December 21, 2009

The Big Snow of 2009





Jon's way of enjoying a snow day .... or any day. A recruiter spoke to him last week about playing some ball in a program this coming summer. His coach thinks he has the potential to be a strong player. Jon wants to find a team at a Bible college. He is interested in Bible Study and he has strong relational and shepherding gifts.

This is known as the Angerstein House. Angerstein's is a home supply store in Elsmere. This house was originally built for the Angerstein Family who no longer live here. It faces our house at the opposite end of Orchard Drive. A couple lives there who are rarely home.

JoAnne lives here ... she is an antique dealer.


This was the Peterson's house. The Petersons are Catholic and have about 8 children or so. I lost count. Amanda and I call it The Destiny House. I got a vibe about Josh & Amanda living there someday. Actually I talked to the current owner Trish and she is thinking of selling in a year or so. Josh and Amanda are currently putting their town house on the market. Hmmm.


Left is Kenny & Bonnie Murphy's back yard. Kenny used to work as a gardener on a large estate. He is in his yard most days and is always a good source of information for anything green and growing. I've asked him many questions. When my iris were plagued by borers he gave me a fresh stock to replant. They were much healthier than the ones I replaced. Hope Yerkes lives in the house on the right. Her sister is neighbor to my parents. Caelen used to mow Ms. Yerkes lawn when he was a teenager.


This is John & his Polish wife. They are devoutly Catholic. John is retired but he does yard work for folks in the neighborhood and plays pool at the senior center.


Some have snow plows and some have snow blowers and some have shovels. Jeffrey made a few bucks. The man with the blower is my parents neighbor, Tom. He owns two St. Bernard's.

I don't know all my neighbors by name but since I walk a lot I am familiar with most and everyone seems to know me.

December 13, 2009

The Party After The Party





Back in Delaware, Gabrielle was able to join us. She had missed Gramma's birthday party because of a baby shower for her sister-in-law. Caelen played the guitar some more. We talked about good books. I loaned out my favorite book, West With The Night by Beryl Markam to Caelen & Samantha. We looked at some old favorite children's books and discussed illustrators. Gabrielle gave us all the latest news. And we talked about plans for Christmas. Asher got sleepy but was really pleasant anyway.
'
I had made dinner that morning. Greek Stew in the crockpot. Brown rice, homemade sesame rolls, salad, Christmas cakes & cookies and Santa Hats .... some opted for coffee.

Gabrielle met us for church at Brandywine Valley Baptist the next morning.

Mary Had A Birthday






We met in Hatboro, PA at the Trinity Orthodox Presbyterian Church with family, friends, Ethiopians, and church folk to celebrate Mary Elizabeth Bird and her 90th Birthday.














Our token Asian & our token Hispanic. Jack (or Xsiaosong Xu) boarded with Mary and Ruth for several years while in school until he married and had a son. Jack is also our token Communist. He served in the red army and is fond of Mao. Which everyone, including his Chinese American born wife thinks is absolutely ridiculous. He loves us anyway. Jack came to know Christ through Mary & Ruth. He actually told us that the first time he was in church it was all so unfamiliar, so that when the offering plate came around he didn't know what to do so he tossed in his bus tokens.
'
Another funny story. I was watching TBN while Matthew Hagee was preaching a sermon on the Unshakable Christ. During which he made the point that people put there trust in many things and if you say something with enough confidence, people are likely to believe you. To get this point across he told a story of his childhood. When he was three and his sister Christina was almost 5 they had a little friend named Meredith who was 4.
'
One Saturday a call came to the Haggee home that Meredith and her family had been involved in a fatal car accident. The following day was Sunday. After church the Haggee family got in there car and Christina asked her father, "Daddy, where's Meredith?" ... her father answered, "Meredith is gone, honey." .... "But where did she go?" .... " Meredith went to be with Jesus." ..... "Well when is she coming back?" .... "Honey she's not coming back." .... "But I want to play with her!" ... "I'm sorry honey, you can't. But someday we will all be in heaven with Jesus and Meredith." .... at this point Christina began to cry. She didn't want to go anywhere where she couldn't come back. "But I don't want to go live with Jesus. I want to stay here with you and mommy." At this point Pastor Haggee was at a loss for words so young Matthew threw his arm around his sister and said, " That's okay Tina. We don't have to go to heaven. We're not Christians like daddy. We're Mexicans like mommy and Mexicans live forever." Christina felt much better.










Ruth was MC. Caelen sang Amazing Grace. Samantha put together a slide show to the tune of You Are So Beautiful. Brittnay made the cake. Monica insisted on 90 candles. Church folk set up. I took pictures and David cleaned up. I think Mary had a good time.

December 10, 2009

Luminary Night



My house is dressed for the holidays except for the outdoor lights. This is David's job. On occasion we have strung outdoor lights on roof and tree but in the interest of time we have settled for two spotlights on the house and candles in the windows. Working two sometimes three jobs, David has a few time constraints. The spotlights only take a few minutes and when he has time he will do it. Preferably before Luminary Night.
'
This is the evening that our neighborhood turns on the lights and opens it's doors. Santa drives by on the local firetruck while sitting on the front porch of the neighbors house to greet small children. No one has yet to explain how he appears in two places at one time but he does!So there is a deadline for the spotlights. We will not exactly be keeping up with the Jonses but we will not be Scroogie either.

Finishing up the decorating today put me in mind of my little grandmother, Edith Mae Urban. The Christmas after her husband died she hung a wreath on her door. When we arrived at her home she apologized for the lack of decoration but explained that she had hung her wreath so as not to dishonor the Lord. I remember this sounding strange to me. I had heard so much more about the evils of materialism and missing the point of Christmas because we are so caught up in the trappings. Hanging that wreath and joining in the celebration must have cost her dear. But I think our Lord's heart was warmed that Christmas by a widow woman's two penny wreath.

December 8, 2009

Merry Christmas From Wheaton College


Baby Are You Down?


For my friends suffering from cancer, for those who work in the medical field and for those who just want to find a cure. Enjoy this up beat video and provide free mammograms to women in underserved population.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw

Blog Archive

 

The Bird House Blog | Nest In Bloom Design