Float construction....

Tuesday night a group of Awana leaders met to start constructing the float. The theme this year is "Follow the Shepherd"...so we made a sheep pasture, and our Awana kids will be dressed as shepherds. We have the bushes and tall grass yet to put on the float, plus of course, all the kids! There will be leaders passing out Awana fliers and candy as we walk along the parade. We're praying that it will be a real testimony to the community!

Black, blacker, blackest.....

Monday and Tuesday have been busy days here at church! Our parking lots have gotten "re-surfaced" and they look just like new! The "coating" they put on is so black...and now the "lines" are being put on again so our church families will know where to park their cars. We'll be "open for business" again Wednesday morning!
It reminds me that when we accept the Lord as our Savior, he clothes us with his righteousness- and we are made new!!! The old is passed away, the new shines forth!

O beautiful for spacious skies.....

This amazing sunset is what we saw when we came home from church Sunday night. Ecclesiasties 3:10 says," He hath made everything beautiful in His time..."

Down on the farm... for 100 years

Today we had the privilege of going to our neighbor's home (she also attends church) and help her family celebrate a family farm that is 100 years old. We were having a hard downpouring rain, but that didn't dampen the spirits of those that came. There are very few Michigan farms that have been in one family for 100 years, so she was honored with this sign from the state of Michigan. This farm was one of the largest potato farms in Michigan back in the 1940's...that's why they called it, " Harrison's Spudaway Farm." They also had many antiques that were used on this farm on display, and clothes hanging up from over 75 years ago! Bob was asked speak for a few minutes, and also pray a thanksgiving prayer for the many wonderful years they have had. We all enjoyed homemade ice cream and cake. :)

A-B-C's

Have you ever tried to write out the ABC's of what God is? Here are just a few that are in my journal....


He IS:
A - The ALPHA - the beginning
B- the one who gave his BLOOD for my redemption
C- The God of all COMFORT
D- The DOOR - only way to Heaven
E- The EVERLASTING FATHER
F- The FIRM FOUNDATION
G- Our GUIDE
H- Our HIDING PLACE
I- Our INDWELLER
J- The JUDGE
K- The KING OF KINGS
L- The LORD OF LORDS
M- The MOLDER and shaper of my life
N- The NAME above all NAMES
O- OMNIPOTENT
P- Our PROVIDER
Q- The place of QUIET rest
R- My REASON for living
S- My SALVATION
T- The ultimate TEACHER
U- Our UNCHANGING God
V- VICTORIOUS over death
W- one that WASHES us WHITER than snow
X- the one we X-PECT to see one day!
Y- YESTERDAY, today and forever
Z- my ZEST for life

Over the river and through the woods....

Over the river and through lots of woods to Elizabeth and Jason's house we go....
Thursday we took Nana (after she had been with us for the week) to Jason and Elizabeth's house for dinner. What a great time we had, and what a wonderful meal! Elizabeth had made homemade potato/cheese soup, macaroni salad, calzones, relishes and homemade angel food cake! YUMMY!!!
Then Nana went with Elizabeth and Jason to Uncle Chuck and Aunt Margie's home where she will stay overnight before making her way back to her home in Ohio.
Thanks for coming, Nana!

Baa, Baa...lots of sheep

This morning, 10 ladies from church came to draw, cut and paint sheep. They turned out sooooooo cute! What fun we had talking while we worked! We have a lot of artistic ladies at the church - I was mainly the "gopher" for everyone (they know I'm artistically deprived! HA!). These 20 sheep will be used for our float in the Labor Day parade. Our Cubbies and Sparkies will be dressed as shepherds....and we're using the verse: "My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27. We'll make the float look like a hillside of sheep and shepherds. You'll need to come to the parade to see the finished product!!

Off to Frankenmuth

Monday we met my Mother, Uncle Chuck and Aunt Margie at Zhenders in Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth is a fun place to visit...the shops are so unique, you can get horse and carriage rides, they have the famous Christmas store, "Bronners, " and of course are noted for the wonderful chicken dinners. One reason we met there was to bring my Mother to our home for a few days. She had been visiting her brother and sister in law in the Troy area, and now it's our turn to have her here. Thursday we'll make the trip back down state to take her back, going first to Elizabeth and Jason's for supper, then they will take her the rest of the way to Troy to Uncle Chuck's where she will stay for another day until she returns back to her home in Ohio.

Friends are forever....

True lifelong friends are more than just friends. They are part of who we are. Friendships transcend cultures, backgrounds, and even geography. True friends are there in good times and bad, they comfort and celebrate, and they love you no matter what! We can't always choose our families, but we certainly can choose our friends....and wonderful friends I have!

I have friends in Iowa, in Michigan, in Indiana, in Ohio - on the east coast, and farther to the west. I have friends all over the United States, and some even in different countries of the world - and even though I can't see all of my friends very often, we will remain friends forever. (Thanks for Christmas cards and letters that keep us up-to-date!)

This afternoon Bob and I went to Deb and Ken's home (in Cedar Springs), and Gary and Beckie came too for a great meal and lots of fun fellowship. What a wonderful friendship we have had over the years.
Thanks for a super time, Deb and Ken....let's do it again real soon! PS-Your meal was yummy too!

Buckley Steam Show

What a night we had! We finally attended the Buckley Steam Show that we have heard so much about for the last 22 years. When we arrived, we saw acres and acres of tents, campers and trailers with several thousand people staying there for the long weekend (thursday-Sunday) while they attend the Buckley Steam Show. We arrived just in time to see the "Westbrook group" singing at one of the pavilions. Then we walked all over the flee market - there were over 500 exhibitors. We couldn't see it all - but in the hour and a half we walked around, we saw enough! There were tractors, and every type of farm equipment there - you could get rides on combines, tractors, and wagons. There were horse-pulling contests, lumber sawing contests, and just about anything and everything going on!
People come from all over the country to attend this annual event. It was great to see - but I'm glad we aren't spending the night there! :)

Smiles from the pews

Its been noted that everyone needs to laugh each day - so enjoy a few these "smiles from the pews"

A Sunday School teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, "why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied...."because people are sleeping!"

Six year old Angie and her four year old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel and a friend were giggling, and talking out loud during church. Finally, Angie turned to them and said, "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" asked Joel. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? they're hushers!"

I have many funny stories from when I taught school.... here's one that still makes me smile!
I taught 4th grade at a Christian school, and one day our boys bathroom drains plugged up. Gaspare Caladrino (yes, that was his real name!!!) asked if he could put an "out of order" sign on the door. When he was done, this is what the sign read...."out of odor!!!"

Dad's in jail...AGAIN??????

Yep! Dad went to jail again tonight...for his Thursday night Bible Study with the inmates.
Howard Scarbrough and Dad had 3 services tonight, and 4 of the inmates raised their hands to accept the Lord! Praise the Lord! Howard S. is a chaplain, and he will do the follow-up and Bible Studies with the men each week. This is the only thing that will change their lives.
So is Dad in jail AGAIN? YES!

We're all fenced in!

The fence is done! We're almost looking like those "old Kentucky homes"!

Fence Posts

Today we have a crew of men from church putting in a new white split/rail fence in front of the church and our home. This will help keep the cars from entering and exiting on M-42 - and hopefully, our church families will now use the new driveway which is much safer for coming and going!

The Tie that Binds.....

Our first grandbaby is coming soon....and while Rebekah was home for one night in July, several ladies from church put on a baby shower for her. She received so many beautiful gifts! Over the weeks since the shower, more gifts have been given! Yesterday at church, a gorgeous quilt (hand made - look at those tiny squares!) was made for "baby Godfrey" by two young ladies. What a lot of talent these gals have! Thanks so much for your "labor of love" Sue and Tina.

YIKES!!!!

Living for so many years in Michigan, our weather shouldn't take us by surprise. But this morning when we awakened, there was FROST on our roof!!! Now August is just TOOOOOOOO early to have frost!! The cool nights are great for sleeping, and the days still get warm, so we don't feel cheated out of our summer weather yet. We do have the most amazing sunsets here. What gorgeous artistry our God provides for us! "The Heavens declare the glory of God..." and they sure do around here!

The time has come.....

We're gearing up for all of our fall programs at church! We've had 2 great AWANA meetings with over 50 of our leaders/helpers. Once again, I'm "Sparkie" in our "Green Meadow Time" - and I also give the devotions in our T 'n T group. We are excited to start another great year of AWANA - and we're praying for many kids to trust Jesus as their Savior! Check our our web site for great pictures.....www.geocities.com/rollinsawana

Our Final Drive-In Church

Sunday night was the final night for our summer evening Drive-In Church concerts. Jim Westbrook and the "Bluegrass Revival" were there. It was a perfect night - sunny and warm.
We had a huge turnout- people were on blankets, sitting on lawn chairs, some stayed in their cars, others sat on TOP of their cars! Although "bluegrass" music isn't my favorite, the people in our area just love it, and this group does a great job doing it!

Time to say "good-bye"

After a wonderful week with Rachel at home, Monday morning came so quickly, and it was time to take her to the Detroit airport for her flight to Taiwan. Elizabeth met us in Flint, and came with us. It will be about 24 hours before Rachel is in her home and with Matt! We're praying for a safe flight, Rachel! Thanks so much for coming, and for a WONDERFUL 2 weeks here with us! We love you bunches!!!!

Relaxing..............Ahhhhhhhhhhh

Sometimes we just need a few minutes to stop, relax, and "smell the roses" during the day. What a gorgeous day it was....and "hanging out" with Rachel in our backyard for a few minutes.

A day in Fremont with Rachel

How fun that Rachel and I got to spend an ENTIRE day together today! We left at 7:30 am and
spent the day in Fremont, since that is where she had several Dr's appointments (her yearly USA checkup!). Between Dr's visits, we walked the downtown streets and went into some fun shops, went to a great Amish store, got super ice cream cones by the lake, and visited my long-time friends, Graydon and Jennie Dimkoff. We arrived home safe and happy at 7:45pm!

Hot Days....Cool Pools

I love the warm summer days...especially when friends invite us over to swim in their beautiful pools! We've been blessed with great friends who share what God has given them with others!