LADY ABIGAIL's 15th BIRTHDAY July 4th 2009 Good

I have been blessed over the past 15 years to have the company of my sweet pooch, Lady Abigail of Glen Ellyn!! She has been a faithful companion!

We started out the day with a bath and then I dressed her up in a red cami, a red white and blue sign that said Happy Birthday and a white corsage!

There are two videos in this blog!
The first one shows her how tired she gets after a bath -- she's all dressed up in that one. The second one is of her eating a slice of cake that Christie and Julie brought over! I couldn't believe how she chomped it -- just like she would a steak if she got it. She sure loves human food -- anything but celery. There were many times she took our food. One time a turkey cooling on the oven door. Many times meat! Another time she ate David's homework!! YES teachers, it does happen! He had to carve his initials (3D) in a raw potato and it turned out awesome,as he took a long time. He put it on a step going down to the basement as "for sure she was too little to get it" (she was about 7-8 weeks old). BUT, get it she did and David had to re due it!

I love you little lady and thank you for these 15 years!!


 

 

 

IT'S NOW UP TO GOD!

That's what Callie said when they finished planting!
She had a sense of satisfaction, which comes after the hard job of planting seeds and knowing you will reap rewards from it!


Looking at a spider which both girls (Christie and Callie) hate!!





It's hard work to get the ground ready to plant seeds for a vegetable garden!
Jonathan had to take an axe to break up the ground full of tree roots.



Callie is loving this garden thing!


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I am loving that my kids want to make their first garden in my yard!!

Another couple, Rachel and Jim, who are moving in with me beginning of July, have also planted a garden!
I'll post pictures of them and their garden later.

BIBLE STUDY GROUP - POTLUCK

We had our final Bible Study for the year, celebrating with a Potluck Dinner at my house. We usually do this so we can use my screened in porch but being it's been a chilly spring, we didn't know if that would happen However, isn't it just like God to give you over and above your hearts desire!


The people who were able to attend, Left to Right:
Susan Skorburg, Renee Collier, Beth Wyse, Barb Wilkinson, Don Collier, Adriana Rusu, Nan Lightbody, Tim Wilkinson, Eleisu Rusu





This get together was especially sweet in spirit! Eleisu and Adriana were home from Romania and rarely get to join us. He is a Pastor and has a deep understanding of Scripture and life. As he explained, In Romania, Pastor's not only have to preach, but people come to them for all kinds of advice. Thank you Eleisu for adding so much to our time together. We will miss you!

TSEGE'S SAWYER

Brenda and Bob McDonnel gave our Sunday School class an opportunity to love and honor our Ethiopian friend, Tsege. About 7 months ago, she became a grandma for the first time and this called for a celebration!


It was a joyful time, full of thanks, eating and sharing gifts. Brenda shared a little about grandmothers from the Bible - one from the OT and one from the NT. In the OT,
Ruth gave birth to a son [Obed]. The women said to Grandma Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.” Ruth 4:14

In the NT Paul said to Timothy, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5

Shows you how great importance God places on Grandparents! We know Tsege will be praying as much for her grandchildren as she did for her children.

Tsege is a fantastic prayer warrior and has taught our Sunday School so much about prayer. Many times she stands and prays in her native tongue, taking us to God too, helping us to feel God's presence globally.





This precious gift was given to Tsege 7 months ago, her first and only grandson!






Tsege, Askedom, Sawyer, erin, Maheret, Hintsa and sister/>












PROUD DAD!






FRIENDS WHO WELCOMED SAWYER WITH LOVE AND GIFTS!!














AUNTIE MAHARET







AUNT MAHARET and UNCLE HINTSA and Jan Bensen


























BRENDA McDONELL with SAWYER











TSEGE'S SISTER, SAWYER AND TSEGE















TIM AND NANCY BOTTS















AUNTIE LOVIN ON SAWYER!














NANCY BOTTS with SAWYER

SPLISH SPLASH

Elation and Dread

ELATION and DREAD
As the 2008 election process has taken place, I've never felt more interested.
There have been times of elation and also dread, the later putting my stomach in a knot. When I discuss it with people of varying opinions/convictions, I promise myself I won't ever discuss it again.

And then the inevitable happens. Someone says something very profound and I am forced to listen....really listen and do more thinking. The someone I'm referring to is my
son, Jonathan. He said Jesus came to minister to the poor.

So, I started thinking about all the things Jesus came to do.
He came to serve, not to be served.

He healed.
He sacrificed.
He saved,
He raised from the dead.

This should move us into action for His kingdom today.
What kind of action?
Saying YES to God.
Doing His will as is told in His Words found in the Bible.

That is the only way I can find any peace or freedom from all this
chaos that the world and it's system brings.
"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free"

Therefore, I have decided I've not been thinking right.
I need to believe Jesus when He says things in His word and then leave it up to Him
to accomplish His will.

He makes good out of evil.

Jesus said "I will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it"

So, will I be a pacifist?
NO!
I will still PRAY
BE INFORMED
and
VOTE!!

Sawyer

MOTHERS DAY

My heart is full and overflowing with joy! Mothers Day was a fantastic time filled with love. It started with Jonathan & Callie and David & Nickie coming to pick me up for Church. I felt so happy sitting in the middle of these two wonderful couples. Then we picked up our food and dogs and went to Christie's, to meet Derrick (Nickie's brother who biked most of the way from Chicago)and grill. The fare was delicious: chicken and beef kabobs, grilled veggies, jello, potato salad, rice/chicken casserole with strawberry shortcake for dessert.

After eating, we went back to my house where the men put the picnic table together, we played with the dogs - er dog (Abbie watches!) and Callie did some yard work and planning for their garden which their going to plant here this coming weekend. So come back folks for some more pics.

Callie and Jonathan gave me a picnic table, Nickie and David two gorgeous geraniums and Christie some plush white towels and Botanic nature soap.


I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34: 1 & 3

PIANO RECITAL 2009

CAREFEST 2009