class regarding fears, feelings of isolation, and loneliness.  A fear of something could actually alter your life. One of our class members related that he loved history, started college, and planned to become a history teacher, but he sadly destroyed the English language to the point that he could not write an essay in order to pass the class. He changed his major and became an English teacher, which he excelled at. The fear of failing a college course changed his direction of life.  Sometimes facing our fears allows us to overcome them and enjoy what we feared. I am still afraid of the dark – the really black as midnight dark. I face that fear but certainly have not come to enjoy it – my hearts begins to pound, I hear noises, and imagine frightful things if I am exposed to the dark for any length of time. I don’t know why this is – or where it came from – perhaps therapy will help. The best therapy I have right now is to call on the Lord to protect me from my imagination and give me strength. Fear can also isolate person, causing loneliness. Fear of crowds, meeting new folks, even the simple act of going to a party where you only know a person or two can throw people into a panic. I am also claustrophobic especially when caught in a crowded area, or a small place, like an elevator. I know I could never survive an MRI!  I have not allowed it to keep me from riding in an elevator or going to a huge park pot luck though. I just say a prayer, put a smile on my face, and plunge right in.  Fear can also make you feel insignificant and withdrawn.

The opposite of fear is really trust and faith. Have faith in the Lord to believe He hears your plea and trust to know that HE will see you through any situation.

And So It Continues

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL

After about 2 months of being away from home for a wedding, family visits, meetings, etc I am back to continuing this blog. I could have written it as we traveled but it seemed every minute was busy, especially with the wedding of our granddaughter in beautiful Northern Wisconsin. It was a beautiful ceremony, very elegant, but so tastefully done. As we started out on our journey, we stopped along the way to visit friends before we arrived in Arkansas at the home of our youngest daughter. We kept all of our Dr appts with the go ahead for good health for another year! Of course it was the annual meat making process - brats, sausage, and kielbasa  sausage, as well as canning tomato soup from a recipe I found years ago.

                                  
                                          tomato soup ready to can - so good with cheese dumplings



                                                    
                                                                     kielbasa sausage ready to cut

birthday party of great grandchildren Brielle ans Jaylen

                                                    
                                    Jaylen and great grandpa having a discussion

                                   

lovely Brielle

a warm and cozy fire on the patio

                                              
                                   pumpkin made from pallets that our daughter made for me

 Arkansas great grandchildren

We did meet with our church mission board who supports us with love and prayer in order to update our Caring Hearts Ministry. We thank them so much for everything their faith in our mission. They also supplied us again with 33,000 individual packages of a cheesy broccoli mix. Last year some of this went to support the flooding in the Houston area. We so uch love Prairie Grove Christian Church - our home church in Arkansas. As we attender our fist back to Arkansas service we felt the love and support from everyone. 

We left Arkansas for Wisconsin, stopping long the way to visit friends. While there we attended a church where our nephew and wife serve attend and serve on mission trips to Africa every year. Their ministry is called Centershot Ministry - where they take the gospel into the schools of South Africa.

Most of the the time was spent preparing for the wedding of our oldest granddaughter Katie. It was an outdoor wedding and it oured in the morning but cleared up and became a beautiful fall day in Northern Wisconsin - if maybe a bit humid. 

 a perfect setting in the Northwoods

 Jake and Katie Knobernik

 we do clean up pretty well

Grete granddaughter Harper who was the flower girl

so glad this is over

Are we blessed??? Truly we are. God blessed us with a beautiful family, friends, a warm place to sleep, and a knowledge that through Him all things are possible.  Another unexpected blessing was the gift and delivery of a metal shed which we can use for colonia storage - hooray!  my Texas room will be visible again!!

 a blessing

After we returned to Texas we were aware of the miracles that God preformed while we were gone. 2 people who had been battling cancer were declared cancer free - PTL. Those who were recovering from surgeries and illnesses are on the road to recovery, the food and clothing ministry is well into it's almost 6th year, and we are embarking on another distribution day to another colonia. God is so good - we give Him all the praise and glory and realize all of this is according to His plan.

Ghosts - what do you believe?

A strange beginning for a blog, but keep reading and it will probably make sense. We went to Fort Smith, AR, to visit with our daughter and husband this past week.As they both work - she at the VA and he as owner of the family restaurant, we were left to our own during the day. After eating breakfast at Bob and Wanda's Wagon Wheel Restaurant (the family restaurant owned by our daughter and son-in-law) we did a bit of exploring. But if you are ever in Fort Smith, drive West outside of Fort Smith to Barling where the restaurant is located. Wonderful food, terrific service, and great owners who truly care about their customers. One day we traveled to Van Buren, a small touristy town nearby. Lots of historic buildings, a railroad (which still runs tourist trips), and lots of interesting shops. I did buy some patchouli soap for one of my daughters and myself, while indulging in taffy and flavored popcorn ( maple butter and also cinnamon). While strolling around I saw this sign:

Guess there are a few ghosts hanging around town. Ghosts are described as" a disembodied soul; especially : the soul of a dead person believed to be an inhabitant of the unseen world or to appear to the living in bodily likeness, a spirit or demon".  You have heard of friendly ghosts (ie: Casper) and more often scary or demonic ghosts. Many people do believe in the spirit word. There are times when I feel the hair on my neck rise up or think I feel someone close by but really do not believe that unhappy or discontented figures of dead folks are floating around in this world. I do believe in the Holy Spirit, who lives within us and always guides our conscience, thus warning us of sin. But apparitions or ghostly figures - nope not really. But it does make for good reading at times! 

While on our short trip to Fort Smith, I continue to  marvel at the beauty of the Ozark and Boston Mountains of the area. I never tire of the changing scene depending on the time of year, day, or even weather conditions. My heart seems to swell up at the beauty that surrounds us, created by the One who loves us and wants us to enjoy this world He created. I took these pictures as the sun was just beginning to set and evening was approaching. 

Love the misty look of the mountains and valleys

this scene changes constantly as the daytime sum shines on the trees, but turns to misty elegance as evening approaches

We are leaving AR this week for WI - first to visit friends for a few days then on to our sister-in-laws, as Fred's brother passed away three years ago and Susan needs help yet in sorting out things in his workshop. She has lots of lumber stored there as my brother-in-law loved to work with wood, but she does not know what is good, salvageable, or even good enough to sell. Fred also loves wood, so hopefully he will be able to sort it out for her. We will be able to visit fiends and relatives in the area, as we lived there for a few years when we were first married, and it is the stomping grounds of Fred when he was younger. I love the area, as it is close to the restaurant my parents used to own and the high school I graduated from - lots of good memories there. Also cheese factories, gelato cafes, and wonderful Amish stores! Even though I was raised in Chicago for 11 years, I love and prefer the small towns.

We continued to study about the power of the tongue in Church last Sunday. (Vance Eubanks is such an amazing preacher - wonderful pastor, and friend.) Life giving words can change our family, workplace, and community. 

 

Proverbs 12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,  but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 15:1 New King James Version (NKJV). A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. These are only two of the many verses in Proverbs pertaining to the way we speak. Gentleness wins. Gentle words fuel your body and soul. Think of how good you feel when someone says a kind word to or about you. But be jarful - when you are in places of influence, words are power. The use of our words is a calling of God.The word Christian portrays the way we live or talk. Does your speech say :"he/she is a Christian?".Our words portray all areas of our lives, especially in our home. Does your "outside" speech also carry over into your home? We are called to be greater than today's culture, where vulgarity seems the norm. Don't fall into that world. We can speak the truth but need to do so with grace. As Christians we need to be unselfish - we need to listen to and care for others, instead of thinking of what we are going to say next,. We need to be curious as to why others act as they do - what is happening in their lives. Slow down, think before you speak, and do so with love and grace. Don't take things personally - that person who just lashed out at you probably has lots of stuff going on in their lives. Don't let the Holy Spirit be grieved by your action or words. We need to be a life giving spirit just as Jesus was to us. Encouragement is something that God does because He loves us so that we can encourage others. Here is a challenge for you this week:

1)think of three people you can encourage this week and do so verbally 

2) post something positive on social media for 3 of your friends

3) make your home a place of encouragement

 

Tornado Weather

I forgot that here in NW AR tornados are pretty common. Yesterday was our daughter's 29th wedding anniversary, so we treated them to dinner anywhere. They did not feel like going out (I can't blame them as they live in a beautiful place in the woods, so we ordered Piology (if you have never been there you are missing some great pizzas). For instance I ordered a cauliflower crust with herbed oil, 3 kinds of meat, lots of wonderful veggies, a red sauce, 2 cheeses, and pesto added after baking.The pizzas are made to order, with anything and as much as you want on them, all for one price. We stopped to visit our other daughter on the way there and heard tornado warning alerts, so we quickly proceeded to pick up the order and head back home. We got caught in a torrential rain, but made it safely home just as the tornado warning was lifted. I had forgotten the  feeling as I felt the power and the majesty of the storm, just s we often feel the power and majesty of God - it is all around us and terrifying as well as exhilarating at the same time.

Last week was the beginning  of our annual sasuage/brat making.  Usually done on a week-end but this time made during the week - so being the only female around I was the go-fer! We made brats and a delicious kielbasa sausage which had to be smoked. The wonderful smells coming from the smoker made a person's mouth water. We make enough so that we can take it all back to the Valley with us to last until our next trip North. Today was the packaging and freezing day .

out of the smoker, ready to package after cooling

stringing the sausage on the rods

off to the smoker which is hot and ready

whew - lots of smoke and heat

don't know how our son-in-law can stand the heat/smoke 

happily smoking away

Saturday we celebrated the birthdays of two of our great grand children - Brielle who is 3 and Jaylen who is 1. Our granddaughter just combined their birthdays into one big day at Fun City, much like Chucky Cheese, etc. As the twin great granddaughters were also there, it was quite a feat to try to keep track of those little  munchkins as the were so excited and ran from here to there - boy are they fast!!!!

 great grandpa and Jaylen

 party girl Brielle on the left and the twins, Kinley and Kenzie

party time

 pretty Brielle

Jaylen wouldn't touch the cake, just daintily used a fork

An interesting day in church on Sunday as we were warned that the collection song was not the normal "church" hymn, but we were not to be offended as it all pertained to the  sermon given by Matt Tibbets (an amazing youth pastry at our church). The song??? - "A Boy Named Sue" - really????  There were actually 2 young folks in the congregation who never heard that song before!!! The song is based on a name that humiliated a man. The theme was that the man would not be around to raise his son and gave him that name so the boy would have to fight to survive. Words, a simple name, etc. dictate our lives. A single word can make us doubt ourselves. Our Words can steer our lives as well as those of others. How does our tongue steer our lives as well as the lives of others? Our tongue is a bridge from our heart to the outside world. What is in our heart is revealed by what we say. When we are tempted in our brain to commit sin, gossip, say unkind words, there are no consequences unless we actually speak it.  Our tongue either pushes people away or pulls them closer to ourselves. "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm".  Proverbs 13:20. So if you hang around those who speak the evilness of their mind, then you, too, will become like them. Words can either echo or confront the devil, Satan, who whispers lies in your ears. Stop and think before you speak - is what you say going to be true, is it helpful, inspiring, necessary, is it kind??

Back to Blogging

I cannot believe that it has been two weeks since the last blog - it has been a really busy and crazy two weeks to say the least.

We arrived in Arkansas quite safely with praise to God for safe travels. We stopped first at Barling (near Fort Smith) at the restaurant our daughter and son-in-law own to drop off presents for our granddaughter's shower in Wisconsin. I wasn't going to attend, as I had Dr. appts. on Monday. We had a wonderful breakfast thanks to our son-in-law, Darrell. If you get over that way, be sure to stop at Bob and Wanda's Wagon Wheel Restaurant. Amazing menu and meals.

The day after we arrived, we had to go to the clinic to give blood for our annual physicals. Then it was the normal daily shopping and chores - as well as driving around and noticing the many, many changes that we saw since last year. We were amazed at the expansion of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville - it is enormous. We then went to our grandson's to see our beautiful great granddaughters, Kinley ans Kenzie. Our grandson just bought his first home and of course, we had to check it out. A great place in the country for the girls to live, play, and be a part of creation.

Saturday was a family day with our two daughters, just hanging out and catching up on the past when they were kids - things I was totally surprised that they had remembered. We were making memories that I never even realized. We also celebrated the birthdays of the guys whose birthdays are all within 2 weeks of each other, with a Golden Corral pig out!!! My favorite food there is the jalapeno cornbread, fresh from the oven. We had a fantastic waitress who took care of our every need.

Sunday was back in our home church Prairie Grove Christian Church - it was like we had never left. I  love the people there and the warm and fuzzy feeling of being home, and of course, Pastor Vance Eubanks and his great words for us.

This past week was doctor appts - 3 of hem for me, one for Fred, with perfect results. So far so good -  we are good for another year at least. The rest of the week we drove around, visited friends, and just relaxed in our daughter's beautiful yard and watched the deer, squirrels, and all of the birds..

one baby

two babies

and Mama

Friday night we went to a Gospel singing at a small country church. It was wonderful - all of the old time country HMS, and even some new and original ones. A friend of ours plays the guitar ans sings with the group - it was such a blessed and special evening. Don't know if you can play this video or not -

country church singing

Today after our church service and stopping at the pharmacy to drop off new Rx's, we proceeded to can tomato soup. Wei wanted to do it yesterday, but did not get the canning tomatoes in time, so we have to do it toady because the tomatoes are here and ready Years ago I used to can this soup, and often add dumplings, dried, canned, leftover, or fresh veggies, or even cheese to it for a warm luncheon on cool days. Our daughter and her husband love it so much that she wanted to do some. It has been years since I canned, but oh, the memories it brought back, the preparation, the cooking, the canning, the wonderful smells and the sweet musicial sound of the jars sealing!! We will love it it this winter when it may be cooler in S Texas.

cooked down and ready to can

first batch done

Being in our home church is so comforting - Vance's sermons are so uplifting and easy to follow. One small word, phrase, or a special moment with someone can change lives. God uses words to create trust but it can also destroy it. The tongue has so much power. It can bring life or death. Regardless of the old saying about sticks and stones, words CAN hurt you. It is not what you say, but often how you say it. We have freedom of speech because we are Americans, but we are Christians first. By using this freedom we can also bring life or death to someone. Creation came into being because of the word of God - He spoke it into existence. What comes out of your mouth shows what is your heart. Actions are important, but we set the tone of our lives through our words. Use your words wisely this week, think before you speak, and while speaking make someone happy.