I was blocked from my Xanga site and informed that I have to renew my subscription at the tune of $45 per year to continue, I’ve made the decision to part company with them.  My new blog can be found here:  https://sweaters4u2.wordpress.com/

Thanks for your patience as I adjust to this move.

Yesterday this question came to me again, (Yes, it resurfaces occasionally.  ) so I spent my time trying to think of the answer to that.    I found it hard to answer as I really couldn’t pinpoint any one outstanding thing.

Oh yes, people have done a lot of nice things for me in my lifetime of 50+ years.  I remember with fondness the all-day sucker that Nancy (Wray) Brunk gave me for my 6th birthday.   When an older girl on our school bus comforted me after I’d endured yet another harassment from some bully.  My brother Nat and his brother-in-law giving me the unfinished hope chest that Vernon Hertzler had started to make for my wedding gift and never finished.   The time when our girls surprised us with a money shower for our 25th wedding anniversary for a trip to Guatemala.   Ted and Rose Miller dropping everything and came up to the ER to be with us after we rolled our van.  There were many nice deeds over the years and I am hard put to know what I consider the nicest.

But I believe of one of the nicest things that happened at my Dad’s viewing.  I was standing in the entrance of the sanctuary at Hocking Hills Mennonite Church greeting different people who had come to pay their last respects to Dad.  Suddenly I came face to face with this woman.  I knew that I knew her but tried in vain to give her a name.  Finally I cast aside my pride and asked for her identity.

In that instant I felt that this was one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for me.

I know I’ve written about them in an earlier post (http://sweaters4u2.xanga.com/2012/12/21/tires-to-good-year-to-morgans/) if you want a recap or if you haven’t read it, but over and over again, the idea that Ellen Stewart came to show her love and support to our family was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.  I find it hard to explain it but here it is.  Thanks so much Ellen, you mean so much to me.  Love you and I ask God’s blessing on you and yours. ~Kim

I am going to do a little post this time and it’s going to be a bit of an advertisement. 

Way back in 1998 we visited in Spanish Lookout, Belize for the Central American Minister’s Meetings.  We had a lovely time,  reconnecting with friends from all over Central America and learning to know new friends and soaking in a lot of good Bible teaching.

However, I brought something home with me than I hadn’t planned on and wasn’t one bit happy about.

Athlete’s Foot. 

I went to the Dr. and he prescribed a cream called Trosyd which knocked it flat.  Wow!  I was glad to get rid of that itchy parasite that afflicted my left foot, mainly the smallest toe.

But, 1 and 1/2 years later, we were in Belize for a wedding and went to spend the night with some of our friends we had gotten to know during the meetings.   Had a wonderful visit, but…..you guessed it.   I got it again!

So Trosyd to the rescue once more.  Was I ever thankful for that.  This time, I think Vernon had a touch of it too.

Then in 2002, we returned to Spanish Lookout for another Minister’s Meeting, staying with another family, enjoying the time to the fullest.

However, Mr. A. F. attached himself to my left foot for the 3rd time!  He must’ve thought I was pretty special to latch on me after all the dirty work I did to him.

This time Trosyd didn’t work.  I think I developed an immunity to it.  I was very disappointed about that.  Later that year we moved to Wisconsin and I tried everything anyone recommended.  Tinactin,  white vinegar, Peroxide, and different creams from Walmart but nothing, absolutely NOTHING worked.  After years of scratching and watching my toenail deteriorate I didn’t know what else to try.

My toenail looked so horrible that I was embarrassed even to wash feet with anyone at communion and each time I did, I hoped the other sister wouldn’t notice it.  (I didn’t think they could miss it though, it was so ugly.)

When I’d trim it, it would sort of come off in flakes and powder….totally gross.

Finally, I just asked my doctor if he could remove the entire toenail.  He took a look at it and said he thought I should try some medicine for 3 months first.  Ok, I’d try it but I doubted anything would work.  He gave me 3 bottles of pills, and I took pictures at the end of each month to see if I could see any improvement.   I know my toes aren’t pretty, so please forgive that.  I took 1 pill each day and this is the results.

I wasn’t exactly satisfied with the final results but didn’t continue with any more treatment as I had other issues to face so this got pushed aside.  Today I took some final pictures and this is what it looks like now.

I know it may seem gross to write about my toe but I am doing this just in case there may be someone out there that has a bad toenail damaged by fungus.  I am letting you know that there is hope.

~have a nice day~

 

 

 

I just barely got done with posting about our Oct. trip to Guatemala, I found myself packing my bags to return to the Land of Eternal Spring.  Here’s how that came about. As many of you know, our daughter Tiana accepted the Lord as her Saviour last February in El Chal, Guatemala.  She had been living with Benj and his family since the previous Nov.  This gave us great joy as we were beginning to wonder if she’d ever surrender to Christ.  It is like her Grandaddy said, “It certainly wasn’t a premature birth.”  She joined the Instruction class with several others and the baptism was planned for Feb. 16th.

Of course I really wanted to be there for that event but since God had answered my prayer to go to Guatemala in October, I was sure that it would not be possible to go so soon again.  I even felt guilty in asking God to provide a way to go again even for her baptism.  But some of my friends didn’t feel that it was wrong to ask God for this only that I should be willing to take No for an answer.  Well, that wasn’t so hard to do since I figured I couldn’t go anyway.  Oh me of little faith. Benj felt very strongly that one of her parents at least should be there.  He asked me if we would come if it were a wedding….that her commitment to Christ is much more important than a wedding.  When he put it that way, it made perfect sense. Unfortunately,  Vernon didn’t feel he could do it—with the cold weather, furnace, and his backed up work, but he did say I could go to represent our family.

So, I had a week to prepare.  We bought the ticket on Feb. 5th after we got home from prayer meeting. I did some last minute shopping like buying Mt. Dew, Mug rootbeer, pepperoni and Pringles to help celebrate Benj’s 29th birthday on Feb. 19th.  I decided I hadn’t celebrated with my oldest son for a number of birthdays and it was time to do it again since I had a chance.  Our family has a tradition of the 3 P’s:  Pizza, Pringles and Pop(namely Mt. Dew and Rootbeer).  When that started we were living in Guatemala and those 2 kinds of pop were not available there so I’d try to make sure we brought some back with us to serve on birthdays.  I also bought a big jar of Peanut Butter for his present. I spent considerable time packing and repacking my luggage. Also, this time I made sure my pair of knee-highs matched.  The last time I ended up with one Sheer Energy and one Hanes and it bugged me the entire trip. 

For one thing, I was going on Spirit Airlines and they charge for luggage:  $35 for a carry on, $30 for the first suitcase up to 40 #.  The suitcase I first tried was too big and the stuff sort of rattled around in it so I tried another…whoops, too little.  Let’s see about this one, “still too small”.  Etc and etc.  I was allowed a “personal” bag such as a purse or a small backpack measuring up to 12″ x 14″ x 16″ that I didn’t have to pay for. I wanted to take advantage of the free luggage so I found a backpack that was within the size guidelines and also a suitcase close to the proper dimensions and studied the guidelines what I could take and what I could not.  After juggling for awhile, I finally decided to pay an extra $25 at the check-in counter for an extra 10# in my suitcase.

I had quilted Lanet’s quilt on the machine and wanted to finish taking care of the extra threads while traveling.  I read that you can now take small scissors if the blades are less than 4″ so I took a folding pair, a seam ripper and knitpicker (a teeny latch hook thing I had left over from our Qiana knit days).  These were in my little emergency  travel kit along with some buttons and a needle and thread and other odds and ends such as tweezers, band-aids, and Tylenol.  I put my purse inside the backpack.  Then, I put my camera, cellphone and passport in a fannypack around my waist.  I know, they went out of style a number of years ago but I need the extra space.  I used the quilt to keep warm on the flight.

We started out at 8:15 PM from home to get to Minneapolis/St. Paul to be there a couple hours before the flight went out.  I thought the flight went out at 12:15AM but I saw later it was 1:15.  That was ok because the weather wasn’t all that great and it began to snow on our way over.  I am not sure what time we got there but I was delayed  in security when they found something forbidden  in my backpack. No, it wasn’t the scissors or the fingernail clippers but the peanut butter!    I was sure that was ok but he said “nothing creamy”.  Fortunately, Vernon was still there on the other side of the glass watching as I was frisked and the pb removed from my pack.  Oh rats.  There went Benj’s birthday present.  They did take the pb back and gave it to Vernon after they tested the outside of the jar to prove it wasn’t anything explosive, so at least it wasn’t wasted money on my part.  Oh well, I’ll know better next time.

Once on the plane we had to wait for awhile until the plane was de-iced. That reminded me of a scene in a Sci-Fi movie.  This huge unidentifiable creature blowing hot air on the wings.    Finally, we were off.   Now, I don’t know how many of you have ever flown Spirit but they are a bare-bones airline that only charges 1/2 the price and give you 1/2 the luxury of their competitors.  My ticket with the $30 for luggage came to $442.00 plus the extra $25 was still way below the next cheapest ticket I could find which was over $800.  I figured I could put up with a bit of uncomfort at that savings. Well, I am glad I wasn’t any larger than I am, as my knees came close to rubbing the seat back in front of me when it was reclined.  Yes, it reclined.  Some of the seats on the other planes did not.  I noticed that there are bigger seats toward the front of the plane and they got smaller and closer together as you went back.  I think the biggest seats were $50 extra and the middle ones $20 or $30.  And if I ever fly Spirit again, yes, I would very definitely consider paying for a bigger seat.  As it was, these in the back were the freebies and I had a lot of trouble trying to sleep.

They have a menu card that gives the options of what you can buy.  Most of it was pop, pringles, candy or some kind of stronger drink.  All sweets and carbs.  Not so great for a diabetic to say the least.  I was glad for the little bag of jerky in my pack.  I did ask for water and was brought 2 bottles of room temp. water.  I thought it was interesting that those who bought pop or juice got a cup of ice to go with it.  I suppose I should’ve asked.  The least they could’ve done was said “no”.  I am not sure but I think the second bottle was a slip-up on their part but who was I to complain?  I had to use my credit card to get that at the tune of $3.  I ended up buying a Cup of noodles on the second leg of my trip.

We arrived in Fort Lauderdale, FL just as the sun was coming up.  I was glad to get off the plane and stretch my legs.  I was to have a 4 hour lay-over there so I settled down and began to work on Lanet’s quilt.  It was coming right along.  They had several places to buy food there so I got a sandwich and ate my lunch there.  We were to take off at 10:48 EST AM and get to Guatemala City a little after noon (CST), 3 hours later.  It was a little hard to keep up with leaving a Central time zone going to Eastern time then back to Central again so I had to keep adjusting the time in my head.

The plane was delayed due to inspection, they said.  One of the unfortunate things about Spirit Airlines is they forget to communicate with their passengers.  I forgot how late the flight was delayed before they ever made the announcement that we were going to be delayed.  The sign board, of course, just said:  ON TIME.   Hummpf    Finally at 2PMEST (1:00 CST) we boarded the plane and took off for Guatemala. I did think that it was better to be late and have the plane inspected on the ground than to be in the air and wished they had.

We arrived there about 4 PM CST 4 hours late.  After going through customs and claiming my suitcase and more customs, I was out and was met by Tim and Rhoda Korver. Now my arrival was kept under hats so that I could surprise Tiana, so Tim hadn’t even told Rhoda who they were picking up.  Rhoda, thinking of her birthday the next day, thought perhaps it was one of her family coming to surprise her.  Tim told her not to get her hopes up so when she saw me she asked, “Is that who I think it is?”  Of course, she wasn’t a shocked as the last time we went to visit but we were happy to see each other anyway.  She has been a dear friend of mine for 12 years now. 

We arrived at Mennonite Headquarters in time for me to lie down and rest a bit before supper.  Since the plane was late, my scheduled bus ride that afternoon was no longer valid so we rescheduled one on the night bus at 10PM.   Harold Kauffman loaned me his extra cell phone (the same one we’d used in Oct.) so that I would be able to communicate with Benj on my way up to the Peten.

A group of 4 young people from Chambersburg, and Bellville, PA had come that day too.  Tristan Funk had been a VSer a couple of years ago so he brought some cousins down to visit. Tristan and Tim took me to the bus terminal to get the night bus.

I hadn’t thought I needed to change my dollars into Quetzales so was taken aback when they wouldn’t take my dollars.  I asked what the fare was.  Q180.  Gulp.  I was sure that 4 of us took that same bus line for Q600 which came out to Q150 each.  I asked Tim if he had any Q’s.  He had Q156…Tristan hadn’t changed any money yet either.  Tim showed the lady what he had and she adamantly said it was Q180.  Well, the fare must’ve gone up since Oct.  Now what?  Tim went outside the station to talk to Tristan.  Next thing I knew Tristan came in and asked the lady how much my ticket was and she said, without batting an eye: “Q150″! I teased him that they thought he was nicer looking than Tim.  LOL  what I didn’t see and what the ladies apparently had that was Tim went out and asked Tristan if he had any Q’s and saw that Tristan didn’t have any and saw Tim give Tristan the money and must’ve figured they’d give me a ticket for Q150. They also remembered Tristan.

Anyway, I was relieved….I gave Tim my $20 bill and we were all squared. The bus left shortly after that.   This bus had 2 seats on one side of the isle and 1 on the opposite side.  I was seated by the window beside a nice enough fellow.  The seats were reclining but alas, mine was missing its foot and leg rest so that it left my legs dangling and cut off the circulation to my feet.  I am sure that poor guy thought he had the wiggliest seatmate ever.  So, not much sleep and rest for me that trip either.  At least the seat wasn’t worn out.  This was the ADN bus, one of the few bus lines that will stop in El Chal.  I was kind of bothered by the air conditioner over my head.  It looked like it could be sort of dangerous if it jarred loose.  I prayed that it would stay up where it was supposed to.

I arrived about 5:30 or 6 in the morning.  The bus driver asked me, “Primero tumulo?”  Which means first speed bump.  Sure enough there was Benj waiting for me.  I could’ve walked in to their house which was only 1 block from the highway but that suitcase was heavy with exactly 50# in it so I was relieved that he had come.

I walked into their house as most of them were eating breakfast.

Sue was still sleeping on the couch but the other two grandchildren were surprised to see Grandma walk in.    I went to the girls’ bedroom and pulled on Tiana’s toes to wake her up.  She just groaned and mumbled something but when the sound of my voice penetrated her brain, she was up in a flash giving me a bear hug.  “MOMMY!”  It made all the discomfort worth it. Sue too didn’t want to wake up but once she saw me she was up like a jack-in-the-box, happy to see her Grandma.  Sleep was forgotten.

There were 3 young men at the table that I’d never met before.  These 3 had contacted the mission and had wanted to come and do some work project, they referred them to Benj.  Benj is building a house and so this was a very welcome work team.  Matt King is Amish and Leroy Brubaker and Darrel Horst are “Joe Wenger” Mennonites, I believe.  They added to the good times we had the week I was there.  I really enjoyed getting to know them.

I did take a long nap that day.  I can’t remember if it was before or after lunch.   What I did mostly that week was wash dishes it seemed so I am not sure if I can recount each day as they were a lot alike.

One of the first things Sue asked me was if we could have a Slumber Party.  I looked kind of doubtful but she assured me that her Mommy let her have Slumber Parties.

So I agreed and was pleasantly relieved that their slumber parties was when the adult slept on the couch and the kiddos on the floor!  Now, I can handle that kind, thank you very much.

Lanet, 2, hardly gave Vernon and I the time of day when we were there in Oct. but this time, she knew me and I found I had my built in “puppy” following me about.  She’d take my hand and say, “Grandma, come.  Come Grandma, sit down.  Read.  Or Chicle?  Sometimes she’d take me into the bedroom and point to my purse and ask sweetly, “Chicle?” (gum).

Tiana and I took the little girls up town a little ways and bought fruit,veggies and meat.

On Valentine’s day Benj took the fellows to Ixpanpajul and on up to Santa Elena.  He came back with a bunch of flowers for his Valentines.

Holly made donuts for her Valentine. 

I did get Lanet’s quilt done:

 

Another day, Tiana and I went alone as I wanted to buy a little broom for Kaity that I’d seen in one of the stores.  We also went to a Paca.  This is a used clothing store with clothes brought down from the USA.

On Sat. Tiana and I took a Tuk tuk up to Judy Lehman’s house to make 4 flat sheet cakes for the refreshments after the baptismal service. That evening Ruben and Sandra Benito planned to make supper for us.  Those two are Jose Benito’s children….he was our bishop when we lived in El Novillero.  Jose lives in San Bartolome,  Ruben came up for this occasion.  Sandra lives in El Chal and is the pharmacist at the mission clinic.  Ruben  had lived with Benj’s for a year a couple of years ago.  He was baptized 2 years ago on Benj’s birthday and wanted to do this meal to thank Benj for all his support, etc and to celebrated Benj’s birthday and his baptism.  So, they lit a fire in the yard and Sandra made her famous Carne Asado.  Unfortunately, Benj didn’t get home until kind of late so by the time we actually ate, the meat was cool and tough…I should’ve put mine in the microwave to heat it up…but the flavor was still scrumptious.  Stephan’s came over that night too to help us eat it.

Sunday, the church was packed with all the visitors.

The church from El Naranjo/Santa Rosita came down to be there for this special event besides a work team from Ontario, Canada who was there working on the school Isaias Munoz and his family were up from the south….Oratorio as he has bishop oversight for the churches in El Chal and Sta Rosita since Mark Gingerich’s have been in Peru.  Isaias’ daughter, Priscila, lives with Benj’s family too and goes to school with Kendra Lily.  I teased Isaias that Jose Benito baptized our oldest 3 children, Harold Kauffman baptized the next 3 and if he, Isaias, baptized Tiana, he would need to do the last 2.  He said he’d be glad if we’d move back to Guatemala so that he could. 

We had a carry-in lunch at church and then had a little time to relax before evening services.   Holly is supposed to be on bedrest so she missed out on church in the morning.  ‘She did make it to church that evening where we had a beautiful service. We video-taped the service for the most part.  I was bummed out that we ran out of room on the camera chip for that last song:  “I want us to be together in Heaven”.  It was beautiful.  Everyone held hands and sang with gusto.  Tears flowing down cheeks unashamed.  I thought that was a little foretaste of Heaven!  I would like to post the videos on You-tube if I can.  I haven’t had any success posting videos on Xanga since they redid their site.  I hope you don’t mind but I think I will make a separate post for this occasion.  Here are a couple of pictures though to whet your interest.

We came back to Benj’s to find that someone had come in and helped themselves to Benj’s Ipad (which, by the way, he had offered to let me use for a Bible…..I could’ve kicked myself for not doing that.) and their laptop besides some money.  I was relieved that I had my Q’s on me and that they hadn’t touched my dollars nor my passport.  The thief didn’t take any of Benj’s $$ either.  I guess its easier to track a thief when they try to change $$ into Q’s.  Also Kendra Lily and Priscila’s laptops were not stolen either so they feel the thief was in a hurry.  I felt bad as Holly had just downloaded all her pictures from her camera onto the laptop so we could use her camera chip for the baptism.  She said that she had just backed up everything on the computer about 6 weeks earlier so at least they didn’t lose everything.  That kind of put a damper on everyone’s spirits at any rate.

Monday, I think, I went with Kendra Lily to the clinic for the afternoon.  The staff on duty that day was Julia King, Sandra Benito, KL and Priscila Munoz.

I also went over to the school to take a peek of what the work team from Canada was accomplishing.  Had a good visit with Waneta Erb the school secretary.  Unfortunately, my battery failed on the camera so no pictures. 

On Tuesday I was sewing a dress for Holly when Leroy asked me how much fabric it would take for Sue and Lanet.  I told him I thought I could do it with 2 and 1/2 yards.  He brought over a big bag of fabric that he had bought in the City and asked me to chose a piece for the girls.  Holly picked out a couple from the pile and then had Sue choose of those.  She chose a lite green piece that measure 1 and 3/4 yard.  Yikes.  Could I get 2 little dresses out of that piece without it being too skimpy?  What made it worse was big gold letters stamped along the bottom edge saying the name of the fabric and where it was made.  Holly and I found they could be scraped off and we managed to get it off!  When I got done cutting them both out, I think I had a left over piece about the size of my hand besides a couple of odds and end scraps.  Now that’s what I call doing it right.  Nothing left over that can’t be used.  A great feeling of accomplishment.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get to sew them up but hopefully Holly will be able to soon.

I am not sure when I got to go up to the Hill to see the progress on Benj’s house.  I was glad to get to see what has been accomplished since we were there in Oct.  Benj has barbed wire all around the porch and side of the house for protection of falling off I suppose.  Guess who got it in the face, not just once but twice?  Fortunately, it didn’t hurt too bad and didn’t leave a mark.  Darrel’s scratch was a lot more obvious. 

I told the girls that I wanted to go to Ixpanpajul for the Tarzan Tour.  I don’t think they they took me seriously at first.  Here’s Mom, the person that is SOOO afraid of heights wanting to do the cable rides?????  No way!   They made plans to take me on Wed. afternoon. So, about 2PM the 3 of us left the house for the 1/2 ride up to Ixpanpajul.  We had just gotten off the microbus and was walking in when the heavens opened up and gave us an impromptu shower!  Oh help…just what we needed.  I wasn’t sure if we could do this Tarzan tour in pouring  rain.  When we got to the pavilion where we were to pay, went to the restroom and dried off as much as we could with paper towels.  By that time the rain had passed so we paid and got into the back of a truck to take us to the first part of the tour.

All the while Tiana kept telling me, “You’ll freak out.  You’ll scream.  You won’t be able to do it.”  And all the while I kept assuring her that I could, that I wouldn’t freak out, I won’t scream and that they were underestimating their Mama. The road up the hill and down into the jungle was as steep as I have ever seen.  I honestly believe that it must’ve been at least a 75 degree angle up that hill and back down.  I didn’t freak out but it was hard not to, especially, wondering what kept us from flipping over onto our top as we scaled that hill.  No, it didn’t take us up on switch backs.   And then going down the other side.  Whoa!  I tried to take pictures of it but you have to have it in 3D to get the real thing.

The pictures all look flat. Finally we stopped at the base of a TALL tree with a ladder going up.   We geared up and started up the ladder.

The rungs were slippery and treacherous but I finally made it to the top.

The guides clipped us onto the rails to keep us from falling off, then the first guide went off into space.  Then KL.  After her was me , then Tiana and the last guide.  The order was so that KL could video me coming and Tiana videoing me from behind.  They had to document this well.    Tiana was still sure I would freak out. They have made some changes on this cable tour since Jonny went almost 2 years ago.  It used to be that the person on the cable would brake himself by hanging onto the cable itself.  Jonny’s glove got caught in the pulley and he was stranded over the jungle until a guide came and untangled his glove.  Now the first guide goes it that way but when he reached the landing he hooked up the braking system which is something on the cable that stops the person from slamming into the tree. So, when it was my turn to go, I had some trepidation and forced myself into space.   I went flying over the jungle too fast to really enjoy the scenery but talk about exhilarating.  Wow wee!!

What a ride.  Yahoo!  and all that stuff but no freaking out or screaming.    But suddenly the tree loomed ahead of me and I was going 90 mile an hour it seemed.  I was sure I was going to hit that tree and be knocked into Mexico or worse!  Still I didn’t scream.  I probably would have if  I hadn’t told the girls that I wouldn’t.  But that’s our secret, ok?    I had to put my trust into the guide’s ability to stop me on time. There were 6 of those cable rides on the tour and by the time we finished I was no longer afraid I’d slam into the tree.  I did get afraid that the first guide wouldn’t get me off the cable in time before Tiana came sailing into the back of me.

All in all I loved it and would do it again in a heart beat. By the way, the girls had to hand it to me, they didn’t think I could do it without losing my cool.  I think I rather impressed them.

That evening was Benj’s birthday party.  I had told Judy Lehman about the party so she and her household….Vicky Hershberger, Sandra Benito, and another girl who is staying there temporarily joined us.

Of course, Matt, Leroy and Daryl was there too, besides Lucio Lopez, a boy that Benj is mentoring who was also baptized with Tiana. After the pizza, pop and Pringles, and the 2 ? meter firecrackers to celebrate,

I told Benj that this time I wanted some fresh coconut.  His yard is full of coconut trees and piles of coconuts so there are plenty to chose from. 

He got Lucio to climb a tree and pick some coconuts.

 

Then we opened some.  They scraped out the meat of one for me to bring home. Then the party was ove, but what a party!  At 9:45 I said good-bye to my 3 dear little grandchildren and the world’s sweetest daughter-in-law, gathered my bags and got into Benj’s pickup to go await the Maya de Oro bus. I admit, I had mixed feelings.  I wanted so badly to stay and yet my family in WI was pulling me home.  Oh well, all good things must come to an end. to be continued. I think this post is long enough….I’ll save the bus ride and the rest of the trip for the next post.  Or so. 

My parents; Bennie and Lutisha Glenn started attending Turkey Run Mennonite Church close to Bremen, Ohio, in the late ’50′s.  I am not quite sure just exactly when but I think it was in ’57 when my oldest brother was a baby.  I don’t know when they joined….it was before my time.    (I am a ’59er.)

Anyway, sometime in the early ’60′s they along with Marion Good’s and Norman Brunk’s pulled out of the Ohio Mennonite Conference.  There were issues at Turkey Run where Marion and Norman were in the ministry.  I think it was in 1962 or ’63 when our 3 families formed a new congregation.  Norman’s had moved into the little town of Carbon Hill and the Conservative Mennonite Fellowship had bought the old public school for Messiah Bible School.  We started meeting in the chapel of MBS when the Bible School was not in session.  During that time we met in homes….at least I remember having church at Norman’s some….that is rather vague in my mind. Margie Wray and her 5 daughter’s joined us soon after the congregation started.  (I wish I knew more of the history of that….I guess I need to investigate and start asking them questions. )

  l-r:  “Big” Dave Yoder, Miriam, Nat Glenn and “Little Dave”.  The Yoder’s are like our cousins. 

(The little fellows are Big Dave’s grandsons.)

I am not sure when the building of our church building started but probably in 1967.  By that time, David and Miriam Yoder’s had moved in from PA.  We had church in the basement for awhile until the upper level was finished.

All through the years, there was a lot of ups and downs for my Dad.  He had some spiritual struggles and Satan didn’t leave him alone much.  But somehow he would pick himself up with God’s help and would give it another go.  I have to admire him for that…..he had a lot of things against him.  He wasn’t raised in a Christian home, and to try to break into the Mennonite culture isn’t always easy.  Many have tried and gave up….but he was determined to stay with it in spite of all his struggles and failures. 

There was some stigma of being from non-Mennonite background that really bugged him.  One of the worst things he endured was: “Glenn.  Glenn?  That’s not a Mennonite name.  Oh, YOU must be from the OUTSIDE!”  Or “You must be from the world!”  He found a good come-back for these thoughtless remarks with: “Sure Glenn is a Mennonite name….there are a lot of Glenn Mennonites around here.”  He could say that with honesty with 8 children in his family.  Or he’d say:  “Sure I am from the world, where are you from, outer space?” 

With this type of stigma, I do think that he let it bother him too much at times.  Especially when we wanted to fit in and he didn’t want to see his children becoming “dyed-in-the-wool” Mennonites.  I could never understand why he felt so strongly about us fitting in when it was he that chose our destiny as far as being a Mennonite.  After all, we could’ve been part of any other type of church or none for that matter.  

Now that I am older, I think I can see his viewpoint better….he was criticized for not thinking like a Mennonite.  He didn’t think like a true-blood Mennonite and often thought outside the box.  For a long time he felt like he was the low man on the totem pole because he wasn’t raised to think like a Mennonite….and often his thoughts were either ignored or thrown out just because they came from him.  I am not sure that others purposely did that but there are many other folks who were proselyted into the Mennonite culture that attest to feeling the same way.  I am thinking that it was worse in the 60′s and 70′s than it is today….sort of a racial thing like how people used to view the Negroes.  

Anyway, over the years, he struggled with his temptations and failures and with feeling accepted by the brotherhood.

I grew up, left home and got married.  My life with my husband and little family led to Guatemala eventually so we only got to be with my folks a couple of days every couple of years…. we didn’t keep in close contact due to not having personal phones and toll calls were terribly expensive.  (It cost us about Q16 a minute to call home and tell them when our first son was born in 1985!  Exchange rate Q1.35 to $1.00)

The Carbon Hill church experienced problems over the years…..people came and people left.   It eventually fell apart in 1998.  After missing several services the ones left to pick up the pieces decided to do just that and started rebuilding the congregation.   It was a hard time for them but those who were left were committed to do it and all of them wanted it to work.

By then my Dad was the oldest male member of the congregation.  One of the nicest things he ever heard was when William Bear told him, “Bennie, this church needs you….your wisdom is very valuable.”   Dad needed to hear that.

I do not know when they started building the new church out of town over on Rt. 595 but by then we were living in Wisconsin so I suppose it was in ’05 or ’06.  By then we had regular contact via phone and I could hardly believe the difference in his outlook on it all.

This church was his special baby and he was very proud of it! I think just about every phone conversation he would tell me what all they’d accomplished since the last time we’d talked.  It was a red-letter day when the building was ready to be used for the first time.  He loved it….that was very obvious to me.

He would tell me how much he appreciated Phil and Danny Weaver and Tony Brunk.  He would mention others but those 3 were high on his list.  I feel that those men loved Dad and let him know that he was appreciated and that his opinions held weight.  

  (I wish I could edit these pictures…on far left…Wes Brunk with my brother Veasy.  Phil Weaver is on the right.  Next photo , Danny Weaver is the shorter man on the right.  Sam or Paul Weaver, (I am not sure which)  Both were Dad’s good friends.

(Raymond and Elmeda Bear, Rachel and Marcus Bear and Juanita and Brian Bear—all used to attend Carbon Hill.  Marcus and Brian’s Dad, Gaylord, was our minister, who died in Feb. 1981.)  Danny’s wife Marvetta in foreground.

I remember the day he told me “After all those years in the Mennonite Church, I feel loved and accepted.   I love our congregation!”  I had to cry both for joy and sorrow…..can you imagine struggling along for over 50 years before you could say something like that?   Sad isn’t it?  But I am glad that he finally felt that love…he definitely deserved it.

So I think it is fitting that he was the first to be buried there.  His heart was definitely there. 

I want to publicly applaud the congregation at Hocking Hills Mennonite for loving and accepting my Dad in his twilight years.  You have been a great blessing to him and Mom.  May God bless every one of you.

Now that I got the laptop working properly again, I really have no excuse to neglect my blog.  I had planned to finish posting about my Dad’s funeral but somewhere I got sidetracked and didn’t get that done.    

Well here it is almost at the end of the first month of 2013.  Where has it gone?  Seems like it just began.  And again, I made a New Year’s Resolution.  Two years ago I decided to try to make a quilt top a month.  Actually I ended up doing 16 different projects ranging from table runners to large quilts.  Last year I took a “sabbatical” and as a result didn’t get many done.  Not good….I need some incentive to get things done, not that I don’t enjoy or want to do it but I let other things crowd out my art.  I find that I need to do my art.  Does that make sense?  Its an outlet for me and I love it.

I have found that some quilt patterns aren’t so relaxing as others, for example, the Double Wedding Ring that I am currently working on.  I love the pattern, and this is my 3rd one since I’ve started piecing quilts, but I have decided that perhaps I will do no more.  I am tired of the sore neck and shoulders besides the hassle of the concaves and convexes to be sewn together in harmony.  So please remind me of that if and when you hear me talking about doing another one.    I promised my 2 other kits that I have cut out to my sister so I will have them out of my house and therefore they will not tempt me nor harass me.

I have 3 more long seams to finish sewing the strips of rings together and will be finished.  Unless there is some unforeseen event this week I should be able to finish it before the end of the month.  Then I will post pictures.

It seems like this winter will be a long one.  Lavina came down with pneumonia 3 weeks ago again and although was on meds she still hasn’t regained her strength and continues to run fever off and on.  Jonny and Kaity has been under the weather for a couple of weeks too although Kaity is acting a lot better.  Its been a bit hard to keep up with our library cleaning job with Tiana gone and the children sick.  Now today, Vernon isn’t feeling very well. 

I guess I will close this post now and see what I can do with one on Dad’s funeral.

 

Rosalyn Landis from Ephrata, PA is the winner of Dorcas Smucker’s new book Tea and Trouble Brewing.

Actually we had quite a time with the drawing.  I wrote all the names on paper, cut them out and put them into a bowl.  We mixed them good and had Kaity pull out a slip of paper.  First name pulled was someone on Dorcas’s blog tour and didn’t qualify.  Whoops.  Try again.  Next Lavina pulled a slip out and it was Karina ?.  I contacted her and then I remembered that my niece had commented and I knew I hadn’t written her name down.  Strange…so I started looking and realized that I had missed a whole page of comments about 10 in all.  So, I added them and put Karina’s name back in.   This time, Jonny pulled a name and it was Rosalyn’s.

I felt kind of bad for Karina.  If I had an extra book I would’ve sent her one anyway but I knew I had to be fair to the one’s that had been mixed.

Rosalyn had served in Guatemala in San Sur during the time we were with Mennonite Air Missions so it was fun to give a book to someone I knew.  Also, I think its interesting that she was the first one to comment.  Does make me wonder who would’ve won if we had had all the names in the bowl at the beginning.  

Congratulations, Rosalyn!  Enjoy! (I am SURE you will.   )

I love tea.  In fact, our entire family loves it.  We have tea for breakfast almost every day.  

I enjoy different flavors but I must admit that my favorite is Lipton’s black tea.  I love to brew a cup, sit down, relax, sip it slowly, and enjoy it. I found these really cute teacups/pots to make the experience more enjoyable but alas, the little pots only hold one cup of tea.  

Although I love drinking tea, it seems that more often I end up pouring a cup and end up gulping it down in a hurry, due to my busy schedule.  It seems I rarely have the opportunity of just taking my good ol’ time to sip and relax.

I started out reading this book I slowly sipped each story in a relaxed fashion.  But, then, I suddenly found that I needed to start gulping to finish up with the book by the time my turn for the weblog arrived.  

 

I met Dorcas several years ago when she came into my fabric store with her sister-in-law, Anna, who lives down the road from us.  Anna introduced us and we chatted a bit while they shopped.  I never gave it any more thought.  Then five years ago, I went to Borderland Ladies’ Retreat in International Falls, MN where Dorcas was the guest speaker.  I told my sister, (PC in VA) about meeting Dorcas.  

Pam’s response was: “You know who she is, don’t you?”  

Well,  ”Nooooo, I guess not.”  

“She is Amos Yoder’s Dorcas.”

“WHAAAAAAAATTTTT????   Really???!!!!!”

What a surprise.  I knew and played with Dorcas when we were little girls!  Talk about a very small world.   

My mind went back to the time our family went to visit the Yoder family when families lived near Somerset, Ohio.  We played hide and seek outside in their yard until it got dark.  I remember thinking that Fred was an odd name and it was the first time I remember hearing the name Marcus.  

Another time I remember their family coming to visit our family.  Of course, horses and buggies were fascinating, especially when the horse just couldn’t make it up the hill.  I still can “see” the children getting out of the buggy and pushing it on up the hill.  Recently, I mentioned that to Dorcas and her response was “Ah, Fern…”  She remembered that event too but hadn’t remember who they had gone to visit.  

So our connection goes way back into the mid 60′s.  Both our families left that part of Ohio and lost track of each other over time.  It was nice to reconnect after so many years.

 

I have copies of Dorcas’ first 2 books and loved them.  (Somehow I missed getting the third one.)  So when the opportunity came up to do this blog for her, I jumped at the chance.  Believe me, I wasn’t disappointed.  This book is written true to form and I enjoyed it immensely.  Dorcas is such a candid writer and tells it how it really is.  I find that honesty so refreshing and on the most part humorous.  I can often identify with what she’s trying to say.

I am not going to try to give you a run down on all this book has in it, some of the other bloggers did do some of that.  With a 10 year-old son of my own, who seems to think he’s a rocket scientist, the story about Boys and Explosions was perfect.  I was thinking that Jonny was maybe a little too obsessed with things that went pow, bang and ka-boom, I was relieved that at least he didn’t try some of the stunts the Smucker boys did!  Yet, (cross my fingers) yet.  

Then the article on Joining Facebook brought back some of my own recollections.  The list could go on……I am quitting here….I want to leave something to the imagination and I know that you will enjoy this book.

Now for the punchline or whatever.  Dorcas has sent me three (3) signed copies of this book.  One for myself, one for me to give to anyone I chose and the third for someone who visits my blog and leaves a message.   I will randomly draw a name from the list of messages on Monday and mail that lucky person the last copy.  

Remember, you will have to make sure I will be able to get a hold of you if your name is drawn.  (Any comments on Facebook counts too.)

Harrisburg, OR 97446

While I was growing up, my Dad didn’t really seem to care much about his automobiles, how they looked, what kind they were, etc.  As long as they ran and held all his family, it was good enough for him.  He owned a variety of vehicles over the years but he did have a ” Dream Car”….a 1947 Lincoln.

My Dad had a 1947 blue Lincoln car when he was courting Mom.  He loved that car and he loved telling stories about it’s electric push button windows.  It was a classy car.  Just remember when electric windows really became popular…..in the 70′s I think, so this car was way ahead of the rest in his opinion.  Somehow it was his dream car for many decades.

No door handles.  Just push buttons.

A few years ago he called my brother-in-law up and told him that he had finally acquired a blue Lincoln.  It was a 1984 model.  He told Raymond that he took it for a spin out on Rte 33 and it rolled along with hardly a wobble.  Raymond was glad for Dad realizing his dream and couldn’t wait to see it.

Later, Dad called me and he was all excited.  He had just purchased a 1947 Lincoln at scrap metal price.  Everything was there except a couple of trim pieces.  The horn and the radio still worked but the car didn’t run.  He had plans to restore it and I helped by looking up a few things on the Internet for him.  Frankly, I was excited too because I’ve always thought if I were a guy, I think it would be so rewarding to get an old car and completely restore it.

Once I laid eyes on the rust bucket, however, I was sure that Dad would never live long enough to restore it.  But I kept my thoughts from him.  The last thing I wanted to do was discourage him.  This was his baby and if it gave him something to do, “Then go for it, Dad”.  It was fun to see how interested he was in it.

He loved taking people down there to look at it and he and my niece, who is 5 years old, loved going down so she could blow the horn.  She had to stand up on the seat and push with her feet to make it honk, but when it honked it HONKED.  What a horn!  More like something on a train locomotive.  If you weren’t prepared, it’d blast you 6 and 9/10th inches or however many that Frank Gilbreath did when his little boy blew the horn on Foolish Carriage.  (See Cheaper by the Dozen).

 

When Dad got sick last summer, he knew his days were numbered so he lowered his goal to just getting it to run.  Vernon took his tools out in August and worked a couple of days but didn’t succeed.  Later my brother Veasy tried also but still wasn’t able to get it going.  So he died without realizing that dream.

Of course, we all felt bad.  Who wouldn’t want to see someone have his lifelong wish fulfilled?  Especially your Daddy?  Oh well, he’s in a much better place and I am sure that Lincolns no longer concern him but still……

Anyway, what happened to the ’84 model?   I am coming to that.  When the family all converged on the homeplace before the funeral, I heard Lavina exclaim:  ”I found Grandpa’s blue Lincoln and I am keeping it.  It’s mine now!”  Here she is with her prize:

This is very typical of Bennie Glenn’s humor.  

It only remains to be seen what will happen with the car.  I hope someone will restore it.  Tootles

 

I had a first time experience today.  I was called for jury duty at the Rusk County Courthouse this morning.  Actually, I was scheduled for one on Monday earlier this week but it was cancelled but this one wasn’t cancelled so I arrived there at 8:45.  I had to sign after my name on the sign-up sheet.  I was glad to see the name ahead of mine was Rosanna M Martin (Mrs. Jerry).  I had hoped there would be someone I knew, but never thought of it being another conservative Mennonite.

Most of the other prospective jurors were already in the courtroom when I got there and the bench that Rose was filled so I took a seat elsewhere.  Soon afterwards, the clerk of circuit courts asked if 3 different persons had arrived yet.  They hadn’t so they waited until 9 to begin the process of choosing the 12 jurors.  Renee Baxter, (the clerk) told us that no-shows are not permitted unless in a serious emergency.  They were contacting those 3 to remind them to hurry and get there.  I believe everyone did eventually show up although one or two arrived after we were sworn/affirmed in.

After giving us some instructions and telling us how they picked us through the Dept. of Motor vehicles; (hmmm…..so Amish never get called for jury duty…..), they read off 20 names and those had to go sit in the order we were called in the jury section.  I was number 9 called but was placed in chair # 8.  Rose never got called at all.  There were about 32 people in all, but they only called 20 of those.  Those not called had to remain there for further choosing once the elimination process began.  The judge began by telling us what the crime was; in this case a DUI charge.  The accused was a young woman that I’d guess to be in her early twenties.  The crime happened on March 30th of this year. 

We were all asked if any of us knew about the case, read it in the newspaper, etc.  None of us had.  Then began questions like: Do you know the defendant? Are you related to her?  Do you know the attorney that represents her, have you ever had any thing to do with his law firm, etc.  Do you know the DNR fellow?  The deputy sheriffs involved in her arrest?  The list went on and on.  No one was eliminated.  Finally came the question:  Are any of you opposed to serving as jury for whatever reason? 

I raised my hand and told the judge that I had religious convictions concerning serving on the jury.  He thanked me and asked if there were any objections for excusing me.  None, so I was told to sit on the bench again.  This time I got to sit with Rose.   

More questioning as someone was called to fill my vacancy.  Another woman was excused.  I forget why but think it was that she felt that she couldn’t do it with no partiality.

Finally, they were done questioning so they had the District Attorney and the Defense lawyer striking out 8 names.  Once that was done they read out twelve names for the jurors who were left.  They were sworn/affirmed in again and the rest of us were dismissed to go with the promise that there were no more jury trials for the month and that we wouldn’t be summoned for at least 4 years.

We were free to stay and watch, which I would’ve loved to do as it was a very educational experience.   I didn’t however as I have scads of stuff to do here at home.    On the way out, I stopped by the restroom and one of the would-be jurors told that she appreciated my honesty and courage to say why I couldn’t conscientiously serve.  “I know its because of ‘Judge not that you be not judged’…..I consider myself a Christian and now I am going to go home and study that verse too.  I really want to know just how I feel about that.”  I regret not telling her that I would pray that as she seeks the answer for herself that God will guide her in her search.    But I will pray to that end.  I guess I hadn’t thought that my words would leave a testimony but am grateful that it did.  I want to give God the glory for that.

PS.  (I thought it was interesting there were 3 Mennonites there and all of us were from the 3 different local churches represented here in Rusk Co.)

Well, that was the end of my call to Jury Duty.  Have a good day.  Kim

.Here’s a picture to liven it up.  My Dad with Kaity about 4 years ago.