Thanksgiving

For you who like visual images, this is a very happy family after years of hard work culminating with the judge's swearing-in ceremony at our lake house in Indiana. It was a team effort. Keith, Calli and Gavin were very much involved!

I trust that each of you enjoyed an exceptional Thanksgiving with friends and/or family. It was a special day of reflection and interaction for me. Having experienced a rather nasty problem not being able to breathe after returning home, I have been on some heavy steroid and antibiotic medications. With my compromised immune system I decided to decline offers to join large family gatherings with local friends. I did however accept an invitation from a couple that were only having their college-age grandson, and I had a delightful time enjoying a huge array of delicious foods topped off with a selection of pies for dessert. We enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship and I returned home reminded again of the blessing of wonderful friends.

With a four-day holiday weekend, I am enjoying catching up on sleep that was lost while ill, dealing with some much needed items around the house, reading encouraging and challenging material, and being thankful for a loving God that provides so much more than just the essentials…Yes, even thankful for times these past few days when medicine didn’t seem to be working, but able to confidently wait upon Him, thankful that the my future is secure…regardless!

It reminded me of truths in Psalm 119, especially verses 1-8 in The Message (Eugene Peterson):

You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing you best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
You GOD, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady
keeping to the course you set;
Then I’d never have any regrets
in comparing my live with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways,
I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
don’t ever walk off and leave me.

As I think of the blessings of God I am filled with thanksgiving. But also I am challenged by the fact that He has blessed me so that I will be a blessing…Lord keep me sensitive to the needs, some very hidden, to those around me!

Love to you all,

Chuck

Wonderful Time Together!

It is past time to get another blog out after some mighty busy, but fun-filled days, at the lake as we celebrated an early family Thanksgiving together.

We experienced two exciting thrills that were not anticipated. Justin and Laura showed us the first photo album of my fourth great grand child Ella, who is anticipated to arrive in early April. They also showed us a video of what appeared to be her daily exercises kicking her little feet and moving around completely oblivious of what was going on outside in the world that she will be entering. What a contrast to preparations for our first child many years ago, when we had very little information about her until she decided it was time to make her arrival that brisk October day.

Our second major thrill which none of us was expecting when we planned or get together, was the visit from a judge who drove over two hours along with the attorney that Karin has been working with, coming to swear her in as a fully licensed attorney for the state. It was not only exciting to be present for the ceremony, but both the judge and the attorney spoke in considerable detail about Karin’s research and suggestions in handling cases while she was working with them as an understudy, and the tremendous effect that she had on the outcome of a seven million dollar case that they worked together on and won. What a delight it was for me to be part of the group of seventeen gathered in our living room to witness this accomplishment.

For you who often ask about the swans, our little family that is now fully grown, swims by frequently. Several more, along with a few ducks frequently joined them out in the center of the lake now that boat traffic is at a minimum. We also had a couple of busy squirrels that were urgently collecting nuts from our grove of walnut trees across the road and planting them all around the yard for access during the winter. I am sure that we will find numerous trees from forgotten walnuts popping up in the flower beds and grass next spring.

We followed many of our family traditions over the weekend. We made gingerbread houses for each family, designed and made Christmas ornaments depicting things we are thankful for and enjoyed a time of singing together. Each day we got our fill of all sorts of delicious food and delicacies prepared by each family taking turns in meal preparation. It was one of those times when the house was filled with love and laughter which Carol and I have enjoyed about our family over the years. It is my prayer that Spirit will continue throughout the coming generations!

As we make preparations for the official Thanksgiving Day which is coming soon, we have much to thank our God for. I was repeatedly reminded of that over these past days together.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Shalom

As Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, I will be leaving early tomorrow for the lake house in Indiana for an early celebration with my family. Hopefully we will avoid the heavy air and road traffic that is usually experienced during the actual holiday.

Last evening I was reading some of the blogs from years back that Carol wrote during Thanksgiving holidays while at the lake house. Her health was deteriorating from cancer and we were on a roller coaster of emotions reviewing scans and CA-125 results. We had just arrived at the lake awaiting the arrival of family members the next day when Carol wrote about her night:

“Dear friends, if you’re walking in a dark and scary place and if I know about it, I was probably thinking about you last night. We’re at the lake, by ourselves, and went to bed so early that I had some awake time during the night when my thoughts went to people I care a lot about who are in difficult circumstances right now. So I worried awhile, and then prayed. Then I opened my eyes and saw the little illuminated FROG sculpture that Chuck brought along with us. It reminded me that all of us—you and I both—need to Fully Rely On God when we’re in dark places. I hope that you’re doing that. I want that to be the rule of my life too. And also to POG (Praise Our God).” I find that rereading Carol’s blogs to be an encouragement as I am reminded of the tender care and peace that God provided us during that especially difficult time.

A recent Indeed devotional was titled Shalom, a Hebrew word for peace. It was described as a peace that is beyond just a “lack of conflict within and with others, but a fullness, abundance, health and prosperity of all of life that comes from being with God.” Carol was a tremendous example of that Shalom peace right up to the moment she passed through that curtain of death.

On that Thanksgiving Carol gave each of us a small blue piece of paper on which we were to list items which we were thankful for, at least one which would be indestructible. This Thanksgiving one of my indestructible items that I am thankful for, are the fond memories of sharing my life with such a tremendous wife

I trust that your week is going well and that you are enjoying Shalom peace in your lives. Your prayers are always appreciated as I make this upcoming twelve hour trip.

Love to you all,

Chuck

Busy days

I always appreciate the reminders that I get from you friends when I have not recently added to the blog. These have been some exceptionally busy days, but I want to take a few minutes to add a few thoughts here to let you know that I am okay.

Saturday I had a call from friends wanting to know if I would like to do something crazy and take a day trip up to the mountains to see a waterfall that they had read about and pick up some apples at one of our favorite orchards. It was a fun trip, the falls were fantastic, and there was still quite a bit of color in the trees which we enjoyed. I am also now well stocked with apples for a few weeks and watching for good recipes to use them.

Sunday I enjoyed our class with teacher Tom as we continued our study in Ephesians. I visited another church for their service which is a short distance away. They are doing a tremendous job ministering to primarily the 20-40 age group. Recently I read "Discipleship is not about programs and events. It is about relationships". This is certainly a church of relationships and it shows by the transformation of lives and the growing number in attendance. I am always blessed and challenged when I visit the group.

Monday I had a full day at the office and in the evening helped set up machines for voting. Tuesday was some day at the polls. I began work at 6 AM and did not get home until 11 PM that evening. I was tired but pleased to see the heavy turn out. We actually ran later than we did for the presidential election two years ago.

This morning I was at the office at the usual 4 AM to pick up donated bread items for the mission which are well received with the large group of candidates that are on campus in training for three weeks. As the day is winding down, I am thinking about how nice it will be to roll into bed this evening and catch up on some sleep.

It is always a joy to hear from each of you. Thanks for your continued contacts and expressions of love.

Have a wonderful evening!

Love,

Chuck