Flying back to the Quad Cities in two days and will miss this family but will return in July so "Papa" can help Daddy build a fense for Aiden!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Getting ready to say good-bye for a little while
Flying back to the Quad Cities in two days and will miss this family but will return in July so "Papa" can help Daddy build a fense for Aiden!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Aiden talks about his new sister.
My sister, Ella Morgan Stall, arrived on May 7th at 2:03 a.m. weighing in at 8 ib. 9 oz and 21 inches long. Daddy and Mommy are really happy. I'm happy too but it is a little different at our house now these days.
"Wow-is this what was in mommy's tummy??"
"I guess she can stay."
"Nani and I baked Ella a birth-day cake!"
"Nani likes holding Ella, but she also likes holding me, too!"
"Is it my turn to hold her yet?"
"I think I like this big brother stuff."
"My sister is the prettiest little girl on the block. Don't you agree:"
"Wow-is this what was in mommy's tummy??"
"I guess she can stay."
"Nani and I baked Ella a birth-day cake!"
"Nani likes holding Ella, but she also likes holding me, too!"
"Is it my turn to hold her yet?"
"I think I like this big brother stuff."
"My sister is the prettiest little girl on the block. Don't you agree:"
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Aiden
What a joy to be able to spend quality time with my grandchildren! Here are a few glimpses of moments I've shared with Aiden, Branden and Brooke's 22 month old son, while here in North Carolina awaiting the birth of his sister, Ella.
I also want to share a cute story. We were taking a wagon ride around the block and I was naming all the parts of creation that God made. I said, "Look, Aiden, God made the birds. He made the trees. Oh, look at the pretty yellow flowers (dandelions, of course) that God made." Aiden then leans down and points to a piece of paper trash in a neighbor's yard and asks-"God made"? I said, "No, God doesn't make trash only people do." Well, wouldn't you know that the neighbor was in his driveway, behind his car, obviously listening. He popped his head up and asked, "Do I have trash in my yard?" I told him he did, thinking he might be a bit frustrated with me that I didn't pick it up, but instead he smiled and said, "It's good to share the truth with your grandson and have a blessed day."
That story illustrates the importance of the verse in Psalms 71:18- "Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, until I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come."
It is an awesome responsibility for grandparents to share the truth of God with their grandchildren and you never know who might be listening!!
Thank-you God for giving me that wonderful responsibility!!
I also want to share a cute story. We were taking a wagon ride around the block and I was naming all the parts of creation that God made. I said, "Look, Aiden, God made the birds. He made the trees. Oh, look at the pretty yellow flowers (dandelions, of course) that God made." Aiden then leans down and points to a piece of paper trash in a neighbor's yard and asks-"God made"? I said, "No, God doesn't make trash only people do." Well, wouldn't you know that the neighbor was in his driveway, behind his car, obviously listening. He popped his head up and asked, "Do I have trash in my yard?" I told him he did, thinking he might be a bit frustrated with me that I didn't pick it up, but instead he smiled and said, "It's good to share the truth with your grandson and have a blessed day."
That story illustrates the importance of the verse in Psalms 71:18- "Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, until I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come."
It is an awesome responsibility for grandparents to share the truth of God with their grandchildren and you never know who might be listening!!
Thank-you God for giving me that wonderful responsibility!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Unfolding a "folding" boat
Except for a plane or train, Hunter and I now have every type of transportation "known" to man. Ha-a bit exaggerated but fun to claim! We have a bus, a car, a motorcycle, a tandem bike, and now a boat! No, we aren't pulling it down the road behind the car but rather on top of the car. It is a porta-bote.
The photos below will give you an idea of how it is constructed. The maiden voyage was made today without a camera but Hunter said it was a success. (I am currently in North Carolina with grandbabies while Hunter "baches" it alone for a month.) I think he will be spending much time on the water fly fishing wherever he can find a suitable lake during out time apart!
The photos below will give you an idea of how it is constructed. The maiden voyage was made today without a camera but Hunter said it was a success. (I am currently in North Carolina with grandbabies while Hunter "baches" it alone for a month.) I think he will be spending much time on the water fly fishing wherever he can find a suitable lake during out time apart!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Stress, stress, and more stress!
"You're going to do what? Back down this narrow, curving road? Are you crazy?" I threw these three questions Hunter's way while clinging desperately to the armrests in my seat in our RV, our house on wheels that was perched on a narrow blacktop half-way up a rather steep hill on the grounds of Kentucky Mountain Bible College.
Let me backup a bit in this story so you can have a better view of the situation. Three days previously we had been basking in 85 degree Florida sunshine enjoying time with Tommy. On March 29th, we packed "the gear" and headed north anticipating a pleasant 2 1/2 day drive to Kentucky where we planned to spend most of March volunteering at a Bible College. The first day out was nice but hard rain, heavy traffic, and fog made the second day long and headache producing for both of us. As the third day dawned with more rain and eventually light snow we were a bit disappointed but undaunted as to our final goal-reaching the College and getting settled in for the month. As we approached the driveway for the college we peered up at a winding road that seemed to go nowhere. OK, it takes a certain measure of faith when you are MMAP missionaries and we knew this was one of those times so off we roared up and around the corner arriving at an open area of blacktop where we stopped to ask for directions. We were told there were several places we could choose to park. From previous experience Hunter has learned to check out all possibilities on foot rather that actually drive the rig. While I waited inside the cab off he went with the coordinator to scope out the plots. After a considerable amount of time he returned looking rather concerned. "The college has only grass sites and they are marginal at best.", he reported. But not wanting to "give up yet" he decided to try one recommended, up one of their many winding driveways. (It is not called Kentucky MOUNTAIN Bible College for nothing!) Half-way up we realized there were large tree branches hanging too low which if we continued would slice off our air conditioners. Move to the right, on the grass, and avoid them was the suggestion. Do we dare try? You can guess the results since we weigh 50,000 pounds and the weather had been nothing but rain for days. In we sank! We would still be there if it were not for the incline. Hunter quickly, before the mud sucked us in to our axles, let out the brake and gunned it so we rolled backwards enough to get back on the blacktop. It is at this moment that he said we were going to have to back down the hill.
You already read my retort! Yet there was no other choice so slowly backward we went guided by Hunter's excellent driving skills and the multitude of angels I asked God to provide! At one point Hunter wanted to get out and examine the situation and as he began leaving his seat our vehicle began to roll backward, since he had forgotten to put on the emergency brake. Up to this point I was silent, whispering Phil. 4:6 "Be not anxious.." over and over again. But when we began to "free roll" I freaked! Thankfully Hunter has quick reflexes which he used to good measure and slammed on the brake before we hit a tree or worse. Slowly and eventually we managed to turn the RV around facing the exit and you guessed it, we exited! This is one project we will not participate in now or ever. We ended up in a hotel parking lot, which did have an RV hookup for two nights. With no project this month, even though the weather up north is not balmy we are headed to Iowa and a camping space that is level and solid! God is stretching and growing me through our retirement years in ways I don't always like but He continues to prove Himself faithful!!
Let me backup a bit in this story so you can have a better view of the situation. Three days previously we had been basking in 85 degree Florida sunshine enjoying time with Tommy. On March 29th, we packed "the gear" and headed north anticipating a pleasant 2 1/2 day drive to Kentucky where we planned to spend most of March volunteering at a Bible College. The first day out was nice but hard rain, heavy traffic, and fog made the second day long and headache producing for both of us. As the third day dawned with more rain and eventually light snow we were a bit disappointed but undaunted as to our final goal-reaching the College and getting settled in for the month. As we approached the driveway for the college we peered up at a winding road that seemed to go nowhere. OK, it takes a certain measure of faith when you are MMAP missionaries and we knew this was one of those times so off we roared up and around the corner arriving at an open area of blacktop where we stopped to ask for directions. We were told there were several places we could choose to park. From previous experience Hunter has learned to check out all possibilities on foot rather that actually drive the rig. While I waited inside the cab off he went with the coordinator to scope out the plots. After a considerable amount of time he returned looking rather concerned. "The college has only grass sites and they are marginal at best.", he reported. But not wanting to "give up yet" he decided to try one recommended, up one of their many winding driveways. (It is not called Kentucky MOUNTAIN Bible College for nothing!) Half-way up we realized there were large tree branches hanging too low which if we continued would slice off our air conditioners. Move to the right, on the grass, and avoid them was the suggestion. Do we dare try? You can guess the results since we weigh 50,000 pounds and the weather had been nothing but rain for days. In we sank! We would still be there if it were not for the incline. Hunter quickly, before the mud sucked us in to our axles, let out the brake and gunned it so we rolled backwards enough to get back on the blacktop. It is at this moment that he said we were going to have to back down the hill.
You already read my retort! Yet there was no other choice so slowly backward we went guided by Hunter's excellent driving skills and the multitude of angels I asked God to provide! At one point Hunter wanted to get out and examine the situation and as he began leaving his seat our vehicle began to roll backward, since he had forgotten to put on the emergency brake. Up to this point I was silent, whispering Phil. 4:6 "Be not anxious.." over and over again. But when we began to "free roll" I freaked! Thankfully Hunter has quick reflexes which he used to good measure and slammed on the brake before we hit a tree or worse. Slowly and eventually we managed to turn the RV around facing the exit and you guessed it, we exited! This is one project we will not participate in now or ever. We ended up in a hotel parking lot, which did have an RV hookup for two nights. With no project this month, even though the weather up north is not balmy we are headed to Iowa and a camping space that is level and solid! God is stretching and growing me through our retirement years in ways I don't always like but He continues to prove Himself faithful!!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Florida and Friends
For the past 2 weeks Hunter and I have had the joy of "entertaining" two close friends from Germany-Klaus and Rita Brechtel. Although our "home" became a bit crowded we had so much fun! Together we visited Silver Springs, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, Salvador Dali art museum in St. Petersburg, Everglades National Park, The north Keys, and Sanibel Island-a whirlwind view of highlights in the state of Florida. In addition, we feasted on local cuisine and played cards well into the night proving that neither time apart nor distance squelch the fire of a lifelong friendship!
Checkout more photos on my facebook!
Checkout more photos on my facebook!
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