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 He’s been home 6 Months — June 18, 2006

“If you could see me now,
I’m walking streets of gold.
If you could see me now,
I’m standing tall and whole.
If you could see me now,
You’d Know I’ve seen His face.
If you could see me now,
You’d know the pain’s erased.
You wouldn’t want me to leave this place
If you could only see me now!”
~Kim Noblett

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

 

 

(The song playing is “The Land of Fadeless Day” sung by Harding University College Choir)

Certain Man

 and his

Trusty Crew

 are

 HOME!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Today was our trip with the group from the Country Rest Home to Tangier Island.  When the group’s numbers swelled to over 30, the decision was made to take a big bus.  I was delighted.  I was thinking “Jor-lin.”  Or even “Zook’s” but no, it was not to be.  Just before pulling out of the parking lot after we got back, I hastily took a picture of the bus.  I thought I had it centered, even though the sun was in my eyes.  I didn’t.  However, I want you to know that the transportation was NOT DOWN HILL.  It was comfortable for most of us, and I was very thankful for it.

          We met at Greenwood Mennonite Church.  For some reason, I had 9 AM as the time I was supposed to be there, so I flew around and tried to get everything in order before I left, sailed out the door by 8:47 and prided myself being on time (for once).  I got there and the parking lot was empty.  They must have left without me!  How could I have been so mistaken?  Several frantic phone calls later, I discovered that the time to meet was 9:45.  Okay!  This is one time when Certain Man’s wife was on time!

 

This is Ms. Mary Ebierline, the coordinator of our trip

 

Mark and Polly and Ms. Mary getting us all ready to go.

 

Uncle Vernon and Aunt Freda — today was their 49th wedding anniversary!
(Can you believe it?)

  
Happy faces on the bus.

After a ride of about an hour and a half, we got to the dock where our boat was to leave from.  We had an hour or so to wait, but the day was beautiful and people enjoyed the sunshine.
Mama talks to Carlene, and then Carlene sits with Josie and further down the bench is Ivan.

Mary, Ruthie, Barbara, Herman and Dickie

 
Vivian

 
The water of the Chesapeake is a source of wonder.  I know that people who are more widely traveled than I am have bigger and better stories, but this is “home water” and I love it!

We had wonderful sailing weather and the company could not have been improved upon!

 
Fred, Herman and Paul

 

  
(I’m sorry this is so dark, but–) This is our trusty bus driver, John David, his dad, Lewis, and his gentle wife, Carlene.

 

 
Three fine Lassies, sitting in a row-
Mama, Elizabeth and Evelyn


Ivan and Mary and CMW (That orange-ish man in the middle doesn’t belong to us) Mark, Jr. and Mama.

 

A reverse view of the same picture.

Barbara and Mama

 
The upper deck was full of sun and shadow and laughter.

And we finally came to Tangier Island:

 
Can you read this sign???  (I can’t!)

 
One of the main reasons for going to get a good meal specializing in Seafood.  And the clam fritters were great and the crab cakes delightful.  The only problem is, I didn’t get any pictures of the seafood.  It was very, very good, but not as plentiful as the other “filler” stuff.

And then there was a tour of the island.  Tangier Island is accessible only by water of air.  Transportation on the island is largely golf carts and bicycles.  Approximately 600 people live there year round, and the chief industry is crab and fish.  The thing that impressed me most was the amount of poverty that is there.  There are a few nice houses, but far more that are “shack-like.”  It was a beautiful day, and there was lots to see, and the food was good, but I really don’t think I would like to live on the island.  Maybe if you were raised there (as it seems most of them were) it would hold an attraction that it otherwise does not.

Anyhow, soon it was time to go home.
Mark and Polly on board for the return trip home. 

          I was down on the dock, taking this picture, and the horn was blowing for the last “all aboard.”  I knew I had to hurry with the picture, and I needed to get my ticket out of my billfold where I had put it for safe keeping.  So I took the picture, and fetched out my billfold, struggling to hold on to all my belongings. 
          Alas and alack, when I got my billfold out, the zipper on the coin compartment was opened and the jingle of many pieces of money was heard, falling upon the wooden dock.  I watched in dismay as dimes and nickels and pennies scattered about and disappeared down the cracks.  And one of my fat quarters bounced happily down the deck in front of me, hopped over the edge and disappeared into the green water below.  I gathered up as many as I could while the ship guys waited, and finally got my ticket out and my remaining coins in, and we were finally on our way home.  I confess I was a bit grumpy at the loss of my coins.  I sought, found, and shared a stashed bag of M&M’s.  That didn’t cause my quarters to float, but it made it not so painful!

And this conversation lasted pretty much the whole way home. 
(You go, Uncle Vernon and Fred)

          An hour and a half later, we were back in Crissfield, Maryland, where our bus and a car were waiting for us.    A friend of Daddy’s had passed away this week, and Mark, Jr. was to bring the meditation at the 7 PM memorial service tonight, so Mark and Polly, Mama and I came home in the car.  Mama’s back was hurting her pretty badly, so she was glad she didn’t have to bounce home on the bus.  (My back wasn’t hurting, but I was kinda glad myself!)
          What a joy to be back home again.  It was a sweet day, but bed looks pretty good to this gal tonight.

And it won’t be long now, Lord Willing, until Certain Man and his Trusty Crew come back home.
I will be so glad about that, too! 

The music on this site is Dottie Rambo and crew singing “I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before.”    

     Today I was in Dover with my sweet Mama.  And she was tired and a little bit weepy.  Some days are just better than others.  
     It was such a nice time together, and the day went well.  We came home to her pretty house, unloaded groceries and flowers, checked to see if she needed anything, and then I decided to come on home. 
     As I started to leave, I saw her standing there beside her garage so little and vulnerable, and on impulse turned back.  She looked at me with questions in her eyes. 
     “I just wanted to hug you,” I said impulsively.  “I wish so much I had hugged Daddy more often, and I don’t want to miss a chance to hug you.”  Her cheek was so soft, and her hug was warm.  I had done pretty well all day, but I got into my car and by the time I was at the end of the driveway, I was crying.  I cried most of the way home, and I guess I’m not done yet. 
      Life is such a wonderful, beautiful tapestry of good times and grief, wonderful memories and inevitable partings. I have to say that though I really love life, the pain gives it a color that turns my heart towards the Father, and thoughts of what it will be like someday to be in His presence.  What will it be like?  Listen to the words of His Beautiful, Infallible, Holy Word:

        “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow or crying, neither shall there be any more pain;  for the former things are passed away.” 
Rev. 21:4

Once again — What a HOPE!

Certain Man and the trusty crew is having a great time in Indiana.  By last night, they had finished the chores that were supposed to last until Wednesday.  Today, there was a whole lot of waiting around for material, so Certain Man took off for town to see if he could find the lumber yard.  I was talking to him on the phone and he was LOST.  Can’t see how that would help the cause.  However, he was stopping for directions, and he could not say enough good about the young people. 

Some Praises:

• Attitudes are really optimistic, enthusiastic and energized


• The young people have been staying well.


• The WALL came down with a spectacular display and there is a video to prove it.  (YES!!!)


• The cooks have been doing a super job. 


• Pancakes and biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast


• cookies, (awesome cookies!!!) and cinnamon rolls, too.


• An invite for the entire team to someone’s house for supper tonight


• Good working conditions, good working companions


• Really good weather, which is a most timely praise since it rained Saturday and Sunday


• The bickering is minimal


• The hands are willing

There has been far more than this going on, and I am aware that the other parents are probably getting steady reports, but if anyone wants to see a few pictures, go over to WWW.Xanga.com/Jesses_girl99 and check it out.

The Members of the team are Certain Man, Jesse, Christina, Joel, Caleb, Abby, Pete, Jessica, Lori, Josh, Rach, and Laura.  They would appreciate your prayers.

What has happened to us?

There was a time when we were full of joy. 

The daily round of things that challenged were simply that —  Challenges.

Somewhere along the road to Heaven, we find ourselves bogged down.

And now,  it seems the uncertainties are too much for us to bear.

Lord Jesus, could you tabernacle Your Glory

In the common tents of our hearts?

Somewhere between the cherubims of loss and grief

Establish the blaze of Your Glory

So that no one may miss, and no one can misunderstand

That it is really You.  REALLY YOU that:

Will be strong in our weaknesses. 

Will blaze with light in our dark valley.

Will be glorified in spite of the broken vessels.

Oh, Lord Jesus, I know.  I truly KNOW that

It is out of the broken vessels —

Through the cracks and through the rubble —

That Your Light is most visible.

I know that we are broken.

Let  Your Light shine out.

And let The Light show us the way.

 

Today our niece, Joy, got married to a young man named Jim Briggs.

I got to the wedding to discover that my picture card was missing from my camera.

I have no pictures.

I am sad.

And a wee bit tired.

But I am thankful for “traveling mercies” in the miles that Mama and I drove.

And I am really,  really,  really,  really,  really,  really,  really,  glad to be home before dark.

 

Oh, yes, I almost forgot.  I am very glad that there were no men standing at the porcelain conveniences when I got into the wrong restroom at the Lancaster Cracker Barrel.  And that is all I am going to say about that.

 

 

Pollythepatchworker is home,

safe and sound.

Welcome home,

 Polly-Wolly-Doodle-all-the-day!

I missed you vociferously!!!

 

p.s.  She really was having problems with her computer and it was down for repairs.  But she also went over the big wide ocean with her husband.  But she is home now.  Don’t know if the computer is fixed or not.

This morning, I was on the phone with an insurance company, wanting to know about a hospital visit that Youngest Son made nearly two years ago.  That made me go back in my e-mails to see what was happening two years ago.  And this was one thing that happened two years ago around this time.  Youngest Son and two of his cousins graduated from high school.  Here they are with my parents on that happy day.

  

Christopher Yoder, Lem Yutzy and Gabe Heatwole
Alene and Mark Yoder

As you can see, Mama was well.  Daddy had just started a round of treatment for Leukemia.  Just two weeks before, he had driven himself to the hospital one day while Mama was gone, and had the fluid tapped off his lungs– about a half a gallon.  The prognosis at that point was still pretty good, and we had a wonderful time getting our three sons graduated.  Daddy was so proud of his grandsons. 

I’ve been missing his prayers so much, but the thought that keeps running through my head is that “He prayed ahead.”  That must sound strange, but Daddy prayed for the futures of his children and grandchildren.  He prayed for our church and for the work of the church down the corridors of time.  He prayed that righteousness would prevail, and that God would raise up a faithful generation.  This morning I was reading in Job, and thought about how the influence of a righteous man is felt way beyond the parameters of his immediate family.  It is my earnest desire that I would be a credit to the man he was, but even more, that his influence would continue to enrich God’s Kingdom, and that people would come to know and love Jesus because of Mark Yoder, Sr.

” . . . And I will always miss you, Daddy Dear.”

 

Shady Acres is a fairly typical Delmarva Chicken Farm in many respects.  Certain Man loves the land, and he tries hard to take care of his parcel with diligence.  This is the view of our smallest chicken house from the house.  Last night, the chickens that were in this house went to the processing plant, leaving a very empty house indeed.

This morning, Certain Man called me after he left for work and told me that we were out of feed in house two which is scheduled to be caught tonight.  This is a dilemma, indeed, as the chicken companies do not like to bring feed on the last day that chickens are being grown.  Usually it takes so much time to get the feed there, that it isn’t worth the extra time and frustration.  But a chicken farmer hates to send chickens to market that were out of feed the last day he has them, so Certain Man and I discussed what could be done.

This is the feed bin to the house that no longer has chickens.  It has feed in it.  In fact, the cone is almost full.  That is enough to feed house two for this last day of growing.  So the problem was getting the feed from this bin over to the other house where it could be dumped into the hoppers and distributed through the house.  Certain Man thought to use the tractor and the loader, but CMW had a different plan that would not involve her fighting with the tractor.  It had to do with this:

 

So she went forth into the Manure shed :

 

and found eight buckets that she could fit onto her trusty wagon with great ease, and she took those eight buckets and filled them in this manner:

 

and when they were filled, she put them on the wagon and took them over to the other house where they were dumped into the running feed machine.

 

It was stinky, dirty work, and she was grateful for the helping hand of Certain Man who spent his lunch hour fine tuning the operation and making it easier for her to do when he was gone.  His cheerful hard work always gives her courage and makes her want to try to help him all she can.

This is not a chicken.  If you look closely enough you will see a speck of a dog.  This is our faithful Australian Red Heeler, Shep, who sits in his pen, hoping that someone will let him out so he can chase squirrels from my bird feeder.  However, Shepherd likes to lie down in my flower beds, so I have to be careful when I let him out because I do not appreciate my flowers getting squashed flat.  He gets to run alot in the fall in winter, but in the Summer, someone needs to be outside to make sure he finds an appropriate place to nap.

And now, it is back to the laundry for this chicken farmer’s wife.  I am so glad for this day at home so that I can pay attention to home things.