July So Far

(Photos on their way...)

Fourth of July
Visited church family campers and enjoyed a meal together!

Garden...
is growing.
There are actually (green) tomatoes!
Called the exterminator again though for neighborhood rats.
Hopefully they will be gone before tomatoes are ready.

Vacation Time with John - Part 1
Visited Mom and Dad up north.
Went canoeing on the AuSable River with John for the first time.
(No sharp turns and tipping over and ruining camera this trip.)
It was really beautiful!
(John has been on this river with James and also with my dad.)

Focus:
Look ahead, down the river, but also keep a shorter focus.
To the right at the shoreline: Great blue heron
Above, flying toward us: Bald eagle
To the left, just into the woods: a Doe
On the water's surface: Sometimes a reflection of the sky and clouds
Into the depths of the water: sometimes stones on the shallow bottom; sometimes dark expanse
(Of course, sometimes logs to be steered around!)

Back home...
and at a bridal shower for family friend Leanne!
Both Bonnie and Mom (with Dad) were in town for it.
Saw many other friends and family from Calvary days....

Vacation Sunday
Always fun to decide: where will we go today?
Visited the R.O. First Baptist Church today.
(Pastor - Dr. David Nichols - is a friend of John's from the community pastor's association.)
Really deep worshipful service.
Beautiful worshipful music with organist Min Sook Chung.
Difficult decisions ahead for them... preparing for a meeting this week.
The community has less families, decreasing over the last 40 years.
And there are many people for whom attending church is "not on the radar".
So what to do...
New directions and opportunities await.
(Some parallels with our own church...)

Closing Hymn:

My life is in You, Lord
My strength is in You, Lord
My hope is in You, Lord
In You, it's in You

I will praise You with all of my life
I will praise You with all of my strength
With all of my life
With all of my strength
All of my hope is in You


Postlude:
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"