Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

It was a balmy 34 degrees F yesterday with some sunshine...But the next few days are a far cry from yesterday's temps. All the paved surfaces were melted, sidewalks, driveways, and streets...This morning they are skating surfaces The seven day outlook is for highs in the mid-twenty's and lows in the single digits...Oh boy!

Diggin Out

Well the depth of snow in our driveway is in the first two photos. When I got to the end of the driveway, there was approximately 7'-8' to the path going down the street. At that point my friend (Mr. Carr our neighbor across the street) came to my rescue with his snow blower...a few minutes he was rescued by Mr. Hoppenthaler in a Bobcat with a scoop. With in 5 minutes the drive was clear to the street. How thankful I am for friends that are willing to lend a helping hand.

Random Photos From Our Neighborhood

CHRISTmas Day

Nike doesn't mind the weather...until he has to go "out." It will definitely be a dogs life for him for the next couple of weeks with his family home with him.

This was my view from our front door and kitchen window this morning.
For the first time in many years it is a white Christmas. We have a blizzard warning, subzero wind chills, winds 25 plus mph., snow currently falling, and big drifts. It looks like we will be home for a few days...

Megan Also Arrives Last Night

Whitney Has Arrived

The Quiet Before The Storm

Their rooms are clean and well kept...


No clutter, no piles of laundry waiting to be washed...

No hint of their voices and laughter...yet...

All is quiet...for now...


Your old friend is waiting for you to come home tomorrow and create more memories over the Christmas Season.

Wind, Snow, And Drifts

The title says it all...Interstates closed, roads drifted, bitter cold, and high winds. Old Man Winter is alive and well!

First Snow This Year

I covered everything this morning, the deck, the solar lights, and the total front yard: Yep, you guessed it...snow. We received 5-7 inches with more "weather " to come today. As right now, KC (40 miles south) has no snow...Oh lucky us!
I am on my way to complete my first of two workouts...shovel the sidewalk and drive way!

Beautiful Mess x2

When I came home from practice I saw a site that has been absent in our home for quite a while. I am very much a neat, everything has a place type person, but tonight I didn't mind how I found the girls rooms (Megan's top photo and Whitney's bottom photo). They are home for Thanksgiving break from NWMSU and Lila and I will enjoy having the house a bit cluttered and noisy for the next few days.

First Accumulative Snow Fall

Overnight we had our first accumulative snow fall...not too much, but enough to cover the grass. Thankfully it was gone by 10 am with rain showers replacing the snow showers

Nice Day, Beautiful Sunset

Listen...Can you Hear Him?

The first of our two planned foreign mission trips to Romania is scheduled for June 11-26, 2010:

The second is slated for early October 2010. If you feel The Holy Spirit speaking to your heart, leave a post on this blog post and I will get in contact with you. Going on a foreign mission trip has different effects on every team member and on the Romanian nationals we become friends with. ( notice photo below of our youth minister, Casey).

Are You A Lighthouse?

A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.
-D. L. Moody


Sunset at Sulina North Pier North (Romania)

Autumn Crappie Fishing

Just a little under two hours of fishing yielded (on a partly sunny and windy day) a couple of bass and 23 Crappie measuring 11.0"-12.5" long. Larry and I enjoy fishing, but when you get a day like today, it doesn't get much better!

Sunset And Autumn Splendor

I saw this beautiful sunset last night while grilling, so I paused a minute to snap it.

I love the Fall and all it's colors...but I hate the next season to follow...Winter...Ah!

Dreamers vs Visionaries...Which Are You?

"The Valley" Galati, Romania

A dreamer thinks what it would be like...

A visionary makes it happen...HAVE A VISION!
(The Church of Grace, in "The Valley")

One Of My Two Favorite Places

Hey Randy & Teresa...Do you recognize this restaurant?

NO?!

How about Now?

Perhaps?!

I bet you know now?

I even ate a cinnamon roll on your behalf! Yea I know you ate at the Stroud's in Fairway, KS...Same great food, different location!

"Jewell" Of A Tournament

The above photo is with my good friend and former student/athlete at CHS, Paul Worstell. Paul is the head men's/women's tennis coach at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. I was competing in the William Jewell, Alumni/Friends Tournament at Clayview Country Club in Liberty.

Neighborhood Giants

These are the Elephant Ears that have sprouted in front of our home. I knew they got big but I didn't realize they got this big!

Enthusiam For Christ

I read a devotion some time ago written by Charles Kingsley found in the book, "Walking With Christ Every Day." How true it is for our life every day...

We fan the flames of enthusiasm for Christ, our faith serves as a beacon to others. John Wesley advised, "Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles to watch you burn." His words still ring true.

Our world desperately needs faithful believers who share the Good News of Jesus with joyful exuberance. Be such a believer. The world desperately needs your enthusiasm-now!

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.

Scripture focus used: 1 Peter 1:13-15 NKJV

Finding Contentment

Yesterday, my morning devotion was entitled, Finding Contentment. Below is the scripture passage and some highlights from that devotion. I hope they speak to your heart as they do to mine.

I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. Ive found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or empty. -Philippians 4:11-12 MSG

"Genuine contentment is a gift from God to those who trust Him and follow His commandments."

.

"Enduring peace is not a result of our acquisitions; it is a spiritual gift from God to those who obey him and accept His will."

.

"If we don't find contentment in God, we will never find it anywhere else. But, if we seek him and obey Him, we will be blessed with an inner peace that is beyond human understanding. When God dwells at the center of our lives, peace and contentment will belong to us just as surely as we belong to God."

State Side

It was so wonderful to have my good friend Randy Myers in our morning worship service today. Randy and his wife Teresa are IMB Master level missionaries serving in Romania. They are in the states for a few weeks before returning to serve out the remainder of their term. Teresa did not attend today because she is hanging out with her nine month old granddaughter, Emma. I thank God for the Myers as they serve our Lord half-a-world away.

Rock The Lights at Starlight

Night one of Rock the Lights at Starlight featuring; Downhere, The Afters, Chris and Conley, Brian Heath and Casting Crowns.

My new favorite group (right) The Afters

Downhere (left)

Two handsome guys taking in the music (left).
Chris and Conley (right).

Feature group, Casting Crowns (left)
Candle light closing (right)