the faithless blogger ...

I can't believe it's been over a week since I wrote anything ... sorry all!

Let's see ... what's new to tell you ...

I've got a children's Bible club meeting at my condo in the evenings this week. I'm NOT a children's worker, but they just needed someone to provide a snack, and a shady spot, and THAT, I can do. :) Monday, there were four kids there, but last night, none came. The club is being run by a teenage girl from church, and her brother is helping her. I felt so bad for them. They really put a LOT of work into it. When nobody came last night, they went into the neighborhood to invite kids for today. I DO hope they get some attendance!

I told her the story of George Muller - how he had a burden to have a home for orphans, and prayed for God to provide all that was needed. The story of how the money came for land, buildings, furniture, etc., is just glorious. But then ... when everything was set up ... there were no children. He realized he had forgotten to pray for the children to come. God did bring in kids, more and more, until the orphanage grew to several buildings, and a large campus overlooking Bristol. (I have pictures of it - it's a beautiful place ... now used as some kind of college.)

So I told her I would be praying for God to bring her the children for today's club. :)

I took a friend to Shipshewana for her birthday Saturday. I'd forgotten how she loves to shop! She spent 3 hours in one antique store. Fortunately, they had a shady porch, and I had a book, so all was well! L. could shop, and I could read!

I've been getting to the gym, and walking some, but the heat has kept me inside more than usual. I go to the condo pool to swim, but I don't seem to have the endurance for that like I do with walking - I wear out after about 20 minutes or so. Oh well ... I suppose every bit helps!

I got a call that I'd won a membership to a gym downtown in a drawing. (I enter every drawing I see, so I suppose it's likely). However I know gyms are notorious for sneaky advertising gimmicks and bad contracts, so I'm highly dubious. Going Friday to have a look, and see what that's all about.

As far as study goes ... well ... nothing to report. I've been reading in John in preparation for the ladies' Bible study that will start in September (note to self ... get the books ordered for that). But the Ruth study hasn't gone very far.

a little mindless entertainment

Last night was the offroad derby at the Hudsonville Fairgrounds. A friend and I go to these together any time we can, and it was such fun. Not only do I like watching the race, but watching the people who come to the race is even better. :)

There was a group of wanna-be-gangster guys with big diamond earrings and cocked-to-the-side hats. They might have been intimidating if it weren't that they brought a tiny little puppy with them. It had to have been just barely old enough to leave its mother. Watching these big guys tenderly looking after that little puppy was adorable! They were giving it water out of their hands, loving the daylights out of it. It was VERY sweet.

A conspicuous feature of the women in the crowd was the lack of fabric they were wearing. The square footage of skin showing was most striking! (I'm FEMALE and I felt the need to look away because I was embarrassed.)

Which made the group of teenagers in this picture really stand out. They just oozed wholesomeness. They were clean cut, fresh-faced kids, and just seemed to love the daylights out of each other. There was no romance going on that was obvious ... just a group of friends who seemed to love each other's company. Near the end of the derby, when the stands were thinning out, they spread out, and were sitting like this with their arms woven around each other. It was so nice to see. I wish I'd had a real camera along with me, instead of just my cell phone, so the picture would be better!

Got in a walk yesterday before the heat got too bad, but no studying got done. Hoping for some of that after church today.

in answer to Carol's question

Suzie Norris was one of the first two residents of Rest Haven Homes. This lady, Bertha Webb, was the other.

It was 1946, and these were Christian ladies who couldn't live alone anymore, and had no family to care for them. A Christian couple took them in, but it got to be too much for them.

At about that time, Grace Pell had recently visited Abigail Townsend Luffe at El Nathan, the nursing home she ran in Buffalo (Abigail had grown up in Bristol, England, and was grealty influenced by George Muller's work there.)

Abigail met Grace, and took her all through the nursing home in Buffalo. (El Nathan, has since moved to Marble Hill, Missouri). She took her even into the rooms of the very sick people, and those whose minds had slipped. Then, at the end of their time together, Abigail asked Grace, "so dear, have you ever thought of working with old people?" Grace told her "no" ... that she already had a substantial work with children, and couldn't imagine incorporating a new ministry.

It was soon thereafter that the Lord brought the situation with Suzie Norris and Bertha Webb into Grace's life, and she was led to take over their care, which eventually led to the formation of Rest Haven Homes. They still hold to many of the principles that George Muller's orphanages practiced ... not making their needs known or asking for money, etc.

Grace Pell ended up dying in Rest Haven as a resident soon after I met the family. I know her younger sisters, who are now both currently living at the home - one in the nursing home, and another in an apartment there. They were from a family of 10, and had a huge impact on the Christian work here in Grand Rapids, starting a local church, Gospel Folio Press (since moved to Canada), Uplook Ministries, as well as Rest Haven. None of the 6 girls ever married, and are a great example of how to use one's single state to serve the Lord. They were even in Ripley's Believe it or Not as the "6 Miss-Pells (miss-spell ... get it?) who worked at the publishing house."

If you've never had a chance to read the story of George Muller's orphanages, or Sister Abigail's work in Buffalo, their biographies are both a real treat!

Got to the gym tonight, and read some in John this morning.

Such a fun project

I've been helping a friend prepare a history presentation for Rest Haven Homes 60th anniversary this September.

My part has been to scan in all these wonderful old pictures. I'm just loving it - looking at all these faces, and thinking about what their lives must have been.

The home has a very interesting history - tracing back through the influences of Abigail Townsend Luffe and before her, George Muller.

This picture is one of the first two residents, Suzie Norris.

I got in a walk already this morning, and have tucked in to scan pictures until I go to work at a funeral around 10:30. Need to get some studying done today, partuclarly because I'm to give a devotional at a ladies meeting tomorrow, and still have not the foggiest idea what I'm going to say. Yikes.

a few projects crossed off my list

Hope you all had a good 4th!

In the course of one of my projects, standing on top of a 6 foot ladder, right at the edge of my balcony, I so appreciated and having one of my neighbors holler “be careful up there”.

Being startled does wonders for one’s balance when standing in a precarious place.

I did eventually get back up the ladder and finish hanging the blind … once I stoped shaking. :)

thinking about God's provision

Happy 4th everyone!

In thinking about the blessings of living in this country, as well as considering Ruth chapter 2, I can't help but dwell on the provisions of God.

He has given so many opportunities, and I so often take them for granted.

Just as Ruth had no claim on the harvest from Boaz's field (in Ruth 2) ... yet he provided for her nonetheless ... so I have no claim on God's favor. Yet He is so good to me nonethless!

I was looking through some pictures this morning, and making CDs of the ones I thought others might want. In the process, I ran across the one I have posted here.

It's a picture of God's provision for one year of my life. A family from church had just bought this house, and his company promptly sent them to Japan for a year. This was at the same time I was looking for a condo to buy near the church. (I work there as secretary.)

It worked out so well for both of us ... they had someone to look after their house, and I had a place to stay for a year (3 miles from work!).

And such a place! It was brand new, and the rest of the subdivision had yet to spring up, so I had very few neighbors, and lovely views from the back windows.

I think I'll hang on to this picture. It's a good reminder that God can provide in any number of ways. :)

Got to the gym last night - I have one more week, and I'll be paying for my third year membership. What a funny thought.

Trinka

If people would just ...

put things AWAY when they're done with them, and pick up after themselves, then I wouldn't spend my Saturdays trying to keep this place in order.

Grumble grumble grumble ...

Oh.

Wait.

I live alone.

Never mind.

Not killed them yet ...

I went to a baby shower a couple weeks ago, and they (mercifully) didn't have any silly games ... but rather had each lady tell a story about childbirth or adoption when her gift was opened.

When my turn came, the hostess got this awkward look on her face. Relax Patti ... all is well! :) I told my proud adoption story ... that I had adopted an African violet when I moved into my apartment in G.R. in 1997 (I think? the day that Princess Di was killed was the day I moved in ... I'd Google it and find out if I weren't so lazy). And the amazing thing was ... I had yet to kill it! (now my other plants, of course, are not so fortunate.)

All that is to say ... the flowers on the porch are looking quite lovely, but have reached the point in the summer where the lack of drainage in the window boxes, and my own plant cluelessness, will begin to do them in. So I wanted to post a couple pictures before the great decline begins. :)

Got in a walk last night, and then went to Zeeland for a picnic with L.V.A. We had a nice time reading John together and watching the fish in the pond snap up bread crumbs from our sandwiches.

Today ... it's time to tackle the mess in the condo again. Going away last weekend means that there is much to be accomplished this weekend!

I'm hoping to get done in time to go in and have a late lunch with T., and get some help rigging up a brace so I can put my a/c in the window. My old one had the thermostat die several summers ago. A friend bypassed the thermostat for me, so I've been using it, but I had to plug & unplug it all night, so it wouldn't freeze up from running too long.

I bought this new-to-me one at a garage sale, and it's REALLY heavy. I think if I were to put it in the window without a brace under it, it just MIGHT cause the whole building to fall over. :)