Pay attention to wise sayings!

As a farmer's daughter, I often heard that you need to make hay while the sun shines. So why did I procrastinate this week? Well, it was sooo hot and humid, maybe the weather would be better tomorrow. But no, the next night it rained. Actually, it was pouring so there was no way the yard could be mowed. The following night we had company that stayed 2 nights, then a picnic in our back yard on Saturday. By that time, the grass/weeds were really high, especially after all that rain. The grass was still wet on Saturday morning but because of the picnic, it had to be mowed. Andy did it, even in all that humidity. What a guy! And he had to endure the mower getting clogged with all that wet grass. But he did all that work without complaining, or even better, he did it and didn't ask me to!

We were privileged to host a family who came to visit this week. We became acquainted with them about 28 years ago in Richland, Washington: Dave & Sharman Injerd and their daughter Kjersti (although Kjersti was only 6 months old when we moved back to NJ).They currently live in Equador as missionaries where they are involved in establishing a Christian school for poor children high in the Andes Mountains.

They arrived on Thursday evening in time for dinner which I prepared for them. We watched a DVD of their work and enjoyed renewing our acquaintance with them. On Friday, Andy and I both took off work and took the Injerds to Philadelphia. Since they had been from eastern Washington, they were very interested in seeing some of the historical sights that we take for granted because they're so accessible to us.

So off we went. We visited the Constitution Center, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
We stayed downtown till about 12:30, then headed over to Tony Luke's to experience a genuine Philly cheesesteak. It was a little hole in the wall and we drove by it a couple of times before we found it, but it was worth it. I couldn't tell you the last time I had one, but it was very good! Yum.

By the time we finished our lunch, it was 1:30 pm so we decided to head on over to Valley Forge National Park. It was still so hot and humid, so we stayed inside to see the video, then drove through the park in air conditioned comfort, only stopping occasionally to get out and observe and take pictures. I don't know why, but we didn't take any pictures except of the triumphal arch. (I got the soldiers' cabin off the Valley Forge website which might be cheating except it really looked like this.) We did take a peek inside the cabin and it didn't look very comfortable. It also had a very offensive odor. I can't imagine how long that winter must have seemed to those men who stayed there for those 6 months. Somehow, by the grace of God, those who survived, by springtime, were strengthened to begin obtaining victory for the Americans.

It was a full, fun day, and we capped it off by stopping at Panera's for a bite (after a cheesesteak, who needs more?), arriving home at 8:30 pm.

The Injerds left by 8:00 am on Saturday morning, then we hustled to get ready for the family picnic here in the afternoon. Andy's mom had sent out invitations to Wallin family members, her siblings and their children. There were about 56 people who were able to join us. We have the perfect place for such an event. A cousin had access to tents that they brought and set up to provide shade. Everyone brought a dish or two, Mom provided the meat for sandwiches. There was plenty to eat, fun and games, and a dear friend and neighbor offered to let us use her pool to cool off.And here is cool Tommy with beautiful Kira.
We sure packed a lot of action into 3 days, but I still say we should have mowed the lawn on Tuesday instead of procrastinating. Well, maybe I've learned my lesson!

Our cool weather didn't last very long. It's been so hot and humid, although we're finally getting rain. In fact between yesterday and today we got 4 1/2 inches. Roads were flooding and traffic was horrendous this afternoon.

Kira and Dawn have been over quite a bit. They still don't have hot water at their house - waiting for PSE&G to run the gas line. So Dawn comes over to do laundry and take a shower and just to visit. Kira and I are becoming good buddies.
She knows just where the toys are.
One day we got her hair in a "sprout."
Last week was a busy one for us: a funeral and wedding.

The funeral was for a 52 year old man who was taken by cancer. What made his passing so sad is that he had a wife and 3 children. The children were only 8, 10 & 12 years old. I can't imagine raising teens and twenties without a husband. My heart goes out to J in her grief and loneliness. The funeral was on Friday. Andy was involved almost all day because he opened in prayer at the funeral, as well as helped lead in the singing. He also went to the graveside service afterwards and was available to the family throughout the day. I took off from work to attend the service, but spent the rest of the day in the office.

On Saturday, we were involved with a young couple who were getting married on Sunday. Their rehearsal was on Saturday afternoon. Andy performed the ceremony which is why he had the rehearsal. That evening we joined the wedding party for a delicious dinner at a quaint little restaurant in Haddonfield.

Sunday was church. We got home in time to eat lunch, then we came back to the church for the wedding at 3:30. After the wedding, we had dinner at a Mediterrean Cafe in Haddonfield - another delicious dinner.

I've been busy trying to prepare ahead for our vacation. So in the last couple of weeks I've been baking quick breads and freezing them. My freezer is getting full. Maybe if we got rid of the ice cream, we'd have more room. I'll have to work on that one!

The next couple of days will be different and fun. Friends of ours are coming to visit. We became acquainted with the Injerds years ago when we lived in Richland. They attended our church there and were resource people when we decided to homeschool. Currently, the Injerds are serving in Equador in a private school they've been instrumental in starting. They are in the States for the summer and in their correspondence indicated they would be on the East Coast during July. They will be arriving at our house in time for dinner on Thursday evening. I'm planning to serve some south Jersey sweet corn with grilled chicken to give them a taste of New Jersey. Then on Friday we're planning to take them to Philly for some historical sight seeing and maybe grab some Philly cheese steaks: give them some culture they've missed out on.

They will be leaving on Saturday morning for adventures elsewhere. Meanwhile, our own adventure continues with a family reunion/picnic in our back yard. I didn't organize it or plan it, but it will be at our house. Andy's mom and 2 cousins are the ones who planned the event as well as mailed out invitations to relatives - near and far!

I just have to post one final picture. At the Yoder 4th of July picnic, I caught Joanna with a plateful of cheese curls. Isn't she her mommy's girl!!! Who was it that insisted on having cheese balls at her wedding reception!

Gardening and Reading

Today is July 1st and it feels like spring. Cool and comfortable. June was so hot, the lawns are brown and burning up. We need rain badly. But at least yesterday and today are much more bearable. Perfect, actually. I even felt like doing some gardening last night after dinner.

Dawn and Tommy moved in to their house on Thursday - a week ago now. There are still things to be done and they have no hot water yet. But at least they're in. They are already experiencing the "joys" of home ownership.

Summertime is so much busier than the winter. If it rains, there's grass to mow. If it doesn't rain, we need to get out there and water all those gardens. But I've still been able to read some interesting and challenging books lately. One was recommended to me by Christy: First Born Advantage by Kevin Leman. This book really got me to thinking and re-evaluating my own life. He says first borns are born to win. They are clearly the movers and shakers in the world and can accomplish anything they set their minds to. But if they're out of balance, they can be overly perfectionistic, driven and critical. They can be controllers (everything has to go their way) or pleasers (exhausting themselves in meeting the demands of others).

I gained some insight into who I am and why I do the things I do. It also helped me to think through some issues I was struggling with, one of which was whether or not I should continue in leadership in a certain ministry. I realized God made me the way I am and gave me the gifts I have for a particular purpose and even if I feel inadequate, He will enable me to accomplish what needs to be done. I was also able to put to rest the idea of "retirement." I actually had been thinking about it a lot in the last couple of years. But again, God impressed me with the ideas I read in this book that I am the right one for this job at this time. I just need to keep asking for insight and wisdom not to be a controller or pleaser, but to give my moments and days over to the Lord. That's what life is all about anyway, isn't it? Giving myself over to His leadership and guidance. I'm very grateful for His still small voice, and for never giving up on me.

Another book I've enjoyed recently is: Loving Your Kids On Purpose by Danny Silk, also recommended by Christy. Why am I reading that? Aren't my kids already raised? The topic is relevant because I have grown children who are raising my grandchildren! Danny Silk had some great insight in his book, the most important of which I thought was loving our children as God loves us. He isn't a big old policeman waiting to bop us if we step out of line, but desires a loving relationship with us. We teach our children to respect us by having respect for them. I love the verse in Romans 2:4 that tells us "...God's kindness leads us to repentance." And isn't that so true? I feel much more inclined to repent when someone is kind to me than if they berate or belittle me.

One of the times Andy and I were at Walnut Valley, our friends who own this guest house, told us about Jesus Made in America. It was written by their son-in-law, Stephen Nichols, who is a professor at Lancaster Bible College. Nichols traces through America's history the different ways our culture sees Jesus, beginning with the Puritans through today. The Puritans had a pretty balanced view of Jesus as the eternal Son of God, but through the years that view has been changed to fit America's culture and politics. Thomas Jefferson saw Jesus as a moral example, Billy Sunday preached a manly Jesus. Or what about the Precious Moments Jesus or Jesus as a conservative Republican? And if you listen to CCM (contemporary Christian music), some of those songs portray Jesus as my boyfriend. Nichols also calls attention to all the "Christian" paraphernalia that is sold - billions of dollars of it. The book is a good reminder that Jesus is bigger than our culture, a slogan or toy. He's the God of the universe - not made in my own image or the image of the culture.

I enjoy reading for the challenge it gives to continue to grow and expand in my thinking, as well as just being able to relax at the end of a day with a good book.

Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house. (Henry Ward Beecher)

I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book. (Groucho Marx)