tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34209876061238176142024-03-06T03:49:45.630-05:00Elaine's Electronic EpistleAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-56966842084473079922015-05-08T21:19:00.001-04:002015-05-08T21:23:42.728-04:00My New Wheels!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvba-ue9njJniW5u6Dbipnb4a5PMKOeLe2tMQV7l_ZknQRQ6nxra5xkE21V0X22HolREgQSPNYCkFP1ih4Ck0AqS_Brh-BJwdl6xm6Up_acDSeiJ0WQJ22jWXsuTRjtQrz8V_VR2MpDOf/s1600/IMG_0415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvba-ue9njJniW5u6Dbipnb4a5PMKOeLe2tMQV7l_ZknQRQ6nxra5xkE21V0X22HolREgQSPNYCkFP1ih4Ck0AqS_Brh-BJwdl6xm6Up_acDSeiJ0WQJ22jWXsuTRjtQrz8V_VR2MpDOf/s400/IMG_0415.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, I did it! I purchased my new (to me) wheels this morning. In case you don't recognize the vehicle, which I wouldn't have until a few weeks ago, it's a Scion xB. It's not the car I would have purchased if things were different; it's also not the color I would have chosen if I had had a choice. I never would have imagined that I would drive around in a vehicle shaped like a rectangular box, but things change as one ages. I pray it will serve me well in the days and years ahead. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-26596184951291651722014-12-31T01:34:00.001-05:002014-12-31T01:34:47.098-05:00Other Pictures from the Post-Christmas Celebration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpeMKxuhm34Zuy-inLJ_VaENQoXb0AUSbYMm69FAHd-ypZ1JJPOdhrQnZe-UZJ-HKL6RK2BEabl7b_GXwecEmUkP5bw6jojrpZpiHp_t0URdC-bDocBosKFGrlRAs2iD30BnPOiMEQ9im/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpeMKxuhm34Zuy-inLJ_VaENQoXb0AUSbYMm69FAHd-ypZ1JJPOdhrQnZe-UZJ-HKL6RK2BEabl7b_GXwecEmUkP5bw6jojrpZpiHp_t0URdC-bDocBosKFGrlRAs2iD30BnPOiMEQ9im/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Among others visiting my younger sister and her husband are this couple. Philip is Mary Ellen's fourth child. He is standing here with his wife, Elizabeth, whose birthday we celebrated on Sunday. Philip and Elizabeth live in California, so it was really good to get to see them again this year.</div>
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It's been a difficult year for Philip and Elizabeth, as Elizabeth lost her mother, who until a few weeks before her diagnosis of terminal cancer, thought she was in good health. Pray for Elizabeth and her family, especially for her father. As you might imagine, it's been particularly difficult for him.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-56042956873224587022014-12-29T19:00:00.001-05:002014-12-29T19:05:20.921-05:00Our Post-Christmas Celebration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These children have been a part of our Christmas celebration. The picture was taken after church yesterday. The four lighter-haired children belong to Rebekah, the second child of my younger sister. The four with darker hair belong to one of my nephews, Mary Ellen's oldest son. He doesn't wish the children to be identified in any way.</div>
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With four children, nine and under, the noise level around here has been a bit higher than I'm used to hearing. It's amazing how quickly these children grow from year to year. The youngest of these children was born in the spring, so I've never before seen her. And it will probably be another year before I get to see any of them again.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-28096582009197495582014-12-20T15:36:00.001-05:002014-12-20T18:19:57.881-05:00The Terrific Organist at the Mighty WurlitzerThere are organs, and then there are organs. And there are organists, and then there are other organists! I think I may have heard one of the best yesterday evening as several of my Bible study friends and I went to the Grand Rapids Public Museum where the mighty Wurlitzer organ is housed. Wow! What an organ! If you live in the Grand Rapids area and have never heard it, you will want to do that sometime soon.<br />
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The organ was built in 1928. By the 1950s, it had fallen into disrepair. Thankfully, someone realized its value, and had it restored. It made its way to Grand Rapids in the mid-1970s, where it was used in a pizza parlor until 1991. It was moved to the Meijer Theater in the museum and dedicated there on November 14, 1995, where it proudly remains to this day.<br />
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The organist we heard last night is Jelani Eddington, a Hoosier by birth, as am I. At an early age, he decided that he wished to be a professional musician. That is not too surprising, since his mother was a professional music teacher of many years, and his grandmother was a piano instructor for many years. Is musical ability inherited or learned? In either case, Jelani acquired it. He began piano lessons at the age of four, much younger than most students are when they begin studying the piano.<br />
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I would have enjoyed the concert even more if Mr. Eddington had played more carols, but he did two medleys of Christmas carols. One of them included a wonderful rendition of one of my favorites, "O Holy Night." Among other songs he played were <i>Sleigh Ride</i>, <i>Brazilian Sleigh Ride</i>, <i>Santa Claus is Coming to Town</i>, and many, many others. It all added up to make for a delightful evening.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-55363263180181023842014-12-15T01:55:00.001-05:002014-12-15T01:55:08.500-05:00A Recent Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EInKI5lNWceCvUNVaUaemvNpee4PKrcEb0fwvYjprGDg29mrcDhuR1R9FS5UX31IQ81-z8eKs6a7IC2Pg8IIV_6G133NouBvaG9krp35Evba-NU7u-DAH2ZWmdHd6Yz0J9t30B96FkVE/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EInKI5lNWceCvUNVaUaemvNpee4PKrcEb0fwvYjprGDg29mrcDhuR1R9FS5UX31IQ81-z8eKs6a7IC2Pg8IIV_6G133NouBvaG9krp35Evba-NU7u-DAH2ZWmdHd6Yz0J9t30B96FkVE/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Each fall the senior housing building in which I live sponsors a bazaar in which residents sell projects they've made in order to help other residents who have run out of resources since moving into this facility. The picture above shows one of the baby afghans I made for the bazaar. </div>
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The staircase in the background is beautiful, isn't it? It's just a part of the beauty of this building. God has been good to me to allow me to move here. He provided what was needed in order to allow this to happen and I praise Him for it.</div>
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Since donating this afghan, and another that was very similar, I've made one for a great-nephew who recently joined our family in Massachusetts. And I'm ready to begin another. I enjoy doing this in the evening, after a day in the office of Bibles International.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-858056954070980872014-12-13T21:09:00.002-05:002014-12-13T21:12:52.054-05:00Busy Weekend!<div style="text-align: center;">
When most of you see this title, you will naturally assume that I've been out Christmas shopping. Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, I've been busy at home. I had copious amounts of laundry to do, since I didn't do all I should have done last weekend.</div>
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But the more interesting and satisfying thing I've done is proofreading/editing a fellow BMM missionary's book. I love editing and proofreading and when the text I'm reading is interesting, I enjoy it all the more. The book is by Nancy Sheppard, who spent some weeks working in the ELWA hospital in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. That hospital is one of the main hospitals attending to the needs of Ebola patients in Liberia. To the author, Nancy Sheppard, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol are not just names heard from media sources. Instead, they are personal friends with whom she worked, prayed, and suffered through the beginning of the Ebola crisis in Liberia.</div>
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Having lived in the country that borders Liberia to the east, Ivory Coast or Cote d'Ivoire, I was back in West Africa as I read the manuscript. Nancy will soon be publishing her book. As soon as she has, I'll let you know. It will be available on Amazon.com.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-89962589366559385192014-12-05T21:10:00.000-05:002014-12-05T21:10:50.916-05:00Give Thanks unto the Lord!<div style="text-align: center;">
We've just celebrated Thanksgiving, but we ought to be thanking the Lord on a daily basis. Psalm 106:1 commands us: O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good.</div>
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I have several things for which I'm thanking Him.</div>
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I have a new great-nephew, born three weeks early on November 28. He joins his two older brothers who are almost 4 1/2 and almost 2 1/2. I would say his mother is going to be busy, wouldn't you agree? Pray for his mom and dad as they try to teach him in the ways of the Lord. </div>
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This great-nephew brings the total number of great-nieces and/or great-nephews </div>
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to 18. That's a passel, wouldn't you say?</div>
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I've recently passed the 18-month anniversary of the removal of my two, unrelated cancers. That event occurred on May 30, 2013, so November 30 was the 18-month anniversary. I visited my oncologist this week and learned that there is no sign of a return of the cancer. I'm grateful </div>
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and am praising the Lord for that fact. Will you join me in thanking Him </div>
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for what He has done?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-80913228425464603022014-11-02T13:54:00.001-05:002014-11-02T13:54:35.072-05:00Please Pray for my Friend!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkSoRWpwYoSqJXhN7c3aEmToCVTZKjX2KljZiIBq-TOiy4rTowtwdAvqCbnVqOtD3CJtSoe3On6sdLtTuCETme91GuSQQmdpVsibnA4JaoB5cvoV-e5RUy9QjBPqPu6XuxgkehOTZicQU/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkSoRWpwYoSqJXhN7c3aEmToCVTZKjX2KljZiIBq-TOiy4rTowtwdAvqCbnVqOtD3CJtSoe3On6sdLtTuCETme91GuSQQmdpVsibnA4JaoB5cvoV-e5RUy9QjBPqPu6XuxgkehOTZicQU/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have my friend's permission to post this, asking for your prayers. I visited her and her husband yesterday evening, and this is the position in which I found her. But not only was it the position in which I found her last night. It's also the position in which she must rest throughout the day and into the night if she's unable to sleep in the bed created so that she can sleep face down.<br />
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You see, earlier this year she developed a hole in her macula (right eye). Her vision had progressively deteriorated in that eye so on Thursday morning she had surgery to correct the problem. Her doctor told her that to the degree that she complies with the recovery protocol, she can expect her vision to improve. That protocol is that she may have her head up five minutes out of every hour. The rest of the time her head must be down. She may not read anything.<br />
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She is a great example of how we ought to suffer. She never complained one time in the three hours I was with her yesterday. She did reply that her forehead is sore when I asked if she had pain. When she lifted her head, I noticed the red mark across her forehead from bearing the weight of her head on this contraption.<br />
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She must continue in this position, or lying down with her face in a similar contraption at the end of a mattress, through Thursday. If the recovery has been deemed successful when she sees the doctor, she may cease using these contraptions. Otherwise, this unpleasant (not her word, but mine) recovery may continue. Even if she is allowed to lift her head at the end of the week, she will still not be allowed to read.<br />
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Would you pray with me for her? She has helped me so many times, taking me to the hospital when I've needed surgeries or minor procedures. She sat through my nine-hour cancer surgery last year -- all of this because she is not only my friend but my power of attorney. Now it's my time to pray and help her to the limited degree that I can. So I'm seeking your prayer support for her.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-29865345870777307592014-10-20T14:31:00.001-04:002014-10-20T14:31:43.907-04:00My Seventieth Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxa1llTxPHUcyHEPxdWXHZGNeUuspkTd3mtSu2Sk1WUErbQGteMdhHpcy_raLMt02ksqlybapdkXsy6_rgQumA6vhzMDtK-KDPvVdQmYM3BjHRq0mKNM4BAPbjxszDdabSmhYYa6CduYU/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxa1llTxPHUcyHEPxdWXHZGNeUuspkTd3mtSu2Sk1WUErbQGteMdhHpcy_raLMt02ksqlybapdkXsy6_rgQumA6vhzMDtK-KDPvVdQmYM3BjHRq0mKNM4BAPbjxszDdabSmhYYa6CduYU/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRQB4dVw3XXROsHArHM1fd6tV-FVKmLXed9MqBHpHIqPddumRNE6pDdckeLZqhd9pA2aU94yqlP971c1b1Hxo8doCMzFhWJrSXgKU1DhXnzdlC5JYiAihfRfFgrpaG0kcZuZcUMVKSeV1/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRQB4dVw3XXROsHArHM1fd6tV-FVKmLXed9MqBHpHIqPddumRNE6pDdckeLZqhd9pA2aU94yqlP971c1b1Hxo8doCMzFhWJrSXgKU1DhXnzdlC5JYiAihfRfFgrpaG0kcZuZcUMVKSeV1/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
People say that a woman never tells her age. But since I'm usually guessed to be 15-20 years older than I am, I'm quick to tell my actual age. This past Thursday, October 16, I celebrated my 70th birthday, and a celebration it was!<br />
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The day began with a coworker/friend coming into my office carrying a bouquet of flowers, as seen above. I was working alone in the office because Bibles International (BI) was having their BIG, annual dinner that evening. I stayed in the office to answer the phones while everyone else was at the church setting up for the dinner at which BI was hosting about 630 guests. During the morning, I got a phone call from my youngest nephew, from California. He didn't even know it was my birthday, but the Lord did, and arranged the phone call on that very day.<br />
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Before the day was over, the wife of another nephew, also living in California, called and we chatted for quite some time. It was good to hear from her, as her mother will soon lose her battle with cancer, but will win the victory of going home to heaven. I've been praying intensely for that family. Her husband called later, but I missed that call because I was at the banquet.<br />
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That evening I went to the BI banquet. I've laughingly said that I celebrated my 70th birthday with about 600 of my closest friends. Of course, I didn't know nearly all the people there, but at least I was with a friendly crowd. Because my birthday is the same day as the former BI director and his wife, our birthdays were all recognized.<br />
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It was a lovely evening with a delicious meal and a very good presentation of the work we are doing in Myanmar. Actually, one might say that the focus was on what Adoniram Judson began in Burma many years ago. God chose to bless Judson's work, and we are seeing some of the fruits of his labor and suffering even now.<br />
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At the banquet, I received several cards and gifts, including another beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, which I don't have a picture of, unfortunately. Along with the cards and gifts I got there, I received about 140 birthday greetings on Facebook, dozens of cards and letters, and other gifts. God certainly blessed me!<br />
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If you were part of making this day a very memorable one, in any way you might have chosen. thank you. After all, one only turns 70 once in one's lifetime! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-48020329727496443452014-07-24T21:28:00.000-04:002014-07-24T21:29:59.936-04:00<div style="text-align: center;">
God is so wonderful;</div>
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I can't explain.</div>
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But I can say glory hallelujah,</div>
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Praise His holy name!</div>
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This is the song that came to mind as I drove home from my visit with the nephrology oncologist yesterday. I didn't really see the oncologist; I haven't seen him since right before I went into surgery on May 30, 2013. But his PA gave me such a good report. The ultrasound showed no return of the cancer, although I do have two cysts in my kidney. As long as they don't change, there will be no problem. And because that particular tumor was so small, and had clean edges when they removed it, meaning no cancer had gotten into the rest of the kidney or any other part of my body, she told me that they'll do one more ultrasound, a year from now. If it is still clear, they will consider me cured. Praise God! He's been so good to me! As the chorus says, I truly cannot explain why He has been so good to me when I hear of so many others who are years younger and are dying of cancer. I guess He simply is not yet ready for me.</div>
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On a completely different note, it's been a great time to be at Bibles International. We've sent two new New Testaments to the printer. The dedication for these two New Testaments is set for November. Please pray with us that they will have been printed by that time. These two people groups in Asia are eagerly awaiting having God's Word in their heart languages in a book they're able to hold in their hands and read. Pray that God would use His Word to accomplish His purposes in the hearts of many who will read these New Testaments.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-23272124796450439492014-04-30T13:19:00.000-04:002014-04-30T13:19:02.455-04:00One of my Latest Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9N3V6PMXb_XMj6nE5nGUX1Fhyphenhyphen5y6ccr_-AwCU5mLC2e8FZvDJh_P_vSVYzZyauvTnMpbqnwpk8hnaAxx-n0isyrc25eHY8xX5S3C7oxp5rmn3w1r4U-M94fIvPw_02M-Kpal2uxR2lAM/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9N3V6PMXb_XMj6nE5nGUX1Fhyphenhyphen5y6ccr_-AwCU5mLC2e8FZvDJh_P_vSVYzZyauvTnMpbqnwpk8hnaAxx-n0isyrc25eHY8xX5S3C7oxp5rmn3w1r4U-M94fIvPw_02M-Kpal2uxR2lAM/s1600/IMG_0290.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last year in March, I had a new great-niece. When our family had a baby shower for her mother the preceding Christmas time, the wife of one of my nephews saw an afghan I had made for the new baby. Her comment was, "It almost makes me want to have another baby." (I'm not sure she even remembers saying that.)</div>
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This year, this same nephew's wife was expecting a baby, to be born near the end of April or the beginning of May. I contacted the expectant mother's sister, asking her what colors would be used for the new baby. She told me that the colors were to be light pink and light gray. So out I went to the nearest Hobby Lobby to purchase my yarn. (I'm shopping at Hobby Lobby as often as possible to support them in their current court case.)</div>
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I started this near the end of February or the beginning of March. The baby arrived very early last Friday morning; I finished the afghan very late on Saturday evening. And now it's on its way to the home of the new baby, Elisabeth Rose.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-54595421735655420452014-01-02T18:56:00.001-05:002014-01-02T19:04:19.445-05:00Retirement Party Hosted for me by my Family<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WQ0lGJbYxagKwAXtHCsiFRgwdvu25J9O4gf9us2hd7CLhWKdZbGo8dQVfRf_uMhJnaZgi92ozBhaTq2pGF9dsIVkzsy7PACwQs5kItZUdIVtvjey6T3qK3aWOYW-i66DaACwGVfOLLwg/s1600/IMG_2776.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WQ0lGJbYxagKwAXtHCsiFRgwdvu25J9O4gf9us2hd7CLhWKdZbGo8dQVfRf_uMhJnaZgi92ozBhaTq2pGF9dsIVkzsy7PACwQs5kItZUdIVtvjey6T3qK3aWOYW-i66DaACwGVfOLLwg/s320/IMG_2776.JPG" /></a><br />
My younger sister, Mary Ellen, and one of her daughters, <br />
preparing the hor d'oeuvres for the event.</div>
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My cousin's granddaughter on the left, playing with my great-niece, on the right. They met for the first time at my retirement party.</div>
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My youngest niece, Rachel, with her elder son, Josiah.</div>
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A revolving globe, my retirement gift from Bibles International, <br />
with several souvenirs from my missionary career in Africa.</div>
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Flowers and a decorated cake from my family.</div>
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My niece, Rebekah, showing my decorated cake.<br />
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It was a pleasant afternoon, this past Saturday, and I'm so grateful for all the effort and money spent by my family. I'm sorry for those who were unable to attend.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-80264064376369986122013-12-22T16:43:00.001-05:002013-12-22T21:51:02.338-05:00The Woods is Lovely, Dark and Deep....<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeFFgEtoHnUHIWcfM81psQc5CTyf4xZ5n7j8fYJ_04tvhaT_99_7BRW1baiIYfwW1pW_bZmB4qE7C5jJnwzlXfr5zsWkwsc6zDkPX8ay4rnjYBdNDpqMJ2DgtQRQVJan0p5SneXwmgtux/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeFFgEtoHnUHIWcfM81psQc5CTyf4xZ5n7j8fYJ_04tvhaT_99_7BRW1baiIYfwW1pW_bZmB4qE7C5jJnwzlXfr5zsWkwsc6zDkPX8ay4rnjYBdNDpqMJ2DgtQRQVJan0p5SneXwmgtux/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" /></a> </div>
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<br />
As beautiful as the pictures are, they don't do justice to the scene outside my apartment. God's handiwork is simply fantastic!<br />
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The ice began coming yesterday, and this morning the snow fell on top of it. If one can simply sit inside viewing the magnificent scenery, one can only marvel at God's handiwork. I'm thankful I was able to make it safely to church this morning and back home. Many, many of the churches around here were closed. I had little competition on the streets as I drove to church at 8:45 this morning. But I'm thankful I was able to get there and back without difficulty.<br />
<br />
Now, if only the snow will hold off until I can get down to southwestern Indiana ... At this point, I'm planning on leaving on Tuesday. Please pray.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-20326305244503952682013-12-06T22:37:00.001-05:002013-12-06T22:38:40.059-05:00My Retirement Dinner, December 5, 2013<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWPAYWeJr9BIb9I4MbO7NFhcuqKH5hksG5eyXiQ802DSt0ZkK3bqb5O95inf1k877y95O2GC3rd954c2GUNSWcu6RxQ3swmEXFnd10NPcLvObFxEbnm_hrcxbh9CtUz6jqv3V_i4eCE5v/s1600/1469764_10152037998811136_1983473199_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWPAYWeJr9BIb9I4MbO7NFhcuqKH5hksG5eyXiQ802DSt0ZkK3bqb5O95inf1k877y95O2GC3rd954c2GUNSWcu6RxQ3swmEXFnd10NPcLvObFxEbnm_hrcxbh9CtUz6jqv3V_i4eCE5v/s320/1469764_10152037998811136_1983473199_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieywfin9ChQ5RO_C-fmM3yyDfq9BTkpU0mucQnQDaS6VAG-tGax20nX5NZR8q1faie78WyitJHgYPaZH7UBieemydUA_1JOlBBcvXgek05mZ93JkBjHPsAV-GISGsh5pryNo5gbVyUQQxJ/s1600/1463678_10152037998831136_426086776_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieywfin9ChQ5RO_C-fmM3yyDfq9BTkpU0mucQnQDaS6VAG-tGax20nX5NZR8q1faie78WyitJHgYPaZH7UBieemydUA_1JOlBBcvXgek05mZ93JkBjHPsAV-GISGsh5pryNo5gbVyUQQxJ/s320/1463678_10152037998831136_426086776_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFoMvUflKYTDAyYTXB24cZHpCn1FIto1oyLG3ZwVHgQeRkBSjgaeHYbcfKjdZSI6qZUiL1uoOLYDrETsA0RIkVZk1N4VsvzG6CEak9BdlktKq2t9yoTx9SogKKBWErzR9ZAWkOHhU9zbh/s1600/1460159_10152037998791136_137279813_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFoMvUflKYTDAyYTXB24cZHpCn1FIto1oyLG3ZwVHgQeRkBSjgaeHYbcfKjdZSI6qZUiL1uoOLYDrETsA0RIkVZk1N4VsvzG6CEak9BdlktKq2t9yoTx9SogKKBWErzR9ZAWkOHhU9zbh/s320/1460159_10152037998791136_137279813_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK6xkliuK0-wFhamgyL7Z_i3urjU4zpx9zMfwM83JjT90_u0dtemLUelFaaaDvJxbnMwfb7g08n9_fqRVo_qOYSIViqyVE6o157BWyirt9mddzlPf7S6mMVYfLLGOofQMpys_BKwmJOtI/s1600/1465193_10152037999116136_1356569200_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK6xkliuK0-wFhamgyL7Z_i3urjU4zpx9zMfwM83JjT90_u0dtemLUelFaaaDvJxbnMwfb7g08n9_fqRVo_qOYSIViqyVE6o157BWyirt9mddzlPf7S6mMVYfLLGOofQMpys_BKwmJOtI/s320/1465193_10152037999116136_1356569200_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthmgV8ChvO0-mOyOOkH6cEJ4s3ulsN6RL1KKY76FAuV0GoO_cAZNXwY4dblLsHJ8XhQ-riFYkS1AmLH7dey66LmmXmpshExlc8Kni5gwL7QY93jxtNJjuLcmXERqEZzV4xZjHBY232FjW/s1600/944826_10152037999251136_596547450_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthmgV8ChvO0-mOyOOkH6cEJ4s3ulsN6RL1KKY76FAuV0GoO_cAZNXwY4dblLsHJ8XhQ-riFYkS1AmLH7dey66LmmXmpshExlc8Kni5gwL7QY93jxtNJjuLcmXERqEZzV4xZjHBY232FjW/s320/944826_10152037999251136_596547450_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9diQK8zvw0rcAfIqfX8RpE3GXEvVQd8Ck5S85skJm-SRcc2YpMlMptaNaFnDunlQt33WF6OOYZnR2DSmjyxuaE7IdhNYCEWI0P7U7XpS1BwLygMeCMKfuv5s8EOpu6VsCbCbvbqWAuvav/s1600/1453490_10152037999321136_1474212874_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9diQK8zvw0rcAfIqfX8RpE3GXEvVQd8Ck5S85skJm-SRcc2YpMlMptaNaFnDunlQt33WF6OOYZnR2DSmjyxuaE7IdhNYCEWI0P7U7XpS1BwLygMeCMKfuv5s8EOpu6VsCbCbvbqWAuvav/s320/1453490_10152037999321136_1474212874_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfS4fxoBi1M13V4m47B5dQtl6skvZO51f8DbdrSk3IZv5afT3nrQfgPNATH-SrMAeeTU-LZ8njU9bXn1YlwKEghd_hx-BpizvCYZNS-AyZrl9rwHUpZFfXK05tIcOmZZl9dw5cwnzWrp6/s1600/1457758_10152037999591136_1116372703_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfS4fxoBi1M13V4m47B5dQtl6skvZO51f8DbdrSk3IZv5afT3nrQfgPNATH-SrMAeeTU-LZ8njU9bXn1YlwKEghd_hx-BpizvCYZNS-AyZrl9rwHUpZFfXK05tIcOmZZl9dw5cwnzWrp6/s320/1457758_10152037999591136_1116372703_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-cw1Lqke6JgcInruuaREYf0UE3_w83Q4qkJ7UaLN1VSwkR8_vjf-EySlrI-IkSGgqPci9SRZYXLPhdDLPqO_8FkCfewVQR4YpplJfKZtAGZscdCF7tRHY-igIhyphenhyphenJYgHe1CuczTwOe0SG/s1600/1466051_10152037999676136_11480002_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-cw1Lqke6JgcInruuaREYf0UE3_w83Q4qkJ7UaLN1VSwkR8_vjf-EySlrI-IkSGgqPci9SRZYXLPhdDLPqO_8FkCfewVQR4YpplJfKZtAGZscdCF7tRHY-igIhyphenhyphenJYgHe1CuczTwOe0SG/s320/1466051_10152037999676136_11480002_n.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Yesterday evening was an incredible evening. I was honored for my thirty years of missionary service with Baptist Mid-Missions, the last fifteen of which was with Bibles International. Friends gathered in the Founders' Room of Bibles International. Most of those friends were missionary colleagues and coworkers. Some came from my church here in Grand Rapids. Two couples came from Cedarville, Ohio. Both of my sisters had planned to come with a pastor and his wife from southwestern Indiana, but at the last minute, it became impossible for them to come.<br />
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We had a wonderful catered meal, letters were read from those who were not able to be there, including Dr. Gary Anderson, president of Baptist Mid-Missions; Troy Manning, chairman of my department who is currently working on a translation project in Haiti; and Brian Cederquist, pastor of my church here in Grand Rapids.<br />
<br />
I was given a dozen long-stemmed pink roses. One of my nephews and his wife sent a beautiful floral arrangement. Bibles International gave me a beautiful rotating globe with a plaque on the base of it which says:<br />
Elaine Schulte<br />
Bibles International<br />
1998-2013<br />
Taking The Word<br />
To The World<br />
<br />
If you look closely, you can see this gift in Dr. Bernard's hands.<br />
<br />
In addition, I received many wonderful cards and gifts from friends. It was a night I'll long remember. </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-1113330962950500362013-11-28T21:23:00.002-05:002013-11-28T21:24:49.710-05:00Happy and blessed Thanksgiving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNnXLcAgMgHWywnfLCKj-vU2EuIIVh-d5CAw27N7CnoRQrak0_79BlM781w4NGh__ZUxwHJGzg7vJ1QZjVrxJ7Pc1ssnAkEs2D2qa9nvWHcfqxwLrIKzQjZzj_jvQ_KVswT0gPvzm0ozq/s1600/1459940_10152037799389116_1471938379_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNnXLcAgMgHWywnfLCKj-vU2EuIIVh-d5CAw27N7CnoRQrak0_79BlM781w4NGh__ZUxwHJGzg7vJ1QZjVrxJ7Pc1ssnAkEs2D2qa9nvWHcfqxwLrIKzQjZzj_jvQ_KVswT0gPvzm0ozq/s320/1459940_10152037799389116_1471938379_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Even though I live far from family, I enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal today. I'm grateful for colleagues who invited me to share this Thanksgiving meal with them. This is not actually my plate, but I enjoyed one exactly like it (except that I had no sweet potatoes, assuming they were prepared with sugar). It was delicious! We had two kinds of turkey, one baked and one smoked; two kinds of stuffing, and two kinds of gravy!<br />
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I trust you all had a good Thanksgiving, too. We have so much for which to thank the Lord, even in the midst of difficulties and/or trials. He is still good and He is still God. He is in control!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-7282609660186080682013-11-14T21:48:00.001-05:002013-11-14T21:48:24.195-05:00Bibles International's Volunteer Luncheon<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbETgqdFnPSCBjx9UkTFU09n33rGWWQXJENQdu6_15ICWCos99HUwQeAiBmlRZ6-_LWQfwWHaV-S4K3bseDEliyw7vuHvkaXxH7pSC0R9AUEQPl_wMNQjcUrypQx2U_TZXYnm-sDR19Ja_/s1600/DSCF7294.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbETgqdFnPSCBjx9UkTFU09n33rGWWQXJENQdu6_15ICWCos99HUwQeAiBmlRZ6-_LWQfwWHaV-S4K3bseDEliyw7vuHvkaXxH7pSC0R9AUEQPl_wMNQjcUrypQx2U_TZXYnm-sDR19Ja_/s320/DSCF7294.JPG" /></a><br />
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Each year, Bibles International honors its volunteers with a luncheon, which is really a misnomer. It's always a delicious, catered meal, and is far from a luncheon. <br />
<br />
Yesterday was the day to honor these volunteers. With volunteers, missionaries, and staff members, there were 51 of us. We were treated to a delicious meal of chicken breasts and/or ham, red potatoes, a stir-fried blend of vegetables including onions, zucchini, and yellow and green peppers, home-frozen corn, a green salad, and homemade yeast rolls. There were a variety of homemade pies for dessert. It was scrumptious!<br />
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All of the female guests got a lovely set of a pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings from Asia. They were beautiful.<br />
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I think everyone went home satisfied. It was a wonderful opportunity to show our volunteers how much we appreciate their help.</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-54516855479997720882013-11-03T23:14:00.001-05:002013-11-03T23:21:24.738-05:00My Sister's Fall<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj7umn7UnID6xuo32Tb3-KJR_07EkdqDiGuUMNUwXnVUo1brSSlXVxb6siCYcR4Wl761zf-7F2FKuhIlKIhe_JrVG-mzKvSah06akXt92zH9FUY3dUho6xIhxbZ0tJa-Tk22XcfBJgPxh/s1600/meijergardens.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj7umn7UnID6xuo32Tb3-KJR_07EkdqDiGuUMNUwXnVUo1brSSlXVxb6siCYcR4Wl761zf-7F2FKuhIlKIhe_JrVG-mzKvSah06akXt92zH9FUY3dUho6xIhxbZ0tJa-Tk22XcfBJgPxh/s400/meijergardens.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
This picture was taken this past August when my sisters, one of my nieces, and one of my great-nieces visited me. My younger sister, Mary Ellen, is standing behind me, wearing the blue.<br />
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This past Wednesday morning, she was substitute teaching in a school in Lynnville, Indiana, not far from her home. She walked across a floor that had recently been mopped, losing her balance, causing her to fall. She was taken to ER, when she couldn't get up off the floor. At the hospital medical personnel realized she had two fractures in her pelvis. In case you're not aware of this fact, that is a very painful injury.<br />
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She was discharged to home on Friday evening. Please pray for her as she tries to recover in a house that has no bedrooms on the main floor. Mary Ellen is extremely stoic and independent and I fear that she will try to do too much before she is healed. Please keep her in your prayers.<br />
<br />
I'd appreciate your prayers, too, as I've faced several unusual challenges in the past few days. I keep reminding myself that the Lord is able to do the "exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think." I saw Him do that in my healing this spring and early summer. I'm trusting Him to do that again. Please join me in praying.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-20413997873868434502013-10-18T23:15:00.001-04:002013-10-18T23:28:01.247-04:00Fall 2013 at Breton Ridge<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-EPluwbts-jMZoNre5AJhaSOEUpvwbQVATC2oqMtZIddY3SiBeb1KochJBm4vvVs03QNonmBScYq3_y2_FVV9BYy4hFeAIHgw7CWp_LxraQtgeez4Rl9_FUYBAlnZpMld61c0kfC-G9S/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-EPluwbts-jMZoNre5AJhaSOEUpvwbQVATC2oqMtZIddY3SiBeb1KochJBm4vvVs03QNonmBScYq3_y2_FVV9BYy4hFeAIHgw7CWp_LxraQtgeez4Rl9_FUYBAlnZpMld61c0kfC-G9S/s320/IMG_0228.JPG" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2f5V7Fw0bq8Qjbv3es8vyZPFNodiJv-A0oKjv1KnMTOYEC-v4MXq0fCGgSxe6HwOayTypq7pH42uETdD5dNA0ynQpaxLXvicadkiF8e38VDbCwAZBu2hpME8mYH2Xm_GLd5M1MN7lWC4j/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2f5V7Fw0bq8Qjbv3es8vyZPFNodiJv-A0oKjv1KnMTOYEC-v4MXq0fCGgSxe6HwOayTypq7pH42uETdD5dNA0ynQpaxLXvicadkiF8e38VDbCwAZBu2hpME8mYH2Xm_GLd5M1MN7lWC4j/s320/IMG_0232.JPG" /></a><br />
The leaves are at peak or slightly past-peak in my part of the world. Some of their pinkish tinges are absolutely delightful. I'm enjoying them immensely. The leaves are one of the primary reasons that fall is my favorite time of year. It's hard for me to understand that, because I passionately dislike winter in Michigan, and fall is certainly a harbinger of winter. Still, I love this season.<br />
<br />
Among other events that occur in the fall season, is my birthday. I celebrated my birthday on Wednesday and received the lovely bouquet pictured above from two families in Cedarville. All of the flowers are beautiful, but this bouquet includes my favorite flower, the pink daylily. At least I think that's its name. The beautiful pink flower in the foreground is the one to which I refer. So, thanks to my friends from Cedarville, for these beautiful flowers. <br />
And thanks to the Lord for the beautiful leaves.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-87489920806185733332013-10-15T18:49:00.002-04:002013-10-15T18:49:59.549-04:00Singing in my Heart!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I had an appointment with my primary oncologist's office personnel this afternoon. I saw her physician's assistant, who is very good. I left the office thanking the Lord and singing in my heart. The news was soooo good! She just kept saying how good I looked and how much better I appeared than the last time she had seen me. Well, I would hope I would look better; she hasn't seen me since I left the hospital, and I assure you I didn't look very good in the hospital. I didn't see myself there, but judging from how I felt, I'm sure I didn't look good.</div>
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She said I look so good, in fact, that she's extending the time periods between visits to their office to six months, rather than the three-month-intervals they first indicated. Results of all the exams were good, too. Praise God! She told me several times that she was glad to see me looking so much better than I had in the hospital.</div>
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As I drove home, a feat in itself since the oncologist's office is right downtown, which I try to avoid at all costs since I have no idea where I'm going down there, I sang in my heart. The song that came to my mind is one I've sung many times in years gone by:</div>
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God is so wonderful, I can't explain,</div>
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But I can say:</div>
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Glory, hallelujah, praise His holy name.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I trust you'll thank Him with me. He has been so very gracious to me, I simply do not know how to praise Him enough. Let's all raise our voices together to thank Him for what He's done on my behalf.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-78320891139860368592013-10-06T18:46:00.001-04:002013-10-06T18:47:00.137-04:00Class Get-Together, October 5, 2013<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSDou_lC2m4IppuP-hIlu2zAV-6QL8zMK0xvJY6V0jhHSfa2oy-1S2Lkn5c324UXlgxCwt1kLX39inqWCdZJgCz0ancpjgyNdemMGKZzOIiStd3KSrwIUzXNhLbuwBFoe4IHqfpa5Cwo2/s1600/CLASS+REUNION+024.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSDou_lC2m4IppuP-hIlu2zAV-6QL8zMK0xvJY6V0jhHSfa2oy-1S2Lkn5c324UXlgxCwt1kLX39inqWCdZJgCz0ancpjgyNdemMGKZzOIiStd3KSrwIUzXNhLbuwBFoe4IHqfpa5Cwo2/s400/CLASS+REUNION+024.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
I met with class members of the 1962 class of Holland High School (in Indiana, not Michigan) yesterday. It was the first time I'd seen many of them in 50 years. That's significant for several reasons. The main one is that I went to school with most of these people for 12 years in the same school. Imagine that, how many of you can say you had basically the same classmates for 12 years?<br />
<br />
Many of them had changed so significantly; I could not recognize them. I apparently haven't changed much, as most of them knew me immediately. Our class was small -- only 19 of us graduated. Of that, six were girls and the rest were guys. Three of our classmates are deceased. Some were not there even though they live nearby. One lives in Arizona, so he was not there. <br />
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For those of you who might know them, I'll name them. On the first row, from L. to R. are Mary Ann (Katter) McDevitt, Lavonne (Hunefeld) Powell, and Elaine A. Schulte. In the back from L. to R. are Bob Raisor, Jim Bruns, Ron Hemmer, Dick Mangel, Jim Evrard, and David Hubster. At least three members of the class had to leave before we took this picture. They were Cornelius Fest, George Lauderdale, and George Slumber.<br />
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I'm glad I was here when they were scheduled to meet. It was good to see members of <br />
the class of '62 again. It was also good to meet spouses of several of the class members.</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-76171018030234321252013-10-01T22:14:00.001-04:002013-10-01T22:14:55.889-04:00Early Birthday Celebration <div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggngDABer0hqVnNuqvE6OEte8AmVvuOd7Q7AYFy5ukBdNMd_3wnE21i9WkW0CX9ElsMFv4QH0Xkx795G1NDIAw9fXu3vfJ7f1Y-vo4TQbPcG6Xo-BdYQXiGkmUKTlDPLkEZgCwZWsA5sy2/s1600/IMG_2923.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggngDABer0hqVnNuqvE6OEte8AmVvuOd7Q7AYFy5ukBdNMd_3wnE21i9WkW0CX9ElsMFv4QH0Xkx795G1NDIAw9fXu3vfJ7f1Y-vo4TQbPcG6Xo-BdYQXiGkmUKTlDPLkEZgCwZWsA5sy2/s320/IMG_2923.JPG" /></a><br />
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I didn't realize that the last supper was to honor me with an early birthday celebration. We celebrated at my niece's house, where I was surrounded by her children. Please be sure to note the plastic snake drapped over my left shoulder! If you know me well, you know I hate snakes, but anything to make my "greats" happy.<br />
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You will notice my birthday cake. It's a cake made in a mug and is sugar free. It was a fun celebration!</div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-58536013731062436992013-10-01T18:34:00.002-04:002013-10-01T18:34:56.097-04:00The Last Supper<div style="text-align: justify;">
This has been a busy day. Among other things, I've worked on knitting a scarf to be sold at a bazaar at the senior housing facility in which I live, proofread a letter for someone at Bibles International, worked on missionary updates to be placed in the church bulletin on Sunday in my home church, and worked on updating prayer requests for the BI website. These things have kept me busy. In addition, there have been occasional visits from my two great-nephews who live next door to their grandparents, which brought special enjoyment to the day.</div>
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I still need to finish the scarf I'm knitting, finish preparation for the Bible study I will be leading next Tuesday evening, assuming the Lord gives me a safe trip back to Grand Rapids, and prepare for what I'll be sharing on Sunday evening at McCullough Grove Baptist Church in Oakland City, Indiana. And ... there are the thank-you notes to write to all those people who have been so kind to me during my days in southwestern Indiana.</div>
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Speaking of that, a friend took me shopping yesterday and we found a new outfit that fit me. Along with the joy and satisfaction of having a new outfit to wear this fall, I also had the satisfaction of buying a smaller skirt and sweater than I've worn in years. Maybe this sugar-free diet I've gone on in order to hold any lurking cancer cells in my body at bay, is paying off. (Perhaps you're wondering what the connection is. I learned after being diagnosed with cancer this spring that cancer cells feed on sugar. Knowing that, it wasn't too hard for me to give up sugar.)</div>
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This evening, my sister, brother-in-law, and I will go next door to my niece's house, where we will have one more meal together before I move on to visit at one more supporting church in this part of the state. It will be fun to eat with her family and get to spend time with her, her husband, and their four children. Lord willing, I'll be back here at Christmas time but I don't anticipate seeing them before then.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-89755618819940325492013-09-28T19:13:00.001-04:002013-09-28T19:16:28.727-04:00"Back Home Again in Indiana ..."<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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I continue to enjoy my time in Indiana with supporting churches, family, and friends. Last Sunday morning, I left the home of college classmates in Petersburg and drove to Fellowship Baptist Church north of Jasper. There I spoke in Sunday school and briefly in their morning service. It was good to see friends I've known for years, and to meet new ones.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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After church, several of the people from church took me out for dinner. We ate Chinese food and spent time getting to know each other better.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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I had to leave that group to get to Huntingburg, where I was scheduled to meet a cousin I'd not seen in the past five years. We sat and chatted at the Subway restaurant (I didn't eat; she hadn't had lunch) and caught up on all the news. She and her husband are missionaries in SE Asia, so there were many things to talk about. I returned to my younger sister's house outside of Boonville late that afternoon.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Tuesday morning a friend picked me up and we went to Oakland City, where we met the pastor's wife and had lunch, before I spoke to the ladies' Bible study. Again, I enjoyed meeting with people whom I've known for many years. I also met their (new to me) youth pastor's wife.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Wednesday evening, I spoke at University Heights Baptist Church. My niece, Rebekah, asked if her older children could accompany me to church that evening, since they had never heard me speak. She wanted them to hear me speak before my retirement. That was a new experience for me, but the children behaved very well. I had been invited to have dinner with the pastor and his wife. When I called her to decline dinner because of having the three children with me, she (who has raised a houseful of children) told me to bring them along. They made me proud as we sat together at the table. They are well-disciplined children.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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I spoke that evening to the children's JOY club and then to the adults. Again, I met with people I've known for years. as well as meeting some news ones. I always enjoy doing that.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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I spent part of Thursday with my niece and her children, and then celebrated her dad's birthday at her house that evening. Her husband grilled hamburgers to perfection (which, for me, means there was not a hint of pink inside, while the outside was not burned), and she and my great-niece prepared the rest of the meal. <o:p> </o:p></div>
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Yesterday, I met with two cousins who I'd not seen for two years, except on Facebook, and met the (new to me) daughter-in-law of one of them, when we had lunch at Arby's restaurant. Last evening I had dinner with my niece and her family -- homemade pizza, which I've not had in years. It was good. Of course, being at my niece's house also means being with her three older children and the latest of my "greats." <o:p> </o:p></div>
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Today was a walk down memory lane in Huntingburg. I had lunch at one of their more recent restaurants, Fat & Sassy's, ran into a cousin whom I've not seen in person for many, many years, but with whom I've renewed friendship through Facebook, did some shopping, drove by the church where the Lord graciously saved my soul in 1957, and put some artificial flowers on my parents' tombstone. Afterwards I drove up to the farm on which I lived and grew up, which evoked even more memories.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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It's been a good week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-59519915763970505542013-09-20T15:17:00.001-04:002013-09-20T15:26:21.903-04:00Indiana Travels and Family<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb1WXAufeJag7NIEjeX5TiQP2Anl7SabwEh4H2wFQ1ytHADTIhHmcCozB1rEUic0gBDL_ObzX_3sslDlOGL11AGt2Vs_WRdNNF08YthVzl6giVEyTalzzqb8jCu9llC7CD8UXFd-vWgE-/s1600/IMG_3906@.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimb1WXAufeJag7NIEjeX5TiQP2Anl7SabwEh4H2wFQ1ytHADTIhHmcCozB1rEUic0gBDL_ObzX_3sslDlOGL11AGt2Vs_WRdNNF08YthVzl6giVEyTalzzqb8jCu9llC7CD8UXFd-vWgE-/s400/IMG_3906@.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3420987606123817614" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3420987606123817614" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3420987606123817614" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> I left Grand Rapids early last Saturday morning. My first stop was at my older sister's house in Seymour, which is in south-central Indiana. Her birthday was this past Tuesday, but she and I celebrated it together by going out to the Cracker Barrel that Saturday evening.</div>
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I left her house the next morning, driving to Calvary Baptist Church in Huntingburg, Indiana. I had grown up in that church so it was good to see many people I've known for years. There were also new people there. I spoke briefly in the morning service, during the missionary moments. </div>
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After church, the pastor and his family took me out to eat. At the restaurant, two former schoolmates, whom I hadn't seen in years and years, greeted me. It was so good to see them again.</div>
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On Sunday evening, I spoke at First Baptist Church in Princeton. That church has supported me throughout my thirty years with Baptist Mid-Missions.</div>
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After the service on Sunday evening, I drove to my younger sister's house outside of Boonville, Indiana. I've spent much of my time since arriving down here at her home, or at the home of one of my nieces, who lives next door to her mother.</div>
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It's been fun to be with my family. I've been able to meet my newest great-niece, who is now almost six months old. But I've been busy while with them, working on various Bibles International projects.</div>
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On Thursday noon, I spoke to the Women's' Missionary group at First Baptist Church in Princeton. They had asked me for gift suggestions earlier. When I got to the meeting, instead of buying one of the items on the list, they had gotten them all! I couldn't believe it. And they were expensive items -- two used hubcaps to replace those I had lost in earlier travels; a new three-quart, non-stick saucepan; and a new small, non-stick skillet. I'll think of those women every time I use the cookware, and probably every time I look at the hubcaps. I'm so thankful for these gifts.</div>
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After the meeting in Princeton, I drove to Petersburg, where I'm staying in the home of college classmates who are members of the church in Princeton. It's been fun visiting with them after all these years. (We graduated from Cedarville University in 1968, long before it was a university.)</div>
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I'll be in this area for another couple of weeks, speaking to other churches and ladies' groups. Pray for me as I thank these churches and share with them what God did through us, together. </div>
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Pray also as I travel.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420987606123817614.post-37625996127657413902013-08-31T20:56:00.001-04:002013-08-31T20:56:10.021-04:00My Baby and Upcoming Travels<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id=":v3"><a class="e" href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=6270cee094&view=att&th=14058d50dd1bbe76&attid=0.5&disp=inline&safe=1&zw" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_2266.JPG" class="hv" height="320" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/?ui=2&ik=6270cee094&view=att&th=14058d50dd1bbe76&attid=0.5&disp=thd&zw" width="212" /> </a></span></div>
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<span id=":v3">I've recently finished my evening meal, which I would have referred to as <i>supper</i> when I was young. My baby and I finished the meal with popcorn. She loves it! As you can tell, she dances on her hind legs when she begins to smell it, as she's doing here in this picture. Even my picking up the pan in which I cook it is enough to get her dancing. (I'm sorry the resolution of this picture isn't any higher.)</span></div>
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<span id=":v3">The past several weeks have been very busy ones at BI. We've had visitors in, or maybe I should say, we have had team members in that aren't normally in the office at any other time of year. On a normal day in our office, 15 is a significant number. During the consultants' seminar, we averaged around 40. The office was full to overflowing, and it was nice! But now, things are very quiet again. </span></div>
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<span id=":v3">I'm working on a project that will keep me very busy for the next few weeks. In addition to that, I'm going to begin traveling to my supporting churches again next week. Please pray for me, as this will be the first major driving I've done since surgery. (And pray that I'll get my project done on time.) </span><span id=":v3">On Sunday, September 8, I'll be speaking at Immanuel Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. I also hope to see individual supporters while I'm there. </span></div>
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<span id=":v3">Pray as this will be a stressful and emotional time. Immanuel Baptist Church has supported me through both of my tenures of missionary service. They have been good to me, and I have some dear friends there.</span></div>
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<span id=":v3">Starting the following weekend, I'll be in southwestern Indiana for several meetings. That is an even longer trip than the one to Columbus. Will you uphold me in your prayers? </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02462313633491910601noreply@blogger.com1