Fellowship

Kendra and Caleb

Our church gathered for fellowship at the Bylers' home Friday evening. The last activity of the evening was modified apple bobbing. Amanda had apples ready with strings tied to their stems and David hung them, two at a time, from the doorway. The goal was to bite the apple. It's difficult to chomp on a swinging apple without using your hands but a few talented (and large mouthed) individuals managed to do it. 

Chores

"I knew you were going to come out and take my picture," Libby said as she hauled her five-gallon buckets back to the barn after feeding and watering her chickens. She is such a cute farm girl in her pink vest and blue scarf.

Since Brian has been at Bible school in Pennsylvania this week, Libby has been feeding and tending his horses, cow, and goats in addition to her chickens. Dad helps her with the evening chores after he returns home from work. Thankfully Brian dried up his goats before he left. Otherwise Libby would be milking every morning and evening.  

Picnic

Naomi and I love picnics. In the summer we eat lunch outside nearly every day, usually on the front porch. It's not often warm enough to eat outside in November, so we took advantage of the sunshine yesterday. Libby, Logan and Naomi completed their morning jobs by ten o'clock and we celebrated with hot dogs, chips and mini donuts that Logan chose at the corner gas station/party store. 

We ate lunch on our second story deck on the back of the house. It was warmer there, on the south side of the house with the sun reflecting off the white siding. It was our first time to use the table and umbrella that we picked up for free by the side of the road this summer. Some of my siblings act embarrassed by road-side scavenging, but Mom and I congratulated ourselves on our find.

Logan arranging lawn chairs on the deck.

Naomi devouring her hot dog.

Remember...

Hebrews 13.3

Pray for our brothers and sisters 

who are being persecuted for their faith

For more information visit Voice of the Martyrs

New Camera

After my camera malfunctioned once in May I asked God to provide me with a new camera. Dad bought my Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 three years ago for my birthday and it has been my nearly constant companion since. It's been a valuable tool and I've shot thousands of photos. It began exhibiting signs in the past months that reminded me that it would not last forever. So I prayed and began looking at cameras (Side note: Don't look at cameras unless you plan to purchase one. When I first searched on the Internet I was just looking to see what was available. By the time I closed the browser I was thinking about which camera and accessories I wanted to buy).  

God abundantly blessed our blueberry harvest this year and I earned enough to stash some money in my savings account and purchase a camera. On Friday a Canon Rebel XSi arrived. Now I'm praying that my wimpy wrists will adjust to a bigger camera. Here is a sample of the photos I've shot. I'm still experimenting with the settings and discovering new features.

If you look closely you can see spittle on Logan's lip. I'm glad to have a brother young enough to drive tiny tractors across the carpet while producing tractor sounds. Soon he will join his brothers in driving the big ones across the field.

My niece

Julie is always willing to pose for me

Abstract art

Dad's blue-eyed beauties

Election Day

Election day is a time to meet neighbors. At ten thirty when Mom and I arrived at the township hall, the line stretched to the door. As usual, there was no line for the other precinct. Still, our line moved at a reasonable pace. Along with electing officials from president to township clerk, we voted on two Michigan proposals--one to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes and the other concerning embryonic stem cell research. 

Endue with the spirit of wisdom 

those to whom in thy Name 

we entrust the authority of government, 

that there may be justice and peace at home, 

and that, through obedience to thy law, 

we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.

"Prayer for Our Country," Book of Common Prayers

Time to cry

The movers are coming this week to Joel and Judith's apartment. They will pack their belongings in boxes and load the boxes and Ford Focus in a semi-truck to haul to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Joel begins his new job, designing combine headers, next week.

I am excited for my brother. Since he was a little boy Joel has dreamed of farm machinery. But I'm sorry for myself--ten hours is a long, long, long drive.