January 28, 2024

** WARNING! The last post on this page contains graphic image. Proceed cautiously… ***

It was good to have Mary back in class today! Our lesson was about Moses and the burning bush and the kids all learned something. Mary spent some time telling us about her cruise to the Bahamas on the Vision of the Sea. We were all in awe of the whole thing!

On the left: the new 8,000 passenger Icon of the Sea. Right: Vision of the Sea, Mary’s ship!

Todd’s message was BE A SERVENT – the way to be greatest is to be a servant (John 13:1). Jesus says about his disciples, “He loved them to the end.” Not only the end of His earthly life, but beyond. To be a servant, first you have to get up! You can’t be a servant from your armchair! And concerning the apparent ‘unlovable’, instead of criticizing, serve.

Todd

Now, back to yesterday. Kelly and I picked up Kathy at 7;30 and headed north. Everything was ready for us and we dove right in. Jason, Nate, and Dave did the cutting and trimming; Sarah, JP, and Lynn helped with the trimming, and Kelly, Kathy and I wrapped. When we had a small lull in the wrapping, Lynn and I went over to Donna’s store and got cheese orders for almost everyone. Then we stopped at the Bulk Food store. I got white chocolate and milk chocolate, and Lynn got several items, including popcorn, which they love as a snack.

Aunt Joan was one of the original Skunk Hollow girls!
Aunt Joan’s extensive Punxsutawney Phil collection
Jason – the cutting team
Nate man-handling part of the second half
Kathy and Kelly – expert wrappers
Ground beef, soup bones, and more.
Left: Dave and JP
Right: Nate, Sarah, Lynn

Aunt Joan was the official supervisor, and Uncle Clifford threw in a word of advice every now and then, as well as being official knife-sharpener. Mazie was our guard dog. At lunch time we took a minute to sing Happy Birthday to Kelly. We didn’t have a match, so she had to make-believe blow out her candle! Kelly brought two dozen of her gourmet cupcakes (strawberry and Reese’s) and they were a huge hit (in addition to my vanilla cake with cream cheese icing).

Aunt Joan – do you think she was cold?
Uncle Clifford, official knife sharpener
Mazie was great at her job.
Kelly and her cake
Kelly’s cupcakes
Happy Birthday cake

We worked hard and long, had great conversations, and there was a lot of laughing. Lynn rode home with us, and we were laughing so hard I almost choked on a swallow of Pepsi and very nearly ran the Jeep into a Dunkin’ Donut! When you put Lynn and Kathy into the same space, it’s like two teenagers! They are a fearsome duo and we had a great time! – Home safe at 8pm – but Lynn had a 20 minute drive from there and Kelly had an hour. We are so blessed to have these wonderful people in our life, and the offer of an experience that most people cannot even imagine!

The beef Dream Team – last year Kathy was in the hospital, Nate was having surgery, and Dave was just plain missing in action. Three key players and we were SO GLAD to have them back!
There were SIX of these tubs of ground beef to wrap in one-pound bags!
Doesn’t this roast look like a paw print?

Trivia:

Birthdays, etc, for January 28th: 1863 – Ernst William Christmas, Australian painter. I never heard of him, did you? Could he be Father Christmas??; 1936 – Alan Alda, American Actor (M*A*S*H); in 1813 Pride and Prejudice is published. 1986 – Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after lift-off;

Actor, Director and Comedian Alan Alda
Wow – he looks so young here!
Novelist Jane Austen
Jane Austen

PEANUTS Thought of the Day:

TOMORROW January 29th is:

National Bubble Wrap Day; National Corn Chip Day; National Puzzle Day.

I’ll take the corn chips! And maybe a piece of left-over cake :). Kelly and the 2 younger boys are coming up tomorrow. I am picking up Christina from school at 11am, and then bringing Autmn and Cameron up. Nate is having skin cancer surgery on his head behind his ear. Please keep that in your prayers – it’s a pretty intense surgery! Thank you, and God bless…

Nathan’s last year’s skin cancer surgery – we are hoping it is less intense this year.
Posted in Uncategorized

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*