Sunday, July 18, 2010

Golden Friendships




In my Brownie troop, many years ago, we learned the song
"Make new friends but keep the old
One is silver and the other is gold."
This was a weekend of celebrating old friendships and celebrating the marvelous answers to prayer in their lives.
First on Saturday, we toasted Ruth and (Ben)Barlow Jacobs' new marriage with a lovely summer supper by the Mutters' pool. Ben's family shared the driveway with us, our two families went to the same church and school;how we missed them when they moved away!
Sunday night the Rainsfords came over to our house for another summer supper with lots of yummy vegetables. This time we were celebrating Guy's quick recovery from brain surgery only a month before and that the tumor was NOT cancer!Which was the same result after Barlow's surgery on his ear last year. Life is hard, but God is good.
We rejoice with each of them that God has strengthened us through the trials and
"...that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured."
Colossians 4:12

Friday, July 16, 2010

More Than 8 Cousins




Blessings without number is the phrase that comes to mind after returning from a family reunion at Lakeside Community near Marblehead on Lake Erie. My cousin, Carmen, who we nicknamed "Queen Mum" organized a delightful get together on the shores of the most shallow of the Great Lakes at a place with old time cottages that made you feel like you dropped into an old "Leave It to Beaver" episode on T.V.!
A family group arrived from Tennessee just hours after the crew from Minnesota and Wisconsin pulled in to the old railroad station. We had a worship service, meal and some riotous games that had everyone cheering and laughing!
During the 3 days together we square danced, played shuffle board and miniature golf, climbed up Marblehead Lighthouse, also went sailing and swimming in warm Lake Erie. We rode a ferry over to Kelley's Island, visited the astounding Glacier Grooves (stone carved by ice) and ate WALLEYE for lunch!!!
Sitting around a campfire on the shore, eating s'mores and singing with a guitar all together were very memorable. It was hard to say good-bye so cousin Bill's wife, Marie, said instead we should say,"Until next time" because we have the promise of heaven and seeing each other again if not next year then over there.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Water's Edge


Henry and I have been enchanted with time away from T.V., telephones, and computers as we sit by the water's edge and watch the Tennessee River flow by our cottage.
A very simple truth has been refreshed in my spirit through this time away.
"Jesus knows me
this I love".
In so many ways, over and over again, I have felt known and provided for by the Creator of the galaxies and many universes.
The 1st chapter of Jeremiah reminds us that before we were born, He knew us!

"And Jesus said,
"Come to the water
stand by my side
I know you are thirsty
You won't be denied
I saw every teardrop
When in darkness you cried
And I strove to remind you
That for those tears I died."