Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:1-2
This past Saturday Paul celebrated his one year anniversary from being released from the hospital after his cancer surgeries. At that time, he was able to do very little other than to be in bed or recline in a chair. He had little or no appetite. Little by little he began to gain strength and was able to begin walking for a short period of time in the house. By the end of January he was able to be completely off pain medication and was beginning to gain strength. Along with this he slowly regained his appetite and was able to take longer walks outside.
God's grace certainly has been evident throughout this past year as he has renewed Paul's strength to be able to navigate the busy months of 2012. During this time, we have made four trips to Georgia
and six trips to Kentucky. With helping prepare for the wedding and reception of our daughter Rebecca in Georgia and planning a tea in Michigan for the couple, it made a very full and active summer. Now, our son Roger is moving to California to take another position with Nestle so we are lending him a hand as he makes the transition from Lexington, KY to Modesto, CA. God continues to give Paul strength to help with these changes that impact our family. It is unbelievable the way Paul has improved over these months.
We know of others who are going through health issues at this time and want to encourage them to put their trust in the Lord to see them through. When Paul came home from the hospital, he wasn't sure he would ever feel good again. But, it has been incredible to see what he has been able to do
all because of the strength the Lord has given him. We pray that those who are going through a difficult time right now with their health will be able to look back a year from now and see the faithfulness of the Lord in their lives.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
A Different Kind of Give and Take
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
Last Thursday we were ringing bells for the Salvation Army at the Walmart in Adrian. It was an eye opening experience in that the vast majority of people walked in and out of the store without donating to the ministry of the Salvation Army. However, it was encouraging to see a number of parents who would give their children money to put in the red kettle. They were impressing upon their children the importance of giving to others. At one point, there was a cute little dark headed and dark complected girl who could barely reach the top of the kettle to deposit her money, but the expression on her face reflected the spirit of giving. Capturing that moment would make a great poster for the Salvation Army with the title, "Teaching to Give".
On the other side of the experience of giving was one of taking. About half way through our time of ringing the bells, a gentleman came out of the store with several bags full of clothes and various items. In a split second, a teenage boy walked up to the man and grabbed as many of the parcels as he could, leaving some scattered on the pavement, and immediately ran before anyone could respond. The shocked gentleman made a feeble effort to pursue the assailant but to no avail. The police were called to the scene but too late to apprehend the perpetrator. This was all done in broad daylight.
Obviously there is a great contrast in the two examples. Who do you think is going to be the most blessed: those who gave or the one who took?
The very next day we left for Kentucky to help our son Roger prepare for a move to California where he has accepted another position with Nestle. This transition will be an adjustment, but we are excited about the opportunities that await him. His last day for work in Kentucky is December 28th, and he begins his new position in Modesto, CA on January 7th.
As you prepare for Christmas may your hearts be filled with much joy and peace, and may all your red kettles be filled to the full.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Last Thursday we were ringing bells for the Salvation Army at the Walmart in Adrian. It was an eye opening experience in that the vast majority of people walked in and out of the store without donating to the ministry of the Salvation Army. However, it was encouraging to see a number of parents who would give their children money to put in the red kettle. They were impressing upon their children the importance of giving to others. At one point, there was a cute little dark headed and dark complected girl who could barely reach the top of the kettle to deposit her money, but the expression on her face reflected the spirit of giving. Capturing that moment would make a great poster for the Salvation Army with the title, "Teaching to Give".
On the other side of the experience of giving was one of taking. About half way through our time of ringing the bells, a gentleman came out of the store with several bags full of clothes and various items. In a split second, a teenage boy walked up to the man and grabbed as many of the parcels as he could, leaving some scattered on the pavement, and immediately ran before anyone could respond. The shocked gentleman made a feeble effort to pursue the assailant but to no avail. The police were called to the scene but too late to apprehend the perpetrator. This was all done in broad daylight.
Obviously there is a great contrast in the two examples. Who do you think is going to be the most blessed: those who gave or the one who took?
The very next day we left for Kentucky to help our son Roger prepare for a move to California where he has accepted another position with Nestle. This transition will be an adjustment, but we are excited about the opportunities that await him. His last day for work in Kentucky is December 28th, and he begins his new position in Modesto, CA on January 7th.
As you prepare for Christmas may your hearts be filled with much joy and peace, and may all your red kettles be filled to the full.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
The Advent season is upon us and many are preparing for Christmas. Family traditions are being continued and some are being started. Just this week, we have been made aware of two young families who are making their plans for the celebration of Christ's birth. Both of these focused on how they would handle the giving of gifts.
One family chose to give their children only three gifts modeling after the wise men giving of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each child would receive one gift of great value, another of practical value, and a third that would enrich them mentally such as a book. Then, they would determine as a family how they would give to those in need, which allowed the children to think about others rather than what they are going to receive.
Another family talked to their children about beginning their Christmas tradition, and the subject got around to giving to others rather than themselves. In the process, they got out a World Vision catalog to see if there is something that they might want to do as a family through that ministry. After much contemplation, they chose to provide five fruit trees to a needy family in a foreign country. Once they decided what they were going to do, they asked their two children what part they wanted to play in providing these trees. The younger one said he had a dollar that he was willing to give, which was about all he had. The older was willing to not only give from his savings but challenged the family to provide ten fruit trees rather than five. In order to fund the trees, they got busy and collected as many aluminum cans as they could get so thy could take them to recycling and receive a small amount to put towards the trees.
Upon returning from the recycle, the money was placed on the kitchen counter, and the father challenged the children to think about how they could supplement the funds they had already raised.
Immediately each child dashed to the piggy bank in their room and brought back some or all of their savings to provide for these trees.
How exciting it is to see families working to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of giving to others instead of the commercial Christmas of self that is promoted by the world.
Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothed you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go and visit you?"
The King will reply, "I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:37-40
As we celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, God with us, may His presence and peace with you.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul,Gail, Patsy, and Penny
The Advent season is upon us and many are preparing for Christmas. Family traditions are being continued and some are being started. Just this week, we have been made aware of two young families who are making their plans for the celebration of Christ's birth. Both of these focused on how they would handle the giving of gifts.
One family chose to give their children only three gifts modeling after the wise men giving of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each child would receive one gift of great value, another of practical value, and a third that would enrich them mentally such as a book. Then, they would determine as a family how they would give to those in need, which allowed the children to think about others rather than what they are going to receive.
Another family talked to their children about beginning their Christmas tradition, and the subject got around to giving to others rather than themselves. In the process, they got out a World Vision catalog to see if there is something that they might want to do as a family through that ministry. After much contemplation, they chose to provide five fruit trees to a needy family in a foreign country. Once they decided what they were going to do, they asked their two children what part they wanted to play in providing these trees. The younger one said he had a dollar that he was willing to give, which was about all he had. The older was willing to not only give from his savings but challenged the family to provide ten fruit trees rather than five. In order to fund the trees, they got busy and collected as many aluminum cans as they could get so thy could take them to recycling and receive a small amount to put towards the trees.
Upon returning from the recycle, the money was placed on the kitchen counter, and the father challenged the children to think about how they could supplement the funds they had already raised.
Immediately each child dashed to the piggy bank in their room and brought back some or all of their savings to provide for these trees.
How exciting it is to see families working to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of giving to others instead of the commercial Christmas of self that is promoted by the world.
Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothed you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go and visit you?"
The King will reply, "I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:37-40
As we celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, God with us, may His presence and peace with you.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul,Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name. Psalm 100:4
We spent a delightful Thanksgiving with Rick, Rebecca, and their boys at their home in Georgia. Christiane and Roger joined us which enabled the whole family to be together. Thanksgiving morning was spent preparing the food that was to be eaten that afternoon. It turned out to be a banquet. Christiane along with Logan prepared six pies for the event while other members of the family worked on various dishes from the oven roasted turkey and ducks to the mashed potatoes, escalloped corn, and green bean casserole. We are including a picture of a fig pie that was made from a fig tree grown in Rick and Rebecca's yard.
Fig pie
Christiane preparing pies
Logan assisting Christiane in pie making
Early that afternoon we were joined by Rick's sister, Peggy, and daughter, Rachel, and his brother, Larry and family along with Rick's mother, Dottie. All of them brought many delicious side dishes as well. As we shared this sumptuous meal together we each had an opportunity to tell about the things for which we are thankful. This was a very special and meaningful time together. It has been a real blessing to be able to get to know Rick's family. It seems like our two families blend well together.
The day after Thanksgiving we went to Peggy's home (Rick's sister) for a hike in the woods and more food. The weather was delightful which made the walk that much more enjoyable. Dottie is an avid hiker and even belongs to a hiking club. When we went by her house, she showed us her hiking boots and walking stick, which has a large number of seals signifying various locations where she has hiked during her lifetime. After the hike we enjoyed another meal with the same group that were at Rick's and Rebecca's for Thanksgiving.
Dottie with walking stick and hiking boots
It was a wonderful time to be able to spend Thanksgiving with our family as well as some of Rick's family. What made it even more enjoyable was not having to fight the crowds to shop on Black Friday. Instead Rick, Rebecca, Roger, Darien, Logan, and Paul went to a Christmas tree farm and cut a nine foot tree for their home. It was quite a chore as a tree had to be cut with a little hand saw instead of a chain saw, which gave Rick, Roger, and Darien quite a workout.
Not wanting to miss the Thanksgiving festivities, Penny and Patsy were willing to ride all the way to Georgia in our Explorer. Going down our vehicle was filled with all of the gifts that were given to Rick and Rebecca at the tea at the end of July. So with these items, the puppies, and our belongings, we were loaded to the max. We have found in several trips that we have taken, both of our puppies are really good travelers. Even though they are only five months old, they handled the trip to Georgia and back without any problems.
Returning home we stopped and spent the night with Paul's brother and sister-in-law in Knoxville, Tennessee. On Sunday morning we attended church with them before heading to Roger's in Kentucky where we stayed Sunday night. This helped to break up the long trip back to Michigan from Georgia.
We are very blessed and realize how important it is to have thankful hearts for all that God has provided for us. Every day needs to be a day of thanksgiving.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
We spent a delightful Thanksgiving with Rick, Rebecca, and their boys at their home in Georgia. Christiane and Roger joined us which enabled the whole family to be together. Thanksgiving morning was spent preparing the food that was to be eaten that afternoon. It turned out to be a banquet. Christiane along with Logan prepared six pies for the event while other members of the family worked on various dishes from the oven roasted turkey and ducks to the mashed potatoes, escalloped corn, and green bean casserole. We are including a picture of a fig pie that was made from a fig tree grown in Rick and Rebecca's yard.
Early that afternoon we were joined by Rick's sister, Peggy, and daughter, Rachel, and his brother, Larry and family along with Rick's mother, Dottie. All of them brought many delicious side dishes as well. As we shared this sumptuous meal together we each had an opportunity to tell about the things for which we are thankful. This was a very special and meaningful time together. It has been a real blessing to be able to get to know Rick's family. It seems like our two families blend well together.
The day after Thanksgiving we went to Peggy's home (Rick's sister) for a hike in the woods and more food. The weather was delightful which made the walk that much more enjoyable. Dottie is an avid hiker and even belongs to a hiking club. When we went by her house, she showed us her hiking boots and walking stick, which has a large number of seals signifying various locations where she has hiked during her lifetime. After the hike we enjoyed another meal with the same group that were at Rick's and Rebecca's for Thanksgiving.
It was a wonderful time to be able to spend Thanksgiving with our family as well as some of Rick's family. What made it even more enjoyable was not having to fight the crowds to shop on Black Friday. Instead Rick, Rebecca, Roger, Darien, Logan, and Paul went to a Christmas tree farm and cut a nine foot tree for their home. It was quite a chore as a tree had to be cut with a little hand saw instead of a chain saw, which gave Rick, Roger, and Darien quite a workout.
Not wanting to miss the Thanksgiving festivities, Penny and Patsy were willing to ride all the way to Georgia in our Explorer. Going down our vehicle was filled with all of the gifts that were given to Rick and Rebecca at the tea at the end of July. So with these items, the puppies, and our belongings, we were loaded to the max. We have found in several trips that we have taken, both of our puppies are really good travelers. Even though they are only five months old, they handled the trip to Georgia and back without any problems.
Returning home we stopped and spent the night with Paul's brother and sister-in-law in Knoxville, Tennessee. On Sunday morning we attended church with them before heading to Roger's in Kentucky where we stayed Sunday night. This helped to break up the long trip back to Michigan from Georgia.
We are very blessed and realize how important it is to have thankful hearts for all that God has provided for us. Every day needs to be a day of thanksgiving.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Obeying the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today.
Deuteronomy 27:10
We regret not being able to blog last Tuesday, but Paul worked the election at Adrian Township all day and didn't arrive home until after midnight. We are certainly glad that the election day is over but are very concerned about the direction our country is taking. It seems like our culture is decaying right before our very eyes. Our country certainly needs to have all Christians fervently praying for a return to our founding values.
On a totally different note, last evening we began obedience classes with Patsy and Penny. They learned such commands as heel, sit, down, and stay. Our two pups were among at least a dozen other dogs so the first half hour of the training was quite chaotic. However, by the end of the hour the dogs were doing so much better. Our instructor has a tremendous ability to make dogs respond in an obedient way. Now we are to do homework. Each day we are to take twenty minutes twice a day with each dog to work on responding to the various commands. Having dogs that are obedient and responsive makes them much more enjoyable.
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Gail, Patsy and Penny at obedience training.
While at the class Paul ran into a student from Lenawee Christian School that he had as a kindergartener when he was principal. She was working with a very well trained Norwegian Elkhound and doing a very good job. The dog was very responsive and obedient.
Paul's former student and her Norwegian Elkhound
As we were discussing the obedience training for our dogs, it made us think about God's commands
for us to be obedient to Him. Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." The Bible stresses the importance of obedience and is full of illustrations where consequences have been the result of disobedience. As it says in the Old Testament, "Obedience is better than sacrifice."
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Deuteronomy 27:10
We regret not being able to blog last Tuesday, but Paul worked the election at Adrian Township all day and didn't arrive home until after midnight. We are certainly glad that the election day is over but are very concerned about the direction our country is taking. It seems like our culture is decaying right before our very eyes. Our country certainly needs to have all Christians fervently praying for a return to our founding values.
On a totally different note, last evening we began obedience classes with Patsy and Penny. They learned such commands as heel, sit, down, and stay. Our two pups were among at least a dozen other dogs so the first half hour of the training was quite chaotic. However, by the end of the hour the dogs were doing so much better. Our instructor has a tremendous ability to make dogs respond in an obedient way. Now we are to do homework. Each day we are to take twenty minutes twice a day with each dog to work on responding to the various commands. Having dogs that are obedient and responsive makes them much more enjoyable.
.JPG)
While at the class Paul ran into a student from Lenawee Christian School that he had as a kindergartener when he was principal. She was working with a very well trained Norwegian Elkhound and doing a very good job. The dog was very responsive and obedient.
As we were discussing the obedience training for our dogs, it made us think about God's commands
for us to be obedient to Him. Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." The Bible stresses the importance of obedience and is full of illustrations where consequences have been the result of disobedience. As it says in the Old Testament, "Obedience is better than sacrifice."
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11
We have enjoyed this fall season more than usual. The reds, oranges, and yellows in the trees have been so vivid that they take your breath away. When we walk in the morning, we often see the morning star and continue to be amazed at God's creation. Our two little pups, Patsy and Penny, have added a lot of pleasure to our lives. All of these are created by God and bring extra joy.
This past Saturday our church hosted a Trunk or Treat festivity for the community. There were over 1100 children and parents who came to celebrate the event. We were asked to bring Patsy and Penny so the children could pet the girls and received some candy. So, they really enjoyed having the children make over them and never seemed to tire of the affection they received. However, after the event they went home and crashed. We never heard anything out of them until morning.
Another special pleasure over the weekend was Christiane and Roger returning safely from walking from the north rim to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. They were able to make this hike in three days and three nights. Carrying all of their supplies in their backpacks made the hike more challenging, especially the last leg when they had to climb out of the canyon to the south rim. An interesting side note of their experience was meeting a family from Wauseon, Ohio who were home schooling their children and Christiane meeting nose-to-nose with a deer in the middle of the night.
We're not sure who was more frightened, Christiane or the deer. We are very thankful they had a great experience and got home safely. In fact, Roger had a lay over in Detroit early Sunday morning so we met him at Metro Airport and had breakfast before catching his flight to Lexington, KY.
These and many other experiences make our hearts burst with thankfulness to the Lord. We just need to take time to reflect on His goodness to us. Be encouraged to note God's blessings whether they are big or small.
Blessings and Encouragement.
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
We have enjoyed this fall season more than usual. The reds, oranges, and yellows in the trees have been so vivid that they take your breath away. When we walk in the morning, we often see the morning star and continue to be amazed at God's creation. Our two little pups, Patsy and Penny, have added a lot of pleasure to our lives. All of these are created by God and bring extra joy.
This past Saturday our church hosted a Trunk or Treat festivity for the community. There were over 1100 children and parents who came to celebrate the event. We were asked to bring Patsy and Penny so the children could pet the girls and received some candy. So, they really enjoyed having the children make over them and never seemed to tire of the affection they received. However, after the event they went home and crashed. We never heard anything out of them until morning.
Another special pleasure over the weekend was Christiane and Roger returning safely from walking from the north rim to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. They were able to make this hike in three days and three nights. Carrying all of their supplies in their backpacks made the hike more challenging, especially the last leg when they had to climb out of the canyon to the south rim. An interesting side note of their experience was meeting a family from Wauseon, Ohio who were home schooling their children and Christiane meeting nose-to-nose with a deer in the middle of the night.
We're not sure who was more frightened, Christiane or the deer. We are very thankful they had a great experience and got home safely. In fact, Roger had a lay over in Detroit early Sunday morning so we met him at Metro Airport and had breakfast before catching his flight to Lexington, KY.
These and many other experiences make our hearts burst with thankfulness to the Lord. We just need to take time to reflect on His goodness to us. Be encouraged to note God's blessings whether they are big or small.
Blessings and Encouragement.
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
We apologize for not blogging last Tuesday as Paul arrived home very late due to meetings and by that time we were too tired to be able to put our thoughts on the blog.
Below is a quote of John the Baptist speaking of Jesus, who was coming towards him.
I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel. John 1:31
Whenever our church has a speaker or group from out of town, we enjoy keeping them overnight if at all possible. This past Sunday evening Brian and Liz Crawford, missionaries from Chosen People Ministries, shared their ministry to the Jewish people in New York City. It was obvious from the very beginning that Brian and Liz dearly love the Jewish people. God has definitely laid on their hearts
a desire to build relationships with these people and lead them to the true Messiah.
When they arrived at our home, we had a group of people already here who came to pray for the upcoming election. We asked Brian and Liz if they wanted to join us, and without hesitation they became part of the group. They joined in just as though they had known us for a long period of time. After everyone left, we enjoyed a great time of fellowship around soup, sandwiches, and popcorn.
In our time with them, we recognized the fact that the call of God was definitely on them as their passion for the Jewish people was very evident.
As a side note, both of them made over Patsy and Penny our two growing puppies. Of course, our little girls gave back as much affection as they got. It's apparent that Patsy and Penny love people. When they see our neighbors in the yard, they always want to run over and shower them with affection. We had to start putting them on a leash because they do not know their boundaries, as of yet.
In closing, our hearts were overjoyed to be able to meet a young couple who were so dedicated and committed to the Lord's call on their lives. We pray that they will have a long and fruitful ministry to God's chosen people. It is such an encouragement to see members of the younger generation picking up the torch and proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ to the world.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Below is a quote of John the Baptist speaking of Jesus, who was coming towards him.
I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel. John 1:31
Whenever our church has a speaker or group from out of town, we enjoy keeping them overnight if at all possible. This past Sunday evening Brian and Liz Crawford, missionaries from Chosen People Ministries, shared their ministry to the Jewish people in New York City. It was obvious from the very beginning that Brian and Liz dearly love the Jewish people. God has definitely laid on their hearts
a desire to build relationships with these people and lead them to the true Messiah.
When they arrived at our home, we had a group of people already here who came to pray for the upcoming election. We asked Brian and Liz if they wanted to join us, and without hesitation they became part of the group. They joined in just as though they had known us for a long period of time. After everyone left, we enjoyed a great time of fellowship around soup, sandwiches, and popcorn.
In our time with them, we recognized the fact that the call of God was definitely on them as their passion for the Jewish people was very evident.
As a side note, both of them made over Patsy and Penny our two growing puppies. Of course, our little girls gave back as much affection as they got. It's apparent that Patsy and Penny love people. When they see our neighbors in the yard, they always want to run over and shower them with affection. We had to start putting them on a leash because they do not know their boundaries, as of yet.
In closing, our hearts were overjoyed to be able to meet a young couple who were so dedicated and committed to the Lord's call on their lives. We pray that they will have a long and fruitful ministry to God's chosen people. It is such an encouragement to see members of the younger generation picking up the torch and proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ to the world.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14
This past weekend was very special in that both our daughter and son, Christiane and Roger, were able to be with us. Since both of them are going to be hiking the Grand Canyon in two weeks, they decided to spend a little time at Cabela's this past Saturday looking at camping gear. They came back with several bags of various supplies. Late afternoon the four of us took Penny and Patsy for their very first walk in the neighborhood. They are beginning to learn how to lead with a leash but still have a way to go. Roger had to leave for Kentucky on Sunday afternoon so we spent the balance of the time with Christiane before she had to leave on business Tuesday afternoon.
Since we are in the middle of the political campaign, Paul noticed an email that informed us that Paul Ryan, candidate for Vice President, was going to be in Toledo Monday morning and tickets were available online. The three decided they would like to attend so we grabbed up the tickets for the event. The sun rose on a beautiful day Monday morning, and we made the 45 minute drive to the Toledo Airport where the rally was held. The facility was jammed wall-to-wall with people, and after hearing other speeches and viewing several political videos, we were able to hear Paul Ryan speak. We were very impressed with his speaking ability and what he had to say. Below is a picture of the scene at the airport.
Another highlight of the weekend was the opportunity we had to walk in the morning with Christiane.
We regularly go to Lenawee Christian School and walk the grounds in the morning while taking this opportunity to pray. It was great to have our daughter join us in the walk and in prayer both Monday and Tuesday morning. These are times that we treasure as a family.
This was also the first time that Christiane had seen Patsy and Penny, our two, new puppies. It was love at first sight for Christiane and the puppies took to her right away. While with us for such a short time, Christiane was able to teach them to sit. Meanwhile, we are hoping to get the two puppies into an obedience class taking place in November and December.
Reflecting back on Paul Ryan, it was encouraging to hear his view of what the United States can become. We certainly need to be in prayer for the election that is less than four weeks away. As this appears to be the most important election of our lifetime. In fact, we are inviting people to come to our home on Sunday evenings for a time of prayer regarding the election. We plan on doing this until election day.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
This past weekend was very special in that both our daughter and son, Christiane and Roger, were able to be with us. Since both of them are going to be hiking the Grand Canyon in two weeks, they decided to spend a little time at Cabela's this past Saturday looking at camping gear. They came back with several bags of various supplies. Late afternoon the four of us took Penny and Patsy for their very first walk in the neighborhood. They are beginning to learn how to lead with a leash but still have a way to go. Roger had to leave for Kentucky on Sunday afternoon so we spent the balance of the time with Christiane before she had to leave on business Tuesday afternoon.
Since we are in the middle of the political campaign, Paul noticed an email that informed us that Paul Ryan, candidate for Vice President, was going to be in Toledo Monday morning and tickets were available online. The three decided they would like to attend so we grabbed up the tickets for the event. The sun rose on a beautiful day Monday morning, and we made the 45 minute drive to the Toledo Airport where the rally was held. The facility was jammed wall-to-wall with people, and after hearing other speeches and viewing several political videos, we were able to hear Paul Ryan speak. We were very impressed with his speaking ability and what he had to say. Below is a picture of the scene at the airport.
Another highlight of the weekend was the opportunity we had to walk in the morning with Christiane.
We regularly go to Lenawee Christian School and walk the grounds in the morning while taking this opportunity to pray. It was great to have our daughter join us in the walk and in prayer both Monday and Tuesday morning. These are times that we treasure as a family.
This was also the first time that Christiane had seen Patsy and Penny, our two, new puppies. It was love at first sight for Christiane and the puppies took to her right away. While with us for such a short time, Christiane was able to teach them to sit. Meanwhile, we are hoping to get the two puppies into an obedience class taking place in November and December.
Reflecting back on Paul Ryan, it was encouraging to hear his view of what the United States can become. We certainly need to be in prayer for the election that is less than four weeks away. As this appears to be the most important election of our lifetime. In fact, we are inviting people to come to our home on Sunday evenings for a time of prayer regarding the election. We plan on doing this until election day.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy, and Penny
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. I Corinthians 16:18
We apologize for not blogging last Tuesday but we were unable to have access to the Internet.
A week ago today we left for a short trip to the western and northern part of Michigan. We drove up the coast of lake Michigan as far as Leland and then traveled to Traverse City and Petoskey before returning home Friday evening. This was a much needed break, and it was such a treat to see God's creation bursting into its fall colors. We enjoyed the sandy beaches of lake Michigan, but enjoying it even more with Patsy and Penny. This was there first opportunity to play in the sand and see the large expanse of water.
At night the puppies would stay in a crate in our motel room. During the entire trip, they were very well behaved. Once we arrived in Petoskey, we stayed over night with our former neighbors and friends, Kerry and Ann O'tool. They were wonderful hosts and even allowed Penny and Patsy to stay in the crate in their kitchen so they wouldn't get cold in the night. There hospitality was outstanding with wonderful food and great conversation. They even gave Penny and Patsy a comfortable little dog bed for them to enjoy. And, believe us, they have enjoyed it. Many adjectives could describe our trip but the word "refreshing" sums it all up.
Last evening we were blessed by having the opportunity to host Jonathan and Stephany Durling for dinner. Perhaps host is not the correct word since Jonathan and Stephany prepared a very delicious meal for the four of us. The food was fantastic and the conversation delightful. Jonathan and /Stephany have been married a little over a year and both display great maturity for their young age.. We believe God has an awesome plan for the two of them. Again, it was a refreshing time to be with them.
Spending time with the O'Tools and Durlings as well as viewing God's creation provided great inspiration for the both of us.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy and Penny
We apologize for not blogging last Tuesday but we were unable to have access to the Internet.
A week ago today we left for a short trip to the western and northern part of Michigan. We drove up the coast of lake Michigan as far as Leland and then traveled to Traverse City and Petoskey before returning home Friday evening. This was a much needed break, and it was such a treat to see God's creation bursting into its fall colors. We enjoyed the sandy beaches of lake Michigan, but enjoying it even more with Patsy and Penny. This was there first opportunity to play in the sand and see the large expanse of water.
At night the puppies would stay in a crate in our motel room. During the entire trip, they were very well behaved. Once we arrived in Petoskey, we stayed over night with our former neighbors and friends, Kerry and Ann O'tool. They were wonderful hosts and even allowed Penny and Patsy to stay in the crate in their kitchen so they wouldn't get cold in the night. There hospitality was outstanding with wonderful food and great conversation. They even gave Penny and Patsy a comfortable little dog bed for them to enjoy. And, believe us, they have enjoyed it. Many adjectives could describe our trip but the word "refreshing" sums it all up.
Last evening we were blessed by having the opportunity to host Jonathan and Stephany Durling for dinner. Perhaps host is not the correct word since Jonathan and Stephany prepared a very delicious meal for the four of us. The food was fantastic and the conversation delightful. Jonathan and /Stephany have been married a little over a year and both display great maturity for their young age.. We believe God has an awesome plan for the two of them. Again, it was a refreshing time to be with them.
Spending time with the O'Tools and Durlings as well as viewing God's creation provided great inspiration for the both of us.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy and Penny
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:13
There are lessons to be learned from having two pups. As you know, we acquired two Cocker Spaniel puppies four weeks ago today. During this time, people have stopped to see the puppies, some have called ahead to make arrangements to come by while others have seen the puppies in the yard and just pull in. No matter whether it is planned or unplanned, the puppies, Penny and Patsy, welcome everyone with tail wagging and lots of kisses. There doesn't seem to be any stranger to them. They love everybody, and it appears that everybody loves them. Below is a picture of Avery and Nolan Hartwig who stopped by with their grandmother to see the puppies last Thursday. We noticed that even when we travel and stop at a rest stop, the puppies have no trouble attracting the attention of other people.
Avery, Nolan, Penny and Patsy
The lesson we have learned from the puppies is to genuinely love others with unconditional love and to be accepting of them.
On another note, our daughter Christiane returned safely from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
She was able to reach the summit safely and in good health. After six days of climbing, in order to reach the summit, they had to begin very early in the morning on the seventh day while it was still dark. In order to see, they had to use headlamps. The climb was very slow and tedious, and they were just following the person in front of them without saying a word. It was very quiet when all of a sudden one of the men carrying some of the supplies began singing, In The Sweet Bye and Bye in Swahili. He was then joined by the other porter, guide, and assistant guide. This caused Christiane to be overcome by emotion and began crying, but had to quickly regain her composure due to the thin air and required concentration. The total altitude of Mount Kilimanjaro is a little over 19,300 feet.
During this experience Christiane learned many life lessons that come through the struggles to reach her goal.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy and Penny
I Corinthians 13:13
There are lessons to be learned from having two pups. As you know, we acquired two Cocker Spaniel puppies four weeks ago today. During this time, people have stopped to see the puppies, some have called ahead to make arrangements to come by while others have seen the puppies in the yard and just pull in. No matter whether it is planned or unplanned, the puppies, Penny and Patsy, welcome everyone with tail wagging and lots of kisses. There doesn't seem to be any stranger to them. They love everybody, and it appears that everybody loves them. Below is a picture of Avery and Nolan Hartwig who stopped by with their grandmother to see the puppies last Thursday. We noticed that even when we travel and stop at a rest stop, the puppies have no trouble attracting the attention of other people.
The lesson we have learned from the puppies is to genuinely love others with unconditional love and to be accepting of them.
On another note, our daughter Christiane returned safely from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
She was able to reach the summit safely and in good health. After six days of climbing, in order to reach the summit, they had to begin very early in the morning on the seventh day while it was still dark. In order to see, they had to use headlamps. The climb was very slow and tedious, and they were just following the person in front of them without saying a word. It was very quiet when all of a sudden one of the men carrying some of the supplies began singing, In The Sweet Bye and Bye in Swahili. He was then joined by the other porter, guide, and assistant guide. This caused Christiane to be overcome by emotion and began crying, but had to quickly regain her composure due to the thin air and required concentration. The total altitude of Mount Kilimanjaro is a little over 19,300 feet.
During this experience Christiane learned many life lessons that come through the struggles to reach her goal.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Patsy and Penny
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
. . .the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. Psalm 33:5b
The last two days have been absolutely beautiful with radiant sunshine, fresh breeze, and pleasant temperatures. At night the stars have been highly visible displaying that part of God's creation. Not only has the weather been perfect the last few days but we received word that our daughter Christiane had made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, she even indicated that her health was doing very well.
We have heard nothing more but expect to hear soon since she is returning on September 12th. Most likely she is flying back from Africa while we are blogging.
Patsy and Penny
Our lives have been kept busy with many projects preparing for Art-i-licious coming up a week from this Friday. Paintings are being assembled and pottery glazed so that things will be in readiness for this event. We will be having a booth called Palpant's Paintings and Pottery. Adding to our busyness are two little puppies names Penny and Patsy. (Originally we called them Molly and Maggie, but after talking with our daughter, Christiane, we decided to go with their current names,) They add a delight to our home, most of the time. However, they don't quite have a house breaking system down to perfection. In fact, they are a long way from perfection. With two puppies as part of the household, we have to take into consideration the time we are away from the house as they still need a lot of attention but they continue to bring us much joy.
Throughout this past weekend we felt very blessed to have several opportunities to fellowship with friends and neighbors. From breakfast with friends to our church picnic to our annual block party, we certainly had time to interact with people we love. Our neighborhood is a special blessing in that everyone seems to enjoy being together. Of course, all of these events had plenty of delicious food which affectively ruined our diet.
We find ourselves counting our many blessings and feeling the goodness of the LORD!
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Penny, and Patsy
The last two days have been absolutely beautiful with radiant sunshine, fresh breeze, and pleasant temperatures. At night the stars have been highly visible displaying that part of God's creation. Not only has the weather been perfect the last few days but we received word that our daughter Christiane had made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, she even indicated that her health was doing very well.
We have heard nothing more but expect to hear soon since she is returning on September 12th. Most likely she is flying back from Africa while we are blogging.
Our lives have been kept busy with many projects preparing for Art-i-licious coming up a week from this Friday. Paintings are being assembled and pottery glazed so that things will be in readiness for this event. We will be having a booth called Palpant's Paintings and Pottery. Adding to our busyness are two little puppies names Penny and Patsy. (Originally we called them Molly and Maggie, but after talking with our daughter, Christiane, we decided to go with their current names,) They add a delight to our home, most of the time. However, they don't quite have a house breaking system down to perfection. In fact, they are a long way from perfection. With two puppies as part of the household, we have to take into consideration the time we are away from the house as they still need a lot of attention but they continue to bring us much joy.
Throughout this past weekend we felt very blessed to have several opportunities to fellowship with friends and neighbors. From breakfast with friends to our church picnic to our annual block party, we certainly had time to interact with people we love. Our neighborhood is a special blessing in that everyone seems to enjoy being together. Of course, all of these events had plenty of delicious food which affectively ruined our diet.
We find ourselves counting our many blessings and feeling the goodness of the LORD!
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul, Gail, Penny, and Patsy
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
...encourage one another daily. Hebrews 3:13
Our Labor Day weekend was spent with our son, Roger, in Kentucky. We had a great time with Roger as well as some of his neighbors. For Roger's birthday, the neighbors came over for dinner Saturday evening and Monday morning we all went out for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. It was such a blessing to see Roger surrounded by a group of people who are so supportive of him and encouraging.
While driving home today, Gail asked the question, "Who do we know that has the gift of encouragement?" For a few minutes we struggled to come up with any names, but once we got started the names began to slip off our tongue very easily. We were able to name several people from different areas of our life such as the church, school, neighborhood, friends, and even people in the medical field who assisted Paul during his surgery and recovery. What an incredible blessing they are as we walk this journey of life! It inspires us to take every opportunity to encourage others. Whether at work, worship, neighborhood gatherings, or just a quick greeting at the store, we pray that encouraging words will be at the forefront of our conversation. Proverbs 25:11 says, A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. It might be good if we would all examine ourselves to determine if we are one of them who encourages others.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Our Labor Day weekend was spent with our son, Roger, in Kentucky. We had a great time with Roger as well as some of his neighbors. For Roger's birthday, the neighbors came over for dinner Saturday evening and Monday morning we all went out for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. It was such a blessing to see Roger surrounded by a group of people who are so supportive of him and encouraging.
While driving home today, Gail asked the question, "Who do we know that has the gift of encouragement?" For a few minutes we struggled to come up with any names, but once we got started the names began to slip off our tongue very easily. We were able to name several people from different areas of our life such as the church, school, neighborhood, friends, and even people in the medical field who assisted Paul during his surgery and recovery. What an incredible blessing they are as we walk this journey of life! It inspires us to take every opportunity to encourage others. Whether at work, worship, neighborhood gatherings, or just a quick greeting at the store, we pray that encouraging words will be at the forefront of our conversation. Proverbs 25:11 says, A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. It might be good if we would all examine ourselves to determine if we are one of them who encourages others.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there: if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10
This past Thursday our daughter, Christiane, completed all of her course work for her MBA at Indiana University. This was a two year program which involved classes at Bloomington, Indiana, New Delhi, India, and over the Internet. She finished strong and has even been asked to go back to the university as a guest lecturer. But, now it is time to celebrate. Some people would recognize this milestone by going out to eat, taking a weekend getaway, or enjoying some kind of a vacation.
Not Christiane! Rather than doing any of these tame endeavors, she has joined a group that is going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. She left today and doesn't plan on returning until September 12th.
Most of the time will be spent scaling the 19,300 foot mountain. She will spend seven days going from the tropical foot of the mountain to the below freezing temperatures of the snow capped peak. She said they plan on taking only two day to descend the mountain. The group she is joining contains many people she has never met. However, she is looking forward to the opportunity to become acquainted with each member of the group. To Christiane, there is no such thing as a stranger.
Mt. Kilimanjaro
As a side note, a co-worker has asked Christiane to do a big favor for her family. Apparently, this co-worker's mother was a very active traveler right up to the time of her passing. She had her body cremated, and Christiane has now been asked to sprinkle her ashes on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. So along with all of her equipment, food, and clothing, Christiane is also carrying an urn of ashes in her backpack.
To change the subject, we would like to report on Paul's test results at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital this past Friday. They did both blood work and a CT Scan to test liver function and any signs of recurring cancer. Both tests revealed that my liver was functioning perfectly and no signs of cancer were detected. We thank the Lord for His faithfulness and healing power and for all those who have been praying for my complete recovery. The only thing that Dr. Kreske, Paul's surgeon, indicated was two small hernias that were caused by the surgery. Paul is scheduled to return in February to determine if a hernia operation is necessary. Right now, Dr. Kreske wants to give more time for complete healing from the surgery.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Psalm 139:7-10
This past Thursday our daughter, Christiane, completed all of her course work for her MBA at Indiana University. This was a two year program which involved classes at Bloomington, Indiana, New Delhi, India, and over the Internet. She finished strong and has even been asked to go back to the university as a guest lecturer. But, now it is time to celebrate. Some people would recognize this milestone by going out to eat, taking a weekend getaway, or enjoying some kind of a vacation.
Not Christiane! Rather than doing any of these tame endeavors, she has joined a group that is going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. She left today and doesn't plan on returning until September 12th.
Most of the time will be spent scaling the 19,300 foot mountain. She will spend seven days going from the tropical foot of the mountain to the below freezing temperatures of the snow capped peak. She said they plan on taking only two day to descend the mountain. The group she is joining contains many people she has never met. However, she is looking forward to the opportunity to become acquainted with each member of the group. To Christiane, there is no such thing as a stranger.
As a side note, a co-worker has asked Christiane to do a big favor for her family. Apparently, this co-worker's mother was a very active traveler right up to the time of her passing. She had her body cremated, and Christiane has now been asked to sprinkle her ashes on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. So along with all of her equipment, food, and clothing, Christiane is also carrying an urn of ashes in her backpack.
To change the subject, we would like to report on Paul's test results at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital this past Friday. They did both blood work and a CT Scan to test liver function and any signs of recurring cancer. Both tests revealed that my liver was functioning perfectly and no signs of cancer were detected. We thank the Lord for His faithfulness and healing power and for all those who have been praying for my complete recovery. The only thing that Dr. Kreske, Paul's surgeon, indicated was two small hernias that were caused by the surgery. Paul is scheduled to return in February to determine if a hernia operation is necessary. Right now, Dr. Kreske wants to give more time for complete healing from the surgery.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Louis Armstrong sings , “I see skies of blue, and clouds of
white, The bright blessed day, dark sacred night, and I think to myself what a
wonderful world.”
To start the week out, we were invited for a pontoon ride by
a very dear friend. She is one of the
finest examples of a truly joyful person down to the core of her bones. Having
been widowed in recent times and her daughter moving to Chicago, she still
finds life wonderful. While riding the pontoon, Jeanie and Paul burst into
Louis’ song, “….what a wonderful world.” God blessed us with a beautiful day of
blue skies and white clouds. Afterward,
when we walked into her kitchen, she had on her counter a partially completed
puzzle, the makings of a pie, and the plates beautifully decorated for lunch including
a homemade blueberry muffin. Jeanie went
on to say that she is as happy as she was being married to Wayne, who was a
fantastic husband. She has found contentment and joy in whatever state she is
in including being single, which is certainly from the Lord. To add to her
sharing, she went on to say that she has even gotten up in the middle of the
night to play piano. In so many ways she finds life exciting.
We found being with her a challenge to our own outlook on
life. She certainly exemplified what Paul said in Philippians 4:11b, “for I
have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
While at Jeanie’s she indicated that she was going to be
with family on the other side of the state and wasn’t sure what to do with her
dog, Molly. Without hesitation, we
volunteered to dog-sit for the next few days. She has been an ideal dog and a
joy to take of. Since we lost our last
dog in March, which we discussed in our previous blog, after having Molly with
us, we got the fever to look for another dog.
Today we went to Toledo and set ourselves up for failure by looking at a
litter of ten week old Cocker Spaniels. Of course, we were suckers and didn’t
just come home with one. We are now the
proud owners of two, Maggie and another Molly.
In our morning devotions we came across a verse that spoke
to us because of the joy we saw in Jeanie. The verse is found in Psalm 51:12, “Restore
to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
On July 31st I turned the big SEVEN - Zero!!! As a result I found a few more aches and
pains, and when on my hands and knees getting up takes a lot longer as the
gravity seems to pull harder.
While I have been viewing the Olympics from my comfortable, black leather Lazy Boy and enjoying a bowl of fresh, sliced, Red Haven peaches over a piece of shortcake and topped with a scoop of French Vanilla ice cream, I have been convicted. Gail is asking me how have I been convicted? With some pondering, I have concluded that sitting in a chair just doesn’t cut it. Nowhere in the Bible does it say retirees can sit on the sidelines and watch the runners go by. God expects us to be in the race of life as long as He gives us breath.
While I have been viewing the Olympics from my comfortable, black leather Lazy Boy and enjoying a bowl of fresh, sliced, Red Haven peaches over a piece of shortcake and topped with a scoop of French Vanilla ice cream, I have been convicted. Gail is asking me how have I been convicted? With some pondering, I have concluded that sitting in a chair just doesn’t cut it. Nowhere in the Bible does it say retirees can sit on the sidelines and watch the runners go by. God expects us to be in the race of life as long as He gives us breath.
Hebrews 12:-1-3 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by
such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and
the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition
from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
I’m not sure if peach shortcake is considered a hinderer or
a sin on God’s list as I think it is straight from heaven!
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
After a cup of hot coffee and a bowl of cereal this morning
I headed out the door before 6:00 a.m. to spend the entire day helping at the
election poles. I’m freshly reminded of the privilege we have to vote and our
need to pray for our country.
II Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by
my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from
their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land”.
Never before have I sensed a need to pray for our nation as
I do now and to vote at every given opportunity. With all the difficulties we
are facing; corruption and lack of godly values, It is difficult to call our
nation a God fearing nation as it once was when our Constitution was written.
Billy Graham’s daughter has challenged us to be in special
prayer for the up and coming elections beginning September 28th.
With that in mind, some friends will be joining us for a time of prayer each
week on and after the 28th until the elections. It would be
fantastic if many groups would humble themselves, and pray and seek His face,
and turn from their wicked ways causing the Lord to hear from heaven, to
forgive our sins, and to heal our land, - - - and to cause the elections to be
guided by His eye.
Blessings and Encouragement,Paul and Gail
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. Psalm 95:2
Our hearts have been full of thanksgiving throughout the month of July as we have celebrated the marriage of Rick and Rebecca both in Georgia and now in Michigan. This past Saturday we held a Tea at the Christian Family Centre in Adrian to allow family and friends from the area an opportunity to extend best wishes and blessings to the newlyweds. Over 200 people from every area of our life came and enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship and food with an opportunity to congratulate Rick and Rebecca.
Words cannot express how thankful we are to the friends who gave of their time, energy, and many of their own decorating materials to help make the event a beautiful and spectacular occasion. They certainly went above and beyond our expectations, to the point of picking flowers from their personal garden for the centerpieces. Not only that, they created a garden theme including fountains knowing of Rick and Rebecca's love for flowers.
We also found the staff at the Christian Family Centre to be extremely helpful and cooperative. They put on a beautiful buffet of food for those who attended and kept it supplied during the entire time of the Tea. Instead of a second wedding cake for this event, we decided to go with gourmet cupcakes, displayed on a special cupcake tower, which were a big hit.
Cupcake tower
Rick and Rebecca
The Palpant Family
During the Tea we thought most people would stop in, greet Rick and Rebecca, grab a bite to eat, and leave. Surprisingly, many, if not most, stayed for several hours. It was such a blessing to see people enjoying themselves as they got caught up with old friends. There were many who traveled several hours in order to be a part of the celebration. Everyone who attended helped to make the event very special. Both Rick and Rebecca were overwhelmed by everyone's good wishes and went away feeling very blessed and encouraged.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Our hearts have been full of thanksgiving throughout the month of July as we have celebrated the marriage of Rick and Rebecca both in Georgia and now in Michigan. This past Saturday we held a Tea at the Christian Family Centre in Adrian to allow family and friends from the area an opportunity to extend best wishes and blessings to the newlyweds. Over 200 people from every area of our life came and enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship and food with an opportunity to congratulate Rick and Rebecca.
Words cannot express how thankful we are to the friends who gave of their time, energy, and many of their own decorating materials to help make the event a beautiful and spectacular occasion. They certainly went above and beyond our expectations, to the point of picking flowers from their personal garden for the centerpieces. Not only that, they created a garden theme including fountains knowing of Rick and Rebecca's love for flowers.
We also found the staff at the Christian Family Centre to be extremely helpful and cooperative. They put on a beautiful buffet of food for those who attended and kept it supplied during the entire time of the Tea. Instead of a second wedding cake for this event, we decided to go with gourmet cupcakes, displayed on a special cupcake tower, which were a big hit.
During the Tea we thought most people would stop in, greet Rick and Rebecca, grab a bite to eat, and leave. Surprisingly, many, if not most, stayed for several hours. It was such a blessing to see people enjoying themselves as they got caught up with old friends. There were many who traveled several hours in order to be a part of the celebration. Everyone who attended helped to make the event very special. Both Rick and Rebecca were overwhelmed by everyone's good wishes and went away feeling very blessed and encouraged.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
For we are God;'s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Recently the word "preparation" has been in the forefront of our vocabulary. Before the July 7th wedding of our daughter Rebecca, there was a tremendous amount of planning and preparation for the wedding and reception, which were held at the very same place. The 600 miles between where we live and the site of the wedding made the preparations for the event that much more complicated. When all the planning, preparations and work that went into the wedding were completed, we were so happy that it turned out very well.
Now there is a second event taking place this Saturday here in Adrian so that people who were unable to attend the wedding of Rick and Rebecca in Georgia can extend their blessing to the newlyweds in a much closer venue. We are so thankful for some ladies who have come along side to help with the planning and decorating for the reception, which we are calling a "tea". After many meetings and much planning, all is in readiness to decorate and have in place everything for the event. In order to have the tea turn out to be a nice event, it requires much planning and preparation.
During our lifetime there are times that God calls us to action. It may simply be taking a meal to a shut-in or sharing our faith with someone who is searching for answers. As we live our Christian life, we need to be prepared when God taps on on the shoulder and expects us to obey. It is not if God will call us. It is when he calls us. We need to always be prepared.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Recently the word "preparation" has been in the forefront of our vocabulary. Before the July 7th wedding of our daughter Rebecca, there was a tremendous amount of planning and preparation for the wedding and reception, which were held at the very same place. The 600 miles between where we live and the site of the wedding made the preparations for the event that much more complicated. When all the planning, preparations and work that went into the wedding were completed, we were so happy that it turned out very well.
Now there is a second event taking place this Saturday here in Adrian so that people who were unable to attend the wedding of Rick and Rebecca in Georgia can extend their blessing to the newlyweds in a much closer venue. We are so thankful for some ladies who have come along side to help with the planning and decorating for the reception, which we are calling a "tea". After many meetings and much planning, all is in readiness to decorate and have in place everything for the event. In order to have the tea turn out to be a nice event, it requires much planning and preparation.
During our lifetime there are times that God calls us to action. It may simply be taking a meal to a shut-in or sharing our faith with someone who is searching for answers. As we live our Christian life, we need to be prepared when God taps on on the shoulder and expects us to obey. It is not if God will call us. It is when he calls us. We need to always be prepared.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24
We haven't written our blog the last two weeks as July 3rd we were in Georgia preparing for Rebecca's wedding, and July 10th we arrived home that evening exhausted from the wedding and travel. So, we are now renewing our Tuesday blogging. We apologize for missing the last two Tuesdays.
On July 1st we left for Georgia to prepare for our daughter Rebecca's wedding. When we arrived in Atlanta, the first thing we did was help her move out of her apartment. This meant packing up all items that remained such as pots and pans and then cleaning each room. Late Tuesday afternoon we arrived at her fiance, Rick's, home where the wedding was to be held. There was much to d,o but fortunately many of Rick's family gladly pitched in to help. The house and yard needed to be decorated for the wedding and the food for the reception needed to be purchased and prepared for the 170 people who were going to attend. It was amazing to see how everyone worked together to make it a special event for Rick and Rebecca.
Having the rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception all in the same place made preparation that much more difficult. Cleaning up after the rehearsal dinner Friday evening and getting ready for the wedding by 10:00 the next morning kept all of us hopping. Thanks for everyone's help all was in readiness by the time the wedding was to begin. It was a special blessing to have four couples from the Adrian area attend as well as my brother, sister-in-law and our niece. It meant so much to Rebecca as well as us for them to travel such a distance for the wedding.
Rick and Rebecca feeding each other cake.
As we write this blog, we are now a week and a half after the wedding. It seems like such a whirlwind and went by so quickly. It took us several days to recover once we got home. The pace we had to go to prepare for the wedding was fast and furious, but we have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Now a tea is being planned in Rick and Rebecca's honor for July 28th here in Adrian. Thanks to the help of many friends, the decorating for the tea should be relatively easy.
We are so thankful for the many in Georgia and here in Michigan who have helped and are helping carry the load to make it a memorable time for the newlyweds. These helpers have truly been a blessing from God. This has been such an encouragement to us as we have been the recipients of so much help during this time in our lives.
Below is the blessing that the minister gave at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony.
May God the Eternal keep you in love with each other,
So that the peace of Christ may abide in your home.
Go forth and serve God and your neighbor
In all that you do.
Bear witness to the love of God in this world
So that those to whom love is a stranger
Will find in you generous friend.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
And the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
We haven't written our blog the last two weeks as July 3rd we were in Georgia preparing for Rebecca's wedding, and July 10th we arrived home that evening exhausted from the wedding and travel. So, we are now renewing our Tuesday blogging. We apologize for missing the last two Tuesdays.
On July 1st we left for Georgia to prepare for our daughter Rebecca's wedding. When we arrived in Atlanta, the first thing we did was help her move out of her apartment. This meant packing up all items that remained such as pots and pans and then cleaning each room. Late Tuesday afternoon we arrived at her fiance, Rick's, home where the wedding was to be held. There was much to d,o but fortunately many of Rick's family gladly pitched in to help. The house and yard needed to be decorated for the wedding and the food for the reception needed to be purchased and prepared for the 170 people who were going to attend. It was amazing to see how everyone worked together to make it a special event for Rick and Rebecca.
Having the rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception all in the same place made preparation that much more difficult. Cleaning up after the rehearsal dinner Friday evening and getting ready for the wedding by 10:00 the next morning kept all of us hopping. Thanks for everyone's help all was in readiness by the time the wedding was to begin. It was a special blessing to have four couples from the Adrian area attend as well as my brother, sister-in-law and our niece. It meant so much to Rebecca as well as us for them to travel such a distance for the wedding.
As we write this blog, we are now a week and a half after the wedding. It seems like such a whirlwind and went by so quickly. It took us several days to recover once we got home. The pace we had to go to prepare for the wedding was fast and furious, but we have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Now a tea is being planned in Rick and Rebecca's honor for July 28th here in Adrian. Thanks to the help of many friends, the decorating for the tea should be relatively easy.
We are so thankful for the many in Georgia and here in Michigan who have helped and are helping carry the load to make it a memorable time for the newlyweds. These helpers have truly been a blessing from God. This has been such an encouragement to us as we have been the recipients of so much help during this time in our lives.
Below is the blessing that the minister gave at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony.
May God the Eternal keep you in love with each other,
So that the peace of Christ may abide in your home.
Go forth and serve God and your neighbor
In all that you do.
Bear witness to the love of God in this world
So that those to whom love is a stranger
Will find in you generous friend.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
And the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us."
I Samuel 7:12
In our Sunday School lesson this last week we studied how God defeated the Philistines for the Israelites because they had repented and turned back to Him. As a result Samuel, the leader of the Israelites, took a stone, moved it around, and set it up as a kind of memorial marker. He called it, Ebenezer-"a stone of help." He dedicated that stone and that spot saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." The word Ebenezer is made up of two words; eben means "stone," and ezer means "help". The name would remind future generations that at this place, the LORD helped Israel win a great victory.
This account helped to prompt an important question. What are our "Ebenezers"? What are our grateful memories of God's deliverance or help or blessing or presence? As we look back over our lifetime we can see opportunities for many Ebenezers.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
I Samuel 7:12
In our Sunday School lesson this last week we studied how God defeated the Philistines for the Israelites because they had repented and turned back to Him. As a result Samuel, the leader of the Israelites, took a stone, moved it around, and set it up as a kind of memorial marker. He called it, Ebenezer-"a stone of help." He dedicated that stone and that spot saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." The word Ebenezer is made up of two words; eben means "stone," and ezer means "help". The name would remind future generations that at this place, the LORD helped Israel win a great victory.
This account helped to prompt an important question. What are our "Ebenezers"? What are our grateful memories of God's deliverance or help or blessing or presence? As we look back over our lifetime we can see opportunities for many Ebenezers.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
I Cor. 10:31
We regret that we were unable to blog last week, but we were in Commerce, Georgia helping our daughter and future son-in-law prepare for their wedding. There was much to do including painting, hanging pictures, planning seating for the wedding as the wedding is going to be in Rick's back yard, and preparing for the reception. So there was plenty to keep us busy while we were in Georgia. Fortunately, our daughter, Christiane, gave us some of her Sky Miles so we were able to fly to Georgia rather than drive. Because we had so much to carry on, we didn't take our lap top to do any computer work. (Checking bags gets very expensive.)
Most mornings we get up early and go to the Lenawee Christian School campus to walk and pray for the school. This morning we happened on the pavers at the entrance of the track and football field. On one of the pavers was written, "To God Be The Glory." This is a good reminder that whatever transpires in our lives we need to pray that God will be glorified. So, whether it is in sickness, retirement, weddings, or just day-to-day living, we should seek to glorify God with our lives. A perfect example would be the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. Even though he went through some very difficult times, even spending years in prison, he glorified God with his life. As a result, God rewarded him by elevating him to a very high position in the Egyptian government. We may not always be rewarded in that way, but we need to seek to glorify Him in whatever way we can.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
I Cor. 10:31
We regret that we were unable to blog last week, but we were in Commerce, Georgia helping our daughter and future son-in-law prepare for their wedding. There was much to do including painting, hanging pictures, planning seating for the wedding as the wedding is going to be in Rick's back yard, and preparing for the reception. So there was plenty to keep us busy while we were in Georgia. Fortunately, our daughter, Christiane, gave us some of her Sky Miles so we were able to fly to Georgia rather than drive. Because we had so much to carry on, we didn't take our lap top to do any computer work. (Checking bags gets very expensive.)
Most mornings we get up early and go to the Lenawee Christian School campus to walk and pray for the school. This morning we happened on the pavers at the entrance of the track and football field. On one of the pavers was written, "To God Be The Glory." This is a good reminder that whatever transpires in our lives we need to pray that God will be glorified. So, whether it is in sickness, retirement, weddings, or just day-to-day living, we should seek to glorify God with our lives. A perfect example would be the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. Even though he went through some very difficult times, even spending years in prison, he glorified God with his life. As a result, God rewarded him by elevating him to a very high position in the Egyptian government. We may not always be rewarded in that way, but we need to seek to glorify Him in whatever way we can.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does not bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:1-2
For more than twenty years we have lived at Amsler Drive, and during this time we have personally attempted to do all the trimming of our shrubs and trees. Recently we have noted they have needed a good pruning, but we do not have the equipment to do the job correctly. So, we called on Cliff and Janet Marr, who are professionals, to reshape the trees and shrubs the way they should be. Last Saturday they spent several hours trimming and shaping the follage, which restored the look of our home that has been missing over the past few years. We were in awe at how much this pruning enhanced our total landscape.
John 15:1-2 tells us that God does a pruning process in our lives. This pruning is important so that we can bear more and better fruit. In other words, He can remove things from our life that make us ineffective in our walk with Him, or He has brought things into our life which has allowed us to trust God more. The surgery that Paul recently underwent is an example of pruning in that it helped to bring perspective and clarity on life's priorities. Pruning is essential for the overall health of a plan,t and God's pruning is essential for the abundant life of a Christian.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
For more than twenty years we have lived at Amsler Drive, and during this time we have personally attempted to do all the trimming of our shrubs and trees. Recently we have noted they have needed a good pruning, but we do not have the equipment to do the job correctly. So, we called on Cliff and Janet Marr, who are professionals, to reshape the trees and shrubs the way they should be. Last Saturday they spent several hours trimming and shaping the follage, which restored the look of our home that has been missing over the past few years. We were in awe at how much this pruning enhanced our total landscape.
John 15:1-2 tells us that God does a pruning process in our lives. This pruning is important so that we can bear more and better fruit. In other words, He can remove things from our life that make us ineffective in our walk with Him, or He has brought things into our life which has allowed us to trust God more. The surgery that Paul recently underwent is an example of pruning in that it helped to bring perspective and clarity on life's priorities. Pruning is essential for the overall health of a plan,t and God's pruning is essential for the abundant life of a Christian.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. I John 3:16
A tradition in the Palpant household is to attend the Memorial Day parade in Adrian. It stirs our emotions to see the veterans from World War II, Korean conflict, Vietnam, Bosnia, and Iraq/Afghanistan. Unfortunately, not many of the WWII veterans can march in the parade anymore, but they certainly attend if they can. This year there was a fitting ceremony at Monument Park that began and ended with prayer, and Adrian High School Band played the Star Spangled Banner. Following an excellent speech by a veteran, there was a gun salute and the playing of Taps. The crowd was not as large as it should have been but, more than ever, great respect was shown by those attending.
There are many places in the Bible where God told the leaders to make a memorial in remembrance of what took place from the hand of God. An example would be the stones that were piled up after the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. There were twelve stones representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel. A memorial that we as Christians use would be the Cross and the Sacraments. Both of these symbols help us to remember what God has done for us just like Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have fought for our country and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
A good exercise that we did as a family was to record how God worked in our lives each year since the beginning of our marriage. This is a form of a memorial or, as in Joshua, the piling of stones for remembrance. We would encourage you to create some kind of memory book or listing of important events, blessings, or milestones in the life of your family. This helps to create a memorial that is unique to you and your family.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
A tradition in the Palpant household is to attend the Memorial Day parade in Adrian. It stirs our emotions to see the veterans from World War II, Korean conflict, Vietnam, Bosnia, and Iraq/Afghanistan. Unfortunately, not many of the WWII veterans can march in the parade anymore, but they certainly attend if they can. This year there was a fitting ceremony at Monument Park that began and ended with prayer, and Adrian High School Band played the Star Spangled Banner. Following an excellent speech by a veteran, there was a gun salute and the playing of Taps. The crowd was not as large as it should have been but, more than ever, great respect was shown by those attending.
There are many places in the Bible where God told the leaders to make a memorial in remembrance of what took place from the hand of God. An example would be the stones that were piled up after the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. There were twelve stones representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel. A memorial that we as Christians use would be the Cross and the Sacraments. Both of these symbols help us to remember what God has done for us just like Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have fought for our country and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
A good exercise that we did as a family was to record how God worked in our lives each year since the beginning of our marriage. This is a form of a memorial or, as in Joshua, the piling of stones for remembrance. We would encourage you to create some kind of memory book or listing of important events, blessings, or milestones in the life of your family. This helps to create a memorial that is unique to you and your family.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
We, Paul and Gail, had the opportunity of helping with the wedding invitations which brought us to the realization that our Rebecca is getting married. We decided that we are going to enjoy the journey even when the busyness becomes a detractor.
Speaking of invitations, the greatest invitation we ever received was God sending us an invitation of a free gift of salvation, All we have to do is accept that invitation, and upon doing so, the journey of each day will be blessed if Christ is in it. We both accepted this invitation when we were very young children, but it is never too late whether you're young or old. Each day has its ups and downs, but keeping our eyes on Christ allows us to view circumstances from God's perspective.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
We, Paul and Gail, had the opportunity of helping with the wedding invitations which brought us to the realization that our Rebecca is getting married. We decided that we are going to enjoy the journey even when the busyness becomes a detractor.
Speaking of invitations, the greatest invitation we ever received was God sending us an invitation of a free gift of salvation, All we have to do is accept that invitation, and upon doing so, the journey of each day will be blessed if Christ is in it. We both accepted this invitation when we were very young children, but it is never too late whether you're young or old. Each day has its ups and downs, but keeping our eyes on Christ allows us to view circumstances from God's perspective.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Friday, May 18, 2012
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O, my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 146:1-2
We regret that we missed our blog this past Tuesday as we were in the middle of attempting to get our spring flowers planted and preparing wedding invitations for mailing. Unfortunately, our Tuesday blog got put on the back burner. However, we couldn't wait until next Tuesday to share this news.
Yesterday Paul had an appointment at St. Joe's for a test to determine his progress. We arrived there at the crack of dawn, and he was admitted by 6:30 a.m. for testing. The test was the use of a scope into the stomach area that also included ultrasound capabilities to be able to look into other organs such as liver and pancreas. Of course, Paul received a mild anesthetic so he didn't have any idea as to how the procedure went until he woke up and met with the doctor. Both of us heard the report, and it was good news. He stated that everything was progressing as expected and, he didn't find anything that was of concern to him. A full report is going to be sent to Dr. Kreske and Dr. Masyk. Paul is to follow up with one of the doctors at Huron Gastro in a few weeks. We certainly praise the Lord for this good news. Paul is to go sometime in August or September for a CT scan of his abdominal area. We anticipate a good report from that test as well.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
We regret that we missed our blog this past Tuesday as we were in the middle of attempting to get our spring flowers planted and preparing wedding invitations for mailing. Unfortunately, our Tuesday blog got put on the back burner. However, we couldn't wait until next Tuesday to share this news.
Yesterday Paul had an appointment at St. Joe's for a test to determine his progress. We arrived there at the crack of dawn, and he was admitted by 6:30 a.m. for testing. The test was the use of a scope into the stomach area that also included ultrasound capabilities to be able to look into other organs such as liver and pancreas. Of course, Paul received a mild anesthetic so he didn't have any idea as to how the procedure went until he woke up and met with the doctor. Both of us heard the report, and it was good news. He stated that everything was progressing as expected and, he didn't find anything that was of concern to him. A full report is going to be sent to Dr. Kreske and Dr. Masyk. Paul is to follow up with one of the doctors at Huron Gastro in a few weeks. We certainly praise the Lord for this good news. Paul is to go sometime in August or September for a CT scan of his abdominal area. We anticipate a good report from that test as well.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
CELEBRATION
CELEBRATION
I
press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians
3:14
After much sweat, tears and perseverance our daughter,
Christiane, graduated from Indiana University with a MBA degree last Saturday
evening. Early that morning we left to
meet all of our family at the Courtyard Hotel in Indianapolis by one o’clock.
Gail had packed a lunch so we could have a picnic together before heading
toward the graduation. Christiane had arranged for all of us to take a bus from
downtown Indianapolis to Bloomington, Indiana where the graduation was held.
After an hour bus ride we gathered with many other families of MBA graduates
for a buffet dinner. At this time we had an opportunity to greet many friends
and professors Christiane had met through this program.
Following the banquet, we boarded the bus to travel several
miles to the auditorium where the graduation was held. Christiane got her cap
and gown and hood and marched in the ceremony with others receiving their MBA
degree.
She began the program in the summer of 2010 and after
thousands of hours of study, many tears, and much perseverance while working
full time, she was able to walk across the stage and receive her degree. During
our time at the graduation we were able to meet some of Christiane’s friends
and professors who are real quality people. In fact, one of her close friends,
Mitch Thompson, received the Leadership Award among all of those in the
program.
After taking many pictures and meeting lots of people, we
boarded the bus and headed back to Indianapolis. Upon arriving in Indianapoli,s
all three of our adult children were saying they were hungry. It was late but
we were out voted 3 to 2 and ended up at a Denny’s stuffing ourselves with
Nachos Supreme. We didn’t get to bed until after midnight. The next morning we
met a little after 7:00 in the hotel restaurant for breakfast and for making
plans for Rebecca's upcoming wedding. By 9:00 a.m. we all departed, holding special memories of this
milestone in Christiane’s life. CONGRATULATIONS, CHRISTIANE! Keep pressing on.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
With many things going on in our busy life, we have now added the wedding of our daughter, Rebecca, in July. As a result there is a lot of planning that needs to be done to prepare for this special event. There are so many details that need to be considered, they can be overwhelming at times. However, we keep saying to ourselves and our family, "Remember to enjoy the journey".
This past Sunday evening we spent almost an hour talking to both our daughters about many of the details of the wedding and reception. Shortly after this time on the phone we went to bed, but Gail stayed awake until the early morning hours with her mind churning with details associated with the wedding. The next morning the Lord directed us to a very appropriate devotional which was a good reminder to help us enjoy the journey. It was a short but very important message from the Lord. Hopefully it will be an encouragement to you as well.
Preparing for garden wedding at Rick's
The devotional read as follows: "When some basic need is lacking - time, energy, money - consider yourself blessed. Your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto Me with unashamed dependence. When you begin a day with inadequate resources, you must concentrate your efforts on the present moment. This is where you are meant to live - in the present; it is the place where I always await you. Awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing, training you to rely wholeheartedly on Me.
The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success. Health and wealth can disappear instantly, as can life itself. Rejoice in your insufficiency, knowing that My Power is made perfect in weakness."
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
With many things going on in our busy life, we have now added the wedding of our daughter, Rebecca, in July. As a result there is a lot of planning that needs to be done to prepare for this special event. There are so many details that need to be considered, they can be overwhelming at times. However, we keep saying to ourselves and our family, "Remember to enjoy the journey".
This past Sunday evening we spent almost an hour talking to both our daughters about many of the details of the wedding and reception. Shortly after this time on the phone we went to bed, but Gail stayed awake until the early morning hours with her mind churning with details associated with the wedding. The next morning the Lord directed us to a very appropriate devotional which was a good reminder to help us enjoy the journey. It was a short but very important message from the Lord. Hopefully it will be an encouragement to you as well.
Preparing for garden wedding at Rick's
The devotional read as follows: "When some basic need is lacking - time, energy, money - consider yourself blessed. Your very lack is an opportunity to latch onto Me with unashamed dependence. When you begin a day with inadequate resources, you must concentrate your efforts on the present moment. This is where you are meant to live - in the present; it is the place where I always await you. Awareness of your inadequacy is a rich blessing, training you to rely wholeheartedly on Me.
The truth is that self-sufficiency is a myth perpetuated by pride and temporary success. Health and wealth can disappear instantly, as can life itself. Rejoice in your insufficiency, knowing that My Power is made perfect in weakness."
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
It has been some time since we have written about Paul's recovery from his surgery back in December. The middle of February is considered the turning point in his convalescence. Before that he wasn't sure he would ever feel good again, but once he was off the pain medication and all of the tubes were out he began to feel much better.
At the present time, he is able to eat as he did before the surgery. It was understood that as a result of his operation he would only be able to eat limited amounts at a time, which would mean eating six to eight small meals a day. The entire digestive process is going well considering the major surgery that Paul had.
Gaining strength was one of our major concerns. For over two months Paul did very little physical activity other than walking so his strength and stamina were greatly diminished. However, over the past two months he has since significant improvement in that area. With the warmer weather in March it allowed him an opportunity to be outside working in the yard, which helped to build up his strength. As a result he has also been able to resume his pottery making. He does enjoy a nap every afternoon following lunch, which keeps his battery charged for the rest of the day.
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This Thursday Paul has an appointment with Huron Gastro in Ann Arbor to schedule a scope into the stomach to see the progress that the healing has made over the past five months. Further tests will be made in August or September to see if there is any recurrence of the cancer.
It is believed that Paul's progress is ahead of schedule largely due to the prayers of so many people. He was told just last week that one of the fourth grade classes at Lenawee Christian is still praying for him. Everyone who hasn't seen Paul for some time marvel at how good he looks. He attributed it to two things, prayer and a great nurse (Gail). Please keep praying for a good report from these tests.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
It has been some time since we have written about Paul's recovery from his surgery back in December. The middle of February is considered the turning point in his convalescence. Before that he wasn't sure he would ever feel good again, but once he was off the pain medication and all of the tubes were out he began to feel much better.
At the present time, he is able to eat as he did before the surgery. It was understood that as a result of his operation he would only be able to eat limited amounts at a time, which would mean eating six to eight small meals a day. The entire digestive process is going well considering the major surgery that Paul had.
Gaining strength was one of our major concerns. For over two months Paul did very little physical activity other than walking so his strength and stamina were greatly diminished. However, over the past two months he has since significant improvement in that area. With the warmer weather in March it allowed him an opportunity to be outside working in the yard, which helped to build up his strength. As a result he has also been able to resume his pottery making. He does enjoy a nap every afternoon following lunch, which keeps his battery charged for the rest of the day.
.jpg)
This Thursday Paul has an appointment with Huron Gastro in Ann Arbor to schedule a scope into the stomach to see the progress that the healing has made over the past five months. Further tests will be made in August or September to see if there is any recurrence of the cancer.
It is believed that Paul's progress is ahead of schedule largely due to the prayers of so many people. He was told just last week that one of the fourth grade classes at Lenawee Christian is still praying for him. Everyone who hasn't seen Paul for some time marvel at how good he looks. He attributed it to two things, prayer and a great nurse (Gail). Please keep praying for a good report from these tests.
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. Proverbs 24:27
This past week was very much a project and planning week for our daughter Rebecca's summer wedding in Georgia. In last week's blog we eluded to the window boxes I made for Rebecca and Rick's future home and other work that was done. We have attached three pictures of us sanding, staining, and planting the window boxes.
The remainder of the week was spent planning the wedding and reception, both being held at their future home. Gail and Rebecca had Paul measuring railings, fencing, posts, and everything that was going to be decorated for the wedding. He was also asked to make diagrams of each area where the reception is to be held. No stone was left unturned.
In the Scripture quoted at the beginning of the blog, Rebecca is making all the preparations necessary
for that special wedding day. They both are literally doing their outside work with flowers and gardens, including a vegetable garden. She and Rick are also involved in premarital counseling in their preparation to build their home as described in Proverbs 24:27. To build a strong marriage and a strong home requires much preparation and work and it is an ongoing process
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail.
This past week was very much a project and planning week for our daughter Rebecca's summer wedding in Georgia. In last week's blog we eluded to the window boxes I made for Rebecca and Rick's future home and other work that was done. We have attached three pictures of us sanding, staining, and planting the window boxes.
The remainder of the week was spent planning the wedding and reception, both being held at their future home. Gail and Rebecca had Paul measuring railings, fencing, posts, and everything that was going to be decorated for the wedding. He was also asked to make diagrams of each area where the reception is to be held. No stone was left unturned.
In the Scripture quoted at the beginning of the blog, Rebecca is making all the preparations necessary
for that special wedding day. They both are literally doing their outside work with flowers and gardens, including a vegetable garden. She and Rick are also involved in premarital counseling in their preparation to build their home as described in Proverbs 24:27. To build a strong marriage and a strong home requires much preparation and work and it is an ongoing process
Blessings and Encouragement,
Paul and Gail.
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