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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

A Very Tardy Update !

Greetings! Just wanted to give you all a quick update this morning. We've been quite busy these past weeks with the usual trips to physical therapy, doctor's offices, and the like. The above picture was taken of the little ones in the van. Music c.d.'s and Bible story tapes are fast becoming familiar friends as we still spend lots of time on the road.
Libby is taking advantage of an opportunity to read to Judson while standing in the front yard of our lovely temporary home.
Baby boy learned to ride a borrowed bike since moving here. The sweet family who own the home left a few in the barn, and Hannah Joy taught Judson to ride. We forgot the small but important detail of teaching him about brakes until someone realized he was coming to a stop by running into a tree:( No injuries:)
Jeremiah found his father's hat and wears it all the time. He also discovered his old navy uniform in a bag returned to us by some of the dear friends and even sweet strangers who collected clothing and other items found amongst the rubble. He treasures these items, and we're very grateful to have these memento's.
Oldest son spends much of his time at work these days and tries to catch up on auto repairs, work in the valley, and other things on his days off. Much to do and so little time.
In the vehicle again...I lovingly refer to it as my "rolling office". Much work is accomplished here and many phone calls are made and returned while parked and waiting. A large bag of folders and work projects are kept at hand.
I'm hearing sweet music again, and we're trying to get back to some semblance of a schedule.

Miss Emily is standing on her own now! She first used a wheelchair, then a walker, a cane, and recently she passed the cane to Tiffiny!
We've had quite a bit of rain lately, and we've been out in a vehicle during stormy weather on at least three occasions since the tornadoes. On one occasion, trees fell on side roads and limbs hit our vehicle and fell around us. Power was out in all the stores. One of the younger children requested that we listen to James Spann, a local weatherman. The National Weatherman came on and suggested people in the area take cover because of potentially high winds and lightning. Everyone became very quiet. I had to concentrate on prayer and maneuvering around fallen tree limbs and traffic. Audible prayers went up. Emily opened her bible and read scripture, another started singing a hymn, and all eventually went well. We finally made it off the tree-lined streets and arrived home safely. We're definitely more aware of impending bad weather, and I believe there is a dread of having something fall from above our heads. But God is our ever-present help in time of need, and we are thankful for the comfort that brings.
We've shared lovely meals with sweet friends. Our Bible Study recently resumed in the home of our teacher and his lovely family. They made the beautiful salad above and have been so gracious to open their home and delay their own work projects for the sake of helping with the work going on in the valley. Actually, many families have delayed their own projects. Thank you, thank you!!!

Miss Tiffiny still applies ice to her leg frequently and continues to experience swelling. She especially swells after traveling in a vehicle, but she has improved greatly, and we are thankful:) She will be on the blood thinner until Christmas, but she no longer has to go to the hospital lab for a weekly blood test. She now goes every six weeks:) She and Emily still go to physical therapy twice a week. What a blessing:)
As you can see, she now stands on her own and is walking with a cane. She can walk without it and prefers doing so, but her wonderful therapist has other ideas, and she must obey!
More beautiful salads prepared by Mr. and Mrs. T and family:) Yum!
Josh, Jacob, and Johnathon spend most of their days out in the valley working on the railroad house. Jacob is seen here putting away some tools. He saw the neurologist recently and received a very good report. The only noticeable thing left to clear up is one eye blinking more rapidly than the other:) Tiffiny and Emily also received a good report. Tiffiny will go back in December.
Our temporary home has a great driveway for riding bikes. It makes a circle all around the house.

There's a very nice playground for the children, and they made a ramp for the girls to get into the house more easily.
Judson caught as he awakens from a nap in the van.
Some of the family talking to a sweet friend about "Old Blue". We have a 51 Ford truck which was bought new by Tom's father. The children hope to someday repair it, and Mr. W is just the person to know about such things.

Abi planted some flowers. She's longed to work in the garden or in the flower beds. Since those are gone, she decided to plant some flowers and a few fruit bushes in large pots.

Please know how very much we appreciate your prayers and acts of kindness. We're busy writing thank you notes, but we have a long way to go. Many addresses we do not have. Please accept our sincerest thanks for all you've done and for every prayer and sweet note and lovely gift sent. God bless you all!

Blessings,

Sherry

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Happy 4th of July !



The following are some quotes from George Washington, often referred to as the Father of our Country:

"I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the Omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them."

"I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an "Honest Man."

"A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master."

"Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected."

"I earnestly pray that the Omnipotent Being who has not deserted the cause of America in the hour of its extremest hazard, will never yield so fair a heritage of freedom a prey to "Anarchy" or "Despotism."

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."

"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."

"The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained."
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The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Have a blessed and happy 4th of July!

Blessings,

Sherry


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

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Sunday Hymn: It Is Well With My Soul

It Is Well With My Soul

Horatio Gates Spafford
Born: October 20, 1828, North Troy, New York.
Died: October 16, 1888, Jerusulem, Israel, of malaria.

Written by Horatio Spafford, a Chicago lawyer, in 1873 after hearing news from his wife of the tragic death of their four daughters.

Horatio and his wife, Anna, were close friends of D.L. Moody and well known in the Chicago area.

Their troubles began in 1870 with the death of their only son who died of scarlet fever at age four. Then the Chicago Fire of 1871 occurred and fire destroyed his vast holdings in real estate on Lake Michigan.

Mr. Spafford decided to take his wife and four daughters on a much needed holiday to England where they would rest and also meet the famous preacher, D.L. Moody, on one of his evangelistic campaigns. A last minute business development delayed Horatio and it was decided that the rest of his family would go on as planned. He would join them later on. Nine days later, he received these words from Anna, his wife: "Saved alone."

The 'Ville de Havre' collided with 'The Lochearn' and sank in twelve minutes. Anna and her daughters stood clinging to one another and then felt the force of the waters upon them. Only Anna survived and at first she felt utter despair. She then recalled the words of a friend, "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God."

Horatio joined his wife. During his voyage, the captain told him that he believed they were now passing the place where the ship wrecked. Horatio Spafford went to his cabin and penned the now familiar words of "It Is Well With My Soul."

His family's tragic loss has given hope to countless numbers of people who have sung the words to his hymn for more than a hundred years.

The words are as follows:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3

Blessings,

Sherry

Music was written by composer Philip Bliss.