Happiness is...and the Answer to the Future of Good Neighbors Candles

Linking up with Smiling Sally's Blue Monday Party.  So much fun!

 Happiness should probably not be 

quantified by what I am about to post

about.  However, there is no denying 

the happy feelings that "filled my soul"

(oooh the drama)

on Saturday as I got to refill this huge 

blue candle.

I remember posting about it the first 

time.  So much fun challenging!!  But even as much 

fun as it was to make I had no idea if

the color or fragrance had pleased the 

customer as it had gone through my 

Amish friends who collect orders from 

their family and friends.

All sizes and shapes.  Recycled containers!

When I unloaded this box of glassware

and found it carefully wrapped and tucked

in for a refill I was so very happy.

It had just a tiny bit of wax left at the 

bottom and had burned beautifully and 

cleanly from top to bottom.

Wicking this is challenging...but better the second time around.

For my first candle of this size 

(72 ounces)

I had definitely

guessed at the wick sizes.  

Thankfully I got it right!

Experience is a good thing!!

Keeping the right lids with the right jars can be challenging...

Better yet was the phone call 

on Saturday from Rachel,

my Amish friend.

She had forgotten to tell me that the owner

of this candle wanted it to be scented just as

it had been originally. 

That was just the icing on the cake!

She said they absolutely loved this candle

and that with the three wicks it was 

like a lamp on their dining room table.

No other light was needed in the kitchen

most of the time.

Now, I have to tell you that I really have not

expected to receive any more orders from this

source.  The reason being that the last time I 

saw Rachel she told me that she was going to 

begin making candles herself.  She and a cousin

were going into business together.

I was thrilled that she was inspired to do this 

and offered any help I could give.

At the same time I was sad because I figured 

that would be the end of the orders coming

through her.  So...on Friday when the phone rang

and it was Rachel asking me to stop by and pick 

up a huge box of jars I was very pleased.

She and her cousin are still in the process of learning

how to make candles.  

I have given her some wicks 

to try....

am I crazy???

I don't care. 

I love helping others succeed.

There is room enough for both of us

in this town.  

I'll just consider myself her inspiration

and smile any time I think about it.

Yep!  

I am that vain.

Tomorrow I will cheerfully finish

filling this order.

Loving the fact that every jar is recycled, 

some for the fourth or fifth time.

It would be a shame to throw such a beautiful jar away....

I recognize them.

So fun!!

Anyway...I totally get that there

are way more important ways to find

   happiness.  

At the moment though

I am going to rejoice in the fact 

that Warren and I had a very nice

chat on Saturday and he has agreed that 

it makes sense for me to make candles 

for at least another year.

Yippee!

Thank you, honey!!

Some changes will be made around here.

Storage and organizational things....

pricing and fundraiser percentages.

Time to catch up with inflation.

If it works, it works.

If not....

well, I'll deal with it.

I will.

I promise!

Worship!

 

The LORD of all Creation.

He is so very, very Good!

Thank You Panera Bread....

Crumbs.  That's all there was left to photograph.

Well, it was a stroke of brilliance that only hits

once in a blue moon in my kitchen.

Chelsea gets these kind of results but

I am so rusty that it amazes me when anything turns

out as well as tonight's dinner did.

Truth be told I had hardly anything to do with its

success....but I'll take any credit given.

It began while standing at the bakery counter

trying to choose my free reward.

I finally got that silly little card 

registered so they can collect

data on my spending patterns.

(I settled on a Pecan Roll 

which I brought home to surprise my Mom)

My eyes could not tear themselves away from

those huge loaves of bread!

You know, they sit there on the shelves

looking so inviting.

So gorgeous and crusty.

I found myself blurting out that I would take

a Three Cheese Miche.

Miche?  

I don't even know what that is...

but it looked amazing!!!

How did I want it sliced?

Thick or thin?

Well, thin would last too long

so thick was my choice.

Eat it fresh.
That's what I was thinking.

A girl named Kristen put it in the 

handy dandy slicer and very quickly the 

bread was ready.

So, there I stood, holding my massive 

Miche in hand.

Not a clue of how we might put it to good 

use....and then...

it hit me!

There would be no better use for this bread

than to make Panini's.

Sliced thick...no accident I was now thinking.

So...this was how it came together.

For each Panini:

2 massive slices of three cheese miche.

Lightly buttered on the outside.

A slim layer of cream cheese on one slice.

Four slices of quality Turkey lunch meat.

A layer of Farmer's Cheese

Thinly sliced Red Onion

A layer of cheddar cheese

A layer of sliced b&b pickles.

Thousand Island Dressing...if you, like Warren, insist.

I would have put green or red peppers on 

them if I had had any on hand....

Cook in your Panini Maker until cheese begins

to melt nicely and the bread is lightly browned 

and crispy on the outside.

Cut in half and then....

 I challenge you to eat the whole thing.

Believe me, your mouth will be willing

but the tummy will be full.

Splitting one for each two people would 

be plenty...

especially if you enjoy a nice green salad

on the side.

As we sat down to eat Mikey showed up

for the weekend.  

He thought he needed one.

Then his friend Josh showed up for the 

evening.

He thought he could enjoy one too.

Total made = 4

Total eaten = 4

Thanks Panera!

You sure made our dinner

just right!

Can I Just Say?

 

I appreciate YOU!

Your willingness to take time 

from busy days to stop by my

little space here at Hospitality Lane

means so very much to me.

I love reading your responses to the 

thoughts I share each day.

This was a week of illness here at

our place.  I purposely said nothing

about it here 

because I just wanted to enjoy

YOU 

and your responses to
my silly posts

or memories.  

You did not fail.
I loved reading about your
childhood memories with
"Bumps" in your neighborhoods
or
how much you enjoyed having teens
in your homes.....
Sweet!

I am feeling a lot better now.

A viral inner ear thing was 

  giving me fits!

Finally it is easing up.

Thanks for being a ray of sunshine

on this very foggy, rainy day.

These photos from last year 

are just about the opposite of what is 

going on outside today.

From my heart to yours...

You are appreciated!!

I hope you know that

your words 

make a difference!

Message Found....

I want to take these days of our lives

and preserve them somehow!

I just love the enthusiasm and energy

of having multiple teens in the house.

Add their friends 

and what do you get?

Even more fun!

That has been our pattern for 

many weekends now.

One, or more, of the boys

friends will stay all or part of the 

weekend.

I love it!

Yesterday,
for the first time since Sunday,
I opened the cereal cupboard.

This is what I found!

From one of the friends to 

our apparently 

Pop-tart Protective 

daughter!

Funnier...

he used two stickers that 

go on the bottom of my candles 

as tape.

Resourceful!

I love my life!!!!

We Called Him "Bump"

As I was pondering what to write today

I was remembering winter days as a kid

when my brother and I would lace up our

ice skates and head for the swampy area

between our house and Penn's Creek.

This was an area that had just enough water 

in it to freeze over but also had weeds and 

catty-nine-tails popping up all through it.

Frequently the red head kid from the house

next door would join us in whatever mischief

or activity we would get into.

His nickname was Bump.

Given to him by his family, not ours.

Although, I am pretty sure there were times

that my Dad would have helped him to 

live up to his nickname.

I remember one of those days while we were

out skating on the swamp when I collided with

Bump.  Down we went, his skate cutting my 

face just beside my eye.  An accident, for sure, 

but it pointed out the dangers of skating under

these conditions.

I'll never forget one day that Bump 

decided to surprise my Dad.

He brought supplies to wax our car.

The wax went onto the dirty car....

Nope, he didn't wash it first.

Just smeared the wax all over the car.

Allan and I may, or may not, have helped him....

We were just innocent little kids....

We had never waxed a car before!

I remember the white wax smeared all over

the car in circular motions with dirt all 

through it.  

I also remember the roar that came from my 

Dad when he discovered this kind deed in 

process.

Ooops!!!

Bump was in trouble.

But, you know, as upset as my Dad was

with this kid he came to understand that it

was a deed done from a desire to please.

I don't remember how the mess was remedied.

Maybe Mom does and can fill us in, but I do 

know that for years after that this was a family 

memory that caused the shaking of the head

mixed with laughter between my parents.

Bump was that kid who tried to get 

us younger kids to chew tobacco.

Made all the more interesting to him that 

we were the Preacher's kids.

Wow!

If only he could get us to chew...

what a story he would have to tell.

At least that is how our parents kept us

from being interested in his nasty habits.

It worked.

I wasn't going to be his pawn

for story telling pleasure!

It was Bump's name that came up 

on our family vacations as we were

approaching a bridge or work zone

on the highway and there would be

a sign that simply said,

"Bump".

We kids would laugh 

hysterically that we were

running over Bump!

When Bump's family moved we never

paid attention to where they went.

He wasn't that kind of a friend....

and yet he had an impact on our

family story.

He is a fond memory from those

childhood years.

Not because he was so good.

But, because of the lessons learned

because of his actions.

Do you have a "Bump" in your

family memory vault?

What a Night!!!!! Long Post....

It was supposed to be pretty straightforward.

Warren, Chelsea, Mom and I were going to 

have dinner at Hoss's in Lititz across from the 

airport and then go over and pick up Georgia

when her plane arrived after two great

weeks in sunny Florida.

Sounds so very simple....

Not exactly how things played out.

You see, when I was taking Chelsea to work

in the late afternoon we had just a few extra minutes

and so stopped at one of our favorite home decor stores.

On the door was a sign stating they were looking for 

a stock person.  My mind went to Jonathan.

I know...a huge guy in home decor?

Well, maybe....

I stopped someone and asked if they would consider

a guy for that position...

was led to the manager who was enthusiastic about 

a very tall guy to help unload the truck once per week.

I was given an application for him

Which I brought home and found him agreeable

to fill out and drop off.

This means that we have added a person

to our happy little pick up Georgia party.

That is a good thing.

So....off we went.

The radio reminding us often that there was snow 

on its way.   They just kept saying that 

it was going to be at the heaviest between 

10pm and 11pm.

I figured that at any minute Georgia would

call to say that she would be staying in Baltimore.

That was not to be.

We were sitting at Hoss's eating our dinner.

My phone rang and it was Georgia.

As soon as she knew it was me she said,

"This is so terrible, this is just so terrible!"

I got very concerned and asked what 

was so terrible.

She said that they were going to send all of 

the passengers in a shuttle bus from Baltimore to Lancaster.

They were to leave about 8:00pm so we figured they

would get in around 10:00pm.

That didn't sound too bad.

We would get some shopping done.

Well, it didn't exactly turn out that way.

I think we had just left Michael's where we

had purchased some supplies for a project at church

when the phone rang.  

It was 8:30pm and the shuttle was just leaving Baltimore

in sleet.  It was going to be a slow go....

We headed to the mall.

This made two teenagers extremely happy.

We shopped until the doors were closing and we

had to leave.  Now it was just about 9:30pm

and we still had hours to kill.

We were NOT hungry so a restaurant seemed like

a bad idea...but I was thirsty and Chelsea and 

Warren were pretty sure they could entertain themselves

with Wi-Fi so the place of the Golden Arches fit

that bill.  By now it was snowing and the roads

were becoming snow covered.

So, with each other for entertainment

and a television with a terrible picture and just 

the words to read, Warren and Chelsea on their 

hand held devices, sometimes chatting with each other,

there we sat.  

Then Georgia called again.

They were stopped in York.

It was a temporary stop but things were 

not going well.  She was very frazzled.

It would be very late by the time they 

would get to Lancaster.

It was soon after this that I was visiting the ladies 

room when the cell phone rang.

Seeing that it was Warren's Aunt's phone

number I chose to answer it while still

in the stall.  I thought maybe something had happened.

It turned out to be Uncle Jim....

hmmm....this was embarrassing so I prepared 

to leave the stall.

Thus setting off the auto flusher.

More embarrassing!

In my most calm and business like voice

I asked him to hold one moment....

Yikes!

Well, it could have been an emergency!!

Sigh...the things I get myself into.

Turns out Georgia had called them from 

York and they were concerned

about the situation.

  We decided to go hang out at the airport.

They had told Georgia that someone would be there

and we would be able to go inside.

It is a lovely little airport and we thought at least 

there would be others in the same situation that we were...

more people to talk to.

We slipped and slid our way out to the airport where

all was dark!  It was obvious we would not be waiting

inside the building.  So we sat in the parking lot watching

the snow come down.  

Heavily!

Finally around 11:15pm a white van arrived.

The shuttle with very frustrated passengers.

Apparently the driver was not good in the snow.

There was nearly a takeover by one of the passengers 

who was demanding to drive.

He, of course, was not permitted to do so.

So...there was much, much frustration 

and relief

on the faces we saw.

Georgia got transferred over to our van and off we went.

It seemed to be not so bad at first.

We went straight through the city of Lancaster...

without too much trouble.

However, as we left Lancaster things got very bad

very quickly.   For one thing the windshield would not

stop freezing up.  Visibility was challenging at best.

At one point Warren jumped out at a light to snap 

the ice from his wiper blade.

It was a temporary success.

By the time we got to Willow Street we knew

we were in a very hazardous situation.
This was made even worse when we were suddenly 

driving in rushing waters.

In the dark, just outside of the little town of 

Willow Street someone had hit a fire hydrant.

It was gushing water at a tremendous rate

and causing flooding and freezing in the middle 

of the snow storm.

It was about 20 degrees out 

at this point.  

Water on the road

was a bad idea.
It was pitch black there and no one
was around.  No warning flares
or anything...just water and ice!

I called 911.

Thankfully they were aware of it and help was 

on the way...I cannot imagine the ice that 

must have built up there.

This left us with just over ten miles to go.

Ten miles of hoping we were still on the road.

Every now and then we found the middle of the 

road by the rumble strips carved into the yellow line.

Visibility was nearly non-existent.

At one place a car was simply stopped on the road

with its flashers going.

As it was near houses we passed it and kept going.

I do hope they were ok.

Finally, we made it home!

It is so good that we all live on the same 

street. By then, if that were not the case 

we would have been tempted to just stay at the first

of our houses we would have come to.

The snow totals here were much higher than anything

we had seen all evening.

It was around 12:30am by now.

What an evening!

Poor Georgia...

I kept saying, 

"I told you to stay another week!"

Well, since all ended well, 

it is very nice

to have her home. 

I hope she knows 

we are

glad

to see her.

Memories...more memories.

Life would be so dull without 

these Moms of ours!

What is On My Mind Today, You Ask?

Oh!  You didn't ask?

Well, you are welcome to stay

and read anyway...  if you like.

See this little sweetie?

His name is Mister.

He is not necessarily as sweet as he looks

but I love him anyway.

This was the dog we fostered while his

owner found a home after leaving an 

abusive situation.

Sadly, just as she has gotten settled into

her new home and life it appears she is 

about to be diagnosed with lymphoma.

The surgeon who did the biopsy on Friday

was pretty convinced that was what he was

looking at.  We are waiting the lab results.

Warren and I stopped in and visited Mister

and his Momma the other evening.  It was 

the first time we had seen him since he stayed 

with us.  Wow!  That was fun!!

He remembered us and went crazy with kisses

and his little body wiggled all over the place.

That made us feel so good!
Especially since he has bitten so many
of his visitors.
Not hard, but he is
a very snippy little
dog....

Praying for God's best in this woman's life.
She tells us that she is at perfect peace.
A peace that just cannot be explained.

*********

Today is Mikey's first mid-term.

We have learned that most of the others

in the Professional Gardener's Program
have already completed college.

Yikes!

His learning curve is steep.

Just learning the test taking skills and such 

that freshmen learn and being away from home

for the first time...all add to the challenges

he faces that the others do not.

Move in Day...He was so sick with the flu.

Mikey has been doing well but 

I know he is worried about what is to come

as the work cycle with a light class load will 

come to an end and the class cycle will start

in a little while where he will have six classes 

at one time.

Just makes a Momma's heart ache for him.

Although, you know, it is what he wanted and 

he has already worked so hard to earn this 

cherished spot in the program.

He is perfectly capable.

It was fun this weekend as we were in the kitchen.

I was cutting peppers for a veggie tray.

Suddenly he was telling me all about the process of

making hybrids.  I was quite impressed...

but then, I am the Momma. 

I've been impressed by him since he took his

first breath!

********

 Warren's mom, Georgia, is supposed to fly in 

from Florida this evening.

We are supposed to get a 

snow storm.

Arrgghhh.....
The weather man says that the heaviest
snow is to come just at the time we
would be getting her and heading home.

Bad, bad timing.

Thankfully, Warren will be able to drive us

to the airport.  We will see if her flights are on 

time and how everything goes with that.

She may end up sleeping in an airport if the 

connecting flights are canceled.

I hope not!

I did suggest that she just stay in Florida for

another week.  But, I think part of her is just 

ready to be home.

She'll regret that the moment she feels 

the cold and sees the snow!

****

O.k, I am done chatting away.

I could go on and on.

But, I won't.

****

Your feedback on Etsy and 

candle making in general is much 

appreciated.  I am leaning in a direction

that I need to discuss with Warren.

I'll get back to you on it when I know more.
I welcome all feedback!
You are the best!!!

****

Have a very wonderful Monday.

Hope it is filled with smiles.

They are so good for your face!

((smile))

Communion

We celebrate The Lord's Supper 

on the third Sunday of each month.

It is a special time as we remember

the price paid for our salvation.

Today's bulletin cover says:

Is not the

cup

of thanksgiving

for which

we give thanks

a participation

 in the blood

of Christ?

And is not

the bread

that we break

a participation

in the body

 of Christ?

1 Corinthians 10:16

Pastor Mike once preached a sermon

that used a mental image that 

stuck with me.

 

That of hiding in Christ's robe.

The truth that in our own selves

we would never pass the judgement.

But because of Christ's death and resurrection

we can hide in Him and pass by

because, and only because of,

His spotless record.

His garment of white.

I am hiding in Him today!

Tucked securely into the folds of

His Robe.

There is no better place to be.

To Etsy...or Not....That is One Question!

I've been playing around with the idea of

opening an Etsy store.

Those of you who have ever shopped or

sold on Etsy....do you have any advice?

Do you think the site can take another 

candle seller?  

Should I do candles and.....?

Are people tending to shop there more or less?

What do you look for on Etsy?

Sellers...what advice would you give

a newbie?

Just curious....

Trying to decide if I am going to continue

in the candle business... or not.

That is an even bigger question!

Yep!  

Lots swirling in this scary brain of mine!

I LOVE making candles.

The rest of my family doesn't love

it as much.

At the pace it is growing I have to make

some changes now...

i.e. making them elsewhere for one.

My kitchen has been outgrown.

So...I either continue to go with the

growth  and invest more time and money...

or I shut it down.

Advice!

Let me hear it, please......

Another Peru Story - Pastor Alfredo

One of the most touching stories to come from

this mission trip involves Pastor Alfredo.

He is an amazing man with such a heart for God.

When he was younger he lived in a part of Peru 

that was terrorized by a group known as 

The Shining Path.

They are a Communist Group who killed

many Christians and others that they didn't like.

I have linked to Wikipedia so you can read more

about them, if you like.

Anyway, one day at the funeral of the Pastor who had
led him to the Lord,  The Shining Path came in

and killed many.  Alfredo was one of the few survivors.

He had to flee this area and make a new life in a safer region.

The Shining Path had established labor camps so 

even if they hadn't killed him they would likely 

have forced him into labor in the Coca Fields.

Fleeing was his only option.

That is how he came to live and work for God in the place

our Mission Team found him.

Pastor Alfredo felt such a tug on his heart for ministry

that he would go from village to village seeking to introduce

the people to Jesus.

At each village he would seek those who might be receptive to 

his message and take him in.

To feed and shelter him so that he could share the
Good News of the gospel.

Sometimes he would find that.

Other times he would stay just a couple of days

until his body couldn't hold out any longer without

food and he would move on.

The fruits of these labors are the village churches that 

were represented at the events of this past January.

Our moms met and shared fellowship with those

that Pastor Alfredo has led to the Lord.

Honestly, Alfredo is like a modern day Paul.

He now had a circuit of villages that he mentored

but the churches themselves are now set up with 

lay leadership 

and Pastors when possible.

Now we come to the part of the story that both breaks

your heart and make you admire him all the more.

Pastor Alfredo is married and has a son.

His wife holds a job to support them because

Alfredo does not get paid to do the work that he does.

This has left their son alone to his own devices too much.

He has fallen in with the wrong people and is 

in need of shepherding himself.

The seemingly happy events which I have shown

...where there was much singing and dancing....

were also a time of saying goodbye.

You see, Pastor Alfredo and his wife know

that their son's spiritual training is their responsibility.

They have made a decision to move to a place

where Pastor Alfredo will have just one church.

He will be there full time for his teen son.

A very good thing, indeed.

He has been gone for much of his son's 

young years.

However, this is a heart wrenching thing.

The hearts of the people are broken that their 

dear Pastor...the one who introduced them 

to Jesus and has mentored them along the way...

is leaving the area.

They sang a song to him.

Can you just see the pain in their faces???

This was one reason for the dancing and praise.

Pastor Alfredo was determined to leave on a 

cheerful note.  Oh, how he loves these people.

But his heart must have been breaking too.

The Shepherd leaving his sheep.

Thankfully they are in the hands of an

even more capable Shepherd.

All will be well.

Please be praying for this dear 

family as they begin anew in a 

new home and church.

That God would honor their sacrifice

and restore their son to 

right relationships and most of all

a relationship with Himself.

This is the truck that the Mission Team rode in.  They were piled in front and back.

My Savior My God

This is one of the songs our Choirs will be performing

for the Spring Concert. 

                                                 

The combined choirs will sing this one....

2nd/3rd, 4 - 6th, Junior and Senior High.

I cannot wait to hear all of them together.

My friend Tamara works with 

2nd/3rd graders and 

I teach the other two choirs.  

I am looking forward to this!

Just about one month away!

Hope You Didn't Get Whiplash....

But I just had to change things up 

around here....

The weather is so wonderful that 

I had to brighten up this space too!

Update - Family Integrated Church

In June 2008 I wrote THIS POST

about what our Family Integrated 

Church looked like.

Yesterday I went back and read that post

again.  It fascinated me to read it knowing 

that when I wrote it

we were just learning about and beginning to 

experience this intentional style of worship.

Now, as I write, so much has changed.

For one thing I am no longer defensive

of our choices.

I am humbly grateful for what God has done. 

I would erase every bit of defensiveness from 

that post were I to write it again.

At that point we were a congregation of about

twenty-five people with a few young children,

Several teens and no babies.

We are now seeing an attendance of 50 to 

60 nearly every week.  We have many children

and young people.  

It has been a nice paced growth allowing

us to get to know each family as they 

have joined us.

What has not changed is anything of what I wrote

about how we worship.

We still do all of our Sunday School and Worship

together as families.  It is not uncommon to hear a 

little voice pipe up in answer to a question from 

Pastor Mike.  Children also occasionally

pray out loud during our corporate prayer time.

I actually got in trouble with one little boy

for praying for "his" prayer request.

He wanted to pray for it himself!

So cute!

And I thought I was doing a good thing....lol.

When volunteers are asked for to read during the 

Sunday School time it is often a young person

who raises their hand....their input is welcome too.

Anthony(15) gave a report not too long ago that related

to our topic at that time.  He put a lot of time and study

into this.  Currently, Pastor Mike is seeking

volunteers to make videos of the stories of 

Paul's Missionary Journey.  

These will then be shown as we get to those

points in his journey.  

Interaction and involvement of those

of all ages. 

This is the goal.  

This is our reality.

A recent development has all of us excited.

The men had just started meeting after our 

Fellowship Meals to share and pray together.

As heads of households they have concerns and 

burdens that only they can relate to.

They understand each other and are lifting each 

other up in encouragement, advice and prayer.

Some of the women felt that this might be a great

thing to do as well.  So...we had our first meeting

two weeks ago.  It was so wonderful.  

Sharing from

the heart about our joys and concerns.  

Then a wonderful time of prayer. 

I just know that this

will bring us closer together 

and help us to understand

where each of us is coming from.  

We have a better

idea of how to pray for those we worship with.

I am looking forward to our next time together

on Sunday afternoon.

As you know Missions 

are very important to us

 as a church.

We continue to prayerfully support those

from the congregation who have 

opportunities to go to the mission field

as well as involve the children in projects

relating to our Compassion Child from Indonesia.

Recently they colored pictures to send to 

young Herman.

Families take turns

writing and sending photos

to him.

We continue to work together

to teach music to interested

young ones.  

Piano lessons, Voice lessons

and working together with instruments.

Most of this 

happens during the afternoon 

after Fellowship Meals.

I am excited about the opportunities for 

Dads with talents in various areas to 

share during this time with the boys and teen guys.

Maybe some time to learn the basics of 

automotive maintenance or other such 

practical things.

 Moms have talents

to share, as well.

Sewing?  Knitting?

Canning?

Sharing skills with each other.

A very good thing.

I often observe Kelly and Lindsay

sharing with each other as it relates 

to photography.

I think they are so good for each other!

Conversations on gardening are common.

One family set another up with 

chickens this past Fall to see

if they enjoyed it.

They did.

More chickens are coming 

to Creekside Cottage in the Spring.

Many of our families drive more than a 

half an hour to get to church so we make

the most of the times we are together.

Sundays tend to be that time...

all day.

I could go on and on about all that 

God is doing in our tiny fellowship.

Suffice it to say that

we are not disappointed with the

path we chose.

God has blessed us greatly

with a closeness of fellowship

that we desired.

Pastor Mike is preaching from 

2 Corinthians.

His sermon on Sunday dealt with

being "Bound Together"

in the good and the bad of life.

Paul set the example 

in his love and care for 

those he ministered to.

Praise be to the 

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion 

and the God of all comfort,  

who comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those 

in any trouble with the comfort 

we ourselves receive from God.  

For just as we share abundantly 

in the sufferings of Christ, 

so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  

If we are distressed, 

it is for your comfort and salvation;

if we are comforted,

it is for your comfort, 

which produces in you 

patient endurance of the 

same sufferings we suffer. 

And our hope for you is firm, 

because we know that just as 

you share in our sufferings, 

so also you share in our comfort.

Praying that we can follow Paul's

example and really 

live this out.

It is not always easy.

People are not perfect.

I am definitely not perfect!

But, with God,

it is definitely possible!

So Pretty!

I might have to plant some of these....

but first I have to find out if they grow

in Pennsylvania.

Wonder which of my kids 

I could ask for that 

little bit of knowledge?

lol

We didn't see Mikey while we were

at Longwood Gardens yesterday
as it was during his work 

hours and I didn't want to 

distract him.

Of course there was that 

little problem of my phone

not having service....

so I might have tried to call him.

Maybe!

On another note...

There is a new blogger that ya'll just 

have to meet.

Her name is Amelia and she is the

daughter of Diane, whom I have come to adore.

Hope you'll pop over to 

Amelia's Stedfast and Whimsy Blog.

And on yet another note...
One just has to love that my husband
knows me well enough after nearly 22
years to get me Peanut M&M's for
Valentine's Day.
Funny he never gets that wrong!
I love that man!!

See you later!

Have a wonderful day!